Darren wrote:
As I'm partially responsible for this thread going so far off-topic, let me clarify:
My frustration with Maynier is not because he criticizes the SANDF, rather it's that he plays to the crowd and condemns the popular stuff rather than holding the SANDF to account for the things it really does screw up.
The SANDF today does a remarkable job despite challenges, but nobody can deny that it could be much, much better. In many units discipline and leadership are non-existent, political appointees pollute many positions and procurement is an unholy mess.
So the SANDF faces both serious external pressure, such as inflation and the inadequate budget, but also serious internal pressure largely of its own making. It would be counter-productive to complain only about the external pressures without trying to fix the internal problems as well.
Maynier has an incredibly important position as the Opposition's Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans because not only does he have the ear of the general public but he's the only powerful opposition politician in a position to conduct real oversight over the SANDF.
Yet if you look at the releases he has issued over the years there's almost nothing about real ongoing internal problems, no discussion or seeming interest in Defence policy, no questioning of capacity vs requirement. Instead, with the exception of his justifiable targeting of the Minister on VIP flights they're mostly cheap shots that get the public sending outraged letters but do nothing to change the situation. For instance the valid criticisms that Römer-Heitman makes should be followed up to their conclusion by Maynier.
I don't want to suggest that Maynier himself is a bad guy, because he's incredibly sharp and could be very effective in another role such as highlighting ANC corruption. He's just not well-suited to his present position and should be replaced by somebody with more domain knowledge if the DA is both serious about proving its capacity to govern and exercising proper oversight of the Defence Force.
None of this excuses the ANC for its woeful mismanagement, of course. I'd love to see a new Shadow Minister expose just how badly the ANC has been running the SANDF by underfunding it, interfering in appointments and training and demanding deployments regardless of capacity, amongst other things.
Well siad. SANDF have a host of real problems. Most can sorted out with out any money at all. Exampil the Tender issues. This is draining the deffense budget and waist time. The SANDF should be exempt from the tender program.
Or base maintaince. Let the SANDF handle it with out the DPW. Getting rid of the middel man has such.
Procurment. All though saucepan has finally got money and BIRO is going to select there ships this year there are many urgent problems that have come about due to the messed up procurments.
Cass in point a new transport aircraft. Fine we canceled the A400M now let just buy somthing.
Instead of going on about sytems in storge that we can afford not have (gripens, tanks, rooikats extra) let's focuse on what we have lost but actualy need (C160, Seeker400, extra)
We should increase the speed at witch we deploy troops to the border and increase the numbers that are sent to the kruger park. We basical fighting a COIN war there. Just instead of planting mines they stealling rhino horns. SANDF should respond has if it is a war. I doubt even the DA would complian if we spent a billion rand to protect the park.
Pollitcal appoinments are a waist of money. To many genrails actually do nothing but get paued money for what there second in command dose.