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Tuesday, 29 October 2013] 4837• The Department, particularly the Minister and the Secretary forDefence, should ensure that investigations are conducted into financialmisconduct matters as stipulated by Treasury Regulations. ixPerformance related recommendations• The changes in the Selected performance Indicators and Targets fromyear to year as well as targets and indicators having to adhere to theSMART principles as set out by National Treasury Regulations shouldbe addressed.• The Department should improve its internal controls and recordkeeping in general and specifically as it pertains to the ForceEmployment Programme as indicated by the A-G. The A-G will beinvited to elaborate on its methodology and specifically the accuracyand relevance of their audit findings for the 2012/13 financial year.• The Department is in the process of establishing and filling the posts ofthe Internal Audit function and this process should be speeded up as itis central to pro-active measures to improve the performance of theDepartment, especially as it pertains to issues raised in theA-G’s qualified audit opinion. This will also assist in executing theaction plans drafted to address the audit findings.• The current Defence Review should be finalised as a matter of urgencyespecially against the background that it will help to resolve most of thechallenges faced by the Department. For instance, progress with themodernisation of the Landward defence capability remained stagnant,although it has been identified as a priority for the last five years,because the Defence Review has not been finalised.• The lack and poor condition of Facilities are a main concern and theCommittee recommends that the establishment of the Defence WorksCapability should be finalised as soon as possible and that thenegotiations with DPW for the repair and maintenance responsibilitiesto be moved to the DODMV be prioritised.DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERANSThe Department of Military Veterans (DMV) was established through theMilitary Veterans Act (No. 18 of 2011). The Department’s aim is toformulate policies and standards to provide a comprehensive deliverysystem to deserving military veterans and their dependants.Strategic PlanThe DMV tabled its first 5 year strategic plan to Parliament in April 2012. Atop priority over the medium term planning cycle was the establishment of afunctional department with a separate budget vote to put into effectGovernment’s policy on military veterans.Annual performance Plan (APP)The DMV has tabled its first Annual performance Plan (APP) to Parliamentin compliance with the relevant DMV guidelines as directed by NationaTreasury. One of the main challenges for the DMV in realising its objectivesis the gap between current funding and the resources dictated by theANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS NO 147─2013