The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is calling on the government to halt what it described as a “mind boggling planned R372 million budget for the Defence Force Day parade and related activities” to be held next month in Thohoyandou, Limpopo.
The federation says the event is a waste of state resources, which can be better utilised to address the many pressing needs of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
COSATU’s parliamentary coordinator, Matthew Parks, cautioned that spending R372m on a one-day parade will take wasteful expenditure to new lows for the SANDF and the nation.
“This tone-deaf waste of scarce resources is an insult to the thousands of members of the SANDF who are struggling under some of the most extreme circumstances due to budget cuts and mismanagement.
SANDF peacekeeping forces deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo lost lives because of a lack of working air support and Armory.
The same peacekeeping soldiers saw the SANDF pocket half of their United Nations’ allowances, adding salt to the wound,” said Parks.
Furthermore, Parks highlighted the plight of the soldiers from SANDF bases across South Africa, who have raised concerns about deteriorating barracks, broken toilets and worn-out uniforms.
Parks added that the federation is also alarmed by more recent reports from SANDF members that they are now being reduced to one meal a day due to cost containment measures.
“Many aircraft, ships and vehicles are no longer operable due to the need for maintenance, new parts and even tyres!
Pilots and other personnel are receiving far below the minimum hours of training to maintain their operating licenses and levels of combat readiness.
The nation is facing a variety of security threats from the trafficking of people, stolen cars and drugs across our land borders to the need to protect our seas from illegal fishing by foreign and domestic vessels,” explained Parks.
According to Parks, the R372m can be far better utilised by the SANDF as part of government’s efforts to rebuild its capacity to fulfil its constitutional mandate to secure the country, ensuring that the soldiers receive their meals, live in decent barracks, receive their training and have working vehicles.
