13 May 2025

Honourable Members,

I would like to extend my gratitude for the opportunity to be part of a discussion of such importance. The midterm review of the South African National Defence coincides with a crucial point in our country, our continent, and the world. I’d like us to consider what it means to be a sovereign country amidst complex security challenges in the global order, ranging from cyber threats, to maritime insecurity, climate-driven disruptions, and widespread human displacement.

These and many other challenges demand a Defence Force that is fit for purpose and able to respond effectively to a state of almost constant disruption. For this, we need to periodically examine the capabilities, infrastructure, morale and overall direction of this critical institution.

At the centre of this review lies a simple but powerful truth that should resonate with all of us; that without peace there can never be development. Peace is contingent upon a number of factors, as we well know – justice, equality of opportunity, sound institutions, excellent service delivery, etc – and, as a guarantor and safeguard to all, a strong and capable Defence Force. A strong a capable Defence Force is able to fulfil its constitutional mandate of protecting all of these other central activities.

Honourable Members,

Many misconstrue the Defence Force as simply a body tasked with defending our borders. While that is certainly part of its work, in the context of the world we live in today, our military also has the responsibility of protecting our maritime trade routes, and responding appropriately when we are confronted with internal emergencies. Our Defence Force has to preserve the integrity of the state, our democratic ideals, and everyone who lives within our borders. It is therefore important that we have a force that not only boasts critical capabilities, but that is non-partisan and well respected domestically and continentally.

Honourable Members,

Our country operates within a global ecosystem. Our security as a nation is intertwined with that of our neighbours. From Cape Town to the Sahel, from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, conflict and instability are ever present, and have the potential to send ripples throughout the continent, affecting our development and growth, and ultimately undermining livelihoods, and disintegrating institutions in our region. This is the reason why our Defence Force continues to play a leading role in its contributions to continental peace missions.

I’d like to use this platform to once more extend our heartfelt condolences to the 14 South African soldiers who lost their lives while deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their sacrifice was not in vain. These brave men and women laid down their lives in pursuit of peace beyond our borders, embodying the highest ideals of service. We honour their memory, and we are using this tragedy to examine our Defence Force critically, seeking ways to improve our communication, infrastructure, morale and overall efficiency.

In the DRC, our forces deployed under SAMIDRC have played an important role in protecting the civilian population. As they return home, we commend them for their courage and professionalism, reflecting our country’s longstanding commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Africa. These peacekeeping and stabilising missions are testament to the fact that our Defence Force, while in need of improvements, has the capability of navigating complex security environments. In the DRC and other areas, we have gained valuable operational experience while advancing important diplomatic ties in pursuit of a Better Africa, and a Better World.

Honourable Members,

Our pursuit of peace and stability on the continent is anchored by our participation in multilateral defence cooperation platforms, in particular SADC and BRICS.

Through the security architecture of our regional bloc, SADC, we have been able to contribute to stability through joint exercises, and we have supported the establishment of rapid response capabilities through the SADC Standby Force. Our participation in this body ensures that we are able to move in unison as a region to tackle security threats.

I think it is also critical that we deepen our interactions with the SADC Regional Logistics Base in Gaborone, as it is through such institutions that we are able to effectively coordinate humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. It is institutions like these that enable us, and our neighbours, to effectively respond to the security challenges that face our entire continent, and advance the principle of the African Union to Silence the Guns, as outlined in the AU Agenda 2063.

Our involvement in BRICS defence cooperation has also fostered a strategic competitive edge. Through BRICS, we have partaken in joint training programmes, and exchanged knowledge in research and development. These platforms are extremely valuable, as no institution can remain vital and effective without constant learning and growth. This is especially so in a volatile world where the threats are ever changing.

While defending our sovereignty is our Defence Force’s primary duty, we must bear in that we are only able to do so through both training and the production of the necessary equipment to defend ourselves. This is where the revitalisation of Denel and Armscor comes in. These institutions must be treated as the national strategic assets they are.

Denel, a state-owned enterprise, is critical to our sovereignty as a nation. We therefore have a task before us – to return Denel to its former glory as a worldclass defence manufacturer, capable of stimulating our economy through localisation and innovation. We need to ensure that we strengthen its core business areas, protect its intellectual property and, through the African Continental Free Trade Area, unlock new markets on the continent while abiding with legislation that governs ethical arms trade practices. A revitalised Denel would be an anchor for job creation, and enable young people to gain valuable skills in this high-tech sector.

Equally, Amrscor’s procurement function must be able to respond to the needs of the SANDF. Lacking a reliable and credible procurement system inevitably has adverse effects on our Defence Force, particularly in the area of modernisation in this dynamic security environment.

In short, Honourable Members, it is our duty as this House to ensure that our men and women in uniform are supported and properly resourced, as in any other high-functioning institution. While we build the just and democratic society we have always envisaged, we must know that the guardians of our constitutional state are equipped, trained and ready. This will require energy, determination and resources.