SANDF's secret R13bn fund

Johannesburg - The SA National Defence Force has had three years of its spending, about R13bn, exempted from public view, the Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordham exempted the three years of spending of the Special Defence Account from the Public Finance Management Accounting Act "apparently to make sure the spending stays secret," the newspaper wrote.

The account is for the purchase of weapons and equipment as well as covert activities.

The National Treasury said the exemption was only an "accounting issue" after new accounting practices were introduced in 2010. The account would have to publish separate reports but the SDA funded activities which "cannot be disclosed."

Treasury spokesperson Jabulani Sikhakhane denied the SDA was a slush fund and said Defence was accountable to Parliament for the use of the funds.