defenceWeb
Written by defenceWeb -
Training with live ammunition.
Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentarian and eagle-eyed watcher of Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakulaâs Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoDMV) Kobus Marais is adamant inappropriate and incorrect priorities along with a lack of operational and political leadership are at the core of South Africaâs declining defence capabilities.
Responding to the Ministerial introduction to the defence and military veterans budget vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Marais pointed to five specific examples of budget cuts which adversely affect the operational abilities of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).
They are a 16% reduction in funding for the landward force, an almost 24% reduction for air defence, 17% less money for maritime defence, 16% less for military healthcare and a 36% reduction in budget for defence intelligence. These and other reduced allocations mean the national defence budget is
Aerospace and Defence Masterplan identifies short-term revenue opportunities
Written by Guy Martin -
G6 self-propelled howitzers in action.
The Aerospace and Defence Masterplan document has identified a number of pending export opportunities that could begin to generate revenues within 18 months for the South African industry.
In Oman, there is a potential R18 billion contract for upgrading existing G6 self-propelled howitzers, and supplying additional G6s and establishing a local maintenance and training facility.
Half of the Pakistan Army’s requirement for truck-mounted guns has gone to Norinco (China) but the remaining half is still potentially available for Denel, given government to government intervention. This would be worth some R7 billion, with the first revenue flowing within 18 months.
Gordhan must answer to Parliament over Denel’s involvement in Yemeni war
Issued by Michele Clarke MP – Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises
02 May 2021 in News
The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises to request that Minister Pravin Gordhan appear before Parliament to answer for the role of Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) in the humanitarian civil war in Yemen.
In addition, we want the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NACC) and the Directorate of the Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) to appear alongside Gordhan.
In a recent report by Open Secrets, titled “Profiting from Misery – South Africa’s war crimes in Yemen”, it was revealed that RDM might have profited off the Yemeni humanitarian crisis by the sale of weapons to parties central in the conflict.
Yemen. Photo: iStockPhoto
The DA says it will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises to request that Minister Pravin Gordhan appear before Parliament to answer for the role of Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) in the humanitarian civil war in Yemen, a war that has left at least 12 million children requiring humanitarian aid.
“In addition, we want the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NACC) and the Directorate of the Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) to appear alongside Gordhan,” Michele Clarke, Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, said in a statement on Sunday.
Profiting from Misery – South Africa’s War Crimes in Yemen
defenceWeb
Written by defenceWeb -
President Cyril Ramaphosa.
She might no longer be active in board level affairs of Denel following her resignation as chair two months ago, but Monhla Hlahla remains a member the Presidential State-owned Enterprises Council (PSEC).
A defenceWeb enquiry to Tyrone Seale, acting spokesperson to President Cyril Ramaphosa, brought the response that “Hlahla remains a member of the Council”.
Hlahla was named a PSEC councillor in June last year along with nine others. They are Joel Netshitenzhe, Executive Director and Board Vice-Chair of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA); Vusi Khanyile, Thebe Investments chair; Michael Sachs, Wits University adjunct professor; Marion Marole, non-executive director MTN Group and Development Bank of SA; Bajabulile Tshabalala, vice president finance and Chief Financial Officer at African Development Bank; Sipho Nkosi, Sanlam director; Kandimathie Ramon, Anglo Gold Ashanti Chief Financial Offi