Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

Large chunk of security budget promised

THE SANDF would receive a sizeable chunk of the security budget for contingency planning ahead of the World Cup in spite of having been overlooked when the 2010 budget was first divided up, said Defence Minister Charles Nqakula.

Speaking in Cape Town this week, Nqakula said although there was no allocated SANDF budget for 2010, he was “discussing” the matter with the National Treasury, and the SANDF would be allocated “a sizeable share” soon.

Nqakula’s statement came after the SANDF failed to receive a single cent from the budget to help with security at next year’s soccer tournament.

Ministerial spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi told the Cape Argus that the SANDF had been somewhat overlooked when the 2010 security budget had been divided, with the majority going to the police.

“At the moment, the minister is discussing this matter with National Treasury,” said Mkhwanazi.

“We can’t disclose the exact amount that we will be allocated, but the minister has indicated that it will be a sizeable amount.”

The revelation that the SANDF had no 2010 budget was made by the defence force’s chief of joint operations, Lieutenant-General Themba Matanzima, in a briefing to the media last month.

He said the SANDF needed about R350 million for its contingency planning budget to help it secure the international soccer showpiece.

It is not known why the defence force has not yet been allocated part of the 2010 security budget, the majority of which is believed to be earmarked for specialised equipment and logistics needed for operations.

The SANDF is expected to protect the country’s skies and coast, assist the police when necessary and man joint operation control centres for both the Confederations Cup and next year’s Fifa World Cup.

In his 2009 Budget speech Finance Minister Trevor Manuel repeated the government’s commitment to making additional policing capacity available during the World Cup.

This would also be used to “increase safety and security presence at border posts”, said Manuel.

The SAPS will spend|R640m on the deployment of 41 000 officers specifically for the event and R665m on the|procurement of special|equipment.