In a speech to an Army seminar on 19 October 1995, I envisaged more details on the new voluntary part-time system for South Africa. These details will today be provided by the South African National Defence Force. In my speech I emphasised that a voluntary part-time system is the only way of providing affordable defence for South Africa. This statement will elaborate on the principles of the new system.

Given the current national priorities, a large full-time force is too expensive. The existing full-time component of the Defence Force will therefore have to be rationalised from approximately 135 000 to 90 000 members. This process should be completed by 1999. These numbers will, however, not provide sufficient front-line personnel, as many full-time members are involved in headquarters, training and vital support services. The only viable alternative is a part-time system, which trains enough people to be used when the need arises.

A part-time system is cost-effective because the trained members are only used when required. Even if the running costs of part-time units are the same as for full-time units, they cost much less because they are only paid when actually in service. For this reason, South Africa’s basic defence strategy is to have a relatively small, affordable ‘core force’, consisting of elements of the full-time and part-time components of the South African National Defence Force. This could be expanded, if required, by utilising additional trained part-time volunteers. It is the One Force concept of the South African National Defence Force, a relatively small full-time component, backed by a sufficiently large part-time component. Because of the central role played by the part-time component in this strategy, the status, pay, incentives and treatment of part-time members must be essentially the same as that for full-time members. A package of new service benefits, which reflects this equality, has recently been approved and is being implemented.

The new voluntary system reflects a central value of our new democracy, namely freedom of choice. Citizens now have the opportunity to serve the security needs of their communities and their country because they choose to do so. The new system represents a radical change from the previous system. It offers more freedom and flexibility, but also much more risk, involvement and responsibility. The old conscript system was not representative and discriminatory, as only white males had to carry the burden of part-time military service. The situation is far different today. The South African National Defence Force is being transformed and is increasingly seen as being legitimate. The change to voluntary part-time military service has important implications for the effectiveness and flexibility of the part-time military service system. The largest component of the Defence Force today, and in the future, is and will be, the part-time component. The large number of ‘citizen soldiers’ who become part of the Force enrich it with the skills, attitudes and values of the broad public.

The type of person who joins a part-time unit is likely to be more civic-minded and willing to sacrifice time and effort to keep his or her family, community and country safe. This could ensure that the Defence Force and the people of our country have a shared vision and purpose in the best democratic tradition. Voluntary service implies that volunteers must be attracted to and be retained by the new system, which therefore has to be sensitive to their legitimate needs and problems. Voluntary part-time service will only work if the demands placed on volunteers, their families, employers and communities, are realistic and reasonable.

Volunteers, employers and the Defence Force must mutually agree on the duration and timing of their periods of service. Administration has to be flexible and adjust to real situations, not bureaucratic convenience. This necessitates mutual consultation and transparency between the volunteer, employers and the Defence Force. The new system will be more effective because volunteers will, by definition, be better motivated for service. The proper motivation of all volunteers becomes the single most important factor for success. The quality of recruits, leadership, training and administration will be affected by the new voluntary approach. It will also affect the composition of the new part-time units, because they will consist only of those individuals who meet the relevant service criteria and are willing to become actively involved.

The Defence Force, and therefore the part-time component, must be a ‘people’s army’, which reflects the values and composition of the South African population. It must be an institution of the people, for the people and by the people. Its costs must be borne by all and its benefits must be enjoyed by all. The South African National Defence Force will become representative of the population of our country, not by force, but by choice. We want South Africa’s finest sons and daughters, from all walks of life, to voluntarily give their time and effort to ensure cost-effective and adequate defence of our country. Those with military skills and training acquired in other circumstances, in the statutory and non-statutory forces, are most welcome, as military skills are scarce and take a long time to acquire. But all citizens who feel they can make a contribution, especially skilled people, can volunteer.

The quality of its members, its leadership, management and administration is essential for any voluntary part-time military service system. In a situation of tight budgets, it becomes even more critical. The time and money available for training in the new system is limited. The periods of service are being kept as short as possible, so as not to place too great a burden on volunteers. The quality of volunteers is therefore important. They must be patriotic, loyal, apolitical, hardworking, trustworthy, responsible, medically fit and have the potential to be trained in the use of expensive and dangerous weapons and equipment.

It is essential that the existing skills and capabilities of the part-time component are retained. It is impossible to replace the skills of present part-time members, and of other trained military personnel of all population groups. They will be needed to provide continuity, high standards, a wealth of practical experience and to continue the various unit traditions. These are trained men and women with years of military experience and can therefore be employed with minimal retraining. I therefore make a special appeal to these members to volunteer and stay in the part-time component. To maintain the quality of volunteers, they must be used for relevant tasks. An example of the relevant use of the part-time component is the use of territorial units. The territorial units of the Army form the largest part of the operational forces of the regional commands and are mainly light infantry elements. In terms of the strategy for the land battle, they are responsible for area defence. In peacetime they perform a vital secondary role, in co-operation with the local community, local authorities and the SA Police Service.

Because part-time force units are active on an ongoing basis in the community, their individual service commitments are shorter, but more frequent, according to local defence and security requirements. They have a high percentage of volunteers. It is of the utmost importance that this system is extended to cover all our communities, including former disadvantaged communities, on a fully representative basis. I believe the new system heralds a new era in our Defence Force. It can work and it is in the best interest of South Africa as whole.