The recent defence budget debate again highlighted the parlous state of the SA National Defence Force, again to no effect. Capability gaps remain unaddressed and existing capabilities continue to decline.has a coastline of 2,798km and an exclusive economic zone of 1,068,660km², plus 466,879km² around Marion and Prince Edward islands 1,750km to the southeast, and depends on shipping for at least 80% of its trade and all of its imported oil.
In addition, the Mozambique Channel carries 40% of oil imports and most of the exports to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, Pakistan and western India, to the value of about R100bn a year. That channel is 1,600km long, covers 700,000km² and is vulnerable to piracy and maritime terrorism.All the National Treasury and cabinet see fit to fund is 333 sea days per year, not even one ship at sea year-round to cover 2.2-million km² of waters important to SA.
minister or even an MP drive a 78-year-old car? But we expect our aircrew to fly 78-year-old aircraft over the sea.Three submarines to maintain an intelligence picture, but only one has been refitted since commissioning between 2006 and 2008 and none has been modernised. Two old strike craft, reclassified as offshore patrol vessels, a role for which they are not suited.One old support ship to enable others to extend their patrols.There are four new ships in build, three inshore patrol vessels that will be little better patrolling our waters than the old strike craft, and a survey ship. The latter has been configured to carry a helicopter and has self-defence armament, so will be useful in other roles.
Lol biggest threat is the Anc gorvmnt, knawing away at the very foundations of this country.
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