New airbus 'for peacekeeping'

Deflecting criticism of the government's new multimillion-rand aircraft acquisition as "myopic", Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the planes were vital for peacekeeping operations.

"This criticism fails to take account of the fact that one of the main constraints on Africa resolving conflict and benefiting from its own natural resources is the absence of a developed infrastructure," Lekota told the national council of provinces (NCOP) during debate on his budget vote on Tuesday.

He said this "myopic approach" was blind to the fact that moving across Africa was still "highly problematic" and "exorbitantly expensive".

Lekota said it was easier to connect via Europe than directly from one African country to another.

He said a strategic airlift capacity, epitomised by the Airbus military A-400M programme, was indispensable in the absence of a functioning infrastructure.

'Essentially a transport aircraft'

The lack of adequate capacity was manifest in dealing with disaster management and peacekeeping across the continent.

Also, the obligations of post-conflict reconstruction and development would require the transport of heavy construction equipment such as cranes.

"This aircraft is essentially a transport aircraft."

Lekota said the adjustment of the country's major training to focus on peacekeeping did not detract from the "core force" concept.

He said South Africa was not "creating a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) of peacekeepers", but rather training a professional body of men and women, schooled in the arts of defence, who used their skills in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction.

Lekota said one of the difficulties encountered related to working with the armed forces of other countries.

'Legal expertise is needed

"Another area that needs to be looked at is the provision of legal services and legal support on the ground. Wherever the SANDF is deployed, legal expertise needs to be provided."

Lekota said the key to successful peacekeeping was to provide multidisciplinary training for the officer corps.

Training gave soldiers military skills, but should also include conflict resolution, negotiation and humanitarian actions.

"Peacekeepers must understand what it is they are doing, so that the people, with whom they come into contact, are treated with respect and dignity.

"This is an area in which considerable resources will have to be deployed."

News24