Member's Statement: Hospital care in the SANDF

The following statement was given by ACDP MP and spokesperson on defence Adriaan Blaas in Parliament on 6 June 2003:


The SANDF is neither affordable nor sustainable because of budgetary constrains and increased demands on its services.

Over and above the fact that this compromises the readiness of the defence force it also resulted in a crisis in the Department of Defence hospitals that in the past have prided themselves on their good reputation.

Two Military Hospital is virtually collapsing and in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act it could be shut down. There is a lack of support services in terms of the core business. Understaffed nurses must also take care of support services to the detriment of patient care. Heaters are closed down because of redundant equipment that cannot be replaced.

The former Natal command medical HQ is in a similar state of decline.

In the midst of all this, the workload has increased because of the age profile of members.

The Minister of Defence and government must accept the fact that the financial allocation for the department of defence is not sufficient to cater for the demands placed on it. Policies cannot be formulated and implemented without the supporting resources. The time has arrived to either revisit the demands imposed on the defence force or making more resources available. We are destroying the institution that should be our prime deterrent against outside aggression.



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For more information: Adriaan Blaas MP at 083 284 1629
Media Liaison: Charmaine Horne at 084 370 3550 or 021 403 3307