Issued by Ministry of Defence
19 June 2001
The democratically elected new Parliament has given the Ministry of Defence five main tasks. These are integration, demobilisation, doctrinal review and procurement, structural transformation in the military community - including most centrally issues of gender and affirmative action, skills empowerment and capacity building - and a wider developmental role for the SANDF. What is more, Parliament has asked that all these tasks be undertaken together and speedily. In this regard I wish to acknowledge the important role our predecessors in the Ministry of Defence, Comrades Joe Modise and Ronnie Kasrils, have played in laying the foundation for the doctrine of a Defence in a Democracy. They courageously embarked on a massive project of bringing together seven disparate forces into one united South African National Defence Force, thereby giving us the firm foundation on which to build. They were themselves are building on the foundation laid by those gallant fighters of our movement who formed the African National Congress in 1912 and Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1961. This year we will be celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the birth of MK and next year the 90th anniversary of the ANC.
Since 1994 we have embarked on the project of transforming our previously divided past and are building a single South African nation, proud to take our place among the family of nations. Our diversity is our strength. As we move forward, we are not unaware of the immensity of the task that still lies ahead. To use a famous man's words, "it is a long walk to freedom". Transformation is not an overnight project. It is not only about numbers, but is also about transforming the culture of an organisation and the values it stands for. For the Department of Defence, it is a change from white baasskap in an apartheid siege state to an integrated force, giving full expression to the cultures and strength of all, united around defence in a democracy and projecting the image of a peaceful neighbour, proactive in creating peace in Africa.
What have we achieved? In the short time since the birth of our new nation, we have achieved what no other country has done. With regards to defence, we have developed our baselines. Our policies are in place. We are rolling out our programmes in line with national imperatives. In terms of numbers, the DoD's total strength of 78 701 for the current year is made up of 26% white Africans, 12% Coloured Africans, 1% Indian Africans and 61% African Africans, as opposed to the 1994 ratio of 46:15:1:38. I use these concepts deliberately in order to remind us that indeed we are all Africans. Coming to the important issue of gender equality, which we have entrenched not only in our Constitution but also in our policies, we continue to develop towards greater representivity. Women constitute just over 20% of the DoD's total strength. Although the target of 30% representation of women in the DoD by 1999 has not yet been achieved, the targets help to focus our energies and resources. We take this challenge and will make it a priority in this and future budgets.
Later this month and in August, we will be highlighting the issue of women in the military. In this regard we are proud of the role they are playing and wish to acknowledge the challenges facing women soldiers. We want to thank our first lady, Comrade Zanele Mbeki for helping us walk this difficult road of transformation. She will be hosting a special celebration in August of the role played by women in the services. Let me at this point also acknowledge the stewardship of Major General Jackie Sedibe and others under her command who are helping steer the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Programme. It is beginning to bear the fruit Minister Manuel talked about when he opened the Budget Debate in February. The woman who will be inaugurated as our first female commander in Umtata this Friday, 22 June, serves to demonstrate the DoD's determination to prove that those days are gone when the women's place was in the kitchen. Under the new democracy, women are everywhere.
The Department of Defence is committed to building a working environment free of all forms of discrimination. We have outlined this commitment in the Defence Review, the White Paper on Defence and in the DoD Policy on Equal Opportunities and Affirmative Action. The Equal Opportunities Chief Directorate (EOCD) was specifically established and mandated to institutionalise equal opportunities and affirmative action in the DoD. The EOCD reports directly to the Secretary for Defence.
The DoD has established an AA Forum to monitor implementation of AA plans in the DoD. There is a drive to give women their rightful position in all ranks, levels and positions, including serving in combat roles. The department has a Gender Forum which is charged with co-ordinating gender programmes and monitoring progress. Through the Gender Forum, the department participates in national programmes led by and co-ordinated by the Office on the Status of Women. Whereas there were no women in the highest ranks of our National Defence Force structures before, their numbers have risen steadily since 1994. As we speak, women occupy 7% of our top leadership. We are looking forward to our first woman Lieutenant General and Chief of the South African National Defence Force in the not so distant future.
