Dear Editor
The DA congratulates Major General Lancelot Mathebula on his appointment as Deputy Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), effective 1 January 2025. Maj Genl Mathebula is currently the project leader of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Space Command and has 24 years’ service in the Force. His experience, coupled with that of the SAAF Chief, will bring a valuable balance to the Force leadership.
The Department of Defence (DoD) is in a state of crisis and strong leadership is required across the board to address it. Over the past years the Department has consistently been one of the Auditor-General’s biggest financial offenders. Its report for 2023/24 highlighted rampant unauthorised expenditure in the Department to the sum of R3,4 billion. Irregular expenditure amounted to R338 million and fruitless and wasteful expenditure increased drastically from R2,569 million in 2022/23 to R51 million in 2023/24. Whilst a large chunk of the expenses relate to personnel costs, more worrying items are, for example, the fruitless and wasteful expenses incurred in respect of Project Thusano, also known as the Cuban training programme.
The DA calls on Major General Mathebula to focus his attention on increasing the operational capacity of the South African Air Force by practicing austerity, directing all available funds towards increasing aircraft availability and ensuring that the SAAF executes its primary mandate to ensure the safety and security of the South African airspace, which includes enabling more flying hours for air force officers and procuring proper weapons for combat. This can only be done when persons in leadership positions show true leadership by respecting the severity of the SANDF crisis.
Despite recent improvements, the SAAF’s fighter capacity maintains a very limited capability. The Rooivalk fleet is in urgent need of attention, including the recommissioning of the aircraft that recently returned from the DRC. Similarly, the SAAF lacks a proper medium airlift capability with the current C-130BZ Hercules fleet largely grounded and only ad hoc aircraft availability.
Yet, despite the SAAF’s incapability to defending South Africa’s skies, it was reported in September that Air Force Chief Lt General Wiseman Mbambo acquired two Audi Q7 vehicles – complete with blue lights – at a cost of nearly R3 million. The vehicles were purchased for Lt Genl Mbambo’s exclusive use, the second one supposedly for security reasons. Government’s handbook for executive officials – including ministers – prescribes that an official vehicle should not cost more than R700 000.00. It was further reported that Major General David Nyangasya, Mbambo’s junior in seniority and rank, has also recently acquired a second Audi Q7 to compliment his official vehicle – an Audi Q7. Until the end of August, he was the general officer commanding the works formation.
Apart from the wasteful expense of luxury vehicles, the Air Force band participated in the Spasskaya International Military Music Festival in Russia for a week at the end of August at a cost of almost R15 million.
The DA has raised its concern about the state of the SANDF with Minister Angie Motshekga on several occasions over the past months since President Cyril Ramaphosa moved her from the Basic Education portfolio to lead the Department of Defence. Whilst the Minister recently confirmed in writing that the South African Navy is in crisis, several parliamentary questions posed to her remain unanswered. The DA will write to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces to request her intervention in the matter once the new Parliamentary term starts.
One of the questions which remain unanswered was submitted on 10 October 2024 and requested the Minister to provide the exact information relating to the cost of Lt Genl Mbambo’s official vehicles; the cost of the modification thereof; the procurement process and information regarding the authorisers in the procurement process.
Regards
Nicholas Gotsell MP
DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice
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