Today the full National Defence Force Service Commission (NDFSC) led by the Chairperson Mr Justice Lebotsang Bosielo met with the Minister and the Deputy Minister of Defence accompanied by the leadership of the SANDF and the Department of Defence to discuss in detail the terms of reference and the mandate of the Commission.
The Commissioners were officially briefed of the processes followed since the appointment of the Minister and the Deputy Minister to address in a comprehensive and long term approach the challenges facing the SANDF. These include improving the conditions of service of the defence force and the process to establish a permanent Commission to manage the service conditions and military relations of the SANDF.
"As the NDFSC, we have noted the steps taken by the Minister to address the conditions of service of the SANDF and we commit ourselves to address the immediate concerns and issues and make interim recommendations by end of December 2009. We will soon announce the location and contact details of our Secretariat and make public our defence sector stakeholder engagement plan. We are an independent and impartial Commission which seeks to consult with different stakeholders in the defence family and make the necessary recommendation," the Chair said.
He added that the Commission is an objective and independent Ministerial Commission tasked with specific responsibilities, terms of reference whereof include among other things:
- To investigate and make recommendations regarding remuneration and the conditions of service of members of the Defence Force. This will include:
to make recommendations to ensure that personnel procedures relating to recruitment, transfers, promotions and dismissals comply with the values and principles set out in sections 195, 198 and 200 of the Constitution and the provisions of the Defence Act and any other applicable laws and regulations.
We would like to call on all stakeholders in the South African National Defence Force family to meet with us and to share with us their experiences and contributions for us as a people to build a South African National Defence Force that we will all be proud of.
It is our view as the interim Commission that our task must translate into laying systems and structures and to provide a comprehensive solution to the challenges in relation to conditions of service and also a new dispensation for the SANDF.
"South Africans need to go to sleep knowing that they have a happy Defence Force that is ready to defend them anytime of the day, and our contribution is that of creating a happy, disciplined and professional SANDF," the Chair said.
For information contact:
Siphiwe Dlamini
Cell: 083 645 4294
Source: Department of Defence (http://www.dod.mil.za)
