NEWS & EVENTS - FINANCES
25 June 2025
SAAF aircraft maintenance facing a nearly R8 billion shortfall
Finances
The SAAF faces a R7.7 billion shortfall to fund aircraft support contracts over the next three years, with state defence materiel agency Armscor saying the SAAF maintenance budget should be two to three times what it currently stands at.
15 June 2025
SANDF budget constraints: SAAF needs R414 million to refurbish Ramaphosa’s presidential jet
Finances
The interior update will not occur in this contracting period due to a lack of funds.
13 June 2025
Defence readiness under fire as MPs grill Armscor over failing Navy and Air Force contracts
Finances
Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum on Friday interrogated Armscor and the Department of Defence over delays, underfunding, and systemic risks undermining the SANDF.
12 March 2025
New SA Defence budget for 2025/26 released
Finances
The new SA Defence budget for 2025/26 has been released! Herewith a few comments upon initial (and very quick) review. The total Dept of Defence budget for 2025/26 budget is R58.52 bn, an increase from R55.94 bn in 2024/25. What does this mean?
31 January 2025
Shrinking SAAF budget puts Denel’s aircraft maintenance and repair facilities in jeopardy
Finances
Answering a Parliamentary question regarding Denel aircraft maintenance capabilities, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga acknowledged the State-owned defence and technology conglomerate faced a skilled personnel shortage as well as hav
21 November 2024
Air Force and Navy ‘hardly operational’ as SANDF performance declines
Finances
The South African Navy and Air Force have, due to a lack of maintenance and funding, seen key assets become less productive, resulting in a decline in time at sea and hours flown. This has resulted in a Navy and Air Force that are hardly operational, SCOP
18 November 2024
All SAAF rotary wing maintenance contracts underfunded
Finances
None of the maintenance contracts in place for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) five helicopter types are fully funded.
14 November 2024
Most SAAF fixed wing maintenance contracts underfunded
Finances
Most of the maintenance contracts state defence materiel agency Armscor has in place for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fixed wing aircraft are only partially funded at present.
8 April 2024
Denel gets R1.2bn to repair SA Air Force helicopters
Finances
The predicament of the SA Air Force (SAAF) of having unserviceable helicopters could be a thing of the past before the upcoming national elections.
21 February 2024
Real term decline in ‘disastrous’ SA defence budget
Finances
South Africa’s 2024 budget allocation has been revealed to Parliament this afternoon, and it does not bode well for the Department of Defence and South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
21 February 2024
SANDF Budget 2023/24 comments
Finances
Herewith some Tweets (@deanwingrin) I sent earlier this afternoon after the release of the 2024/25 Budget by National Treasury, as it relates to the SANDF:
19 February 2024
SA’s troops in DRC, Mozambique at risk without crucial helicopter service deal
Finances
South Africa has deployed its troops into two wars without renewing a maintenance contract needed to keep its essential attack and transport helicopters flying.
24 January 2024
Use of SAAF aircraft for party political purposes slammed
Finances
The apparent â€"commandeering†of SAAF platforms to transport senior government officials, seemingly including President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy Paul Mashatile, to venues for ANC political events, was grabbed with both hands by the opposition DA.
11 January 2024
Millions of rands for ‘best of the best’ for Inkwazi passengers
Finances
The South African Air Force – in other words, the taxpayer – had to cough up almost R139 million over the past five years for, among other things, catering on board Inkwazi, the presidential jet.
30 November 2023
SAAF Command Council hears funding abuse will ground it
Finances
Lt Gen Wiseman Mbambo’s SAAF Command Council strategic work session – the second of the year – acknowledges problem areas and notes an â€"updated strategy†is â€"real progress†with implementation next on the agenda.
31 October 2023
Most SAAF aircraft maintenance contracts only partially funded
Finances
State defence materiel agency Armscor has maintenance contracts in place for most South African Air Force (SAAF) aircraft, but most of these are only partially funded at present.
30 October 2023
South African Air Force Chief highlights challenges of underfunding
Finances
Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), recently spoke to defenceWeb about the challenges faced by the Air Force due to underfunding and the need for increased financial support.
19 October 2023
SAAF in crisis as aircraft serviceability drops to less than 20%
Finances
The continued emasculation of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was vividly brought to the fore by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise when answering a Parliamentary question
18 October 2023
SAAF Gripen engine support contract finally awarded
Finances
Armscor has placed a support contract with GKN Aerospace for the maintenance of the SAAF’s Gripen engines, meaning both engines and airframes are now fully supported for South Africa’s fighter jet fleet.
