The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has warned that poor and unsafe infrastructure and accommodation at some of its bases have affected staff morale, which could make it difficult for commanders to mobilise troops in an emergency.
The SANDF is primarily responsible for defending SA against external military aggression and often plays a leading role in providing humanitarian relief and rebuilding efforts after natural disasters. However, it has been hit by severe budget cuts in recent years.
Defence officials also argue that the department of public works & infrastructure, which is tasked with maintaining its facilities, is failing to deliver.
Briefing parliament’s standing committee on appropriations at the weekend on progress made in moving the infrastructure maintenance function from the department of public works & infrastructure to the SANDF, Maj Gen Joseph Ledwaba painted a bleak picture.
“As witnessed by [the standing committee] during the visits of Bloemfontein, Thaba Tshwane and Waterkloof Airforce Base, troop accommodation is a risk and not suitable and safe.
“This makes it difficult for commanders to mobilise troops for any emergency. It impacts on the morale of the troops and aggravates their financial situation,” Ledwaba said.
He said the total backlog on repairs and maintenance stood at R11.4bn, while facilities beyond repair that needed to be demolished and replaced were valued at R4.7bn. Ledwaba said facilities used by the army continued to deteriorate, which had tarnished the image of the SANDF.
Explaining how the maintenance function of SANDF facilities was transferred to the department of public works, Ledwaba said that in 1996, the department of defence commissioned a study to improve efficiency and cut costs. The outcome was a recommendation that it should outsource noncore functions. Maintenance was erroneously seen as noncore and moved to the department of public works. The outsourcing created tension between the two, Ledwaba said.
Pointing to some of the maintenance issues, Ledwaba highlighted the situation at Waterkloof Airforce Base fuel station, which was damaged by fire, and overall maintenance of the residential building.
“Immediately after the fire, the [department of defence] requested [public works] to fix the fuel station using emergency funds. [Public works] indicated that it was not an emergency ... and requested the [defence department] to fund the project at an estimated cost of R15m.”
Emergency funds
He said that during the committee’s visit to Waterkloof, public works recognised the fuel station as an emergency and promised that they would use emergency funds to fix the fuel station. When public works did not do so, “the department of defence engaged public works again to fulfil its promise. Public works responded again that the project [was] not an emergency, and the department of defence must provide the funding.”
Ledwaba said the defence department resolved to take over the project and withhold the equivalent funds, which were supposed to be transferred to public works. He said National Treasury support is required to give effect to this decision.
Public works minister Patricia de Lille told MPs her department was willing to let go of the maintenance function. “When I had a meeting with the generals, I had made a proposal that while we deal with the legal requirements of the devolution, in principle we agree.
“I do not think there is a problem there. In the interim, we then identify specific projects that the department of defence would like [to take over], and as the executive authority, I will then approve on a project-by-project basis.”
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