South African defence budget up, but not much

February 24, 2011 DEFPRO.COM

South African Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan is boosting defence spending. He told the South African Parliament yesterday in his annual budget vote that further allocations are being made for assistance in safeguarding the country’s borders and to upgrade and maintain border facilities and equipment. “Additional funding of R1.3 billion [R1 = $0.142/€0.103 - Ed.] in 2011/12, rising to R2 billion in 2013/14, will bring total expenditure on defence and state security to R38.4 billion next year, rising to R43.9 billion in the outer year.” The Estimates of National Expenditure however notes that the defence budget is R34.605 billion, rising to R39.702 billion in 2013/14, indicating the remainder is for the Ministry of State Security. The ENE adds R600 million of the defence allocation is allocated to deploy soldiers to the country’s borders and upgrade and improve border facilities and equipment. The defence allocation is in line with expectations. Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu yesterday let slip that her department would receive R500 million more than the R34 billion pencilled into last year February's ENE.