Holomisa Warns of Challenges Facing South Africa’s Defence Force

Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa has assessed the state of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), raising alarms about its ability to fulfill its mandates. He emphasizes urgent needs for reform and increased funding to address systemic weaknesses hindering the country’s defense capabilities.

Challenges and Concerns

Holomisa, in a review of his first year as deputy to Minister Angie Motshekga, has pointed out crucial issues impacting the SANDF. In a 12-page review dated June 24, Holomisa informed Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, the UDM (United Democratic Movement) Parliamentary leader, that many problems are “legacy” issues.

The former two-star general noted that the Department of Defence (DoD) “did not escape State capture.” Ongoing investigations by the SIU (Special Investigating Unit) and corruption charges against a former minister are further highlighting the depth of these issues.

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“These realities point to a protracted process” to restore the integrity and capacity of the national defence force.

—Bantu Holomisa

Holomisa also voiced concerns over the SANDF’s preparedness and logistical capabilities, particularly following the termination of Operation Thiba in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He emphasized that climate change presents new threats, testing the SANDF’s capacity to respond to disasters. For example, the recent Eastern Cape floods saw only one helicopter deployed days after the disaster. A 2023 report showed that the country’s military spending stood at just 0.5% of its GDP (Statistics South Africa).

Need for Reform

Holomisa is hopeful that Parliament can hold the Executive accountable to facilitate “real consequences and reform.” He described the importance of parliamentary oversight, budget debates, and committee engagements, highlighting systemic weaknesses and the underperformance of service delivery and defense operations.

Engagements with the SANDF revealed “a pattern of declining capacity, exacerbated by chronic underfunding, outdated equipment, infrastructure backlogs, and skills attrition.” Additional engagements with Armscor and Denel were instrumental in reaffirming the defence function not as an expense, but as a constitutional guarantee.

Holomisa cautioned against the ambiguous effectiveness of Parliament over time. He notes that, despite presidential directives for funding increases, allocations from the National Treasury have been insufficient. He concluded that the Government of National Unity must establish an accountable process for implementing resolutions, especially those related to defense and oversight bodies like SCOPA.