Latest news with #SadcMission
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
We're not responsible for SANDF budget cuts: National Treasury
The National Treasury says it is not responsible for any budget challenges experienced by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The Treasury said it was concerned by remarks made by the head of the navy, Adm Monde Lobese, who accused it of compromising national security by not providing the defence force with resources. Lobese made the comments during a joint standing committee on defence meeting in parliament on Friday. In response, the Treasury said in line with the constitution, withdrawing funds from the National Revenue Fund can only be done through an act of parliament. 'Final approval is by parliament and the National Treasury is then entrusted to ensure the implementation of parliament's decisions. It is therefore incorrect to suggest the National Treasury is responsible for budget challenges experienced by the SANDF,' it said. Lobese told the committee it needs to take a stand against what he called the 'sabotage' of the defence force due to years of defunding. 'National Treasury for a change needs to be patriotic in how they address the funding of the SANDF. National Treasury can't be allowed to be a super department,' he said. However, the Treasury said in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, the Treasury is responsible for managing the budget process and exercising control over the implementation of the national budget. According to the Treasury, the 2025/2026 proposed defence allocation of R57.2bn in the Appropriation Bill was informed by the government's broader fiscal strategy, which aimed to stabilise public finances, reduce debt service costs and create space to invest in critical infrastructure and frontline services in support of higher growth. 'In this constrained fiscal environment, the department of defence has been allocated an additional R4.3bn over the 2025 medium-term expenditure framework to support priority needs — most notably, the orderly and safe withdrawal of troops and mission equipment from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with other essential operational requirements.' TimesLIVE previously reported that defence and military veterans minister Angie Motshekga said better funding could have allowed the defence force to handle the repatriation of troops deployed to the eastern DRC as part of the Sadc Mission in the DRC, avoiding trauma and logistical chaos.
TimesLIVE
29-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
SANDF meets with Sandu over unpaid allowances for DRC deployment
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has held an urgent meeting with the South African National Defence Union (Sandu) after the union's public outcry over unpaid allowances for troops deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The SANDF said the meeting came after the union issued a statement and circulated a video on its social media platforms regarding outstanding allowances related to the SAMIDRC deployment under Operation Thiba, part of the Sadc Mission in the DRC. SundayTimes reported that soldiers have turned their anger on their own top brass over a pay dispute, saying they are owed at least R600,000 each. One of the aggrieved soldiers told the Sunday Times he and his fellow troops should have been paid R100,000 a month during their 15-month deployment as part of a Southern African Development Community force in the eastern DRC, but had received only R58,000. The SANDF expressed concern that Sandu had released the statement without first following the established process of direct engagement with it.. 'This occurred while the SANDF was still in the process of demobilising the deployed members and addressing payment-related and other administrative matters internally,' said SANDF spokesperson Rear-Admiral Prince Tshabalala. Tshabalala said the meeting focused on clarifying the status of outstanding allowances and emphasising the importance of effective and respectful communication between the SANDF and recognised unions, in line with the Bargaining Council framework. 'During the meeting, Sandu was cautioned that issuing public statements on unresolved internal matters without prior consultation may lead to misinformation and miscommunication, potentially undermining the morale of troops and affecting the command and control structures of the SANDF,' he said. However, despite these concerns, the meeting was conducted in a cordial and constructive spirit, he said. Tshabalala said both parties committed to continued engagement to resolve the outstanding issues. He added that a follow-up meeting would be scheduled.
SowetanLIVE
16-06-2025
- SowetanLIVE
Demobilisation programme instituted as second SANDF group returns from DRC
A second batch of 257 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers arrived at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria on Sunday after the termination of the Sadc Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). A third flight is expected on Monday. A chartered Air Tanzania Boeing 787 landed in Pretoria late on Sunday afternoon after flying from the SAMIDRC staging ground in Tanzania. The troops on board were due to make their way to Bloemfontein for demobilisation, either by bus or on the SA Air Force's single airworthy C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The SANDF in a statement said the phased return is part of the SANDF's planned withdrawal from the mission area. 'Upon their return, the troops will undergo the standard demobilisation programme, which includes health screenings, psychological support, and reunification services.' The first 249 troops arrived on Friday evening. They were supposed to fly to Bloemfontein but as ground handling support was not in place, they were flown to Waterkloof and bussed overnight to Bloemfontein. The SANDF said it expected the return of remaining troops to be better co-ordinated. Director of defence corporate communication Rear Adm (JG) Prince Tshabalala, acknowledged concerns over Friday's delayed flight, saying its six-hour-plus delay was due to a last-minute aircraft change by Air Tanzania, which was beyond the control of the SANDF. The airline 'only notified the SANDF at a very late stage that they were experiencing challenges with passenger stairways, therefore opted to land in a bigger airport. To compound this, the SANDF was only informed shortly when the soldiers were en route about the aircraft that it could not land at Bram Fischer International Airport due to its size.' The Sadc is organising logistics around the return of SAMIDRC troops, including those from the other two troop contributing countries (Malawi and Tanzania). 'We remain committed to ensuring that all returning soldiers are welcomed home with dignity and that all future logistical arrangements are as seamless as possible,' Tshabalala said.
TimesLIVE
16-06-2025
- TimesLIVE
Demobilisation programme instituted as second SANDF group returns from DRC
A second batch of 257 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers arrived at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria on Sunday after the termination of the Sadc Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). A third flight is expected on Monday. A chartered Air Tanzania Boeing 787 landed in Pretoria late on Sunday afternoon after flying from the SAMIDRC staging ground in Tanzania. The troops on board were due to make their way to Bloemfontein for demobilisation, either by bus or on the SA Air Force's single airworthy C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The SANDF in a statement said the phased return is part of the SANDF's planned withdrawal from the mission area. 'Upon their return, the troops will undergo the standard demobilisation programme, which includes health screenings, psychological support, and reunification services.' The first 249 troops arrived on Friday evening. They were supposed to fly to Bloemfontein but as ground handling support was not in place, they were flown to Waterkloof and bussed overnight to Bloemfontein. The SANDF said it expected the return of remaining troops to be better co-ordinated. Director of defence corporate communication Rear Adm (JG) Prince Tshabalala, acknowledged concerns over Friday's delayed flight, saying its six-hour-plus delay was due to a last-minute aircraft change by Air Tanzania, which was beyond the control of the SANDF. The airline 'only notified the SANDF at a very late stage that they were experiencing challenges with passenger stairways, therefore opted to land in a bigger airport. To compound this, the SANDF was only informed shortly when the soldiers were en route about the aircraft that it could not land at Bram Fischer International Airport due to its size.' The Sadc is organising logistics around the return of SAMIDRC troops, including those from the other two troop contributing countries (Malawi and Tanzania). 'We remain committed to ensuring that all returning soldiers are welcomed home with dignity and that all future logistical arrangements are as seamless as possible,' Tshabalala said.
The Herald
13-06-2025
- The Herald
'Logistical challenges' delay SANDF soldiers' midday arrival: Motshekga
Defence and military veterans minister Angie Motshekga says the midday arrival of the first group of South African National Defence Force troops who were deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been delayed due to technical and logistical challenges. The group included 249 troops due to arrive from Tanzania. They were part of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Mission in the DRC. Motshekga said the troops were expected to fly from Tanzania and their latest estimated arrival was Saturday morning. 'The indication is the arrival has been delayed due to technical and logistical challenges with the contracted airline. We have been assured they are on board and will arrive any time today [Friday] or tomorrow [Saturday].' Sadc, which is facilitating the flights, had challenges with the contracting airline company.
