Minister could ground the South African Air Force from lack of action
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, must break her silence and explain how her department are going to deal with the possible catastrophic impact of the cancellation of the Denel/Aero Manpower Group (AMG) contract.
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is set to lose 523 aircraft specialists due to the cancellation of the Denel/AMG contract.
Denel/AMG have for the last few years been providing personnel to maintain and repair the aircraft belonging to the SAAF, including the Squadron 21 (VIP squadron), which operates military aircraft for President Jacob Zuma.
The 523 personnel include:
- Avionicians (responsible for repair and maintenance of mechanical, technical, electrical, electronic and digital instruments);
- Radartricians and radioticians (responsible for repair and maintenance of aircraft communication, navigation and related systems);
- Flight engineers; and
- Aircraft inspectors
The impact of the retrenchment of the 523 Denel/AMG employees could therefore be catastrophic for the SAAF.
The SAAF have not so far as we are aware provided a contingency plan when the contract comes to an end on 31 March 2012.
It is also unclear as to whether the SAAF plans on hiring back any of the retrenched personnel or who will take responsibility for paying severance packages. One of the unions representing half of the employees estimates that the company would have to pay around R170 million.
I will therefore write to Mr Jerome Maake, Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, requesting that Minister Mapisa-Nqakula brief the committee on the cancellation of the Denel/AMG contract and the implications for the SAAF.
Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, January 24 2013
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