SANDF 'should reduce generals'

2003-11-17 19:10

Cape Town - The defence force and the defence department are misleading parliament's portfolio committee on defence with requests for extra finances, says the Democratic Alliance.

The decision to appoint 19 new generals in the defence force was contrary to the spirit within which the department of defence asked for additional financial resources from parliament, DA spokesperson Roy Jankielsohn said in a statement.

"The department said the money was needed to keep important programmes running, but now it appears that more generals will be appointed," he said.

South Africa had one of the most top-heavy defence forces in the world, and it made no sense to appoint even more generals.

"By last year, the SANDF already had 207 generals and 70 000 personnel, translating into a ratio of one general for every 338 soldiers.

"This compares poorly with the United States army's 1:4 000, the US navy's 1:2 000 and the Swiss army's 1:18 000.

"The SANDF and the department is misleading the portfolio committee on defence with its requests for additional finances.

"Prioritising human-resource strategies that provide exit mechanisms for ageing troops and the intake of younger troops should take precedence over appointment of generals," said Jankielsohn.

The DA supported attempts by the department to restructure and redesign the force to increase mission readiness and make it younger and more professional.

Defence force 'must prioritise spending'

The re-evaluation of the force structure and design of the SANDF, and the implementation of decisions resulting from this process, was crucial, and would require additional finances as well as a huge amount of political will.

"The DA will support any reasonable efforts to improve the situation within the force. However, the force must prove that it is serious about prioritising its expenditure accordingly.

"The force and the department cannot plead poverty and, at the same time, go ahead with the appointment of new people into senior positions," Jankielsohn said.

Die Burger newspaper reported on Monday the force had appointed 19 new generals, despite Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota's repeated assurances that they were urgently giving attention to reducing the number of generals.

- SAPA