Date: 04/05/2010
Source: The Democratic Alliance
Title: DA: Smiles: Speech by DA member of Parliament on Defence and Military Veterans budget vote, National Assembly

Militêre opleiding, militêre dissipline, militêre akkuraatheid (presisie) ingesluit strategiese beplanning is sleutelaksies tot militêre paraatheid.

Hierdie militêre professionalisme kondisioneer aktiewe militêre personeel in so mate dat dit nodig is, soos in baie ander lande, dat ‘n agentskap of ‘n volle departement van die regering van die dag, die oorgang van aktiewe militêre diens na gewone burgerlike lewe moet behartig.

The establishment of the Department of Military Veterans was proclaimed in a Government Gazette on 28 December 2009 in order to facilitate this transition.

An allocation of R20million for 2010/11 financial year and the appointment of a new director-general were some of the actions taken this year. Last year a task team to investigate the plight of military veterans was established. They reported their recommendation to the minister in January 2010.

The Democratic Alliance would like to raise serious concerns about the process to establish this department.

We are concerned that the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans has not yet received a copy of the military veterans report and it has not been briefed on the contents of the report. Where is the Green Paper and White Paper on Military Veterans that need to be submitted to Parliament?

It appears the Department of Military Veterans may just be another case of "jobs-for-pals" - a classic trademark of the ANC in government.

The establishment of the military veterans department pre-empts the findings of the ministerial task team, which raises questions about the planning and management abilities of the department.

The media, reporting on leaked information, have detailed some bizarre recommendations that appear to be on the table as well - including reserving certain tenders for military veterans. We would like to remind the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of the human rights abuses by military veterans in Zimbabwe which was the result of this power of job-for-pals. Surely, we do not want it to happen in our country.

If the military veterans are such a priority, then why is it that the ministerial task team report has become snarled up at cabinet level and has never seen the light of day in parliament?

What we need is a Green Paper on Military Veterans so that we can begin a proper debate about military veterans in South Africa.

Legislation in this regard is needed soon. This legislation must be well-researched and must not only provide for cost-effectiveness but must also be based on best practice - to undertake genuine and responsible actions to resolve the plight of all military veterans in South Africa.

Military veterans of the past, present and the future must be respected and honoured in a decent and acceptable manner for their services to our country.