Armscor chaos clips SAAF wings
21 August 2023
Armscor is responsible for the maintenance contracts of our defence force however recently it has been embroiled in controversies, which have led to the decline of our military and defence capabilities. Their primary task is to act as the procurement agent for the needs and requirements of the SANDF, and among others to assure that maintenance contracts are renewed, in time to never have the situation we are experiencing the last years of the dilapidated SANDF prime mission equipment.
Earlier in the year we became aware, contrary to what was reported to the parliamentary defence oversight committees, that maintenance contracts for our primary fixed-wing fleet (including all the Gripens, Hawks, Pilatus, etc.) have not been concluded and is still not the case. It has been reported that the Minister of Defence, Thandi Modise, has started an investigation into the conduct and behaviour of both the Armscor Board Chairman, Dr Phillip Dexter, and CEO, Adv Solomzi Mbada.
New reports suggest that more fixed-wing squadrons, e.g. 41 and 21 squadrons, are paralysed because maintenance contracts have not been concluded. This situation is unacceptable but unfortunately has been prevalent like a golden thread through every division and sector of the SANDF.
Instead of dealing with the issue at hand, senior Armscor officials with their secretaries and personal assistants have been in Russia gallivanting to many overseas destinations, officially on business development trips. What business opportunities can they foster in Russia, given that our industry is based on NATO and not Russian/East Block standards, and that we have an urgent need to get our current fleets of aircraft, naval vessels and landward equipment fully serviceable and operational?