South Africa’s military is expected to do more than ever with tighter budgets: how the force has declined over 30 years
The South African National Defence Force marks 30 years this year, having been established on 27 April 1994.
- The South African National Defence Force marks 30 years this year, having been established on 27 April 1994.
- It’s as old as the country’s constitutional democracy, the result of a negotiated political settlement that ended apartheid.
- The defence force consists of the army, air force, navy, and military health service.
- It has been in decline for some time, especially since 2000, as its budgetary allocation from treasury has shrunk.
Figuring out its primary role
- The purchasing of new military equipment was based on the South African Defence Review of 1998.
- The equipment included nine Gripen fighter aircraft, 12 Hawk aircraft, 30 light utility helicopters, four patrol corvettes and three submarines.
- It was eventually decided that the defence force should be designed primarily to protect the country from external enemies.
- But it has received no additional armour and personnel for this additional role.
- It also plays a pivotal role in the Southern African Development Community mission in conflict-ridden northern Mozambique.
Lesotho, 1998: restoring democracy and political stability, supported by the Botswana military
Burundi, 2003: peacekeeping alongside Mozambique and Ethiopia as part of the African Union Mission in Burundi
Sudan, 2005: as part of the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur.
Constraints
- Budgetary constraints have posed a growing challenge.
- In 2015, the defence force was 24% underfunded in terms of its size and shape.
- Defence spending in 2022/23 was 8.4% lower than in 2021, and 21% lower than in 2013.
- Because of the budgetary constraints, the serviceability and functionality of high-tech equipment – especially the Gripens, frigates and submarines – couldn’t be sustained.
Problems at home
- These include internal or domestic operations such as helping the police in combating gang warfare, fighting illegal mining syndicates, preventing the torching of commercial trucks, guarding power plants, and combating cash-in-transit heists.
- These responsibilities can now even be regarded as among the military’s primary functions.
Theo Neethling receives funding from the National Research Foundation.