Defence force's big border patrol bill

The Department of Defence, which already spends R900-million a year to safeguard South Africa's borders, needs more funds to enhance national border security.

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told MPs yesterday that her department needed more money to deploy additional soldiers to safeguard South Africa's border posts, a function previously discharged by the SA Police Service.

Mapisa-Nqakula said 13 SA National Defence Force companies had been deployed to provide security at several national border posts. The department was planning to increase the number to 22.

Lieutenant-General Derrick Mgwebi, the SANDF's chief of joint operations, said the R900-million was used to pay salaries and allowances and to buy equipment,including patrol vehicles.

Mapisa-Nqakula also said the SANDF was finding it difficult to retain health professionals in its ranks, especially medical doctors, who were leaving in huge numbers for better pay in private hospitals.

She said she would approach the national Treasury and the cabinet for a substantial increase in her department's budget in the next five years . The department has a budget of R42-billion for the 2014-2015 financial year.

The DA's David Maynier said his party was opposed to any move to increase the SANDF's funding.

"We are spending too much on personnel; we are spending too little on operations; and we are spending much too little on capital acquisitions," said Maynier.