The Department acknowledges its responsibilities towards people with disabilities and has embarked on a programme to cater for them. A DoD Disability Forum has been established in order to highlight the issues of disability in the DoD. Annually the DoD hosts a function to celebrate the achievement of our disabled members. I was proud to participate in such a function last year and to see for myself what our Department and our members have achieved to ensure that the issue of disability is integrated into our programmes.
It is important that I deal at some length with the issue of racism in SANDF. We know too well the consequences of not dealing with this issue. Racism continues to seriously undermine the ability of the SANDF to perform its primary function of defending the nation. It is for this reason that we have seen the need to address racism at its roots in each individual, with the full support of the leadership, backed up by effective training and redress. To this end, the Department has acknowledged the importance of training and development of its members at all levels so that they can understand and deal with the issue of racism at a personal and institutional level. In a drive to raise awareness and education the Department has engaged in road shows and other cultural diversity education. We may want to include racism as a qualifying course for our officer corps.
Now is the time of Nuts and Bolts where we fasten the SANDF into a tighter military force, united in its drive to be a truly African Force, under civilian control of the Ministry and this Parliament and ready to discharge its responsibility of serving and defending the nation.
To this end, last year my Office underwent a Strategic Direction Planning process. The Strategic Direction has now been promulgated as part of the DoD programme. In terms of this Strategy, I will be paying specific attention to the following matters.
1. To sharpen the tools of the Ministry to deliver on its mandate and to tighten its links with the Defence community.
I am looking into how we can develop fully the concept of civilian oversight. In this regard, we have, with the assistance of the US DoD developed a programme focussing on civil-military relations. It is as part of this programme that I recently led a delegation to the United States, comprising of members of the DoD and of this Parliament, honourable members Gogotya, Schmidt and Ntlabati.
I am keen that we continue to work more closely with Parliament to ensure that the DoD Budget Process and financial management system are fine-tuned to deliver a cost effective and financially responsible Defence Department. We want to ensure that Parliament plays a more direct role in the development of the Defence Budget and reporting mechanisms. The Public Finance Management Act gives clear guidelines. We have embarked on training to ensure our Department understands the requirements set out by National Treasury to achieve prudent financial management and best practice. As the DoD we are developing mechanisms for identifying areas of reprioritisation and to root out financial mismanagement and wastage. The office of the Chief of Finance in the Secretariat is hard at work developing best practice measures for all our budget holders. We will be reporting on further developments in this regard.
2. To complete the legislative processes enabling full integration and transformation in the defence community.
We have prioritised finalisation this year of the Defence Act, the National Conventional Arms Control Bill, the Termination of Integration and Demobilisation Bill and the Armscor Bill. We are keen to legislate on the issue of land-mines, in order to implement our government's international obligation and commitment on land-mines.
Our present Defence Act is outdated. It needs to be replaced by a law that reflects the requirements of our Constitution, the Policy Paper on Defence and the Defence Review. A new Defence Act will underscore the transformation we have embarked upon since 1994 and will embody the role of an effective South African National Defence Force in a nation that is at peace with itself and seeking to play a positive role in the African Continent. We continue to give effect to this new role. As we do so we realise that the SANDF must develop the skills and training it needs to be able to contribute to the United Nations and other African peace operations, while acknowledging the special challenge this presents. In this regard, we are prepared to learn from our mistakes and those of others and are determined to help prevent potential conflicts escalating into violence. This entails exploring issues around the sovereignty of states and the role and processes of the United Nations. We are convinced of the value of discreet diplomacy.
Drafting of the Defence Bill has been completed and State Law Advisers are currently in the final stages of their examination. It is hoped that the Bill will be certified on the 22nd of this month. It is intended to table the Bill before 19 August 2001 for it to be passed in the 3rd session of Parliament. The National Conventional Arms Control Bill is now also with the State Law Advisers for them to peruse various changes as made by the Department of Foreign Affairs at the request of the Chairperson of the NCACC, Professor Kader Asmal. This Bill will put into law the criteria Cabinet has developed on government-to-government arms sales. As a new democracy South Africa must be proud of the leading role in ensuring a responsible defence industry. This drive will be further enhanced by the substantive reforms we are proposing to the Armscor Act. The drafting of policy guidelines for the Armscor Bill has been completed.
