Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Bantu Holomisa, has formally requested the establishment of an independent task team to investigate persistent governance failures, recurring adverse audit findings, and accountability challenges within the Department of Defence and Military Veterans.
The call was made in a letter addressed to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans. In subsequent remarks, Holomisa elaborated on the concerns outlined in his correspondence.
Holomisa stated that over the past four to five years, the department has consistently received adverse audit outcomes from the Auditor-General. He noted that the Auditor-General has repeatedly expressed disagreement with the department’s responses to these findings, and that these unresolved matters have since been escalated to both Parliament and the public.
“There might be a need to establish a task team simply to investigate the recurring audit adverse findings and also the governance failures which we have been witnessing since we came into that department,” Holomisa said.
He highlighted additional contextual challenges, noting that the former minister of the department is still facing serious corruption charges, and that several senior officers have been suspended. Holomisa also pointed out that the department’s audit committee has expressed frustration over not receiving adequate responses to queries, and that the department currently lacks the necessary tools to conduct internal investigations.
A significant operational concern raised by the Deputy Minister is the existence of 27 vacant senior management positions across the department, including the critical role of Chief Audit Executive. Holomisa emphasized that the appointment of such key personnel falls under the responsibility of the Director-General (DG), and questioned why these vacancies have persisted amid ongoing audit challenges.
He clarified that the department has operated under an acting DG for approximately three years, but confirmed that a new Secretary for Defence— a position equivalent to DG—has recently been appointed. Other vacant posts have been advertised, with hopes they will be filled promptly.
Holomisa stressed that the proposed task team must be independent and led by qualified, competent individuals. He expressed concern that perceived incompetence has contributed to damaging the reputation of the South African National Defence Force.
“When you read about articles in newspapers, people saying the defence force is corrupt, they’ve stolen money—and the President himself has even signed a proclamation to say let us investigate corruption within the defence force—that is not good,” Holomisa stated. “We don’t need to be associated with corruption, at least in that profession.”
While the specific structure of the proposed task team was not finalized, Holomisa indicated it should be headed by individuals with the requisite expertise to ensure a thorough and credible investigation.
The discussion was concluded prematurely due to technical connectivity issues.
