Tensions rise as SANDF criticises National Treasury over military funding

Banele Ginidza

The National Treasury has fired back that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), saying that it has allocated an additional R10 billion to its R57.2bn budget in the 2025/26 financial year.

This comes after Navy Admiral Monde Lobese launched a scathing attack against the Treasury last week, accusing it of sabotaging the operational capacity of the SANDF through inadequate budget allocations.

Lobese's appearance before the Joint Standing on Defence on Friday was initially intended to address ongoing disputes between the SANDF and Amscor related to constrained procurement processes.

However, it quickly evolved into a broader critique of the Treasury's budgeting practices, which he claims have long stifled the SANDF's ability to fulfil its mandate.

"National Treasury can't be allowed to be a super-department or a government on its own over and above the current government. We cannot afford to compromise the security of citizens by defunding the SANDF because of what the National Treasury is actually doing," Lobese charged.

"Our maritime borders are porous because of the lack of capabilities not because of the lack of will from myself and my team and Navy, or the lack of skills to defend our maritime resources and the economy of this country, but it is due to the failure by National Treasury and the government to adequately resource the SANDF to the required level."

Lobese pointed towards a historical trend of lean budget allocations, noting that since the year 2000, the Navy's resources have been severely limited. He highlighted the acquisition of three submarines from Germany, lamenting that 80% of the funds were used just for procurement, leaving a mere 20% for necessary spare parts over their estimated 30-year lifespan.

Apparently, the submarines have only been used in the voyage from the manufacturer to the dockyard.

"We can't run operations through procurement. It's like buying a loaf of bread and eating it on that specific day. The SANDF, specifically the Navy, must have fully stocked depots so that we are able to prepare and provide combat ready and maritime force at any given time that Parliament gives the task to the SANDF," he said.

"We should make sure on-board spares and other commodities are also ready and available when conducting operations to guarantee on-time maintenace and upkeep of schedules and plans are achieved, not what we are experiencing as SANDF and the Navy. The absence of spares affects our ability to meet maintenance and schedules as pre-determined by Original Equipment Manufacturers."

However, the National Treasury responded swiftly to Lobese's assertions, emphasising its role in facilitating a balanced budgeting process that aligns with broader national fiscal goals.

Treasury said Lobese's comments were concerning as it was responsible for the planning process that resulted in a Cabinet decision reflecting trade-offs between various policy priorities.

Treasury said the final approval was by Parliament, and [Treasury] was then entrusted to ensure the implementation of Parliament’s decisions.

"It is therefore incorrect to suggest that the National Treasury is responsible for any budget challenges experienced by the SANDF," it said.

"Furthermore, the 2025/26 proposed allocation of R57.2bn in the Appropriation Bill is informed by the government's broader fiscal strategy, which aims to stabilise public finances, reduce debt-service costs, and create space to invest in critical infrastructure and frontline services in support of higher growth."  

Treasury said within this constrained fiscal environment, the Department of Defence has been allocated an additional R4.3bn over the 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to support priority needs—most notably, the orderly and safe withdrawal of troops and mission equipment from the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside other essential operational requirements.

It said in addition, the 2025 MTEF fiscal framework contains R5.5bn for early retirement in 2025/26 and 2026/27, most of which will be used by the SANDF to realign their personnel structure with their compensation budget, which is currently unsustainable.

"Internal resource allocation in the Department of Defence is the responsibility of the Accounting Officer and if a particular division believes they are underfunded, it is a matter that should be addressed internally," Treasury said.

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