CAR fight an 'inspiration'

The gunfight in the Central African Republic that killed 12 South African soldiers has inspired more youngsters to join the army, said secretary of defence Dr Sam Gulube yesterday.

Appearing before the National Assembly's defence portfolio committee yesterday, Gulube said the battle with Seleka rebel forces had stimulated the interest of aspirant soldiers.

"On the back of the battle of Bangui, the interest of our youth in the defence force has spiked [because] when the young people hear of the heroic performance of our soldiers in the battle [they want to join]," Gulube said.

However, Gulube could not back up his claim with numbers or show how many people had approached the nationaldefence force since the Bangui battle.

Despite a public outcry over the deployment of South African troops to the Central African Republic, the department has yet to set up a formal investigation into the matter.

"We did not see a need. A formal board of inquiry is only utilised in cases of suspicion of non-compliance with applicable regulations," said Gulube.

He said an internal review had been conducted and itsreport has been presented to the Military Command Council.

But DA MP David Maynier insisted that the deployment "requires something more dramatic than an internal review".

Committee chairman and ANC MP Stanley Motimele advised Gulube not to respond to questions regarding the deployment of the troops or to say anything about the controversial landing of the Gupta plane at the Waterkloof Military Air force Base. The debate was thus limited to the 2013/2014 budget and the annual performance plan.

Gulube said the R40-billion budget had "been stripped to the bone".

MPs said the Treasury would not increase the budget until the defence review was finalised.

The last comprehensive defence review was done in 1998.

ANC MP Nyami Booi said there was no reason why the review was taking this long.

Gulube assured MPs that the review would be tabled in parliament by the end of this month.