Defence Minister Angie Motshekga admits budget cuts impacting department's effectiveness
However, Motshekga said it’s untrue the defence force is at crisis level and unable to perform its duties.
FILE: Former Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. Picture: @DBE_SA/X
CAPE TOWN - Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has admitted the budget cuts to the department is impacting on its effectiveness.
But she said it’s untrue the defence force is at crisis level and unable to perform its duties.
Responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, Motshekga said while the department has not been able to deliver fully on the defence review of 2015, her deputy Bantu Holomisa is already reviewing that document and the shortcomings.
Motshekga said it’s true the defence force does not have enough working airplanes and some navy ships are also grounded.
This has meant less training hours in the sky and at sea, and also impacting the hire of new recruits.
But in response to the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Nick Godsell, Motshekga said it’s an exaggeration that declining budgets mean the defence force is on its knees.
“I have no interest in hiding. It’s in our interest to get the system going. We constantly engaged with Treasury to say you have to help us before the system collapses.”
She said details of the impact of the budget cuts can’t be shared in an open forum.
“I’m admitting that indeed with the reduced budgets there are these consequences.”
NCOP chairperson Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane has requested Motshekga submit a full report to the house within two weeks.