House of Assembly: Vol13 - MONDAY 8 MAY 1989

MONDAY, 8 MAY 1989 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS

†Indicates translated version.

For written reply:

General Affairs:

SADF: security of classified information 335. Mr H J COETZEE

asked the Minister of Defence:

Whether he will furnish information on the precautions taken by the South African Defence Force to prevent personnel without security clearance from having access to classified information; if not, why not; if so, (a) what precautions are taken and (b) how many security clearances were carried out in each of the latest specified five years for which information is available?

B692E

The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:

No, because disclosing these precautions will jeopardize security. Access to classified information is controlled in accordance with prescribed policy.

  1. (a) Falls away.
  2. (b) Statistics are only available from January 1986 to March 1989:
    1986 : 25 118
    1987 : 18 995
    1988 : 18 758
    1989 (March) : 5 537
SADF: certain person transported by SA Airforce 336. Mr H J COETZEE

asked the Minister of Defence:

Whether a certain person, whose name has been furnished to the South African Defence Force for the purpose of the Minister’s reply, has been transported by South African Air Force aircraft over the past five years; if so, (a) on how many occasions, (b) from where to where in each case, (c) (i) how many persons accompanied him on each occasion and (ii) who were they and (d) what is the name of the person in question?

B693E

The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:

(a), (b), (c) and (d). No, not according to existing records. Passenger lists of SA Air Force aircraft are not kept for long periods, but are regularly destroyed. Should the Honourable Member, however, be able to supply additional information, for example a specific flight, more comprehensive research could be done.

Jan Smuts Airport: holes in security fences 353. Mr H J COETZEE

asked the Minister of Transport Affairs:

With reference to his reply to Question No 52 on 27 February 1989, (a) how many holes in the security fences at Jan Smuts Airport were repaired during the latest specified period of five years for which information is available, (b) how many holes were found in these fences on 14 January 1989 and (c) how much time elapses, on average, between the time such holes are discovered and the time they are repaired?

B728E

The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AFFAIRS:
  1. (a) Five, for the period 26 April 1984 to 25 April 1989;
  2. (b) One; and
  3. (c) One hour.
National servicemen: abnormal occurrences 356. Mr K M ANDREW

asked the Minister of Defence:

  1. (1) Whether any national servicemen (a) absented themselves without leave after reporting for service, (b) attempted suicide, (c) committed suicide and (d) received psychological or psychiatric treatment or counselling during the first quarter of 1989; if so, (i) how many in each case and (ii) how many persons were doing national service during this period;
  2. (2) whether any steps are being taken to reduce occurrences of this nature; if so, what steps?

B758E

The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:
  1. (1) (a) (b) (c) (d)
    1. (i) Yes, 130 Yes, 30 No Yes, 252
    2. (ii) It is policy not to divulge personnel strengths.
  2. (2) Yes.
    • * The early identification of high risk cases during intakes by means of diagnostic questionnaires and interviews by professional members such as doctors, psychologists, social workers and chaplains.
    • * Military Community Development Committees have been established in every unit in order to
    • * develop a healthy lifestyle amongst members;
    • * initiate preventative programmes for example dissemination of information by means of videos, lectures and literature; and
    • * create streamlined channels to make specialist personnel available for members in need.
    • * The training of all key personnel has also been initiated to enable them to identify early indications of possible suicidal and risk cases.
    • The Hon Member is also referred to what I have said in this regard in my address during the Defence Budget Vote on 21 April 1989.
SAA: flights diverted/delayed 362. Mr P C CRONJÉ

asked the Minister of Transport Affairs:

How many scheduled South African Airways flights were (a) diverted and (b) delayed as a result of weather conditions at (i) Port Elizabeth, (ii) Cape Town, (iii) Durban and (iv) East London in 1988?

B764E

The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AFFAIRS:
  1. (a)
    1. (i) 31
    2. (ii) 1
    3. (iii) 3
    4. (iv) 8
  2. (b)
    1. (i) 2
    2. (ii) 12
    3. (iii) 1
    4. (iv) 1
Citizen Force/Commandos: voluntary service 364. Mr D J DALLING

asked the Minister of Defence:

What percentage of the persons who rendered voluntary service in the (a) Citizen Force and (b) Commandos as at 31 December 1988 was (i) White, (ii) Coloured, (iii) Indian and (iv) Black?

B766E

The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:

(a)

(b)

(i)

96,3%

94,5%

(ii)

3,7%

2,9%

(iii)

0%

1,1%

(iv)

0%

1,5%

Persons applied/accepted into Permanent Force 365. Mr D J DALLING

asked the Minister of Defence:

How many Black, White, Coloured and Indian persons, respectively, (a) applied to join, and (b) were accepted into, the Permanent Force as members of the South African (i) Army, (ii) Air Force, (iii) Navy and (iv) Medical Services in 1988?

B767E

The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:

(a)

(b)

(i)

White

3 057

801

Coloured

465

137

Indian

5

2

Black

1 192

1 216

(ii)

White

3 988

1 070

Coloured

186

28

Indian

34

1

Black

61

3

(iii)

White

784

233

Coloured

884

41

Indian

105

60

Black

3

1

(iv)

White

670

259

Coloured

41

2

Indian

0

0

Black

12

11

Note. The Honourable Member’s attention is drawn to the fact that some of the applications that were accepted, (b), had already been submitted in 1987 but were not finalized during that year.

SADF: certain company engaged in defence contracts 407. Mr H J COETZEE

asked the Minister of Defence:

  1. (1) Whether a certain company, the name of which has been furnished to the South African Defence Force for the purpose of the Minister’s reply, has been engaged in defence contracts over the past five years; if so, what is the name of this company;
  2. (2) whether he will furnish details of these contracts; if not, why not; if so, what are they?

B733E

The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:
  1. (1) No.
  2. (2) Falls away.
SADF: members deserted 415. Mr D J DALLING

asked the Minister of Defence:

Whether, notwithstanding his reply to Question No 237 on 1 March 1988, he will furnish information on whether any members of the South African Defence Force deserted in 1988; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many in

total and (b) how many were (i) Permanent Force members, (ii) Citizen Force members and (iii) national servicemen?

B836E

The MINISTER OF DEFENCE:

No, because the situation is still unchanged. (a) and (b) Fall away.

Certain taxi association 451. Mr C B SCHOEMAN

asked the Minister of Transport Affairs:

  1. (1) Whether he is considering permitting members of a certain taxi association, the name of which has been furnished to the Minister’s Department for the purpose of his reply, to operate (a) parcel delivery, (b) local bus and (c) tourism services; if so, (i) why in each case and (ii) what is the name of this association;
  2. (2) whether his Department has made provision for measures to deal with disruptive action on the part of operators of such services; if so, what are these measures?

B702E

The MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AFFAIRS:
  1. (1) (a), (b) and (c) No. The honourable member’s attention is however drawn to the fact that if a request of the relevant nature is received, it will be considered by the Local Road Transportation Board concerned or the National Transport Commission, as the case may be, on merit and in terms of the provisions of the Road Transportation Act, 1977 (Act 74 of 1977).
    1. (i) and (ii) Fall away.
  2. (2) No.