PROPOSED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR AN UPDATED WHITE PAPER ON DEFENCE

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

An introduction to any document or paper serves the fundamental purpose of setting the scene by providing a background and context for the contents or the text. It further explains briefly the broad parameters of the content, in other words the aim and scope. The introduction also briefly highlights the concluding implications, recommendations and suggestions as articulated in the text. An updated White Paper (WP) on Defence will be no different. As such it will reflect firstly the reasons for an updated WP). Accordingly it will speak to the timing for the update (ie. tens years after) and highlight the changes outside South Africa that necessitates an update (such as, AU, 9/11, etc). Secondly the introduction sketches the structure of an updated WP) ie. the thematic areas of focus or chapters, while at the same time mentioning the salient changes (as compared to the 1996 WP) that underscores an updated WP. Thirdly the introduction must include the policy implications and recommendations that an updated WP reflects. Finally the introduction must outline the methodology employed in the update process.

CHAPTER TWO: STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT

One of the primary reasons for the update of the WP, is the changing nature of the external environment. Since South Africa's first democratic elections in April 1994, the international strategic and security environment has shifted quite dramatically. Our contemporary world is confronted by a range of non-traditional security threats, new actors, and non-conventional methods of destabilisation and destruction. Subsequently, many of the previous policies, positions and assumptions about defence and security require serious review. Put differently, it is the world beyond our boarders that determines the primary role and functions, the posture and doctrine, and the design and structure, of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). As such this chapter will be structured having the following sub-categories.

The Global Context: This section speaks to the changes in the international environment that has implications for world peace and security, such as 9/11 and the rise of international terrorism.

The Continental Context: This section of the chapter is a new input that reflects changes in our continent, especially from an institutional perspective that relates to the continental search for peace, stability and development. Accordingly, the inauguration of the AU and its concomitant structures such as the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the African Standby Force (ASF), and the implications for the DoD, needs to be discussed in this section.

The Regional Context: As with the previous WI), this section discusses regional defence and security co-operation, the required institutions, and their implications for our defence policy and department. These institutions include the SADC, the OPDSC, the Mutual Defence Pact and other related treaties and protocols.

The Domestic Context: This section looks inward to review changes from a national perspective and its implications for the DoD and its policies. In other words, it provides an examination of the posture and orientation of Government policy, the national security

policy, and the role of the DoD in fulfilment thereof

CHAPTER THREE: COLLECTIVE SECURITY

Another critical chapter for an updated WP. This chapter will exemplify the South Africa's foreign policy of pursuing multilateral approaches to peace and security and conflict resolution, be it at an international, continental or regional level. Accordingly, South Africa's (and by implication the DoD's) role and involvement in security mechanisms at these different levels, need to be mentioned in an updated WP. As such the role South Africa has played in the last ten years (and will continue playing) within mechanisms such as the SADC-OPDSC, the AU-PSC and ASF, and the UN Standby arrangements, will be explored in this chapter.

 

CHAPTER FOUR: GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO SECURITY

Although discussed within the broad theme of the Challenge of Transformation in Chapter One of the 1996 WP, the conceptualisation of security that informs South Africa's national security policy and defence relations, may warrant a chapter on its own. The conceptualisation of security in the post-Apartheid and post-Cold War era reflected a passionate adoption of a human security concept that attempted to down play state security. Events, especially in the global environment, have compelled a re-think about this anti-state conceptualisation of 'security'. Indeed security has to be a far broader and holistic concept than it was when the major concern and threat was superpower confrontation. This, however, does not mean that state security should be supplanted by the discourse on 'human security'. Rather, it should view the two aspects as mutually dependent. This approach and that taken by the Cabinet and DG Clusters, and the Ten Review needs to be reflected in the updated WP

CHAPTER FIVE: DEFENCE DIPLOMACY

In the past ten years South Africa has entered into a number of bilateral and multilateral defence agreements. These agreements constitute the basis for the country's defence foreign relations. Of equal significance to the defence foreign relations are international humanitarian law and conventions, such as the Rome Statute, that have been acceded to and ratified by South Africa. These agreements, both at a bilateral and multilateral level, need to be prioritised and managed in line with government priorities and international responsibilities. In addition, Confidence and Security Building Measures (CSBMs) with regard to deployment of Defence Attachés, joint military exercises and exchange of personnel and information are critical developments of the past years that an updated WP should reflect.

