South Africa Turns to China for Military Fleet Repairs Amid Budget Crisis

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has turned to Chinese engineering firms for assistance in repairing its ageing maritime fleet, which has been severely impacted by budget constraints and a lack of spare parts.

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga made this revelation while addressing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday. She outlined the severe operational challenges faced by the defence force due to ongoing budget cuts, which have affected mission readiness across all divisions, including the navy and air force.

A Fleet in Crisis

The minister detailed how some ships in the SANDF fleet are nearly 90 years old and cannot be repaired due to the unavailability of spare parts. The situation is not unique to the navy—budget constraints have also left the air force struggling, with only four operational fighter jets instead of the required six.

“We cannot service our equipment. In the air force, instead of having six F-planes, we currently have four that are operational. This reduces the number of flying hours that we can provide to our personnel,” Motshekga explained.

She further emphasized that without adequate funding, training opportunities for pilots and sailors are severely limited, weakening the overall effectiveness of the military.

China Steps In to Assist

To address the shortage of spare parts and technical expertise, SANDF has engaged with Chinese engineers to help assess and repair the equipment.

“We are working with countries like China, which have very advanced engineering capabilities, to come and look at our equipment and help us re-engineer because some of the spares we can’t find in the country,” Motshekga stated.

Criticism and Concerns

The move to seek Chinese expertise has sparked debate, with some questioning whether South African engineers could handle the repairs without foreign assistance.

Pikkie Greeff of the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) criticized the decision, saying, “Chinese engineering can’t offer any better than what South Africa already has. Our engineers can do the same.”

Additionally, the issue of workforce management was raised. Motshekga suggested that allowing older employees—those aged 55 and above—to retire could reduce costs and make way for younger personnel. However, critics argue that this alone will not resolve the department’s financial struggles.

Governance and Financial Mismanagement

Scopa Chairperson Songezo Zibi highlighted that the Auditor-General had found chronic underfunding in the department, alongside widespread governance failures. The lack of financial oversight has further weakened SANDF’s ability to respond to operational demands and audit concerns.

Despite the financial struggles, the defence force has re-prioritised its budget to support the air force, with new combat vessels expected to become operational in the next financial year. However, concerns remain over whether these measures will be enough to restore the military’s full capabilities.

As Treasury continues to explore solutions, the SANDF faces a critical moment in ensuring the country’s defence force remains functional and capable of meeting both domestic and international security challenges.

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