The South African Department of Defence (DoD) is going to get a new mobilisation centre thanks to Chinese aid, but the initiative, under Project Zingisa, has not yet commenced.
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga told Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Nicholas Myburgh in a late November Parliamentary reply that the DoD, on behalf of the Government of South Africa, signed an international agreement with the Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China in September 2024 during the official visit by Motshekga for the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
The agreement provides for military assistance to South Africa valued at 100 million RMB Yuan, or R231 million at current exchange rates. “The purpose of the Agreement is to support the construction of a Mobilisation and Demobilisation Centre (Project Zingisa) for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at De Brug, Bloemfontein,” Motshekga stated.
The agreement specifies that the assistance will be used strictly for the purposes agreed upon, and used within five years of signing the agreement.
Specifics of the agreement are still to be concluded, according to the 28 November reply, with the DoD awaiting the Chinese Ministry of National Defence to propose a draft protocol for the DoD’s review and consideration, that will elaborate on the quantities and items to be supplied.
“An internal Working Group comprised of the Logistics, Joint Operations, Defence Intelligence and Defence International Affairs Divisions has already been established to provide the DoD’s technical and coordination oversight for the project. Bilateral engagements and site visits have also taken place with the Chinese Ministry of National Defence, but no implementation has commenced,” Motshekga informed Myburgh in November.
She added that National Treasury will be consulted once the Protocol is finalised and before the donation/funding is received to ensure compliance with the relevant Official Development Assistance (ODA) regulations.
“The DoD will maintain full control over the sovereignty, defence technology and access to classified infrastructure through strict security and vetting protocols and procedures,” the Minister added.
In a report to the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) prepared for a 4 February meeting, the Department of Defence said Project Zingisa has not commenced and remains in its conceptual phase.
“Comprehensive information covering the scope, timelines, governance arrangements, and other pertinent matters will be provided once the conceptualisation and feasibility process has been finalised. At that point, the DoD will provide a structured update to Parliament, stakeholders, and the public.”