CHAPTER SIX: ROLE AND FUNCTIONS

The purpose of this chapter is to explain the roles and functions of the DoD / SANDF as contained in the Constitution and Defence Act of 2002. As provided for in the previous White Paper, the primary function of the SAM)F is to defend South Africa against military aggression, and all other functions are secondary. This distinction has arguably become blurred in the past years. Peace Support Operations have gained significant prominence as a critical function of the SANDF. Whether this warrants such a role to be considered a primary function, is a question that an updated WP should answer. Put differently, an updated white paper should reflect the changing dynamics of the role and functions of the DoD / SANDF. Further this chapter would also provide an understanding of the limitations in performing these roles and functions.

CHAPTER SEVEN: FORCE DESIGN AND STRUCTURE

This chapter will be based on the results of instruction 07/02 and the outcomes of Resolution 5 of the Parys work session, the costed and affordable design aligned with budgetary realties, and the organisational structure based on the results of Resolution 4 of the Parys work session.

CHAPTER EIGHT: DEFENCE MANAGEMENT

A chapter on defence management would basically entail moving beyond the chapter two on Civil-Military Relations in the 1996 WP. While this chapter will off course retain this aspect of how the DoD is structured and managed (in terms of the distinction between the functions of the Defence Secretariat and the SANDF), it must reflect the process of Integrated Governance and the Cluster System, Defence Finance and budgetary considerations that speak to the PFMA, and articulate the need for Capability Management in the DoD.

CHAPTER EIGHT: HUMAN RESOURCES

In the area of human resources the DoD has in the past ten years, generated a considerable number of departmental policies aimed at giving effect to the constitutional and legislative imperatives and broad government priorities. These include affirmative action, human resources 2010, HIVIAIDS awareness, youth training programmes, skills development, service delivery (Batho pele), gender equality and co-operative governance. Consequently, departmental bodies were established to monitor the implementation of these policies. These include:

- The Departmental Programming, Budgeting and Evaluation Committee (DPBEC), to ensure compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA);

- The Defence Bargaining Council (DoDBC), to ensure sound labour relations practices are upheld;

- The Military Bargaining Council (MBC), to ensure proper management of labour relations matters in the military;

- The Equal Opportunity Advisory Board (EOAB), to ensure that equality in the work place is achieved; and

- The Civic Education and Advisory Board (CEAAB), to monitor the implementation of civic education in the DoD.

The challenge facing the DoD in the future is effective implementation of these policies and the co-ordination of a human resources policy. Therefore, an updated WP requires maintaining a chapter on human resource that reflect these changes of the past ten years and speaks to the challenges that the DoD is faced with in this area.

CHAPTER NINE: PART TIME FORCES, RESERVES AND VETERANS

As stated in the 1996 WP, the SANDF is an all-volunteer force, comprising a relatively small regular force that is backed by a sufficiently large Part-Time Force. This Part-Time Force is therefore an integral part in the fulfilment of the SANDF's core functions. As such the updated WP must provide appropriate coverage of this component, in terms of its background, structure, policy framework and future status. In addition there is also a controlled Reserve Force made up of Regular and Voluntary Reserves. This chapter will also discuss the issue of veterans, their role in serving the state, and policies that affect their role.

CHAPTER TEN: REVERSE OF VETERANS

CHAPTER ELEVEN: DEFENCE MATERIAL

As previously, a chapter was dedicated to Arms Control and the Defence Industry. These areas of DoD remain critical and need to be reaffirmed albeit with subtle changes that are the result of a White Paper on Defence Related Industries, and new International Arms Control Conventions and Treaties. This chapter should also argue for or against the need to retain and finance an Arms Industry. In other words it should contain an audit of the profitability, or lack thereof, of the Arms Industry. In addition this chapter must speak to the new responsibilities such as contribution to the ASF and the respective implications for the SANDF's defence capabilities.

CHAPTER TWELVE: FUTURE REQUIREMENTS AND CAPABILITIES

Flowing from the analysis of a changing strategic environment major trends have been identified. These trends that include, among others, the rise of international terrorism, proliferation and possession of weapons of mass destruction, and the use of mercenaries; have significant implications for the DoD's capabilities. This chapter will accordingly explore such implications. Also following a clarification of the distinction between primary and secondary functions, can we determine with a little more certainty our future requirements. After which we need to ask: Are we fully capacitated to fulfil our core functions? Can we continue operating without being totally capacitated? How do we address these concerns in the context of shrinking budget allocations? These are some of the questions that this chapter must answer.