Defence Minister Motshekga assures SANDF’s capability despite budget constraints

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has reaffirmed the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)’s readiness to defend the country’s sovereignty despite ongoing fiscal constraints and ageing equipment, insisting that South Africa’s skies, seas, and land remain secure.

Responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Motshekga said the 2015 Defence Review remains the key guiding document for defence policy and planning, even though it has not been fully implemented due to declining funding.

“We are very confident as a defence force that we will be able to protect our territorial integrity,” she said.

“I want to repeat what I’ve said before, that in terms of our current needs as a country, our sea, our skies, and our land, we are confident as the department that we will be able to defend our country.

”Though, as I said, we could do with more if the budget situation changes, but for now I can promise you that if there are floods, we are there to be able to help. If there’s snow, we are there to help. If there’s a crisis, we can help. Even being able to participate in other defence activities outside our country, we’re capable of doing that despite the current budget challenges that we have as a department.”

While acknowledging a reduction in recruitment numbers and a backlog in equipment repairs, Motshekga pointed to continued peacekeeping deployments in Mozambique and the DRC as proof that the SANDF remains operationally capable.

On the challenges facing the South African Air Force (SAAF), Motshekga was frank. 

“We are bleeding, but we are not finished,” she told the NCOP.

“We still have capabilities. That’s why we’re even able to go and fly into the flooded areas, take in helicopters.”

She said the department is actively working with the Treasury and the Presidency to stabilise and improve air force capacity, including ongoing aircraft servicing and procurement efforts.

Responding to criticism over the R415 million allocated for VVIP aircraft such as the presidential Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), Motshekga defended the spending. 

“The President has to travel, he has to be in Parliament, he has to be everywhere as our Chief of Defence. I’m not sure whether we’re expected to ground the President or not.”

While acknowledging that the SANDF is “not at the optimum level that we need to be,” Motshekga reaffirmed that the force is still operational and responsive in its current state.

“We really have challenges, but we’re not necessarily completely dysfunctional. We are working very hard to stay afloat, stay in the air, and continue to confront our challenges.”

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za 

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