A senior parliamentary oversight official has expressed support for an executive-led independent task team to address persistent governance failures, repeated adverse audit findings, and accountability concerns within the Department of Defence and Military Veterans.
Dakota Legoete, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, confirmed that the committee has reached sufficient consensus on the establishment of such a task team, following a call by Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa for an independent investigation.
Legoete emphasized that, under South Africa’s constitutional separation of powers, Parliament cannot direct the executive to create such a body. However, the committee will exercise its oversight mandate under Section 55 of the Constitution to monitor any initiative implemented at taxpayer expense. “We will not be different from any initiative from the executive to want to resolve the problems we have,” Legoete stated.
The Auditor-General’s findings on the department date back to 2006, with multiple audited action plans repeatedly unimplemented. Legoete noted the committee has submitted numerous communications to the executive and maintains a portfolio of evidence regarding concerns raised by the Auditor-General and other Chapter 9 and 10 institutions.
Among the pressing issues is a court order compelling the Department of Military Veterans to complete data-based verification of all military veterans, particularly those from non-statutory forces prior to 1994 integration, to ensure benefit delivery. Additionally, the committee highlighted billions of rands in irregular and wasteful expenditure requiring urgent corrective action.
While the portfolio committee lacks prosecutorial authority, Legoete confirmed that matters indicating potential criminality have been referred to relevant law enforcement agencies, including the Hawks, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the South African Police Service, the Auditor-General, and the National Prosecuting Authority. The committee expects regular progress updates on arrests, prosecutions, and sentences.
Legoete stressed the critical importance of maintaining integrity within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). “The National Defence Force is the first line of defense and the last line of defense. If we fail as the National Defence Force, it means the whole nation will fail,” Legoete said. The committee maintains that the SANDF must remain a institution for patriots, not a haven for criminal elements, particularly given its responsibilities involving territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sensitive security matters.
The committee awaits the formal terms of reference and powers of any proposed independent task team, as well as the necessary cabinet resolution for its establishment. In the interim, oversight efforts and referrals to law enforcement will continue.
