NEWS & EVENTS - FINANCES
15 September 2019
Parliament hears of parlous state of the Air Force
Finances
The South African Air Force is in dire straits and operating in survival mode. With less than 49% of the required budget funded, it is in a state of perpetual decline due to chronic underfunding and industry performance.
9 September 2019
Could the SAAF become an air wing?
Finances
Parliamentarians were given six reasons for the decline in the airborne arm of service of the SANDF which could eventually see the "air force" becoming an "air wing".
22 February 2019
Flying hours down for SAAF in latest budget
Finances
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has had its flying hours cut from 25 000 in the 2018/19 financial year to 17 200 the following year, the latest budget vote has revealed.
21 February 2019
Fifty-nine percent of defence budget is salaries
Finances
The need to reduce the number of people working in government service, including the national defence force, was forcibly brought home by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni during his budget address to the House of Assembly.
8 July 2018
It cost R1.5 million to fly Ramaphosa from Johannesburg to Cape Town
Finances
The promise from SAA to provide flights for President Cyril Ramaphosa is costing the government millions, according to a report by the City Press.
24 May 2018
Rooivalk DRC deployment costs revealed
Finances
The South African Ministry of Defence has for the first time revealed the operating and deployment costs of the three Denel Rooivalk combat support helicopters deployed to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
19 May 2018
Taxpayers face R200m bill for Zuma aircraft bungle
Finances
A bungle by Department of Defence head honchos in leasing planes for the president and his deputy is set to cost taxpayers more than R200-million.
20 April 2018
Mapisa-Nqakula says SANDF VVIP fleet grounded
Finances
Six aircraft make up 21 Squadron - that's the name for the fleet of aircraft that's meant to fly the country's top dignitaries. None of them can take off because no maintenance contracts are in place.
9 April 2018
Shortfall of more than R7 billion for SAAF air defence programme
Finances
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has a shortfall in excess of R7 billion to provide "prepared and supported air defence capabilities for the defence and protection of South Africa," according to the Department of Defence (DoD) 2018 Annual Performance Plan.
28 February 2018
Defence budget makes no provision for Defence Review funding – DA
Finances
The allocation of R47.9 billion for the 2018/18 financial year to defence by former finance minister Malusi Gigaba during his sole national budget presentation before being moved back to the home affairs portfolio is 7.24% lower than the previous year acc
22 February 2018
Defence allocation from National Treasury for 2018/19 down on previous year
Finances
The budget unveiled by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday showed again that defence is one of the poor relations in the government family. In real terms the amount of money allocated to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoDMV) has
8 February 2018
No maintenance contracts for several SAAF aircraft types
Finances
Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party shadow defence and military veterans minister, Kobus Marais, received unexpected extra insight into the number of serviceable aircraft types in the SA Air Force (SAAF) when he posed a Parliamentary question on air
28 November 2017
21 Squadron VVIP transport budget "blown" by millions
Finances
Another Parliamentary question put to Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has shown the SA Air Force (SAAF) “blew its budget” for VVIP and VIP transport by no less than R35 million in the 2016/17 financial year. This is not all opposit...
6 October 2017
DoD outlines equipment acquisition plans
Finances
The South African Department of Defence aims to acquire medium and light transport aircraft, infantry combat vehicles, mobile water provisioning systems, logistics vehicles, air-to-air missiles and inshore and offshore patrol vessels over the coming years
27 August 2017
Air force forks out R25m for private Zuma jet rental
Finances
The air force's budget for VIP flights for the current financial year has already been used up, but it will still have to fork out R25 million to rent a plane for President Jacob Zuma's trip to China and New York this week.
28 October 2016
DoD gets extra R143 million to lease aircraft and guard facilities
Finances
Embattled Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has been taken to task for allocating more than R143 million to the Department of Defence (DoD) in his medium term budget policy statement delivered this week.
23 April 2016
SAAF will not close any units at AFB Makhado
Finances
The South African Air Force this week dismissed media reports that it will be forced to close some of its units.
27 March 2016
Air Force must close a squadron
Finances
The Air Force will soon be forced to either close their Hawk or Gripen fighter squadron due to a curtailment of the air force budget and the weakening rand.
7 March 2016
Substantial drop in the SAAF budget
Finances
The SA Air Force's budget for the 2016/17 financial year is R284 million less than it was granted by National Treasury for the previous financial cycle.
25 February 2015
Defence allocation in National Budget not enough
Finances
By Kim HelfrichFinance Minister Nhlanhla Nene was all smiles and bonhomie toward Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, his Cabinet colleague tasked with the defence portfolio, during his national budget address but this did not mask the fact that the country&r...
30 November 2014
Airforce's Agusta LUH grounded, again?
Finances
It is rumoured that all flying activities of the SAAF's fleet of Agusta A109 helicopters have ceased and, in effect, the fleet is subject to yet another grounding.
5 November 2014
Operationally stretched SAAF flying fewer hours
Finances
By Guy Martin he South African Air Force saw a significant increase in operational demands and external commitments in the last financial year, including its first fighter and helicopter operational deployments since democracy, but flew 5 000...
2 October 2014
Air Force chief apologises for Museum closure
Finances
SAAF Chief Lt Gen Zakes Msimang and the Air Force Command Council have apologised for the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of the SAAF Museum headquarters and one of its satellites.
1 October 2014
Attempted theft behind SAAF Museum closure
Finances
Two factors are behind the current temporary closure of the SAAF Museum at AFB Zwartkop as well as its satellites at Air Force Bases Port Elizabeth and Ysterplaat.
