Parliament, Wednesday, 5 August 2026 – The Standing Committee on Appropriations has raised serious concern that the Department of Defence (DOD) continues to receive extra deployment responsibilities before the necessary funding is made available.
The committee today met with the DOD to discuss signs of overspending, the Compensation of Employees ceiling, and the funding needed for the maintenance, safety and security of military bases. It also discussed spending pressures and funding shortfalls linked to the deployment of 2 200 troops.
The committee also received a briefing from DENEL on the entity’s performance and compliance with government guarantees, including the R660 million guarantee for the G6 contract. The DOD told the committee that it needed R823 million for Operation Prosper. It said as from 31 July 2026, it had not received the funds. The department said it had approached National Treasury and warned about the risks of not receiving the funding.
Committee Chairperson, Dr Mmusi Maimane, said it was concerning that members of the Defence Force are deployed for events such as the President’s State of the Nation Address, but the funding only follows months later. He warned that this could lead to unauthorised expenditure under the Public Finance Management Act. The committee recommended that once a deployment is confirmed, the funding should be made available on time to avoid taking money away from other operational priorities.
Furthermore, the committee said the DOD needs to explain what it considers to be the ideal size of its workforce. As this would help show the true personnel shortfall and clarify what the department is expected to deliver based on the strength of its members. The department was allocated R439,078 for the 2025/26 financial year to implement the government’s early retirement initiative which could also not be finalised by end of March 2026.
The committee sought clarity on the department’s modernisation needs, including the funding required to respond to new forms of warfare that depend more on advanced technology than on traditional troop deployment. Dr Maimane said that without this investment, the Defence Force may continue to deal with current challenges while remaining unprepared for future security threats.
The committee recommended that there should be clear distinction between new or expanded operational mandates, unfunded or partially funded deployments to enable the DOD to manage its budget appropriately.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, DR MMUSI MAIMANE.
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