S. Africa defence budget to form 'vast fortress’

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34119, 3 April 1976, Page 15

S. Africa defence budget to form 'vast fortress’

f.X Z Press Assn —Copyright) CAPE TOWN, April 2. South Africa’s record 1350 m rands (§l44oni) Defence Budget has demonstrated the Government’s intention of transforming the country into a vast, impregnable fortress, sources close to the Government say.

Meanwhile, the South ■African Broadcasting CorIporation (SABC) said the Prime Minister (Mr John (Vorster) and his Ministers had always argued that • South Africa should conduct negotiations and detente policy from a position of strength. The radio said that South Africa was confronted to the north by countries who regarded the use of force as the sole alternative.

“The immediate task for South Africa is to indicate that this country is no pushover and that she has not only the capacity, but the will to defend her borders with all the forces at her command.” This did not run counter to Pretoria’s detente exercise but should be seen as a deterrent, added the radio. Over the past 10 years, there has been a sixfold increase in South African defence spending, most of it within the last two years.

The dramatic boost in defence spending came in 1974-75 after Portugal’s swift withdrawal from Mozambique and the installation there of a black regime. The bill that year came to 702 million rands. Next year, it shot up to 948 million rands, with Pretoria seeing an explosive situation developing along its (Namibian (South-west (African) border with civil war-torn Angola.

This year’s 40 per cent defence hike is explained by the partial failure of South (African intervention in Ang(ola in the face of numerically superior Cuban troops, backed by sophisticated Soviet arms, and by the prospect of stepped up clashes in Rhodesia with African guerrillas.

A breakdown of South African defence spending for 1976-77 shows that 644 million rands (about $653m) will go to the army, 162 million rands (sl6Bm) to the navy and 71 million rands (about s73m) to the airforce.

The emphasis has been put on land operations. The growth of naval expenditure is attributed chiefly to submarine purchases. Spending on the airforce has shown a drop compared with last year (down nearly sl9m). Mr Vorster has rejected the United Nations resolution condemning South Africa for “aggression” in Angola. He said South

Africa would not consider paying compensation for alleged war damages. Nine members of the 15 seat Security Council, a bare majority, approved the resolution. The United States, France, Britain, Italy and Japan abstained. The resolution called on South Africa to met Ang-

ola’s “just claims” for compensation for damage by South African troops, which were all reported to have been withdrawn last Saturday. South Africa also defended its intervention in Angola, calling it a brilliant operaation.