Funding crisis: Holomisa accuses Treasury of jeopardising SANDF operations

A significant funding dispute has emerged between South Africa's Defence Department and the National Treasury, with Deputy Minister of Defence Bantu Holomisa accusing the Treasury of jeopardizing the operations of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). This issue came to light during a briefing session with the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, where Holomisa detailed concerns about delayed fund releases affecting the SANDF's ability to carry out authorized military operations. During the briefing, Holomisa outlined the deployment of the SANDF to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in maintaining law and order from June 28 to the end of July due to illegal immigration protests. He emphasized that while the deployment itself is carried out based on lawful instructions, there is a persistent challenge related to the timing of fund disbursements. According to Holomisa, although the announcement of these operations begins immediately, the actual release of required funding often lags behind, creating operational difficulties. The Defence Department informed the committee that the total budget allocated for the month-long deployment amounted to R54.6 million. Of this sum, R20.4 million was designated for soldier salaries, while R34.1 million covered goods and services. Lieutenant-General Siphiwe Sangweni, the SANDF Chief of Joint Operations, explained that the funding for this deployment would be treated as unforeseen expenditure under the broader Operation Prosper allocation. Efforts to clarify the funding situation led to questions from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament Carl Niehaus, who expressed concern over why the R54.6 million was not sourced from the R600 million specifically allocated to address challenges by March. His inquiry highlighted potential discrepancies in how funds are managed and utilized for such operations. ANC Member of Parliament Tshilidzi Munyai voiced deep concern over the National Treasury's failure to fulfill its role in ensuring proper fiscal management for constitutionally mandated military actions. He argued that national security should not be compromised by bureaucratic delays and stressed that the Treasury's responsibility is to facilitate rather than hinder government decisions, particularly those made by the head of state. Holomisa reiterated that the Defence Department cannot sustainably divert resources from existing programs to cover costs associated with authorized deployments. He warned that such practices risk exposing the department to adverse audit outcomes and suggested that the committee should work with the Portfolio Committee on Finance, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Treasury to establish a more reliable funding framework for future SANDF operations. In response to Holomisa's statements, Co-chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence Phiroane Phala acknowledged the concerns raised and indicated that the committee would take steps to address them. She emphasized the importance of engaging with relevant financial committees to resolve ongoing issues related to funding for military operations. Dakota Legoete, chairperson of the Defence and Military Veteran Portfolio Committee, confirmed plans for a meeting involving the National Treasury, the Standing Committee on Appropriations, and Scopa by the end of August. This meeting aims to collaboratively tackle the recurring challenges faced in securing timely and adequate funding for authorized SANDF deployments. As discussions unfold, the focus remains on finding a sustainable solution to ensure that the SANDF can effectively perform its duties without being hampered by financial constraints.