Latest news with #R813
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Parliamentary row erupts over R813m in SANDF troop allowances for DRC mission
The DA has written to Parliament's presiding officers to demand that the Joint Standing Committee on Defence's co-chairpersons immediately convene a meeting where Defence Minister Angie Motshekga can account for what happened to the R813 million in allowances for soldiers deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Image: SANDF / Facebook The DA is standing its ground after it came under criticism from Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and the ANC over the R813 million in allowances for SANDF members. This comes after DA MP Nicholas Gotsell earlier this week accused Joint Standing Committee on Defence co-chairperson Malusi Gigaba of shielding Motshekga from accounting for the R813 million in allowances for the SANDF members who were deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Gotsell said Gigaba refused to call Motshekga, whom he said was silent on the 'missing or unaccounted' R813m allocated to the payment of SANDF deployment allowances. He also said that after initially agreeing to write to Motshekga for answers, Gigaba made a sudden U-turn and blocked the committee from acting. 'This came just days after Minister Motshekga issued a press statement bemoaning the DA's oversight,' said Gotsell, whose party has reported the matter to House Chairperson Cedric Frolick. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Gigaba said Gotsell's allegations were unfounded, disingenuous, and illogical. 'While Mr Gotsell is free to escalate any matter to the National Assembly hierarchy, he is not entitled to make baseless, illogical, and false claims. Openness and accountability are the bedrock of the committee's work. The chairperson does not make unilateral decisions but acts in consultation and by consensus with all committee members,' he said. Gigaba explained that meetings had been held following the deaths of 14 SANDF soldiers in the DRC, and an engagement had been held about the withdrawal plan from the war-torn country. He said the committee had agreed that upon completion of the withdrawal, a comprehensive report on the deployment would be tabled in Parliament. Gigaba also said that due to this year's unprecedented budget process, the committee had to defer its meetings to allow space for the process to be finalised. He said the committee was committed to a considered and thorough review of the DRC deployment. 'This commitment remains unchanged, and the review will be scheduled once the report is available. It is on this basis that making unfounded and disingenuous claims is both counterproductive and irrational.' ANC study group's Thokozile Sokhanyile lashed out at Gotsell, saying his claims were baseless and disconnected from facts. Sokhanyile said the committee's work was informed by collective decisions and guided by a commitment to transparency, oversight, and accountability. She echoed Gigaba's sentiments that the committee held meetings, and it was agreed that a comprehensive report would be submitted to Parliament after the withdrawal is concluded. 'Mr Gotsell, as a participant in these meetings, is fully aware of this collective decision,' Sokhanyile said, adding that the committee had to adjust its schedule due to the budget process and coordinating meetings required alignment across both Houses of Parliament. In her response, Motshekga said she has consistently honoured her obligations to Parliament, including regular engagements with the Joint Standing Committee on Defence and other oversight structures. She also said some portfolio committee meetings have coincided with scheduled Cabinet and its cluster meetings. 'I have always respected the oversight role of Parliament and remain fully committed to transparency and accountability. Where I am unable to attend due to Executive obligations, proper procedures are followed, and appropriate representation is ensured. It is regrettable that some seek to distort this commitment for political point-scoring,' said Motshekga. But Gotsell insisted that Motshekga gave Parliament the cold shoulder. He maintained that she infrequently attended meetings and was shielded from scrutiny by Gigaba, who had promised to write to the minister about the troop allowance. 'Motshekga and Gigaba believe this does not deserve urgent accountability before Parliament... Minister Motshekga's absence is not just a scheduling issue - it is a dereliction of duty.'
Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Defence co-chair Gigaba rejects claims of shielding Motshekga from accountability
CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) parliamentary caucus has refuted allegations that Joint Standing Committee on Defence co-chairperson, Malusi Gigaba, is shielding Minister Angie Motshekga from accountability. The ANC study group on defence and military veterans has rallied behind Gigaba, saying the allegations made by the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Nicholas Gotsell, regarding the R813 million allocated for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployment allowances are unfounded. Gotsell said this week that Motshekga has not been to Parliament to account for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) deployment for months, and she is being shielded from accounting by the joint committee. The National Council of Provinces member on Security and Justice, Gotsell, has written to the National Assembly to escalate what he calls the failure of the committee to hold a meeting to get to the bottom of what happened to the missing R813 million, which is unaccounted for by the SANDF.
IOL News
22-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
ActionSA calls for fiscal discipline as South Africa spends R3.45 billion on foreign missions
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has criticised wasteful foreign mission spending, and has called for urgent fiscal discipline in South Africa. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has expressed concern over South Africa's wasteful spending on foreign missions, revealing that the country spent R3.45 billion in the 2023/24 financial year on maintaining 115 embassies, high commissions, and consulates worldwide. Mashaba emphasised the need for urgent fiscal discipline and a comprehensive review of these operations to ensure taxpayer money is being used effectively. According to a parliamentary reply obtained by ActionSA, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) allocated significant amounts across various regions, with R950 million in Africa, R900 million in Asia and the Middle East, R813 million in Europe, R465 million in the Americas, and R325 million on global governance and multilateral missions. However, no system is in place to assess the cost effectiveness of these missions, raising concerns about wasteful spending. Among the most concerning revelations were embassies in countries where South Africa has limited or no strategic or trade relations. For instance, the South African embassy in Bangui, Central African Republic, cost taxpayers R25.7 million, while missions in Nouakchott (Mauritania) and Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) amounted to R16.1 million and R15.6 million, respectively.
