Parliament, Thursday, 24 April 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans has raised concerns that the ongoing budgetary constraints experienced by the Department of Defence (DOD) will result in the ongoing decline in the department’s capabilities and performance.
The committee yesterday received a presentation on the department’s strategic plan and annual performance plan for the 2025/26 financial year. The committee noted from the presentation that it was clear that it should anticipate another chronic underwriting of budgets, which will continue the decline in defence capabilities.
The chairperson of the committee, Mr Dakota Legoete, said, “The committee is seriously concerned and would like to engage National Treasury to reconsider their allocation in line with the 2024 presidential directive that ordered the defence budget to be moved from 0,7 to 1,5% of the GDP to redress chronic underfunding.”
Members of the committee again expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), particularly the lack of maintenance of its prime mission equipment. Despite previous commitments from SANDF leadership, the committee noted the repeated failure to deliver a fresh, effective strategy to reverse the decline. While the committee acknowledged plans to develop a strategy to address force rejuvenation and rising personnel costs, it emphasised that current plans as presented lack innovation and did not seek ways to enhance SANDF operational capacity within tight fiscal constraints.
Mr Legoete stressed, “The DOD must use allocated funds wisely since there is concern about growing irregular and fruitless expenditure and, furthermore, to answer all audit queries as raise by the Auditor-General to reduce an adverse outlook of on its books.”
The committee further asked the DOD to engage with National Treasury and find innovative ways to reduce the cost of employees without undermining the department’s human capabilities.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS, MR DAKOTA LEGOETE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Jabulani Majozi
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E-mail: jamajozi@parliament.gov.za
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