Defence committee denies being lazy

Cape Town - Parliament's joint standing committee on defence on Wednesday denied it was "lazy" in dealing with the Defence Review.

Committee co-chair Malusi Motimele said it was mischievous for committee member and DA MP David Maynier to criticise their work.

Maynier accused the committee on Wednesday of only scheduling one Defence Review meeting in the last six months and holding the review "hostage".

He criticised it for not scheduling any meetings in the so-called "committee period" up to 11 February.

Maynier felt the Defence Review had serious implications for the future of the defence force and should thus be dealt with urgently.

"The committee is aware of the urgency required for the revitalisation of the country's defence forces," Motimele said in a statement.

Since the review was tabled in Parliament in July, the committee had met to consider the policy three times, he added.

"This is despite the fact that the committee was only established in October 2014."

He said the committee held a three-day workshop to deal with the review, one he alleged Maynier did not attend.

The committee said it was awaiting public comment on the review and would deal with submissions until next Saturday.

Motimele said the committee was scheduled to meet on 20 February for public hearings.

"The committee is processing the Defence Review within the necessary framework and will do so with the necessary urgency."

The Defence Review was compiled by a committee of experts who scrutinised the SA National Defence Force.

It found a number of shortcomings that had led to a steady decline in operations.