Annual Report: January –
November 2007: Joint Standing Committee on Defence
Name of Committee: Joint Standing
Committee on Defence
Chairperson: Dr E A Schoeman
Committee Secretary: Mr Johnny Ramrock
Vision of Committee:
·
to be a
Parliamentary Committee with a high level of expertise, dedication and
resources to effectively oversee the Department of Defence that should have the
appropriate level of capacity, morale and state of readiness to defend and
protect South Africa’s territorial integrity and its people in accordance with
the Constitution.
Mandate of Committee:
- to ensure that the Department of Defence provides, manages, prepares and
employs defence capabilities commensurate with the needs of SA, as regulated by
legislation and parliamentary and executive direction.
Chairperson’s overview:
Allow me to express my appreciation towards my predecessor, Honourable S D
Montsitsi, who chaired this Committee for the greater part of the review
period.
The Committee held public hearings and applied its mind as to how the quality
of life of military veterans could be improved. The report was tabled ( ATC:
In accordance with its oversight function the Committee visited the Makhado Air
Force Base
The visit to the SA Army Combat Training Centre as well as the Memorial Service
to the nine soldiers who died tragically as a consequence of the malfunctioning
of an artillery piece at above mentioned training centre was in conjunction
with the Portfolio Committee on Defence.
This was in accordance with a decision that the overlapping and duplication of
functions of these two Committees be minimised. It is envisaged that this
co-operation will be further strengthened during the ensuing year.
The failure, once again by the NCACC to submit reports to Parliament in
accordance with the NCACC Act is noted.
This fact has been brought to the attention of the Speaker (National Assembly)
for appropriate action.
In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation towards all the dedicated
Members of, and support staff to the Committee who contributed towards a
constructive and fruitful year.
Department reporting to the Committee:
The Department of Defence
Entities which the Committee exercise
oversight:
a.
Armaments
Corporation of
b.
National
Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC)
1. MEETINGS:
16
|
Date of meeting |
Agenda |
Status of minutes |
|
|
Discussion
and adoption of: ·
Committee 1st Term Programme 2007 ·
Committee Annual Report 2006 ·
Report on Letter from the President on deployment of SANDF to the DRC |
Draft
minutes available |
|
|
Consideration of draft report on
study tour to |
Draft
minutes available |
|
|
Briefing
by National Treasury on: ·
the Non-Statutory Forces Pension Fund and ·
the Special Pension Fund |
Draft
minutes available |
|
4 May 2007
|
Briefing by the SANDF: ·
Service Corps ·
Human Resource Section Briefing
by National Treasury on the Non-Statutory Forces Pension Fund |
Draft
minutes available |
|
10, 11 May
2007 |
Public Hearings on the improvement
and wellbeing of Military Veterans. |
Draft minutes available |
|
18 May
2007 |
Briefing by the Chief of Navy on
transformation within the S A Navy. |
Draft minutes available |
|
25 May
2007 |
Briefing by the SANDF Transformation Management Chief
Directorate |
Draft minutes available |
|
|
Discussion on the draft reports
on: ·
the study tours to ·
the public hearings on the
Improvement and Wellbeing of Military Veterans |
Draft minutes available |
|
|
Briefing by the State Information
Technology Agency (SITA) |
Draft minutes available |
|
|
Adoption of the report on the
Improvement and Wellbeing of Military Veterans |
Draft minutes available |
|
|
Election of new Chairperson |
Draft minutes available |
|
|
Adoption of: ·
Letters from the President on deployment of the SANDF to ·
Algerian study tour report ·
Public hearings on the Improvement and Wellbeing of Military Veterans
report |
Draft minutes available |
|
|
Discussion and adoption of: ·
Letter from the President on the deployment of SANDF to the ·
report on the public hearings on the Improvement and Wellbeing of
Military Veterans |
Draft minutes available |
|
|
Consideration and adoption of
report on the oversight visit to Makhado Air Force Base |
Draft minutes available |
|
|
Consideration and adoption of: ·
report on the oversight visit to Makhado Air Force Base ·
report on the oversight visit to the S A Army Combat Training Centre,
Lohatla ·
report on Letter from President on deployment of SANDF to |
Draft minutes available |
2. CANCELLED MEETINGS: 9
|
Date of meeting |
Agenda |
Reason for cancellation |
|
|
Briefing
by Department of Defence on training and benefits to military veterans |
Department
not available |
|
|
Presentation
by Department of Defence on Annual Report and Strategic/Budget Plan 2006/2007 |
Department
not available |
|
|
Outstanding
Committee matters |
Change of Parliament
Programme |
|
|
Presentation
by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee |
NCACC not available |
|
|
Discussion
and adoption of report on study tour to |
Lack of quorum |
|
|
Presentation
by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee |
NCACC not
available |
|
|
Discussion
and adoption of report on study tour to |
Lack of
quorum |
|
|
Discussion
and adoption of report on study tour to Makhado Air Force Base |
Lack of
quorum |
|
|
Consideration
and adoption of report on study tour to Makhado Air Force Base |
Lack of
quorum |
3. LEGISLATION CONSIDERED BY COMMITTEE:
The Committee did not have Legislation before it.
