Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum on Friday interrogated Armscor and the Department of Defence (DoD) over delays, underfunding, and systemic risks undermining the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) session focused on the management of acquisition and maintenance contracts for the South African Navy and Air Force, exposing a deteriorating state of readiness and escalating concern over the country’s ability to defend its maritime and aerial sovereignty.
The hearing was immediately derailed by members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who tried to introduce new items do the agenda and raised concern over issues of transparency. Democratic Alliance member (DA) Nicholas Gotsell raised a procedural challenge before the presentations began, questioning whether any new, previously undisclosed or confidential material would be introduced. Gotsell stated that “if other information is added today, and we are caught off guard, it compromises transparency.” He accused the Chair of enabling a “cover-up masquerading as a presentation,” after Armscor CEO Solomzi Mbada confirmed one additional slide had been added, outlining project-level challenges.
The Chair attempted to restore order, but repeated points of order, interjections, and accusations of procedural bias stalled the hearing for nearly 20 minutes. Gotsell warned that failing to disclose new or confidential information in advance amounted to a violation of parliamentary protocol and undermined the committee’s ability to exercise oversight.
“This Is Institutional Collapse”
Once proceedings resumed, ANC member and Co-Chair Malusi Gigaba delivered a scathing assessment of Armscor’s performance and the broader strategic crisis confronting the SANDF.
“This is not simply about missed timelines or faulty project charters,” Gigaba said. “What we are facing is an institutional unravelling, across project planning, execution, maintenance, and funding.”
He questioned Armscor’s continued reliance on the “on-demand” contracting model for the Air Force, which does not guarantee aircraft availability and results in reactive rather than preventative maintenance. “It may be cheaper on paper,” he warned, “but the cost in operational readiness and strategic deterrence is far higher.”
Gigaba asked why midlife upgrades for both submarines and frigates remained unfunded, despite years of warnings from parliamentary committees. “You are effectively running core platforms into the ground,” he said. “What is the plan if, or when, we experience a critical system failure during an operational deployment?”
Treasury’s “Trickle Funding” Is Strategic Neglect
DA member Chris Hattingh echoed these concerns and directed sharp criticism at National Treasury. He stated that the defence budget had been reduced to “a garden hose on a forest fire,” noting that the Air Force alone faced a R7.7 billion funding shortfall for maintenance.
“For years, we’ve warned Treasury and the executive that we are heading toward a cliff. Now we’re hanging off the edge,” Hattingh said. He also highlighted the urgency of the Navy’s option to acquire a fourth Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV), which will expire at the end of June 2025. “Why are we always at the edge of a cliff when it comes to strategic decisions?” he asked. “Are we serious about sovereignty or just role-playing at national defence?”
Hattingh further raised pointed questions regarding the stalled submarine refit programme, particularly challenging Armscor on why previous attempts at international collaboration had failed. He questioned the lack of progress after reported engagement with the Indian Navy and asked why South Korea, known for its advanced naval maintenance capability, had not been seriously considered as an alternative partner.
Hattingh expressed frustration that despite years of discussion and partial funding, South Africa’s submarines remained idle, with no contract awarded and no clear delivery plan. He implied that Armscor’s inability to secure external technical assistance, whether from India or other capable allies, reflected poor strategic planning and a failure to prioritise critical defence assets.
“Where Are the Deliverables?”
Co-Chair Phiroane Phala focused on the practical consequences of repeated delays. “We’re bombarded with acronyms, dashboards, and phased funding models, but at the end of the day, what are we actually getting for billions of rands?” he asked.
Phala demanded clarity on timelines for the SAS Isandlwana refit and submarine overhauls. He expressed frustration over the absence of enforceable accountability measures for underperforming contractors. “Are we managing projects, or are we managing excuses?” he asked.
“Defence Cannot Be Treated as Optional”
Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga, who attended the session, acknowledged the gravity of the concerns raised. She noted the fiscal constraints facing the government but warned against treating defence as a discretionary function.
“Let us not ignore that we are in a constrained fiscal environment,” she said. “But it is equally true that defence cannot be treated as optional. The Navy and Air Force cannot be left to operate on fumes.” Motshekga committed to raising the matter in Cabinet and reviewing current contract management frameworks.
Armscor Paints a Bleak Technical Picture
Several Armscor executives presented a detailed overview of the organisation’s current programmes and constraints. Key issues included:
- Understaffed and ageing Naval Dockyard: The Simon’s Town Dockyard has only 286 technical personnel and suffers from deteriorating infrastructure, including structurally unsound buildings and outdated equipment.
- Delayed refit of SAS Isandlwana: The project is only 24% complete despite starting in May 2024. The dry dock phase is delayed, and the contractor has been formally put on terms. Legal and operational recovery plans are under discussion.
- Submarine maintenance in limbo: Submarine refits have been stalled since 2014 due to inadequate local technical capacity and failed international collaboration attempts. The project remains in the procurement evaluation phase.
- Project Biro (MMIPVs): Three patrol vessels have been delivered and are undergoing testing, but the option for a fourth vessel, estimated at R800 million, will expire this month unless exercised. The fourth vessel would have reduced combat capability but could be upgraded later.
- Project Hotel (Hydrographic Survey Vessel): While small boats and IT systems have been delivered, the main vessel is delayed due to strikes, floods, and contractor disputes. Armscor is reviewing a revised project execution plan but indicated that funding may be insufficient to complete the vessel.
- Air Force maintenance collapse: Almost every aircraft platform is underfunded. Entire fleets, including C-130s, Oryx helicopters, Gripens, and Hawks, are operating below safe or sustainable levels. Some have no functioning support contracts in place. Spare part shortages, obsolete components, and long turnaround times are common across platforms.
One executive summarised the problem succinctly: “We are essentially playing catch-up. Maintenance is being done on an ad hoc basis, and we cannot guarantee the availability of aircraft under the current model.”
Committee Resolution Likely
The Joint Standing Committee is now expected to draft a formal resolution urging National Treasury to ring-fence funding for critical defence platforms, particularly the midlife upgrades of submarines and frigates. Committee members also called for a reassessment of Armscor’s contracting models and a possible review of the performance of key contractors.
Gigaba ended with a caution, saying that national security cannot be managed through paperwork alone. He warned that unless the current warnings are heeded, the country risks finding itself unable to defend its territorial waters, airspace, or national sovereignty.
