SANDF Expresses Concerns For Eligible Leadership To Coercion Crisis

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) expresses concern for eligible political leadership, effective management, and the willpower to address its mounting challenges. This is according to independent defence analyst Kobus Marais.

Marais’s remarks come in response to Lieutenant-General Ntshavheni Maphaha’s recent criticism of the government for running what he termed a “Mickey Mouse” defence force. Maphaha accused the government of trying to play a “Big Brother” role in Africa while failing to secure South Africa’s borders.

Marais further stressed that SANDF requires practical and decisive leadership. “Currently, we don’t observe any mature leadership. There has been no significant management will or determination from the government or the Military Command Council to downsize the SANDF or curb its ambitions,” he said.

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Despite the SANDF’s sizeable force of about 70,000 personnel and ageing equipment inherited from the old South African Defence Force, Marais argued that its budget—less than 0.7% of the country’s GDP—paints a bleak picture.

“The budget needed to fund the SANDF’s constitutional obligations, combined with the president’s tendency to deploy soldiers without providing essential resources, has created a Mickey Mouse budget for Mickey Mouse ambitions,” he added.

While acknowledging the SANDF’s deteriorating state, Marais noted that Maphaha failed to take responsibility for the military’s condition.

“These leaders must be honest and transparent about the true state of our defence capabilities. They should advise the president and Cabinet accordingly and disclose all these challenges to Parliament and the public,” he asserted.

Marais however, warned that if the military’s decline is not urgently addressed, the SANDF will be unable to defend South Africa’s sovereignty and protect its citizens. “Adversarial forces will continue to exploit our resources and systems, further isolating us from key international trade partners.”

Department of Defence spokesperson Onicca Kwakwa referred inquiries to SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini, who stated that the defence force was not yet ready to comment on the issue.

“We are conducting internal consultations to understand the matter and the statement made by Lieutenant-General Maphaha. We are waiting for the chief of staff, who is currently in a meeting,” said Dlamini.

Moreso, Pikkie Greeff, national secretary of the SA National Defence Union, echoed concerns about SANDF’s declining capabilities. “We are in serious trouble. If senior leaders acknowledge this, it is evident that the issue lies with politicians, not soldiers. The government has weakened the defence force by controlling the budget, misallocating funds, and treating the military as a stepchild of public service.”

Greeff suggested that Maphaha’s remarks stem from frustration, as his concerns are valid. “I am aware of the challenges he faces—shortages of ambulances, medical staff, and equipment. Military clinics have had to close or reduce hours, and procurement failures mean soldiers and their families struggle to access essential medication. His frustrations are entirely justified.”

However, Greeff pointed out inconsistencies between Maphaha’s comments and the official stance presented by SANDF Chief and Defence Minister Angie Motshekga. “The chief and the minister claim everything is fine, while the surgeon-general provides a more honest assessment of SANDF’s dire condition,” he noted.

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Additionally, he criticised the reluctance to acknowledge the severity of the crisis. “There is a constant effort to downplay the reality, largely due to embarrassment over what has been allowed to happen. This ongoing denial will only worsen the situation.”

With mounting concerns from within the military and external analysts, urgent reforms are necessary to prevent further deterioration. Analysts and insiders alike call for decisive political intervention, increased funding, and better strategic planning to restore SANDF’s effectiveness and credibility.

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