Parliament is concerned about the reduced budget of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which is impacting its constitutional mandate to protect the country.<\/p>\n
In a meeting on Thursday (12 September), the Joint Standing Committee on Defence said that a substantial investment into the military was needed for both the security of the sovereignty of the country.<\/p>\n
The committee also highlighted its concern that it will not only take a long time for the SANDF to regain lost capability, but it will also cost even more than currently required.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are facing a ticking time bomb. It is a matter of concern that SANDF plans currently are based on ‘as resourced model, and not on Joint Force Employment Requirement,” said the co-chairperson of the committee, Cyril Xaba.<\/p>\n
“The consequence of the decline in budgets translates in decline in capabilities, something which if continues, will further cripple the ability of securing the country<\/strong>“.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n To combat these issues, the committee encouraged re-investment into the country’s defence industry.<\/p>\n “We view the South African defence manufacturing industry as a key growth point with a potential to bring in massive resources into the country, and induce economic activity,” said Mamagase Nchabeleng, who is the other co-chairperson of the committee.<\/p>\n “The adequate funding of the SANDF will ensure stability of the industry in that predictability will be ensured thereby enabling the South African industry to compete across the globe.”<\/p>\n Regarding the South African Airforce and the Navy, the committee emphasised their importance in the security of the country, and enabling trade through anti-piracy operations along the Mozambican channel.<\/p>\n As such, the committee has suggested the reprioritisation of funds towards capability upgrade, capital funds, and force preparation.<\/p>\n The committee also emphasised that action is urgently needed to stop anything that compromises the defence capability of the SANDF.<\/p>\n
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