DA demands urgent tabling of overdue SANDF crisis report to address defence failures

20 September 2024

The DA will be writing to the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice, Jane Mananiso, to request that the Minister’s promised report on the critical challenges facing the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) be tabled as soon as possible. This detailed report, which the Minister committed to delivering two weeks ago but has yet to provide, is essential to addressing the SANDF’s glaring failures and must be considered without delay.

The naked truth about the shocking state of the SANDF was emphasised during a meeting of the Defence Portfolio Committee at Parliament this week. The Committee was briefed by a team of academics from the University of Stellenbosch, who raised alarm bells about the potential total collapse of the SANDF.

During the briefing, Professor Moses Khanyile confirmed that the SANDF is in a state of collapse, citing South Africa’s crumbling maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the loss of close air support, the virtual disappearance of helicopter and logistical air support, and the crippling of the navy.

The 2015 Defence Review identified a critical milestone to arrest this decline, but neither this milestone nor any others were achieved due to budget constraints. Professor Khanyile stressed that the National Security Council must urgently “refocus on the plight of the SANDF to avoid total collapse” and called for bold decisions on capital projects, external missions, and headcounts, while also addressing leadership issues.

Adding to the concern, Dr Evert Jordaan outlined the parallel decline in Defence Parliamentary oversight since the 1999 Arms Deal. This deterioration has continued through successive administrations, culminating in a culture of non-accountability within the Department of Defence and SANDF.

The SANDF, undermined by budget shortfalls, poorly supported international operations, and unfunded internal tasks, is in a downward spiral. The Portfolio Committee must urgently strengthen oversight over the SANDF and ensure accountability to Parliament.

The DA will continue to hold the Department of Defence accountable to safeguard our soldiers and rebuild the SANDF, victims of an unfunded and visionless defence policy.

Issued by Chris Hattingh, DA Spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans