Obsolete<\/strong><\/p>\nIt also raised concerns around with the country’s armed forces and their declining capabilities.<\/p>\n
“The South African Air Force\u2019s ageing fleet is very concerning, as it will soon become obsolete, which will further exacerbate the current serious situation to execute their mandate,” it said.<\/p>\n
It added that these issues are further complicated by the funding challenges experienced by the department.<\/p>\n
“The delegation witnessed first-hand that the number of subunits deployed along our landline borders as part of Operation Coronais inadequate given the vast terrain; the number and age of the vehicles; the lack of battlefield surveillance equipment; the lack of UAV\u2019s, drones and sensors; and the poor support by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure,” it said.<\/p>\n
“The above should be read with the presence of the dilapidated infrastructure and equipment, which is compounded by a lack of regular maintenance and repairs.”<\/p>\n
The delegation said that operational challenges relating to undocumented persons and cross-border crime are further exacerbated by insufficient support and cooperation from neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n
“One of the main recurring issues noticed, was challenges around procurement especially as it relates to urgent requirements and the limited financial delegation to the provincial headquarters, which further exacerbate the effectiveness of the forces on the ground.<\/p>\n
“The delegation further took note of the concerns around the lack of appropriate and properly suited vehicles to patrol along the landline borders.”<\/p>\n
Army in trouble<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Department of Defence’s annual report published in November 2020 painted a bleak picture of South Africa\u2019s military capabilities.<\/p>\n
The department said that the country\u2019s defence force has lost a number of capabilities, owing to successive budget cuts.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Africa\u2019s core military capabilities have been in decline for many years,\u201d it said. \u201cThis is largely due to severe and crippling cuts to its baseline funding allocation and the resultant erosion of both the capital and operating budgets of the Department of Defence (DOD).\u201d<\/p>\n
The department said that not only has this led to inadequate maintenance, repair and overhaul of the largely obsolete equipment inventory but has also led to a significant reduction in the prime mission equipment renewal program of the defence force with \u2018devastating effects\u2019 on South Africa\u2019s sovereign defence industry.<\/p>\n
It said that under\u00a0the current funding regime, it has had very little room to manoeuvre and has had to continue where possible with the repair of its inventory.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn most cases,\u00a0the main equipment that it uses is more than 40 years old<\/strong>\u00a0and is largely\u00a0obsolete<\/strong>, and with almost no spares and maintenance support available from the original equipment manufacturers.\u201d<\/p>\nWhile the department had developed a \u2018South African Defence Review\u2019 in 2015 which outlined the changes that were needed to bring South Africa\u2019s defensive capabilities up to speed, the department said that the current funding allocation \u2018dramatically reduces the level of defence ambition that can be sustainably pursued\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis reduction will inevitably lead to a reduction in operational output, introducing significant risks to South Africa\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the ability to sustain enduring support to the development of South Africa and its people,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n