By Kim Helfrich, DefenceWeb
Photo: Parliament of SA
With the year’s fourth and final Parliamentary term underway, the wider South African defence sector will keep a close watch on what the three oversight committees charged with defence do in the execution of their respective mandates.
The heightened interest in what and how the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) is doing has – to a large extent – been due to its Journey to Greatness strategy tabled at a closed Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) meeting on 28 August, the final sitting day of Parliament’s third 2026 term. The strategy seeks additional funding from National Treasury over a 30-year period to revitalise the national defence force.
The JSCD is perceived by some to be the senior Parliamentary defence oversight committee. Not true – as there is no hierarchy among the three committees. A Parliamentary insider, preferring anonymity, told DefenceWeb each committee has an own mandate and is governed by different Rules of Parliament with no ranking of one above another.
The JSCD has a narrow focus and concentrates on defence issues while its sister National Assembly (NA) Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) has a wider oversight scope, including veterans. It is also the first stop on the defence legislation processing road.
Defence oversight committee number three is a National Council of Provinces (NCOP) one – the Select Committee on Security and Justice (SCSJ) – governed by that house’s rules with membership confined to NCOP Members of Parliament (MPs).
Both the NCOP and NA are represented on the JSCD and PCDMV.
The NCOP Select Committee on Security and Justice comprises 11 members and three alternates with a provincial focus. It has been known to overstep this boundary as evidenced by a July 2025 briefing to Cabinet’s Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster on its concerns around the SANDF. Six months earlier the SCSJ was in Simon’s Town for an SA Navy (SAN) oversight visit where it requested a detailed report on procurement and supply chain matters.
The committees, with the exception of the JSCD where Phiroane Phala and Malusi Gigaba – both African National Congress (ANC) – are joint chairs, have Molefi Legoete (ANC) as PCDMV chair with Jane Mananiso, also ANC, chairing the SCSJ.
JSCD committee members are Tammy Breedt (FF+), Russel Cebekhulu (IFP), Virgill Gericke (EFF), Nicholas Gotsell (DA), Mzamasi Hala (ANC), Chris Hattingh (DA), Pumlani Kubukeli (MKP), Sindiswa Masumpa (ANC), Tshilidzi Munya (ANC), Carl Niehaus (EFF), Pitso Noe (ANC), Windy Plaatjies (ANC) and Emma Powell (DA).
The PCDMV committee, apart from its chair, comprises Russel Cebekhulu (IFP), Zibuse Cele (MKP), Mzamasi Hala (ANC), Chris Hattingh (DA), Sisipho Jama (ANC), Pumlani Kubukeli (MKP), Tshilidzi Munya (ANC), Carl Niehaus (EFF), Christobel Nontenja (UDM), Windy Plaatjies (ANC) and Emma Powell (DA).
The NCOP MPs named on the SCSJ are Mzamo Billy (DA), Virgill Gericke (EFF), Nicholas Gotsell (DA), Asanda Matshobeni (EFF), Onica Medupe (ANC), Ofentse Mokae (DA), Pitso Noe (ANC), Mwelo Nonkonyana (ANC), Phiroane Phala (ANC) and Sifiso Zulu (MKP).
