SA’s defence budget continues to contract in real terms.
According to the latest budget figures, defence and state security spending is expected to amount to R54bn in 2017-18, up from 2016’s R52bn. Spending is set to increase to just over R56bn in 2018-19 and about R60bn in 2019-20.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan delivered his 2017-18 budget in Cape Town on Wednesday.
This is an average growth of 4.7% over the medium-term expenditure framework.
According to the budget review, there have been allocations of R4.1bn and R1.4bn to support peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and antipiracy operations in the Mozambique channel respectively.
A total of R951.6m has been reprioritised within the department to cover the growing costs of essential medicine and medical supplies for South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members, their dependants and retired military personnel.
Experts have warned previously budget cuts for defence would be disastrous for the SANDF, SA’s peacekeeping efforts and the implementation of the defence review.
The review found the SANDF was in a state of severe decline. Peacekeeping is a pillar in SA’s foreign policy in Africa.
South African soldiers have played a key role in stabilising eastern DRC.
The cuts could also threaten SANDF peace missions.
The consolidated three-year budget for the defence, public-order and safety-function group that accounts for 14.2% of total expenditure, will grow from R190bn in 2016-17 to R225bn in 2019-20 at an average annual rate of 5.8%.
Spending will focus on fighting transnational crimes, improving policing, peace support operations and military health services. Police services account for 47.3% of the total functional allocation.
Responsive Police
The National Development Plan underlines the need for greater safety and security through an effective criminal justice system and responsive police services, the budget review notes.
Over the medium term, the South African Police Service will intensify its implementation of the back-to-basics strategy to improve police performance and conduct. A total R2.5bn has been allocated to the department to upgrade and maintain police stations, with R10.2bn more to procure and maintain transport equipment.
The government also aims to stimulate rural development and food production and assist emerging farmers.
According to the budget review, over the next three years the government will spend more than R5.5bn on conditional grants in the comprehensive agricultural support programme to provide about 435,000 subsistence and smallholder farmers with equipment, fencing, fertiliser and seedlings, improved extension services and repairs to infrastructure damaged by floods.
Agriculture, rural development and land reform expenditure is expected to grow to R29.8bn by 2019-20, at an average annual rate of 4.7%.
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