Speech in the National Assembly on Budget Vote 23 & 26: Defence and Military Veterans by Ms Thandi Nontenja, MP and UDM Chief Whip in the National Assembly

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Honourable Speaker,

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the report on vote 23 & 26 for the 2024/25 financial year.

On vote 26, programmes 1-4 reflects a budget decrease, whilst programmes 5-8 reflects slight increase. This might be due to underspending in the previous financial year, which is very disappointing considering that there are soldiers who are forced to buy their own uniform regardless of the huge budget allocated to the Department. Also, we condemn the relatively high spending on administration as compared to operational programmes.

The UDM is concerned with the decrease from R3.670 billion in 2023/24 to R2.670 billion in 2024/25 on the Special Defence Account. Such a limited allocation to this fund is reflective of the lack of investment in SANDF equipment and technology in recent years. We suggest that the Department allocate more into this fund, to ensure investment in the modernization of its armed forces, in order to keep pace with evolving security challenges.

The UDM urge the Department to prioritise the finalisation of the Pension Benefit Regulations as a matter of urgency. It is disappointing that many military veterans are living below the current South African living wage to near destitution. Sadly, many veterans have passed away before receiving benefits and only receiving a burial support.

Moreover, the UDM is more concerned with the current insufficient number of 15sub-units deployed for border safeguarding, leading to South Africa’s deteriorating border security. We acknowledge that National Treasury has allocated additional funds for border safeguarding technology to serve as a force multiplier to soldiers deployed on the borders. However, it is concerning that previous funds of R225 million allocated for this purpose was not used by the DOD for technology acquisition, instead only R85 million finally planned for spending on technology, which was ultimately delayed. The UDM hopes that the current Ministry will ensure that budget is utilised for its purpose of allocation and there will be no underspending.