Dear Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans,
I am making this proposal to try to ease the pressure on SANDF by way of developing a reasonable civilian 'military force' and to try to prepare school leavers for the workplace discipline required to be successful in the economy after completing 12 months training.
I also assume that the infrastructure, buildings etc, would still be in please albeit that they might require some maintenance.
School leavers not attending tertiary education join the military (conscription) and are paid a low wage (above the social grant) but get three meals per day. If they do not attend military, they do not qualify for the social grants. Male and female are included but housed separately.
They are allowed to choose directions of development for the year. These directions would be like military, civil engineering infrastructure, electrical, water treatment and distribution, nursing, etc etc where they could be used to improve our broken infrastructure and municipalities.
This would take these people off the streets, give them a sense of worth and contribution and they would be subjected to a low level of military disciple during the 'basic' training, so they understand consequence discipline.
This is a suggestion that would require a lot more discussion, but it is a way of bridging the gap between school and work and assisting in re-development of our failing infrastructure.