The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has called for better coordination and improved lines of communication between government and the defence industry to enhance business opportunities and enable the industry to contribute to the growth of the South African economy.
The committee also said a healthy and productive defence industry would enhance capabilities currently available to the South African National Defence Force and enable it to more effectively implement its constitutional mandate.
The committee received a presentation from the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association on the industry’s challenges and opportunities, it said on November 4.
The committee noted that it was disappointed to hear that not much had changed in resolving challenges facing the industry. The committee’s concerns were based on the negative impact on the industry’s ability to participate and compete in a highly competitive international defence industry, which undermined the ability of the industry to contribute meaningfully to the growth of gross domestic product.
“It is extremely disappointing that South Africa’s Aerospace and Defence Masterplan has not been meaningfully implemented. Once again, we are faced with an impressive plan on paper and implementation remains our Achilles heel. We need to resolve this urgently,” said committee co-chairperson Cyril Xaba.
He said the commitment by both industry and Defence Minister Thandi Modise to hold the delayed defence industry lekgotla – council in English – is reassuring in that it indicates stakeholders are committed to cooperation and resolving challenges to unleash the economic potential of the industry.
The committee said it would monitor the implementation of this commitment to hold the lekgotla by March 2023.
The committee remains concerned that there is frustration with the delay in procession permits, which leads to reputational damage for South African companies. The committee has also called for clarity on the implementation of an electronic application platform, which might reduce the constraints within the system.
There is general agreement on the need to review the National Conventional Arms Control Act to bring it in line with the changed environment and the export outlook of the industry in recent times.
The committee has emphasised the need for collaboration to ensure that the industry and the entire defence value chain is beneficial to the country.