Denel’s move into the Department of Defence to cost R67 million
As the Department of Public Enterprises has ceased to exist, state-owned defence conglomerate Denel is being moved into the Department of Defence (DoD), and...
Defence budget remains stagnant despite R5 billion allocation for DRC deployment
South Africa’s defence budget has increased by just R400 million from 2024/25 to R55.94 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, representing a below inflation...
India and South Africa keen to deepen defence industry cooperation
India and South Africa have a lot to offer each other with regard to defence cooperation, and companies like Rheinmetall Denel Munition, Saab Grintek...
Expert warns SANDF must evolve to tackle modern threats
Dr Moses Khanyile, Director of the Centre for Military Studies (CEMIS) at Stellenbosch University, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of South Africa’s defence...
Denel’s sale of Hensoldt and RDM shares no longer taking place
The selling off of stakes in non-core assets is a key part of Denel’s turnaround strategy, but the divestment of Hensoldt and Rheinmetall Denel...
Revisit 2015 Defence Review – urgently – for South Africa to avoid another military...
In the wake of 14 soldier deaths far from home and a highly critical review of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) by Parliament’s...
Defenceless: South Africa’s military capability eroded by chronic issues, warns SCOPA
The South African Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DMV) is facing numerous challenges prohibiting it from being able to defend the country, say...
Mapping South Africa’s arms exports: trends, key markets, and regional demand
South Africa’s long struggling defence industry has, in recent years, experienced somewhat of a revival. The National Conventional Arms Control Committee’s (NCACC’s) annual reports...
Balancing the defence wages and salaries budget still a way off
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga does not appear to be optimistic that the 2025/26 financial year will deliver a break-even point for...
UN peacekeeping payments to South Africa to be questioned
In the six month period April to November 2024, South Africa was paid R213 million for peacekeeping and peace support operations by the United...
EFF slams draft defence budgetary review reports, calls SANDF a collapsing entity
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have launched a scathing attack on the on the draft Budgetary Review and Recommendation Reports (BRRRs) concerning the Department...
No Christmas MMIPV for the Navy
The SA Navy (SAN) will not add multi-mission inshore patrol vessel (MMIPV) number three to its fleet inventory this year.
The Damen Shipyards Cape Town...
80% plus of SA defence industry production exported Parliament oversight committee hears
Confirmation of the limited uptake of local defence industry products and services by the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was provided to the Joint...
A year’s worth of work ahead to make three Rooivalks airworthy after DRC return
December next year is when three Rooivalk combat support helicopters now back in South Africa are expected to return to service.
That’s the official word...
Project Hoefyster ‘deferred’
Speaking to members of the media at Exercise Vuk’uhlome 2024, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, the Chief of the South African Army, revealed that Project...
New SA Navy Flag Officer Fleet wants a ship at sea at all times
The South African Navy (SA Navy) has witnessed a change in leadership as Rear Admiral Handsome Matsane assumes the role of Flag Officer Fleet,...
March delivery of first new SANDF border protection vehicles “a stretch”
Twelve months after bringing their prospective vehicles to an SA Army exercise, and subsequently submitting bids for new vehicles, South African armoured personnel carrier...
Denel still facing financial and operational challenges in spite of bailouts – Auditor General
In spite of recent bailouts, Denel is making slow progress on implementing its turnaround strategy, something compounded by going concern and financial sustainability challenges.
This...
Air Force and Navy ‘hardly operational’ as SANDF performance declines
The South African Navy and Air Force have, due to a lack of maintenance and funding, seen key assets become less productive, resulting in...
Jorsin launches new Tau 4×4 armoured personnel carrier
At a glance what appears to be a 4x4 version of the famous Ratel infantry combat vehicle is in fact Jorsin’s new Tau armoured...
CSIR and Sysdel collaborate on new Acepod electronic warfare pod for the SAAF
An advanced electronic warfare (EW) pod developed domestically by Sysdel, Armscor, the South African Air Force (SAAF) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial...
SANDF needs to be reformed – Zibi
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga as a matter of urgency needs to secure additional funding to match the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF’s) mandate,...
Minister in Ramaphosa’s Presidency to head conventional arms control committee
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s go-to Cabinet Minister on State-owned enterprises (SOEs), including Denel, is the presidential choice to head up the National Conventional...
SA Navy struggles to counter maritime threats amid severe underfunding
The South African Navy (SA Navy) is in crisis due to years of underfunding, a situation Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the Navy,...