19 June 2014
Air Force on thin ice, experts say
Finances
According to pilots and technicians in the Air Force, these accidents should be a wake-up call to those making decisions for the military's budget.
Parliament hears of parlous state of the Air Force
Finances
The South African Air Force is in dire straits and operating in survival mode. With less than 49% of the required budget funded, it is in a state of perpetual decline due to chronic underfunding and industry performance.
Could the SAAF become an air wing?
Finances
Parliamentarians were given six reasons for the decline in the airborne arm of service of the SANDF which could eventually see the "air force" becoming an "air wing".
Flying hours down for SAAF in latest budget
Finances
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has had its flying hours cut from 25 000 in the 2018/19 financial year to 17 200 the following year, the latest budget vote has revealed.
Fifty-nine percent of defence budget is salaries
Finances
The need to reduce the number of people working in government service, including the national defence force, was forcibly brought home by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni during his budget address to the House of Assembly.
It cost R1.5 million to fly Ramaphosa from Johannesburg to Cape Town
Finances
The promise from SAA to provide flights for President Cyril Ramaphosa is costing the government millions, according to a report by the City Press.
Rooivalk DRC deployment costs revealed
Finances
The South African Ministry of Defence has for the first time revealed the operating and deployment costs of the three Denel Rooivalk combat support helicopters deployed to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
Taxpayers face R200m bill for Zuma aircraft bungle
Finances
A bungle by Department of Defence head honchos in leasing planes for the president and his deputy is set to cost taxpayers more than R200-million.
Mapisa-Nqakula says SANDF VVIP fleet grounded
Finances
Six aircraft make up 21 Squadron - that's the name for the fleet of aircraft that's meant to fly the country's top dignitaries. None of them can take off because no maintenance contracts are in place.
Shortfall of more than R7 billion for SAAF air defence programme
Finances
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has a shortfall in excess of R7 billion to provide "prepared and supported air defence capabilities for the defence and protection of South Africa," according to the Department of Defence (DoD) 2018 Annual Performance Plan.
Defence budget makes no provision for Defence Review funding – DA
Finances
The allocation of R47.9 billion for the 2018/18 financial year to defence by former finance minister Malusi Gigaba during his sole national budget presentation before being moved back to the home affairs portfolio is 7.24% lower than the previous year acc
Defence allocation from National Treasury for 2018/19 down on previous year
Finances
The budget unveiled by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday showed again that defence is one of the poor relations in the government family. In real terms the amount of money allocated to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoDMV) has
No maintenance contracts for several SAAF aircraft types
Finances
Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party shadow defence and military veterans minister, Kobus Marais, received unexpected extra insight into the number of serviceable aircraft types in the SA Air Force (SAAF) when he posed a Parliamentary question on air
21 Squadron VVIP transport budget "blown" by millions
Finances
Another Parliamentary question put to Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has shown the SA Air Force (SAAF) “blew its budget” for VVIP and VIP transport by no less than R35 million in the 2016/17 financial year. This is not all opposit...
DoD outlines equipment acquisition plans
Finances
The South African Department of Defence aims to acquire medium and light transport aircraft, infantry combat vehicles, mobile water provisioning systems, logistics vehicles, air-to-air missiles and inshore and offshore patrol vessels over the coming years
Air force forks out R25m for private Zuma jet rental
Finances
The air force's budget for VIP flights for the current financial year has already been used up, but it will still have to fork out R25 million to rent a plane for President Jacob Zuma's trip to China and New York this week.
DoD gets extra R143 million to lease aircraft and guard facilities
Finances
Embattled Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has been taken to task for allocating more than R143 million to the Department of Defence (DoD) in his medium term budget policy statement delivered this week.
SAAF will not close any units at AFB Makhado
Finances
The South African Air Force this week dismissed media reports that it will be forced to close some of its units.
Air Force must close a squadron
Finances
The Air Force will soon be forced to either close their Hawk or Gripen fighter squadron due to a curtailment of the air force budget and the weakening rand.
Substantial drop in the SAAF budget
Finances
The SA Air Force's budget for the 2016/17 financial year is R284 million less than it was granted by National Treasury for the previous financial cycle.
Defence allocation in National Budget not enough
Finances
By Kim HelfrichFinance Minister Nhlanhla Nene was all smiles and bonhomie toward Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, his Cabinet colleague tasked with the defence portfolio, during his national budget address but this did not mask the fact that the country&r...
Airforce's Agusta LUH grounded, again?
Finances
It is rumoured that all flying activities of the SAAF's fleet of Agusta A109 helicopters have ceased and, in effect, the fleet is subject to yet another grounding.
Operationally stretched SAAF flying fewer hours
Finances
By Guy Martin he South African Air Force saw a significant increase in operational demands and external commitments in the last financial year, including its first fighter and helicopter operational deployments since democracy, but flew 5 000...
Air Force chief apologises for Museum closure
Finances
SAAF Chief Lt Gen Zakes Msimang and the Air Force Command Council have apologised for the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of the SAAF Museum headquarters and one of its satellites.
Attempted theft behind SAAF Museum closure
Finances
Two factors are behind the current temporary closure of the SAAF Museum at AFB Zwartkop as well as its satellites at Air Force Bases Port Elizabeth and Ysterplaat.
Air Force on thin ice, experts say
Finances
According to pilots and technicians in the Air Force, these accidents should be a wake-up call to those making decisions for the military's budget.
