Naval Base Durban is among the 32 refurbishment projects on which the Department of Defence (DoD) spent close to half a billion Rand on in the 2015/16 financial year.
The Durban naval installation was downgraded to a naval station 15 years ago following the withdrawal of what were the Minister Class strikecraft and their conversion of three into offshore patrol vessels.
With six new platforms required by the SA Navy to be able to up its in- and offshore patrolling capabilities in line with the maritime security component of Operation Phakisa, the Salisbury island facility was again deemed to be a needed requirement with base status. This saw Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula accompany SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief, General Solly Shoke, to the east coast port city to officially again declare the facility a naval base late last year.
This has seen accommodation upgraded and a complete revamp of the base kitchen, issues previous SA Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Johannes Mudimu said were non-negotiable before any extra naval staff would be transferred there.
Other upgrades planned for Naval Base Durban centre around it being home port for the six still to be acquired inshore and offshore patrol vessels under Project Biro.
“The facilities have to be upgraded and refurbished and this will be done to ensure the [new patrol] squadron has everything necessary to operate properly,” Rear Admiral Sagaren Pillay, Director: Maritime Strategy said in December last year.
There is currently no indication of when the patrol squadron will become a reality.
Addressing the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) last month, Armscor chief executive Kevin Wakeford said decisions on the acquisition of new patrol vessels in terms of Project Biro were on hold. This was because the Department of Defence and the SA Navy were “in the process of reviewing the budget before a decision regarding continuation of the contracting process is made”.
Other infrastructure projects undertaken by the DoD Works Formation in conjunction with the Department of Public Works in the year under review for SA Military Health Services include an upgrade and refurbishment of Floor One of 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane as well as upgrading the hospital’s uninterrupted power supply; a new sickbay at 4 SA Infantry Battalion, extensions to 3 Military Hospital in Wynberg, Cape Town, and a new sickbay at the Saldanha Military Base.
Kitchen facilities at 17 bases were also earmarked for upgrading and/or refurbishment during the year under review. Some of these are at 9 SA Infantry Battalion; 1 SA Tank Regiment; both the non-commissioned officers and officers messes at Army Support Base, Western Cape; Umdloti Signal Base; 5 SA Infantry Battalion’ SA Army Gymnasium; Army Support Base, Johannesburg; Army Support Base, Potchefstroom and the National Ceremonial Guard in Thaba Tshwane.
The repair to and renovations of VIP aircrew and pilot facilities at AFB Ysterplaat was also completed during the year under review.
The SANDF Logistics Division has “no plans” to close down or downgrade any facilities on its immovable asset register.
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