Defence Force gets funds to fight piracy

The report says that this will allow the country to deploy a frigate to patrol the area in conjunction with the Mozambique Defence Force and to limit attacks on vessels by Somali pirates that have gradually moved further and further south.

Business Day says that as part of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Pravan Gordhan, the budget for defence and criminal justice has been increased to R123-billion for this financial year and that figure will rise to R150-billion by 2014-15.

The adjusted estimates show that despite the additional allocation, the Department of Defence will spend R255-million less than originally budgeted in February. However the bulk of expenditure will go to paying personnel.

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