7 June 2004
Madam Speaker
His Excellency, the President of the RSA, the Minister of Defence, the Defence Secretary, the Chief of Defence Seneral Sphiwe Nyanda and Honourable Members. My specific point of focus is the programme on the military strategy. I have decided to broaden the topic to the strategic imperatives of defence.
The South African Security and defence policies are rooted in assessments of its national interests and how these interests can be promoted within the domestic, regional and international setting, now and in the future. This is undertaken in conjunction with other chiefs of divisions in the ministry of defence and where it is sensible to do so, with allies and partners.
The South African White Paper on Defence and the Defence Review represent the defence policy of the South African Government. The constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, established a framework for democratic civil military relations. The Defence force derives its mandate from this policy document, as well as from the strategic direction provided by the Department of Defence (DOD).
Madam Speaker, Military Strategy therefore means the art and science of coordinating the development, deployment and employment of military forces to achieve security objectives. It involves the attainment of national security objectives through the use or the threat to use military force. Military strategy sets in motion the actions required to develop a military force structure, which entail the planning, procuring weapon systems and material, and recruiting, training and sustaining personnel, and develops a framework for deploying and employing this force structure.
The actions should be accomplished via broad concepts of how these forces will be employed to fulfil the national security objectives. It is therefore clear that there are two dimensions of military strategy. The force development strategy and the force employment strategy. Of which both of them will define military objectives, which are ends, underpin military strategic concepts, which explains ways, and make military resources, which denotes means, available.
Madam Speaker, the question therefore arises, what would be the difference between the force development and force employment. The force development strategy is concerned with mobilising the resources and might of a nation or condition of nations in support of military endeavours and war efforts. Force development strategies are longer-range strategies, based on estimates of the future threats, objectives and requirements and therefore not constrained by current force postures. These longer-range strategies are often very general in nature and will require improvements in military capabilities.
Recent developments in the region and continent have precipitated the need for further and continued strengthening of South Africa's involvement on the African Continent in various capacities. These are mainly in the field of peace support operations, mainly with the current missions in the DRC and Burundi.
These two missions, the latter of which we became involved in, first as the South African Peace Support Detachment (SAPSD), which later became an integral part of the first African Union (AU) mission in Burundi (AMIB). This mission, having run without funds to the cash-strapped AU, was with effect from 1st June 2004 taken over as a UN mission in Burundi, ONUB. The clear and visible symbol of this was the rehatting of the entire contingent from the green AU berets and insignia, to the renowned blue UN peacekeeping Berets.
These development is in consonance with the Department of Defence and specifically SANDF military strategic objectives i.e. "The ends that are achieved by SANDF" in conformity with the stated objectives of government and as ordered by the promotion of regional and continental peace. The countries roles in the Diaspora, Iritria, Sudan and elsewhere, is a manifestation of how our budget is expended.
Our military strategy also includes defence against aggression, which is mainly premised on the "provision of self-defence in accordance to international law against external threats or aggression. Of course, this element to the ordinary citizen does not seem a tangible reality to the naked eye or non-observer of defence issues. Thus, it cannot be assumed that " There is no external threat" even if looking over the horizon, we cannot say that exist.
This means that there has to be the requisite levels and states of combat readiness, even for peace support operation missions, which the SANDF has earned the country great respect and credibility.
Another important element of the military strategic objective is the support to the people of South Africa. This is one of the most visible, a domestic Public face of the defence force, and is not limited in supporting the SAPS, in cracking down crime, but search and rescue operations, assisting relevant state departments during disaster, humanitarian support, even internationally as witnessed with the assisting the people of Madagascar when they had cyclones earlier this year, or the people of Iran during an earthquake late last year etc. The examples are numerous.
On its own, the military objectives are meaningless. They operate within the National framework as set out in the national security strategy and national defence policy. All of these and more give credence to the military strategy, as a tool to implement what has been set out in the national objectives.
As part of the national framework and service delivery to the country, defence is thus a strategic national asset, which needs to be nurtured and supported. Its capabilities enshrined within the men and women who serve, as well as its equipment, are all things, which cannot just be turned on and off, but need to be looked after. This will ensure that this and future generations to come are guaranteed of safety, security and stability.
Not all these developments can be realised without a framework, which guarantees that there is strong and effective civil oversight over the armed forces. Our parliament and national executive are but some of the facets ensuring we have such civil oversight, enshrined in the constitution and national legislation. Furthermore, the defence secretariat must ensure that it assists the established civil oversight structures and mechanisms by strengthening its capacity to do so.
RESPONSE TO OPPOSITION.
In the light of scathing attacks on the credibility of our defence force from the opposition, it is my pleasure to indicate that the strategic defence of our country and our role in the Region, continent and internationally in the attainment of peace, stability and harmony these attack, smacks of opportunism, impressionism and downright quasi-meiopic intellectualism, banked on interests of the few oppressors and exploiters of our motherland. The anachro-syndicalism in the wake of a dwindling and diminishing opposition, led by the redundant democratic alliance, does not require great attention, for their ideals fall short of informed intellectual insight and foresight.
The semantic thrash, by a neo-liberal unpatriotic formation, cannot constitute a relevant, influence in the public, even if it has managed to wood wink only 12% of the general populace. That party, with a 70 % support and 18% of the minority parties can positively contribute in making sure that our streets are safe, our country is free from external threat and Africa and the world can be assured of everlasting peace. We wish to congratulate the Sudanese people for putting ahead peace aspirations and goals, instead of war and bloodshed. We also wishes to express our condolences to the fallen patriots Rifleman M. M. Tau and R. D. Matlakaka, on the soil of the DRC, the two Peace-keeping soldiers, who became victims of an accident, upon which two soldiers died and two others were injured. May their soul rest in peace.
I therefore, wish to thank the Minister and his department for a well informed briefing in the Study Group and committee, the defence Secretary January Masilela, my Political commissor, who continues to represent the commissariat in the defence force, by consistently showing us of civilian control and oversight in the defence force last but not least, the Chief of Defence force Seneral Sphiwe Nyanda my former Chief of Staff, who helped the committee on the issues of Transformation, discipline and adherance to the National Political Agenda on the part of men and women serving inside and beyond the borders.
Cde Nyamezeni Booi, my Chairperson and childhood friend, my contemporary in the politics of COSAS and the Youth congress, for his able leadership and guidance in the committee of defence.
I thank you.