The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises has applauded the initiative by Denel to mobilise its resources and expertise towards a priority project for the local design and development of medical ventilators in support of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Committee Chairperson, Mr Khaya Magaxa, said the project that Denel has embarked on with other state-owned enterprises (SOEs) showcases its capabilities to respond to the public health crisis that the country is faced with. “This is what we expect from SOEs, to react with haste in assisting the government where services are needed the most, hence we believe in the ownership and control of all these state entities for development purposes, not the private sector”, said Mr Magaxa.

Even though Denel said the project is still in its early phase, the committee said it is reassuring to see the entity indicating that it is considering other initiatives in which it can repurpose its current operations and technology to assist towards fighting the pandemic. Denel said these will also include the production of sanitisers and the conversion of Casspir mine-protected vehicles into ambulances.

The committee said at a time when the country is faced with a national state of disaster, the arms deal manufacturer has demonstrated its ingenuity.
 

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises