Defence Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa on Wednesday responded to oral questions in the National Assembly. Deputy Minister for Defence Bantu Holomisa addressed critical concerns raised by Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese, the Chief of the South African Navy, regarding the navy’s status and defence capabilities. Holomisa, responding to questions posed by ANC MP Dakota Legoete in the National Assembly, confirmed that various governance structures have been established to ensure the effective management and expression of these concerns.
Holomisa mentioned the Military Command, the Military Command Council and the Secretariat Council and Defence Staff Council. “These are bodies which bring together senior leadership of the National Defence Force. Recently, the department has reiterated to all services and divisions the importance of utilising these platforms fully, both to maintain institutional integrity and also to ensure that funding and state of readiness of our defence force is attended to,” he said in response.
EFF MP Carl Niehaus asked why Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, instead of meaningfully engaging with the very serious concerns and frustration raised by Lobese, had chosen to threaten him with disciplinary action. In his response, Holomisa said Motshekga has already started the process to consult on the issue of disciplinary action against the navy boss. He said the disciplining of Lobese depended on Motshekga and the commander-in-chief, President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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“Until such time that they had engaged him, we will not be in a position to respond to your question, because now if I attempt to address that question, it will be like I am basing my answer on high level gossip.” However, Holomisa said there were certain issues Lobese raised that had also been highlighted previously by the department. “We cannot deny that some of the issues, if not all, which have been raised by the Chief of Navy, have reached this institution for many years.” Holomisa mentioned the issue of underfunding of the defence, saying in 1998, a decision was taken by Parliament to no longer invest in military security but more on social security.
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