DA demands that defence minister reports to Parliament

By Johnathan Paoli

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called out Defence Minister Angie Motshekga on her failure to provide a long-awaited report concerning transparency and accountability within her department, following the Auditor-General’s recent damning report.

DA security and justice committee member, Nicholas Gotsell, said on Thursday that he has formally reached out to the National Council of Provinces chair Refile Mtsweni-Tsipane, urging her to ensure that the minister fulfils her obligation to report to Parliament.

“The DA insists that immediate accountability is crucial for the safety and security of the nation,” Gotsell said.

During a NCOP session early last month, Motshekga faced tough questioning from the DA regarding the state of the SA National Defence Force.

She dismissed concerns raised by the party as “exaggeration”, despite clear evidence presented by Gotsell from a recent oversight visit.

Gotsell pointed out that the South African Navy currently has no combat-ready vessels and