HAVE YOUR SAY

Date of Release: 29 June 2010

BYLINE: Mr MS Booi, MP and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans
Photos:

Call for Submissions on the Defence Amendment Bill [B11-2010]

The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans invites interested persons and stakeholders to submit written comments on the Defence Amendment Bill [B11-2010].

The Defence Amendment Bill [B11-2010] seeks to:

• Ensure that Reserve Force members can be utilised and required to perform service in the Defence Force at all times, including peacetimes, and
• Establish a permanent Defence Force Service Commission – a body that will advise the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans on the improvement of conditions of service of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

Interested stakeholders and persons are also invited to submit written comments on the proposed inclusion of an additional clause in the Defence Amendment Bill that will provide for the inclusive definition of “Military Command”. Section 202(1) of the South African Constitution (1996) requires the President to appoint the “Military Command of the Defence Force”. The Defence Act (No 42 of 2002), however, does not define the concept “Military Command”; instead, sections 7(1) and 13(1) of the Defence Act only stipulates the appointment of the Secretary of Defence and the Chief of the SANDF by the President. An inclusive definition of the Military Command is therefore proposed, to include the appointment of the Chiefs of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Medical Health Services, Defence Intelligence and Joint Operations to this structure.

Submissions and enquiries must be directed to Mandy Balie, the Committee Secretary and addressed to the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, 3rd Floor, 90 Plein Street, Cape Town 8000, e-mailed to mbalie@parliament.gov.za or faxed to 086 540 2500, by no later than 16 July 2010. Please indicate your interest in making a verbal presentation.

Copies of the Bill may be obtained from either Mandy Balie: 021 403-3673 or 083 709 8431 or on the Parliamentary website at www.parliament.gov.za