Mayibongwe Maqhina|Published1 hour agoHow the SANDF plans to tackle gang violence and illegal mining with R800 million

Members of Parliament heard on Friday that the deployment of soldiers to Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape was not funded yet because the announcement was made after the budget process was finalised. The Department of Defence has requested over R800 million to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in response to escalating gang violence and illegal mining in multiple provinces. Acting Secretary of Defence Thobekile Gamede made the announcement on Friday, highlighting the urgent need for military assistance to help police tackle the country’s rising threats.

“It is almost above R800 million. It is in the employment papers that have already been submitted to the minister, and I have learnt that the employment papers are now with the president,” Gamede said. “As soon as the president signs the employment papers, those will be sent to the National Treasury,” she said, adding that Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant-General Siphiwe Sangweni has submitted a budget of R823m.

Gamede was briefing the Joint Standing Committee on Defence on the preparedness of the SANDF following the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address. Ramaphosa stated that deployment would be in Gauteng and the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape was added the following day. The Free State and North West were included during the briefing on Friday.

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Gamede told the MPs that the deployment was not funded yet because the announcement was made after the budget process was finalised. Gamede added that the National Treasury was expected to allocate additional funds in the Adjustment Budget later in the year. However, the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) allows the Finance Minister to provide emergency funding purposes in the public interest.

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