COALITION FOR DEFENCE ALTERNATIVES

Conversion and Redevelopment of Redundant Military Bases

The SANDF has been the largest holder of land in the country, with bases amounting to about 0,4 percent of South Africa. The largest are in arid regions of the Northern Cape and Northern Province. With reductions in military forces and operations, the maintenance of these bases has become a unnecessary drain on the SANDF's resources. Furthermore, the underutilisation of these bases involves an enormous opportunity cost, especially given that they are situated in some of the most resource-starved areas of the country. About 15 bases have been handed back to the Department of Public Works since 1994, but the process has reportedly been hampered by mismanagement.

In October 1997, the Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) sponsored the first workshop on base closure and conversion in Johannesburg. It was decided that a commission should be established under the auspices of the Department of Public Works to identify strategically non-essential bases that could be redeveloped for the benefit of neighbouring communities. NGOs were to be called upon to assist in identifying local needs and prospective redevelopment projects.

A number of bases have now been identified as primary candidates for conversion. Each poses unique problems. (See appendix for a more detailed analysis of the issues related to Schmidtsdrift, Lohatla, Simonstown and Cape Town bases.) Some are urban and potentially very valuable commercially. Some are in rural areas and are potential industrial node points in economically depressed areas, whereas others could provide land for agricultural redevelopment. Some are politically contentious because they occupy land from which people were evicted. Some are polluted with unexploded ordnances which must be cleared before the land is again inhabitable. Pomfret is polluted by asbestos dust.

Although the conversion initiative that emerged from the GEM workshop was seen as a long- term contribution to the objectives of the Reconstruction and Development Programme, it was expected that the commission would be up and running with three or four pilot projects by March 1998. Terry Crawford-Browne was authorised by Dr Ian Phillips, special advisor to Minister Jeff Radebe, to approach the World Bank in Washington for funding to seed the commission. The proposal secured a US$1 million grant from the World Bank's "Post- Conflict Fund", which was established to address the damage that war does to prospects for socio-economic upliftment. The agreement between the World Bank and the Department was ultimately finalised in October 1998, following a number of delays, but has not yet been implemented.

Dr Ross Paul of the World Bank, recently reassigned to Pretoria, confirms that the Bank is still very keen to back the effort. He emphasises however, that this would not be a World Bank project. The Bank would simply support a capacity-building project initiated by the South African government. The Bank could be an especially effective partner, given the insight and experience it has gleaned from its involvement in converting other military facilities, such as Subic Bay, Philippines.

The US chapter of Economists Allied for Arms Reduction also has experience in converting American bases, eg Viequez Navy Base in Puerto Rico. Capital Consultants in Washington, DC, has experience both in the United States and eastern Europe, and has offered to assist in South Africa.

Of course, South Africa should not rely solely on foreign donor assistance, but should also approach local financial institutions, such as Old Mutual and Sanlam, for funding. The World Bank's endorsement would undoubtedly help to secure the confidence and cooperation of local firms.

Alternatively, the sale of commercially valuable areas such as Youngsfield could fund the development of less marketable areas, where the local communities would also have to be trained and empowered to utilise the facilities. The NGO community could have a major role as intermediary between the communities and the financial institutions.

The Defence Review supported the redevelopment of redundant military bases. This recommendation was also endorsed by the Cabinet. Nevertheless, this initiative has been disappointingly slow to get underway. We urge the Department of Defence--and the Department of Public Works--to make base conversion a top priority for this administration.