Dire state of SANDF ‘old hat’ – Holomisa

The flagging by the parliamentary joint standing committee on defence chair Malusi Gigaba of the poor state of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), has plagued the SANDF across successive administrations, according to Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans General Bantu Holomisa.

Holomisa was responding to Gigaba’s candid assessment of the state of the SANDF capability and warned persistent underfunding threatened “not only the country’s ability to defend its borders, but its international credibility and economic growth potential”.

SANDF’s weaknesses

Weaknesses raised included:

• The protracted refurbishment of 1 Military Hospital in Tshwane, with over R1 billion already expended;
• Concern over low morale and poor working conditions, due to the slow pace of implementing recommendations of the Defence Force Service Commission; and
• A call for SANDF’s role in international peacekeeping to be resourced.

Parliament was urged to hold a comprehensive debate on the future of the SANDF, including its posture, missions and funding.

“The inability to adequately fund the SANDF is not only counterproductive from a national security perspective, but also undermines the broader defence industry’s potential to drive growth, technological innovation and job creation,” said Gigaba.

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“We must equip our defence force with the resources, skills and tools necessary to back up our international commitments – protecting our people and project stability in the region.

“A strong SANDF reflects a strong and sovereign South Africa. We must not view the SANDF as the first line of peace-making.

“Political solutions must be prioritised. Our soldiers must play a supportive, not substitutive, role in diplomacy.”

Holomisa commended Gigaba’s assessment

Holomisa has written to the chief of the SANDF, chief of staff, portfolio committee on defence and military veterans and committee secretariat, commending Gigaba’s assessment.

“It is commendable that the joint standing committee on defence has flagged the sustained defunding of the SANDF as a critical concern,” said Holomisa.

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“This is not a new issue, but one that has plagued SANDF across successive administrations.

“On numerous occasions, the portfolio committee was briefed by National Treasury that we have not escaped the austerity measures set by government and that funds allocated for SANDF had to be redirected to bailout state-owned enterprises and address other national priorities.

“Previous ministers Lindiwe Sisulu, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Thandi Modise, have raised similar discomfort about the defunding of the SANDF.

Previous minister raised issues with defunding

“They attempted to intervene through various strategies and directives, all of which, unfortunately, received minimal to no institutional or political support.

“The continued inertia in addressing the defunding of the SANDF, prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to take decisive action.

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During a performance agreement briefing with the former minister on 24 January, 2024, the president issued a directive aimed at halting the downward funding spiral and gradually increasing defence expenditure to 1.5% of the gross domestic product.

“A well-resourced SANDF is not a luxury, but a necessity. And the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of investment.”

A well-resourced defence force a necessity

“The minister issued a directive, which led to the coordination and convening of strategic sessions for the department of defence and the department of military veterans respectively.

“The outcomes of these sessions will be formally presented to both the joint standing committee and the portfolio committee and can be elaborated on during the proposed joint work session.”