The Termination of Integration Intake, Constitutional Amendment and Demobilisation Amendment Bills have been introduced to help the department finalise the issues surrounding integration intake, such as bridging training. This law is not intended to bar people who want to enter the National Defence Force along the normal channels or those who have not been able to integrate because their amnesty applications were still under consideration by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). These bills are presently with the Portfolio Committee on Defence and the Portfolio Committee on Justice.
3. To ensure that the SANDF gets to full representivity in four years.
Hand in hand with these goals is the need to turn the SANDF into an excellent employer. We are developing a comprehensive human resource strategy, which is as important as the armaments acquisition programme. Every member who enters the Defence must know that we will look after them, while in our Force and after they leave, from cradle to grave. I see the important function of developing a comprehensive demobilisation and veteran care programme, modelled on the advanced Veteran Programme the Americans have developed. Proper demobilisation and Veteran Care will form an integral part of the DoD's comprehensive human resource package. I will be saying more about this later.
4. To enhance our capacity to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the SANDF.
This will be done through best peer reviewed interventions. We acknowledge the threat of HIV/AIDS to our security and the readiness of the SANDF. Our HIV/AIDS strategy has been developed along the lines of the National Aids Plan, while taking into account the special environment in which soldiers work. We have permission to conduct comprehensive health assessments, to ensure readiness for deployment. We acknowledge our responsibility to treat those affected and infected with dignity and recognition of their human rights. While we may not yet be the ideal employer we would like to be, we are fully committed and are ready to roll out the next phase of our HIV/AIDS strategy, focussing on behaviour change, voluntary testing, treatment and care. We have identified the need to develop specific programmes, aimed at the military and to step up our efforts to ensure an environment free of discrimination and stigma.
5. To establish a true African culture in the SANDF and finally, to ensure increased capacity for collateral utilisation of the SANDF as a catalyst for development.
An audit will be conducted to determine the resources we have in the Engineer Corps to assist with the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy. I am proud to report that the DoD has together with the Department of Public Works, developed a comprehensive Base Closure policy as our contribution to the empowerment of blacks and women, as well as all those who were historically excluded from the economy.
Let me also take the opportunity to explain the role of the Service Corps and what we are proposing to ensure it is used maximally as a national resource. I urge honourable members to cast their eyes back to why the Service Corps was established in the first instance. The Service Corps was established as the centrepiece in our attempts to assist demobilised soldiers. The concept was born as part of the DoD's contribution to the RDP. The response of the SANDF during the floods is an excellent example of the collateral utilisation of the SANDF resources and the Service Corps in an effective form could become the nation's flagship for assisting with the demobilisation and re-integration of retrenched civil servants into productive civilian life. It could become the mobilising vehicle for community service and development by helping to build the infrastructure and soaking up the unemployed youth, while developing their skills and helping with character formation.
I am aware of the public interest on the issue of the Service Corps. We have taken steps to correct past mistakes. We initiated an investigation, which looked at why the Service Corps was not able to deliver as mandated by Cabinet. As part of the proposed re-engineering of the Service Corps we have developed a close collaboration with the Department of Labour, the Youth Commission and the Women's Development Banking. We have developed a proposal, which we will be taking to other government departments to seek their support. For example the Department of Education can assist with accreditation of skills military personnel have which they can use in civilian life. The technikons and universities will be asked to take former soldiers and re-orientate their skills and to provide academic and professional skilling. This would be their contribution and acknowledgement of the sacrifice and contribution of soldiers to our national security. We have established contacts with the private sector that have offered to help us turn the Service Corps around.
