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The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that Max Sisulu's, Speaker of the National Assembly, response on the interim reports is a victory for the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans.

The Speaker has made it clear that ‘Parliament has the power, provided by the Constitution, Rules and the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament Act, to summon any person to give evidence and to require any person or institution to produce documents".

This is a complete rejection of cabinet's view that:

• the minister was not obliged to table the interim reports of the national defence force service commission; and
• that a "cabinet co-responsibility convention" requires the minister to process reports, policy documents and legislation trough cabinet prior to tabling them in parliament

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, should now be compelled to produce the so called "ticking time bomb" reports to the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans.

The DA therefore calls on Nyami Booi, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, to schedule an urgent meeting to consider passing a resolution to compel the minister to hand over the interim reports of the National Defence Force Service Commission.