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The DA will submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, and the Secretary of Defence, Sonto Kudjoe, regarding the disturbing revelation that the Saint George Hotel in Pretoria has been leased to house the Department of Defence's War College and the SA National Defence College.

At first glance, there seems to be multiple irregularities with the lease contract, which could in turn be exploited by corrupt individuals looking to further fleece the State.

That the Department of Defence would choose to spend millions on this contract while the majority of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) fleet is unserviceable, shows that SANDF has the same proclivity to put cadres ahead of the South African public.

The Saint George Hotel is intimately tied to the history of the ANC – many of the party’s historic meetings were held there and it was also where Minister Modise and Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele were held hostage after a meeting with military veterans.

The DA will keep a close eye on this deal. We cannot allow SANDF to further decline and be used as a front for State capture and corruption.

Issued by Kobus Marais MP - DA Shadow Minister of Defence