To be specific, we have the support of the National Business Initiative who has offered to work with us in developing public private partnerships, in line with government practice. I feel strongly that we must develop these public private partnerships. It is the most effective vehicle for improving delivery. We are putting together a Cabinet Memorandum, which will spell out these issues in detail. We are not proposing privatisation of the Service Corps but a partnership with business that will ensure delivery and cost effectiveness. The Department of Defence will remain a close partner both as a client and service provider to a re-engineered Service Corps. We have proposed that the DoD retains the resettlement function of the Service Corps, while a Civilian National Service Corps, which together with business would be better placed to build a strong re-skilling and placement programme, takes up the re-skilling and social integration. In this way, we would be ensuring that those whose business is business and that the DoD can focus on its mandate to employ and prepare soldiers undertake this important task.
Kafushane nje ngithi sesenze imizamo yokubambisana nentsha ekuthuthukisweni kwamakhono ayo ukuze ibambe iqhaza ekuvuseleleni kabusha izindawo zokuhlala emadolobheni nasemakhaya. Intsha eyayibambe iqhaza ekuvikeleni imiphakathi ngesikhathi sodlame njengama-SDU namaSPU sizobambisana nayo ukufuna amathuba emisebenzi nokuqeda ubulelesi ezindaweni esihlala kuzo. Singabika nje lapha ukuthi sesihambe elide ibanga kulokhu sisebenzisana namalungu ePhalamende likazwelonke, ohulumeni bezifunda namakhansela. Siqoke ukuthi siqale ngalezondawo uMongameli azimemezele njengezindawo afuna siqale ngazo ukuzivuselela.
Lapha ngiphawula oMashu, Inanda, Ntuzuma ngaphansi koMkhandlu-dolobha waseThekwini. Sibambisene nelunga lePhalamende uMhlonishwa uDuma Nkosi sesidlulele nakoKatlehong, Thokoza Vsolorus eMpumalanga Rand ngalohlelo. Sesibathintile oSodolobha balezindawo obab' uMlaba noVilakazi. Bazimisele ukubambisana nathi kulokhu. Sizoxoxisana futhi noNdunankulu balezifunda, obab' uMtshali noShilowa. Asizugcina kulezindawo kuphela kepha sizodlulela phambili nakwezinye izindawo uma uhlelo seluvuthiwe. Inhloso yethu ngalohlelo ukulwa nodlame oludalwa ukungabikho kwamathuba emisebenzi.
Let me now return to the issue of veterans care. Government acknowledges that our organisational responses to the various concerns and problems experience by veterans and their organisations have not been adequate. Veterans of MK and Apla have numerous legitimate concerns that they have put before government. Primary amongst these is the issue of pensions. We have to present our case to the Treasury.
Similarly the veterans have acknowledged the need to unite and organise along their common needs and issues, regardless of force of origin. The various veterans associations are seeking to increase their ability to lobby for better resources. At national level, we have succeeded to amalgamate the various veterans associations into a unified single structure under the directorship of a Military Veterans Advisory Board, which brings together former liberation struggle veterans and those from the former SADF. They are looking also into establishing links with veterans world-wide.
Veterans from both the MKMVA and former SADF who were stationed in Angola have expressed a desire to assist with the peace process there and de-mining. They also want to assist government in our security and crime prevention work. These are calls from loyal citizens who want to be part of the task of defending our democracy. We must hear them.
At this point I want also to report on the DoD's efforts to develop a plan to turn the problem of former 32 Battalion Veterans around. As honourable members are aware, Pomfret was developing into a serious security threat internally and in the region. Pomfret is a former base, which housed 2 South African Infantry Battalion, which we have now relocated to Zeerust. As the DoD it was our responsibility to correct the situation and we have achieved measurable success. Pomfret now has a local government structure and a well-developed and researched development plan. We have collaborated closely with the North West government and the Pomfret community itself.
In the past many of government's responses to veterans issues have been ad hoc and sporadic. Although such actions were borne out of a genuine desire to assist, Government must now seek to develop a sustainable and coherent policy towards all SANDF veterans, both present and future, as part of the overall human resource strategy. We are working closely with the various veterans associations and considering the possibility of establishing various veterans villages throughout the country. Such veterans villages must be economically sustainable centres where veterans and demobilised ex-SANDF members can be provided with civilian skills upgrading and where destitute or homeless veterans may seek camaraderie, work and shelter.