Denel fits T7 gun on its RG41 8×8
Denel’s big reveal at this year’s Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition was the mating of its RG41 eight-wheeled combat vehicle to a modified...
Defence priorities need to be reassessed in order to fix the SANDF – Kobus...
Amongst the many voices calling for military reform and a new defence review is former Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister for Defence and Military...
It’s official – the SANDF has a Space Command Section
That the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and its airborne service, the SA Air Force (SAAF), is committed to space was emphasised to delegates...
Lack of security at DoD ammunition depot worrying AfriForum
Apparent security breaches and shortcomings at 93 Ammunition Depot are reasons for concern when the presence of what AfriForum calls “foreign militias” in South...
C47-TP grounding leaves SAAF with no maritime eyes in the sky
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is stranded when it comes to maritime patrols and the possibility of replacement airframes appearing is slim to non-existent.
This...
‘Unsafe’ SANDF bases require urgent intervention – AfriForum
Civil rights organisation AfriForum has called on Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga to immediately address “critical vulnerabilities that are jeopardising national security,”...
NCACC decision to put Polish artillery ammunition order on hold saw contract with RDM...
The South African National Conventional Arms Control Committee’s decision to indefinitely put on hold the approval of an export permit to Poland has resulted...
Armscor seeking personal protective equipment for BMA
The Border Management Authority (BMA) is acquiring equipment for its border guards, with state defence materiel agency Armscor issuing multiple tenders for protective and...
South Korea’s KF-21 fighter radar being tested by Paramount in South Africa
Testing of the KF-21 Boramae fighter radar continues in South Africa, on a modified Boeing 737 operating out of Wonderboom National Airport.
The Active Electronically...
Priorities for Angie Motshekga and the new Ministry of Defence leadership team
South Africa’s new Ministry of Defence leadership is taking over at a difficult time and will need to make some critical decisions while bringing...
Motshekga committed to addressing SANDF underfunding, Defence Review implementation
Pushing for more financial resources, implementing the 2015 Defence Review and filling vacant posts are some of the priorities new defence minister Angie Motshekga...
Defence budget ‘indefensible’
Rise Mzansi is one of the many political parties criticising the latest defence budget, calling the current allocation ‘indefensible’ as the South African National...
Armscor issues eagerly awaited border patrol APC bid
The South African Army’s long search for armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for border patrol duty is moving forward, with an invitation to bid from...
SA soldiers guilty of breaking DRC base standing orders, sexual abuse charges dropped
Nine South African soldiers summarily deported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last October in connection with allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse...
High Court orders South Africa to suspend arms exports to Myanmar
The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria has set aside permits that were granted by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC)...
DA wants a new defence review and for SANDF to withdraw from DRC
In light of the severe underfunding of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and its consequent impact on equipment and capabilities, and the...
Motshekga pushing for SANDF equipment upgrades
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga wants the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to have upgraded prime mission equipment and is engaging...
SANDF peace missions get additional funding
National Treasury has allocated over R2 billion in funding from the National Revenue Fund to defray the costs of the South African National Defence...
Cudgels taken up in defence funding debate
Battle lines are seemingly drawn ahead of the 2024 fight for defence funding, with National Treasury (NT) on one hand warning the powers that...
South Africa’s arms exports nearly doubled in 2023
The National Conventional Arms Control Committee’s (NCACC’s) 2023 annual report shows a massive rise in South African defence exports, which totalled R7.1 billion for...
New Defence and Military Veterans Minister has two deputies
South African and African National Congress (ANC) leader Cyril Ramaphosa added a second deputy defence and military veterans minister to his seventh administration cabinet...
AMD calls on new defence minister to renew investment in South Africa’s defence capabilities
In an open letter to a new Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, the South African Aerospace Maritime, and Defence Industries Association (AMD) calls...
Parliamentary defence oversight in SA – Looking back on the 6th Parliament and key...
Parliamentary oversight is an important practice in democracies as it prevents dominance by the executive branch of government and ensures accountability. Oversight of the...
Milkor announces new partnership for maritime version of the Milkor 380 UAV
Milkor has established a strategic partnership with Germany’s Aerodata AG to develop a new specialised platform for maritime surveillance, the AeroForce 380, based on...
SAMIM withdrawal from Cabo Delgado: uncomfortable truths
Why is the region turning away from an international terrorist organisation on its doorstep that is growing in influence?
On 16 May, Islamic State (IS)...
Riaz Saloojee joins Incomar
Aerospace and defence company Incomar, in addition to expanding its capabilities and adding new aircraft to its fleet, is also adding key personnel to...
