South African National Defence Force

South African National Defence Force

Index
1. Order of battle
2. Defence economics
3. State of military forces
4. Country threat report
5. External deployments

1. South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Order of Battle

SANDF overview
Minister of Defence: Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula

Chief of National Defence Force: Lieutenant General Solly Shoke
Member of: UN, AU, IAEA, ICAO SADC, ISDSC
Structure: The President is Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and appoints the Chief of the SANDF. The Department of Defence falls under the Ministry of Defence with its Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence. The Chief of the SANDF is the commander of the SANDF, which comprises of four services: South African Army, Navy, Air Force and Military Health Services. The Joint Operations Division (J Ops) is responsible for the deployment of the SANDF on operations.

2. South African defence economics
Defence budget:

FY 2012/13: R38.4 billion

FY 2013/14: R39.9 billion (projected)

FY 2014/15: R42.3 billion (projected)
Defence budget percentage per GDP (2000-2010)

Defence budget per US$ Mil (2000-2011)

Defence budget percentage growth (2000-2011)

3. State of military forces

South Africa’s military operational effectiveness is hampered by insufficient funding. A significant amount of the defence budget is going to salaries alone. The SANDF does not have the funds needed to adequately train its personnel, replace old equipment and maintain existing equipment. While the 1998 Strategic Defence Procurement packages saw the acquisition of new fighter jets, helicopters, frigates and submarines, most other equipment is ageing rapidly and due for replacement. The South African Air Force has been particularly hard hit by budget constraints that are limiting flying hours and 12 Gripens have been placed in storage.

Maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean have also drained the South African Navy’s operational budget. According to Admiral Green the Navy requested R126 million for these operations but only received R63 million from South Africa’s national treasury. Permanent deployment of a vessel to the Mozambique Channel on anti-piracy operations has resulted in heavy wear and tear on the four frigates, while the ageing of the other vessels in the Navy fleet remains a problem.

The SANDF has a number of projects underway for the replacement of existing equipment (such as Biro: offshore and inshore patrol vessels; Saucepan: maritime patrol aircraft; Hoefyster: Badger infantry combat vehicles; Sepula: armoured vehicles and Vistula: trucks). However, funding is hampering the acquisition process and resulting in large delays.

An important development for the SANDF is the drafting of the 2012/4 Defence Review, which looks at defence spending, threats, procurement, strategy, industry and defence force structure. This far-reaching document is still working its way through Parliament as of late 2014.
4. Country threat report

South Africa is currently facing no external military threats. The biggest security threats relate to internal security with high crime rates threatening foreign investment. Public disorder bought on by poor government service delivery has also become an issue in the last decade.

The country is also suffering from crime ridden national borders. However following a government decision in 2009 the South African military was redeployed back to the country’s borders and has achieved some success in this regard.

Maritime piracy has also become an issue following several pirate attacks in the Mozambique Channel in late 2010. The South African military has since launched Operation Copper within this area, with a ship and aircraft on patrol, to counter the threat and no piracy attacks have been recorded since.
5. External deployments

SANDF Address

Private Bag X161
0001 Pretoria

South AfricaTel: (+27 12) 355 63 21

Fax: (+27 12) 355 63 98
e-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.dod.mil.za