Government is currently investigating how various SANDF training centres and private ventures such as 17 Shaft can either be used or serve as templates. Indeed it is fair to say that 17 Shaft has already gone far down the path, with all its ups and downs, that government and the veterans associations should perhaps have begun walking a few years ago. We have much to learn from 17 Shaft. Indeed they are currently pushing the boundaries, now taking over disused inner city buildings and converting them into residential units for veterans and with veterans being trained to undertake the actual renovations.
It is our wish that such veterans villages not be viewed simply as special case pleadings for MK or Apla veterans, demobilised and other. Yes, the needs of MK and Apla veterans are a priority. However, these veterans villages must become part of the overall human resources package offered to all present and future members of the SANDF. We look forward to the day when men and women contemplating a career in the SANDF can read a pamphlet on career options in the SANDF that includes details of how veterans villages will be able to offer them the possibility to re-enter civilian life with comfort and economic security.
Veterans villages must be a parachute to a soft landing back into civilian life to all our members. We owe this to all our citizens in uniform, as Ronnie Kasrils termed it his 1996 Budget speech. Taking care of our veterans in this way is our responsibility as well as a key security issue and the safeguarding of the rule of law and property rights, which our Constitution mandates us to do.
In working together on these and other projects with the various veterans associations government is pleased and indeed amazed at the level of sophistication now shown in the veterans community. Veteran's issues have now become a part of black empowerment with veterans associations having corporate inter-linkages to various black empowerment initiatives. Veterans are currently involved in the Working for Water project. Similarly the veterans' Makana Trust is working with the Robben Island Museum. We must pay credit to all concerned. It is thus entirely probable that future relations between government and veterans associations will be on a corporatised basis following along similar lines to the American model. However, in so doing we must all acknowledge that in the pursuit of economic empowerment, the destitute and impoverished veteran must never ever be forgotten. These are people who have actively helped in making our democracy. We must help them make their own futures. I shall be establishing an action committee to develop these policy issues further.
This year we celebrate 40 years of the birth of MK. In 1994 the then Chair of the Standing Committee on Defence, Comrade Tony Yengeni, called upon government to build a monument to those who fell in the struggle for freedom. Since then various honourable members have made similar calls for the cadres of MK and Apla to be publicly commemorated. I recall the words of the honourable Ronnie Kasrils, Zoliswa Kota, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Thandi Modise, Henry Loots, and former members Clarence Makwetu, Thenjiwe Mtinso, Nyambeni Ramarisa and Adelaide Tambo.
It is true that we need to recognise this central aspect of our military heritage. This is a heritage, which is not yet fully represented in any of our military museums.
As members are all too aware, the question of integrating our heritage has excited much passion within this House. Calls to recognise cadres have seen Opposition members jumping up to proclaim their pride in having fought in the SADF and against terrorists and communists. One also remembers how the then 44 Parachute Brigade, against Ministerial instructions, celebrated the anniversary of the Cassinga Massacre - and indeed attempted to do the same the following year.
As my predecessor Ronnie Kasrils rightly noted in response to the Cassinga commemorations, we would not tolerate such offensive official occasions, however we will be proceeding with caution and confronting the question in a careful, legislatively legitimate and comprehensive fashion.
Government is proceeding with the development of Freedom Park, as announced by the Deputy President last year. We will be actively co-operating in this endeavour. Although there are numerous military museums throughout the country, the present Defence Act makes no provision for these, the costs of which are currently unauthorised expenditure. We will be investigating this issue, including possible changes to the Defence Act. The South African Heritage Resources Agency is currently reviewing the legislative and policy framework with regard to South African war graves on foreign soil to include those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle.
Our envisaged canvas must be wider than simply modern armed struggle. Our Military Heritage Project will take in the whole time frame from the Wars of Dispossession - the so-called Frontier Wars - onwards and geographically embrace the wider African continent. In so doing we must incorporate our activities into the President's Millennium Africa Recovery Plan and our wider foreign policy objectives. In seeking to establish a legitimate defence heritage we will be working closely with the various veterans associations - and there are many - including black soldiers who fought in World War Two. I shall also be establishing a panel of experts to assist us in this regard.
In so doing our goals are three-fold: