To secure funding for ad hoc deployments by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the Joint Standing Committee for Defence has moved to approach National Treasury to examine the potential of an up-front allocation of funds as a contingency.

The committee met with senior SANDF leaders to get an appraisal of ad hoc deployments and how it affects SANDF funding. 

It argued that the delay in releasing funds for these types of deployments had a negative effect on planned operations and cash flow management.

“It is for this reason that it might be prudent to engage the National Treasury to investigate if it is possible, as guided by the Public Finance Management Act, to create such reserve funds to ameliorate the cash flow challenges,” asserted committee chairperson Cyril Xaba.

Given the reality that ad hoc deployments take place with higher regularity, the committee cautioned that the depletion of the baseline allocation of funds would likely occur and be detrimental to the effective implementation of SANDF operations.

An evaluation of the scale of expenditure against the reimbursements made to the SANDF was critical in determining whether South African taxpayers must offset some of the costs for deployments, “especially outside South Africa”, Xaba stated. 

Understanding that the departments of Health, Water and Sanitation and Police were supported by the SANDF, the Committee opined that those departments should reimburse the SANDF for their services.

This stance was aimed at strengthening and safeguarding the strategic capabilities and effective provisioning of support to the SANDF. 

The committee's welcomed the R1-billion allocated to strengthen the country’s airlift transport capability, R700-million for the procurement of helicopters, vehicles and technology for border safeguarding and over R1-billion for the midlife upgrade of the South African Navy’s frigates and submarines over the medium-term economic framework.

The committee was cognizant of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s letter highlighting the authorisation of SANDF members to assist the South African Police Service in protecting Eskom power stations around the country.

The R206 031 240 deployment ran from December 16, 2022 to March 16, 2023 and was deemed to be in the best interests of the country by the committee as it endeavours to guarantee security and efficiency.