SA Defence Force Seeks China’s Help

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, has revealed that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is enlisting the help of Chinese companies to repair its ageing maritime fleet, which has been struggling due to a lack of spare parts.

Speaking before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday, Motshekga outlined the severe challenges facing the defence force due to ongoing budget cuts.

Her address came as the country prepared to bury SANDF soldiers who lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Critics, including military experts and political parties, have argued that the mission was doomed from the start due to inadequate resources caused by budget constraints.

Motshekga stressed that budget cuts impact all aspects of defence operations, including mission readiness. She highlighted that some of the navy’s ships are nearly 90 years old and cannot be repaired because their spare parts are no longer manufactured. Additionally, pilots are receiving limited flight hours due to a shortage of operational aircraft, while the maritime units face similar difficulties.

“We cannot service our equipment. Instead of having six operational fighter jets, we only have four. This limits the number of flight hours we can offer to our personnel. If we don’t have the funds to maintain our ships, it affects both training and operational capacity. The defence force plays a key role in training pilots and sailors, but without resources, this is severely impacted,” she explained.

Motshekga further stated that the SANDF is exploring ways to secure necessary parts and expertise from international sources. She noted that many of the factories that once produced the required spares have shut down, making it difficult to maintain the old fleet.

To address this, the defence force is engaging