News24.com | Defence committee wants upfront funding for SANDF's ad hoc deployments

Cyril Ramaphosa greets SANDF members in Richards Bay on Tuesday.

• The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has resolved it should engage National Treasury on an upfront allocation to fund ad hoc deployments of the SANDF.
• The committee was concerned delays in releasing funding impacted planned operations and the SANDF's cash flow.
• The committee also welcomed the SANDF's deployment to help the police guard Eskom.

Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Defence has resolved it should engage National Treasury on the possibility of an upfront allocation as a contingency to fund ad hoc deployments of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).

This after the committee met senior SANDF leadership on Thursday evening to get an update on ad hoc deployments and their impact on defence funding.

Ad hoc deployments include operations when the military is deployed to help after natural disasters, like floods, or events like the unrest in July 2021 and during the Covid-19 state of disaster.

The committee was concerned delays in releasing funding for these deployments negatively impacted planned operations and the SANDF's cash flow management, against the backdrop of its limited resources.

"It is for this reason that it might be prudent to engage the National Treasury to investigate if it is possible, as guided by the Public Finance Management Act, to create such reserve funds to ameliorate the cash flow challenges," said committee chairperson ANC MP Cyril Xaba, according to a statement from Parliament.

The committee will also look for other options to resolve this challenge.

READ | SANDF deployment to Eskom power stations stretches until March at a cost of more than R200m

It is also aware ad hoc deployments are now occurring regularly and could deplete the SANDF's resources while it awaits reimbursement.

The committee welcomed the additional funding, including the R1 billion allocated for the 2023/24 financial year to strengthen the country's airlift transport capability, R700 million for the procurement of helicopters, vehicles and technology for border safeguarding, and more than R1 billion for the midlife upgrade of the SA Navy's frigates and submarines over the medium term.

This allocation would ameliorate the current limited strategic capabilities within various SANDF environments and ensure the effective provision of support to the SANDF, read the statement.

The committee considered President Cyril Ramaphosa's letter on the deployment of SANDF members to assist the police in protecting Eskom power stations around the country.

"The committee is of the view that the deployment is for the greater good of the country and will ensure security and that the country works as it should.

"The deployment is from 16 December to 16 March 2023 at an expected cost of R206 031 240," read the statement.