Parliament, Tuesday, 23 June 2026 – The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has supported the Presidential letters authorising the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), while stressing the importance of their timely tabling in Parliament to enable effective oversight.
The committee engaged with the Ministry of Defence and SANDF leadership on the Presidential letters relating to the extension of Operation Copper and the employment of the SANDF under Operation Thiba and Operation Climate Change.
“Oversight is a sacrosanct pillar of a constitutional democracy, and the tabling of SANDF employment letters should be done on time to ensure that members exercise their constitutional obligations effectively. Section 201(3) of the Constitution requires the President to inform Parliament promptly and in appropriate detail, underscoring the importance of timely information,” said Mr Phiroane Phala, Co-Chairperson of the committee.
The committee expressed concern that Operation Climate Change concluded in April 2026, Operation Thiba is due to end in June 2026, and the extension of Operation Copper began in April 2026, yet the relevant Presidential letters were only tabled in Parliament on 18 June 2026.
The committee considers this delay unacceptable and has called for urgent corrective measures. To address the matter, the committee resolved that its co-Chairpersons engage with the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces about the impact the late tabling has on the committee’s oversight responsibilities.
Despite these concerns, the committee unanimously supported the deployments, recognising their strategic importance in fulfilling South Africa’s international obligations and providing humanitarian assistance to a fellow member state of the Southern African Development Community.
The committee has also requested a detailed report on the costs, operational effectiveness and the status of capabilities and equipment deployed in support of these operations.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSON OF THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, MR PHIROANE PHALA
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