MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 124
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 17 FEBRUARY 2012
Mr M A Mncwango (IFP) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:
(1) What is the current operational readiness of the (a) frigates (i) SAS Mendi and (ii) SAS Amatola and (b) submarines (i) SAS Manthatisi, (ii) SAS CHARLOTTE MAXEKE and (iii) SAS QUEEN MODJADJI;
(2) (a) what are the full reasons why any of these vessels are out of service and (b) for what time period has each specified vessel been out of service;
(3) what is the current operational readiness of the SA Navy? NW133E
REPLY
Dear Honourable member, it is a pity you missed out of the Naval Festival where you would have seen a splendid display of our capability.
(1)(a)(i) The frigate SAS MENDI is within the planned operational cycle. She is currently in Simon's Town having returned from a four month deployment in the Mozambique Channel as part of the implementation of the approved SADC Maritime Security Strategy and the tri-lateral agreements between the RSA, Mozambique and Tanzania.
On completion of this assignment the SAS MENDI returned to Simon's Town and her crew is currently enjoying operational leave. In accordance with the Maintenance Upkeep Plan SAS MENDI will be entering an extended maintenance period in May 2012. Such scheduled maintenance periods always require the use of the dry dock to enable standard maintenance on the hull.
(a)(ii) The frigate SAS AMATOLA is operationally available and is currently conducting work-up training in preparation for her participation in Exercise GOOD HOPE V with the German Naval Forces. She has also been identified for a deployment to the Eastern Cape as required for the official opening of the Port of Ngqura on the 16 March 2012.
(b)(i) The submarine SAS ‘MANTHATISI is presently still in reserve as was reported to the Portfolio Committee on Defence on the 17 November 2010. A complete new battery has been ordered and will be delivered towards the latter part of the year. This submarine is now also serving as the "first in class" to be scheduled for a planned refit; whilst establishing an indigenous and in-house refit capability.
(b)(ii) The submarine SAS CHARLOTTE MAXEKE is fully operational and serves within the planned operational cycle for this type of vessel. This submarine and her sister-submarine, the SAS QUEEN MODJADJI 1, have exceeded the expectations wrt their availability and utilisation for operational utilisation.
(b)(iii) The submarine SAS QUEEN MODJADJI 1 is fully operational and serves within the planned operational cycle for this type of vessel. Furthermore, SAS QUEEN MODJADJI 1 is currently undertaking Force Preparation Training in anticipation of her participation in Exercise GOOD HOPE V with the German Naval Forces off the Southern Cape coast. This will involve extensive anti-submarine warfare exercises at sea with both South African and German Naval Forces.
(2) (a) None of the vessels, excluding the submarine SAS ‘MATHATISI, are presently "out of service". They are all being managed within the approved SA Navy Maintenance and Upkeep Programme (MUP) and as part of the Short and medium term Force Employment Plan. All issues regarding the SAS ‘MANTHATISI have been reported extensively and she will in due course once again provide our country with valuable service at sea, whilst the next submarine will enter a refit phase.
(b) The only vessel that has been classified as being in Reserve ("out of service") has been the SAS "MANTHATISI. She has been held in reserve since October 2007 but serves as a platform for training and for planning of maintenance, repair and refit (overhaul) purposes. Her new batteries have been ordered and will arrive in country later this year.
(3) The information required by the Honourable Member is classified and the state of readiness referred to will be discussed at the meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD). This is a Constitutional provision and clearly articulated in the Defence Review of 1998, adopted by Parliament as the policy of the Defence Force.
Issued by Parliament, April 10 2012
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