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1. Legislation

* Defence Bill
This is a major piece of legislation, which aims to regulate the defence function. Discussions by the Portfolio Committee started on this Bill last year and will continue this parliamentary session. This Bill had to go back to the Department for some changes to align it with the Public Finance Management Act. The Committee will be examining these amendments

* NCACC Bill
This Bill is intended to establish the National Conventional Arms Control Committee as a legal body. The Committee (NCACC) controls the services and brokering of conventional arms. The Portfolio Committee on Defence called for public input late last year, which was received, and a working group set up to look into the inputs. The working group has reported to the Portfolio Committee who is considering the amendments.

* Defence Acquisition Bill
The Bill will replace the current Armaments Development and Production Act, 1968. It is aimed to align the Bill with current national and defence policy, which pronounces on the role, function, accountability, management and operations of the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor). The Bill will be tabled at Cabinet during the second quarter of 2002

* Military Discipline Bill.
The Bill consolidates various separate legislative instruments such as the Military Discipline Supplementary Measures Act, 1999, Chapter XI of the Defence Act, 1957 as well as the First schedule to the Defence Act. The Bill is also intended to obviate future constitutional challenges by eliminating those provisions of current legislation not in line with the Constitution. It is planned to present the Bill to Cabinet towards the end of the first quarter

* Prohibition of Anti Personnel Mines Bill
The Bill aims to give effect to The Mines Ban Treaty to which the RSA is a part. It is intended to provide for appropriate legal and administrative measures to suppress any activity that may be in contravention of provisions of the Treaty. The Bill also prescribes penal sanctions against those who contravene or who engage in prohibited activities. It is planned to table the Bill at Cabinet during the first quarter of 2002.

2. Transformation and Departmental priorities

* Strategic packages
These are on track. Cabinet is taking note of all the recommendations made in the joint investigation.

* Foundation training
This was very successful last year and we will be continuing with this training of our youth from disadvantaged communities. Last year 166 learners were accepted of whom 137 successfully completed the programme. 115 of these have been accepted into the SANDF.

* Strengthening of Defence Secretariat.
The effective functioning of the Defence Secretariat is central to the work of the Department. This must be seen as a Constitutional commitment

* Reserve Force and Commandos
A fully functioning Reserve Force is central to the concept of a core force as set out in the Defence Review. We have embarked this year on a process to organise this and as a step in that direction I will be visiting various Commando units in the Northern Province and Mpumalanga in the next few weeks.

* We will be intensifying our programme on HIV/AIDS awareness in the SANDF

* With regard to transformation, the rationalisation process will be carefully planned and will ensure that SANDF members who are demobilised will be absorbed into the SAPS, government structures and parastatals. Discussions with other relevant Departments are in progress.

3. Regional commitments

* NEPAD
Defence efforts will be put behind NEPAD. This entails a common understanding on the continent, of the need for strong civil military relations as fundamental to the working of a democratic state.

We will be promoting international security through participation in peace operations and military co-operation in support of our foreign policy goals

We will be promoting regional security through defence co-operation within the SADC framework. This encompasses intensive work with ISDSC.

The changing regional situation requires close consultation and networking in the defence environment.

We must build the capacity of regional organisations to manage security organisations and processes

* SADC Mutual Defence Pact - working towards its finalisation before Heads of State Summit in July for it to be signed.

Issued by Ministry of Defence

13 February 2002