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I. INTRODUCTION

MADAME SPEAKER,
HONORABLE MEMBERS,

It gives me great pleasure to move the motion which stands in my name, and I would like to add a few remarks.

Last week, Cabinet approved the final stage of our Defence Review which has also been endorsed by our Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Defence.

Thus bringing to a conclusion an historic process, initiated in 1996, following Government and Parliament's approval of our White Paper.

By adopting the motion before you today, this House will place the final seal of approval on an unparalleled nation effort in the history of Defence in South Africa.

The process which has brought us to this point has been a remarkably consultative one.

II. THE DEFENCE REVIEW PROCESS

It was run by a Defence Review Workgroup with numerous sub-committees which compromised of:

Parliamentarians, Defence analysts, members of civil society, and senior staff of the Department of Defence - working under the direction of my deputy Minister and myself.

We convened three enormously successful National Consultative Conferences, a Special Conference on the issue of liability to serve, and a series of provincial workshops.

Parliamentary Public Hearings were also held under the auspices of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.

These events drew an unprecedented range of stakeholders and interest groups.

The inputs from different quarters led to robust debate, and enriched the final product.

The Review that we endorse today is part of an historic process of transformation of our country and our National Defence Force.

Much work and many challenges lie ahead.

But we are determined to ensure the successful transformation of Defence for the benefit of all our people and our country.

The consensus we have built - and must continue to build - will help us achieve those goals.

The Defence Review and the White Paper will be printed in a special commemorative edition with suitable illustrations and photographs.

We will launch this at an event in Parliament at the end of July this year, and it will give me great pleasure to see you all at that occasion.

III. CONCLUSION

MADAM SPEAKER, In conclusion, I wish to thank all those who made the Defence Review possible.

Amongst them, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee, Mr. Tony Yengeni, and all members of his committee.

As well as all the members of the Defence Review Work Group - convened by Dr. Rocky Williams - for their sterling effort.

I commend this motion and call on this House to adopt it.

THE END.

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