Mbambo honours SAAF units, bases and personnel at Prestige Parade

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has turned 106 years old, with the Chief of the SAAF, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, honouring all those who have safeguarded the country’s skies over the last century, including those involved in recent disaster relief efforts.

January was a very busy month for the SAAF as it responded to multiple fires in the Western Cape, and flooding in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and Mozambique. Around 800 people were rescued from rising flood waters in Mozambique, while SAAF A109 and Oryx helicopters continue to provide humanitarian assistance and deliver supplies there. In the Western Cape, Oryx helicopters were used to drop water onto fires in one of the worst fire seasons recorded in many decades.

“The recent floods and fires in the Western Cape province have seen us responding with what we have, professionally,” Mbambo told the Prestige Parade at SAAF Mobile Deployment Wing (formerly Air Force Base Swartkop) on Friday 30 January. “We have never failed to respond to the cry for help from our neighbours in Mozambique. Judging from the current change of climate and weather patterns, the rotary capability will be required more frequently than in the past.”

SAAF serviceability has been improving recently, and this was evident in the multiple helicopters being used for disaster relief, as well as the varied flypast lineup for Friday’s parade. This included two Rooivalk attack helicopters, a BK117 light utility helicopter, a C-130BZ Hercules transport, two Cessna Caravans, a King Air, four PC-7 Mk II trainers, three Hawk Mk 120 Lead-In Fighter/Trainers, and two Falcon VIP jets.

Mbambo told DefenceWeb this was due to a combination of factors, including spares trickling in, and helicopters returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo after serving with the United Nations and Southern African Development Community missions there. Mbambo said additional spares are required to get more machines in the air, with the issue of spares being “really important.” A challenge in this regard is factors that are out of the SAAF’s control such as conflict and disruption elsewhere in the world affecting the supply chain.

Mbambo said he was proud of what the men and women in the SAAF are able to do with what they have, and acknowledged that fighter, transport and rotary wing machines require attention at various levels. “It is important that we are prudent in the way we conduct our business from training, maintenance and operations perspectives. Collaboration with the local aerospace industry is fundamental and keeping relations with our international partners in the aerospace industry is also essential.”

“Technology in the local industry as well as in the international market to upgrade some of our systems is available. This will attend to the issues of obsolescence that require urgent attention. Furthermore, it will assist the SAAF to survive in the short to medium term while the funding matters are being addressed by those assigned for that responsibility,” Mbambo told the parade.

Modern threats evolving

The SAAF Chief told guests and military personnel that the Air Force’s mandate has not changed but the challenges in the aerospace domain have increased exponentially, with adversaries undermining air borders “while we sleep” and advancing in the use of technology.

“The ease of access to modern technology today by those with evil intent has become a wicked problem for all militaries. Their advantage is embedded in their ability to make decisions quickly without any hindrance of bureaucracy and long winded processes. In this regard they are outpacing us with regard to access to simple but superior technology. The use of slow and low altitude unmanned aviation systems to gain access and violate our borderlines is a cause for concern,” Mbambo said.

Another concern for the Chief is the violation of South Africa’s national space. “Those who are opposed to what we stand for as a state and country continuously pry on us and have critical data/information that can be used to counter everything we do.”

A long aviation history

Touching on the SAAF’s history, Mbambo noted that Air Force Base Swartkop was established in 1921 and at 105 years old is the oldest operational base in the world. “We are compelled to keep this base operational because it is our historical site which future generations must be able to trace our past.”

Mbambo told the audience that the SAAF’s history is intertwined with South Africa’s history and must be preserved. “Our country’s history cannot have missing pages – which are removed or changed because of the whims of other people.”

History must be preserved as it indicates the good, the bad, failures and successes. “Therefore, it is important for us to guard our heritage and history of our country from any form of manipulation…We are continuing with the storyline which must be captured and preserved continuously. Therefore, GOC Air Command I am giving you direct instruction that the units and bases history books must be resuscitated. The heroic deeds of our members during various operational activities inside and outside the country cannot be left unrecorded,” Mbambo said, “so that future generations cannot be without references of where we come from.”

Looking after its own

Mbambo affirmed the SAAF continues to take care of its own, and for instance distributed R300 000 to the families of fallen heroes that was raised during its golf day last year. R100 000 was donated to the Chief of the South African National Defence Force Education Trust to ensure that soldiers’ children do not lack education. Other money is going towards the customisation of injured soldier’s houses to help them to adapt to their new lifestyles.

“This project is jointly pursued with the South African Military Health Service under the leadership of the Surgeon General Lieutenant General Peter Maphaha. Some proceeds from this year’s golf day shall go towards this noble project and we are confident that more hands will join us to enhance this endeavour. Our soldiers do so much for our country and her people…therefore whenever they die or are maimed we must respond without hesitation,” Mambo said in his speech.

Also regarding personnel, Mbambo revealed that the SA Air Force College has re-established its skills development wing as of 18 August 2025, after a four-year closure. “The skills development wing is set to deliver courses enhancing members’ professional skills. Currently, it’s running a credit-bearing instructional skills course with 15 learners, strengthening the SAAF’s training capabilities.”

2026 plans

Looking forward to the rest of the year, Mbambo said the SAAF must be prepared for a number of key events, including the State of the Nation Address (12 February), Armed Forces Day (21 February), Freedom Day (27 April), the SAAF Museum Air Show, and the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition (16-20 September). Another event on the SAAF calendar is the 21 March technology demonstration day scheduled to take place at Air Force Base Overberg in the Western Cape.

Mbambo told DefenceWeb he wants the SAAF to go big at AAD, and have Gripens and Hawks amongst those flying for the exhibition and air show (the Gripens were notably absent from Friday’s parade after being out in force for the G20 summit and Exercise Vukuhlome late last year). The SAAF Museum will be a good precursor to the AAD air show, Mbambo said.

“We are not done yet in our mission of Freeing the Eagle,” the Chief said. “The enhancement of SAAF inhouse capability development needs acceleration and implementation of the SAAF air and space power strategy must be stepped up. Asset sweating concepts approval and implementation is long overdue and cannot be delayed any longer. The conclusion of the Defence Space Strategy is key and must be completed.”

As part of SAAF birthday celebrations, Mbambo named Air Force Bases Ysterplaat, Langebaanweg and Overberg as the top three best performers of 2025, with AFB Overberg being declared the best base of the year. The best training unit title went to Central Flying School at AFB Langebaanweg, while 85 Combat Flying School was named Best Permanent Flying Unit.

Click here to view the Prestige Parade gallery.