Another Day, Another Party

Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice:

The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Minister of Defence, Angie Motshekga, to immediately cancel the Army Golf Day, as well as all related social events and parades scheduled for 9 and 10 April at Thaba Tshwane.

These non-essential activities should not be prioritised above the urgent needs of South African soldiers who are being deployed to assist the SAPS in combating illegal mining and gangsterism. At a minimum, these troops must be provided with properly maintained barracks and access to hot water.

Shortly after revelations about a R2 million Army golf day, the South African National Defence Force hosted another ceremonial event – this time a farewell parade for the outgoing Chief of the Air Force, reportedly costing R700 000 and attended by hundreds of guests.

This comes at a time when soldiers stationed at Ikapa Military Base in Cape Town, who are preparing to be deployed to combat gang violence on the Cape Flats, are living in unacceptable conditions. Their barracks are dilapidated, vandalised and insecure, with broken infrastructure and no hot water.

Whilst SANDF top brass have lavish parties and parades at the top of their priority list, it seems the dignity of our troops is right at the bottom of that list.

Recently, a projected R370 million budget for Armed Forces Day in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, was slashed to R178 million, whilst subsistence allowances of up to R70 000.00 per member were paid.

At the same time that the Hawks and SIU are investigating R2.5 billion worth of corruption linked to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, the Minister of Defence has refused to provide the Joint Standing Committee on Defence with a breakdown of the projected R823 million linked to the army deployment in support of the SAPS to combat gangsterism and illegal mining.

The Department of Defence cannot continue to fund ceremonial events and hospitality while the very troops tasked with protecting our communities are forced to live and train in unsafe and degrading conditions. A defence force that cannot maintain its own facilities should not be spending hundreds of thousands of rand on functions and playing golf.

The DA calls on Minister Angie Motshekga and the Chief of the Army, Lt. Genl. Lawrence Mbatha, to prioritise functioning barracks for our troops over hosting parties.

The money spent on farewell parties and golf days can be far better applied to improve our troops’ living conditions and the DA will keep pushing for full accountability before Parliament on how every cent of the following events was spent:

• R2 million (or more) for the Chief of the Army’s Golf Day;
• R178 million for the Armed Forces Day
• R600 000 to R700 000 for the Chief of the Air Force’s farewell parade on 31 March