FY2006/07 to FY2008/09 - Department of Defence

forewordFOREWORD BY THE SECRETARY FOR DEFENCEAND THE CHIEF OF THESOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCEPRESENTED TO THE MINISTER OF DEFENCEbuilding a SouthAfrica that trulybelongs to allDEPARTMENT:DEFENCEStrategic overviewand key policydevelopmentsThe Strategic BusinessPlan of the Departmentof Defence for the financialyears 2006 to 2008 ispresented herewith. Theplan details how theDOD wifi achieve thedefence strategic objectives of meetingordered commitments, providing capabilities,and ensuring sound adininistrationand management of the Department.In particular the plan addressesthe achievement of the three militarystrategic objectives: enhancing andmaintaining comprehensive defencecapabilities, promoting peace, securityand stability in the region and on thecontinent and supporting the people ofSouth Africa.Key policy and strategic direction willbe provided by the update of the WhitePaper on Defence (1996) and theDefence Review (1998). The WhitePaper gives guidance on conductingdefence in a democracy and the defencereview details the required force designand structure. Global developmentsand subsequent changes in legislation,such as the Public Finance ManagementAct (1999) and the Defence Act (2002),require that both documents be updat-ed to reflect changing legal obligations.The update will be completed during2006. A comprehensive study on organisationalstructures and processes is stillto be done with a view to improving theproductivity, affordability and sustainabilityof the Departments operations.The outcome may result in organisationalrestructuring and a concomitantimpact on the Joint Support programme'sbudget in particular. The impacton the budget would be visible inFY2006/07. The growing threat of globalterrorism has necessitated a reviewand update of the Regulation of ForeignMilitary Assistance Act (1998). Theamendments, made in consultationwith various stakeholders and roleplayers,are currently before Parliament.From April 2006 the Departmentof Public Works will devolve its maintenance,property rates, municipal serviceand leasing budgets to national departments.The Department will thus beaccountable for R3,3 billion over the2006 medium-term expenditure framework(MTEF) period and this will createthe capability to fully implement thesefunctions.The Department’s human resourcesstrategy for 2010 focuses on rejuvenatingthe human resources of the SouthAfrican National Defence Force(SANDF), and the military skills developmentsystem (MSDS) is pivotal toS T R A T E G I C B U S I N E S S P L A N F Y 2 0 0 6 / 0 7 T O 2 0 0 8 / 0 9vii