R10m-plus Defence Review must not be rubber-stamped by Parliament

15 October 2014

The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has finally been established and the co-chairpersons, including Stanley Motimele and Emmanuel Mlambo, have been elected following a long behind-the-scenes battle in Parliament.

The South African Defence Review 2014 ("Defence Review") must be the first order of business of the newly established Joint Standing Committee on Defence.

The Defence Review cost the taxpayer a whopping R10 924 469 but for the past three months it has been lying in stores gathering dust in Parliament.

The Defence Review sets the long-term defence direction and contains far-reaching proposals to reverse the critical state of decline in the Defence Force.

According to the Defence Review, the Defence Force: "...is in a critical state of decline, characterized by: force imbalance between capabilities; block obsolescence and unaffordability of many of its main operating systems; a disproportionate tooth-to-tail ratio; the inability to meet current standing defence commitments; and the lack of critical mobility."

Moreover, according to the Defence Review: "...even with an immediate intervention, it could take at least five years to arrest the decline and another five years to develop a limited and sustainable defence capability."

The critical state of decline in the Defence Force is fast reaching the point of no return.

The Joint Standing Committee on Defence must therefore now deal comprehensively with the Defence Review. 

The Joint Standing Committee on Defence will have to get serious and produce a comprehensive programme including: scheduling a series of comprehensive briefings on the Defence Review; scheduling a series of public hearings on the Defence Review; and accessing a number of documents, referred to in the Defence Review, but not included in the Defence Review. 

These documents include: the military strategy including the proposed force design, force structure, acquisition plan and proposed budget; and all the relevant documents relating to the costing model used by the Defence Review Committee.

The primary problem with the Defence Review, which is going to have to be tackled directly, is that the proposed "defence development trajectory", is unaffordable.

The Defence Review's proposed end-state of Defence Force comprising of 189 000 personnel, 158 combat units, and consuming R88 billion per year, or 2.4% of the GDP, is a non-starter, given the budget constraint.

It is imperative therefore that the Joint Standing Committee on Defence also schedule a briefing by the National Treasury on the affordability of the "defence development trajectory" proposed in the Defence Review.

Whatever the case, the Defence Review is a monster policy review document with major implications for the future of the Defence Force which cannot simply be rubber-stamped by Parliament.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, October 15 2014

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