Met die swaard van regstellende aksie oor hul koppe is daar geen manier om te verwag dat wittes hulle sonder enige loopbaanvooruitsigte by die SA Nasionale Weermag (SANW) sal aansluit nie, sê dr. Pieter Groenewald, die VF Plus se hoofwoordvoerder oor verdediging.
Dr. Groenewald het vandag met die departement van verdediging en militêre veterane se begrotingsrede in reaksie op die minister se uitlating dat daar ‘n dringende behoefte aan wit weermaglede is, gesê regstellende aksie (RA) moet afgeskaf word om wittes weer na die weermag terug te lok.
Oor die weermag se begroting het dr. Groenewald gesê die VF Plus vra al sedert 2004 sonder sukses dat die begroting vergroot moet word. Daar is tans weer ‘n mediumtermyn-begrotingstekort van R5 miljard.
Hy sê die VF Plus sal die begroting nie steun indien ‘n nuwe straler vir die president gekoop word nie. Indien net die straler gekanselleer word, spaar die departement reeds R4,3 miljard van die R5 miljard wat hy benodig.
“Een van die groot probleme in die weermag is dissipline. Verlede jaar is twee soldate wat waggestaan het by die Tempe-militêre basis in Bloemfontein, oorval en beroof deur twee rowers met messe.
“Dit was ‘n klassieke geval van iemand wat met ‘n mes by ‘n geweergeveg opgedaag het en boonop gewen het. Hulle het twee R4-gewere, ‘n radio, en sestig rondes lewendige ammunisie geroof omdat soldate geslaap het toe hulle moes waghou.
“Ek het aan die minister geskrewe vrae hieroor gevra (vrae en antwoorde hierby aangeheg). Ons weet egter steeds nie wat met daardie twee wagte gebeur het nie.
“Hulle, en inderdaad die weermag, dra by tot misdaad. Hierdie wapens kan in misdaad en plaasaanvalle gebruik word. Indien dit wel die geval is, is die weermag medepligtig, en behoort daar ‘n eis teen hom ingestel te word.
“Dissipline sal net verbeter as daar opgetree word teen oortreders. Dié twee skutters behoort sonder meer geskors te word uit die weermag.
“Ek het die minister ook ‘n geskrewe vraag gevra oor haar stelling dat uitgaande wit personeellede in die lugmag vliegtuie gesteel het en dat opleiding daarom nie behoorlik gedoen kan word nie (vrae en antwoorde hierby aangeheg).
“Die minister weet tog dis nie waar nie. Hoe op aarde steel iemand ‘n vliegtuig sonder dat teen hom opgetree word?
“Daar is tans gerugte dat die weermag die helfte van sy Pilatus P7 Merk 2’-vliegtuie wil verkoop. Dit maak nie sin nie aangesien die vliegtuie juis voor 1994 reeds aangekoop is om vir basiese vliegopleiding gebruik te word in die plek van die ou Harvards en Impala’s,” sê dr. Groenewald.
Kontaknommers: 083 627 4397 / 083 419 5403
Vraag 1. (Tempe-voorval)
1149. Dr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:†
(1) Whether the commission of inquiry into the incident during which two guards who were attacked by two robbers with knives at the Tempe military base in Bloemfontein in August 2015 and subsequently robbed of their R5 assault firearms has been concluded; if not, why not; if so what were the findings of the specified commission;
(2) (a) what progress the Milatry Police have made in this regard and (b) whether (i) the R5 assault rifles have been recovered and (ii) anyone has been arrested in this regard;
(3) whether she will make a statement on the matter? NW1287E
REPLY;
The Board of Inquiry 12/15 conducted by SA Army Support Base Bloemfontein was completed on 13 October 2015.
FINDINGS OF THE BOARD
(1) Circumstances that caused the loss of 2x weapons (R4’s) and equipment (radio, 2x magazines, 2x weapon belts, 2x lanyards and 60 rounds)
The guards were on official duty when the incident occurred but they were asleep on guard duty. The loss of the weapons and equipment can be contributed to negligence, a lack of discipline and neglect to obey orders and instructions. Security fence, cameras and security lights around the warehouse were not up to standard. The guards did not adhere to the orders of the Adjutant. The guard commander did not post the two guards (Private’s Sam and Mdayi) on 232400B Aug 15 but they were posted by the driver. The training of Protection Services Guards were not up to standard.
Who was responsible for the loss?
02047744 MC Private S. Sam and 08415176 MC Private L.B. Mdayi.
The consequences that it may have for the SANDF
The upgrading of security measures. The development of a specific training program for Protection Services members. The loss of weapons and equipment of R18,483.20.
(2) No suspects have been identified thus far.
(3) No
Vraag 2. (‘Gesteelde’ vliegtue)
618. Dr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:†
(1) With reference to her reply to question 5 for oral reply in the National Council of Provinces on 23 February 2016 that pilots were unable to fly sufficient flight hours because retiring members had stolen aircraft, (a) what types of aircraft were stolen, (b) how many of each type of aircraft were stolen, (c) when they were stolen and (d) who were the members who allegedly stole them;
(2) whether any steps were taken against the members who allegedly stole the aircraft; if not, why not; if so, (a) when and (b) what was the result;
(3) whether she will make a statement about the matter? NW731E
REPLY:
In this context, stolen refers to premature phasing-out of systems type aircraft by donating to the museums or selling thus limiting the SAAF to build capacity.
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