4. PAPERS
(INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS, PROTOCOLS, REPORTS) REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE
*Letters from the President on the employment of the SANDF to areas
inside/outside the borders of the country.
Title of Report Referral dates Consideration
date Date of Committee report (ATC)
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to |
|
4 May 2007 |
10 May
2007 |
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to the |
17 May
2007 |
25 May
2007 |
29 May
2007 |
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to |
17 May
2007 |
25 May
2007 |
29 May
2007 |
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to |
17 May
2007 |
25 May
2007 |
29 May
2007 |
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to |
|
|
|
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment within the RSA |
|
|
|
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to the |
|
|
|
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to |
|
|
|
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to |
|
|
|
|
Letter from President on SANDF
deployment to |
|
|
|
5. OVERSIGHT VISITS UNDERTAKEN
|
PURPOSE OF VISIT |
COUNTRIES/ PROVINCES |
DATE |
DATE REPORT ADOPTED BY COMMITTEE |
REPORT ATC |
COSTS |
|
To monitor the moral and wellbeing
of members of the SANDF and to monitor progress in transformation at the
base. |
|
|
9 November
07 |
25 January
08 |
R73,901 |
|
To ascertain the circumstances
that led to the accident in which nine soldiers were killed. |
|
|
9 November
07 |
25 January
08 |
R32,956 |
6. INVITATION
OF CHAIRPERSON OR DELEGATION OF THE COMMITTEE
DATE: REASON FOR INVITATION: ATTENDED
BY: COST:
|
|
invitation
to Chairperson by SA National Defence College to address senior managers |
Chairperson |
No cost to Committee |
|
|
invitation
to Chairperson by Minister of Defence to attend commissioning of SA Frigate
SAS Mendi |
Chairperson not available |
N/A |
|
April 2007 |
invitation
to Chairperson by S A National Defence College to address senior managers. |
Chairperson |
No cost to
Committee |
|
|
invitation
to Chairperson by Dept of Defence to address 3rd Conference on
Women in Defence |
Chairperson
and 3 Members |
No cost to
Committee |
|
|
invitation
to Chairperson by S A National Defence College to address senior managers |
Chairperson |
No cost to
Committee |
|
|
invitation
to Committee by the National Heritage Council to attend the National Imbizo
on Ubuntu |
Committee
not available |
N/A |
|
|
invitation
to Chairperson by the Reserve Force Council to meet President of the
Inter-Allied Confederation of Reserve Officers |
Chairperson |
No cost to
Committee |
|
|
invitation
to Chairperson by Military Veterans Business Initiative Forum to meet
delegation |
Chairperson
not available |
N/A |
|
|
invitation
to Chairperson by S A Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Related Industries
Association for a meeting |
Chairperson
not available |
N/A |
7. CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET VOTES &
STRATEGIC PLANS
Function performed by the PC: Defence
8. ANNUAL REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENTS AND
ENTITIES REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE
Function performed by the PC: Defence
9. WORKSHOPS
AND CONFERENCES ATTENDED
None
10. COMMITTEE BUDGETS ALLOCATIONS FOR
2007/08
|
ALLOCATED BUDGET |
EXPENDITURE AS AT |
||
|
Activity |
Costs |
Balance as at 30 November 07 |
|
|
R
400.000.00 |
Public
hearings on Improvement and wellbeing of Military Veterans |
R103,312 |
R 189,831 |
APPROVED SPONSORSHIPS TO COMMITTEE OR INDIVIDUAL MEMBER
None
12. PUBLISHED COMMITTEE REPORTS
|
TITLE OF REPORT |
DATE ADOPTED BY COMMITTEE |
DATE REPORT PUBLISHED IN ATC |
|
Public hearings on Improvement and
wellbeing of Military Veterans |
|
|
|
Oversight visit to Makhado Air
Force Base, |
|
|
|
Oversight visit to S A Army Combat
Training Centre, Lohatla |
|
008 |
SUPPORT STAFF:
Committee Secretary: Johnny Ramrock
Control Committee Secretary: Johnny
Ramrock
Secretary to Chairperson: Ms A Nortje