Chapter 2 - P rogramme 1 - Department of Defence

| Financial Performance |
Annual Report FY 2007 - 2008 234
| Department of Defence | Vote 20 |
REPORT OF THE ACCOUNTING OFFICER
for the year ended 31 March 2008 (continued)
8.4.4 External Audit. An objective and professional relationship has been established with the
Auditor-General. The Secretary for Defence chairs first, interim and final audit steering committee
meetings. Co-ordination meetings are held with the Secretary for Defence quarterly and with the
Chief Financial Officer monthly. The Audit Committee co-ordinates the internal audit programme
with that of the Auditor-General.
8.5 Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
8.5.1 Occupational health and safety policy is implemented and guidelines provided to direct the
provision and maintenance of working environments that are safe and without risk to DOD
officials are given.
8.5.2 The Joint Directorate Occupational Health and Safety maintains close relations with the Department
of Labour to assess non-compliance by Force Structure Elements. This then leads to vigorous
enforcement of corrective measures. These actions have contributed to various Rectification and
Maintenance Programmes (RAMPs) to be embarked upon. It is envisaged that the occupational
health and safety monitoring capacity of the Joint Directorate Occupational Health and Safety
will have to be increased in order to maintain and improve this ability.
8.5.3 The shortage of specialised resources, including occupational medical practitioners, occupational
nurses, occupational hygienists and, in particular, Authorised Inspection Authorities (AIA), will
have to be seriously addressed in order to continue the provision of this service in order to reach
legal compliance.
8.5.4 An instruction for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System applicable for force
structure elements in the DOD is nearing completion for promulgation, while all other related
policies are currently under review to ensure inclusion of latest governance and developments in
the occupational health and safety field.
8.6 Environmental Matters. If not managed properly in accordance with national environmental
legislative provisions, military activities can have a profound impact as well as a detrimental effect
on the environment. The following highlights were achieved:
8.6.1 Water Efficiency Project. The Maruleng Municipality has been included in the trial project
in AFB Hoedspruit in co-operation with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF)
and the Department of Public Works (DPW).
8.6.2 Dinokeng Project. In support of the socio-economic development of Dinokeng region as
part of the Dinokeng Blue IQ Project of the Provincial Government, the DOD has agreed
to participate in this project by providing a part of Pienaars River Training Area for co-use in
the establishment of the Dinokeng Game Reserve. In this sense, the DOD has processed the
donation of game with the estimated value of Rm1, 7 to the project and will enter into a co-use
agreement in order to contribute to the establishment of the Dinokeng Game Reserve.