4 October 2023
SAAF just beats austerity adjusted flying hour target
Finances
Implementation of austerity measures at the SA Air Force (SAAF) saw it pass – even if only slightly – a reduced flying hour target for the 2022/23 financial year.
22 August 2023
SAAF aircraft unavailability to be questioned in Parliament
Finances
Armscor’s seeming inability to â€"conclude†maintenance contracts for equipment in SA National Defence Force (SANDF) service, especially aircraft, has reached an untenable point, with questions coming for Defence and Military Veterans Minster Thandi M
21 August 2023
Lack of maintenance contract grounds SAAF C-208 Caravans
Finances
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has had to ground its Cessna 208 Caravan light transport aircraft with age and funding cited as guilty partners.
20 August 2023
SANDF pilots grounded due to unairworthy aircraft
Finances
Pilots from a critical SA Air Force (SAAF) unit are grounded and doing desk jobs because Armscor, the state arms procurement agency, is failing to maintain and repair its aircraft.
28 February 2023
Lack of maintenance funds hits Rooivalk and Oryx serviceability
Finances
Major underfunding means that two of the most important helicopter types in the SAAF – the Oryx transport and Rooivalk attack helicopter – are largely grounded, with only a handful serviceable at present.
22 February 2023
SANDF Budget 2023/24 comments
Finances
Herewith some Tweets (@deanwingrin) I sent earlier this afternoon after the release of the 2023/24 Budget by National Treasury, as it relates to the SANDF.
SAAF aircraft maintenance facing a nearly R8 billion shortfall
Finances
The SAAF faces a R7.7 billion shortfall to fund aircraft support contracts over the next three years, with state defence materiel agency Armscor saying the SAAF maintenance budget should be two to three times what it currently stands at.
SANDF budget constraints: SAAF needs R414 million to refurbish Ramaphosa’s presidential jet
Finances
The interior update will not occur in this contracting period due to a lack of funds.
Defence readiness under fire as MPs grill Armscor over failing Navy and Air Force contracts
Finances
Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum on Friday interrogated Armscor and the Department of Defence over delays, underfunding, and systemic risks undermining the SANDF.
New SA Defence budget for 2025/26 released
Finances
The new SA Defence budget for 2025/26 has been released! Herewith a few comments upon initial (and very quick) review. The total Dept of Defence budget for 2025/26 budget is R58.52 bn, an increase from R55.94 bn in 2024/25. What does this mean?
Shrinking SAAF budget puts Denel’s aircraft maintenance and repair facilities in jeopardy
Finances
Answering a Parliamentary question regarding Denel aircraft maintenance capabilities, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga acknowledged the State-owned defence and technology conglomerate faced a skilled personnel shortage as well as hav
Air Force and Navy ‘hardly operational’ as SANDF performance declines
Finances
The South African Navy and Air Force have, due to a lack of maintenance and funding, seen key assets become less productive, resulting in a decline in time at sea and hours flown. This has resulted in a Navy and Air Force that are hardly operational, SCOP
All SAAF rotary wing maintenance contracts underfunded
Finances
None of the maintenance contracts in place for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) five helicopter types are fully funded.
Most SAAF fixed wing maintenance contracts underfunded
Finances
Most of the maintenance contracts state defence materiel agency Armscor has in place for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fixed wing aircraft are only partially funded at present.
Denel gets R1.2bn to repair SA Air Force helicopters
Finances
The predicament of the SA Air Force (SAAF) of having unserviceable helicopters could be a thing of the past before the upcoming national elections.
Real term decline in ‘disastrous’ SA defence budget
Finances
South Africa’s 2024 budget allocation has been revealed to Parliament this afternoon, and it does not bode well for the Department of Defence and South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
SANDF Budget 2023/24 comments
Finances
Herewith some Tweets (@deanwingrin) I sent earlier this afternoon after the release of the 2024/25 Budget by National Treasury, as it relates to the SANDF:
SA’s troops in DRC, Mozambique at risk without crucial helicopter service deal
Finances
South Africa has deployed its troops into two wars without renewing a maintenance contract needed to keep its essential attack and transport helicopters flying.
Use of SAAF aircraft for party political purposes slammed
Finances
The apparent â€"commandeering†of SAAF platforms to transport senior government officials, seemingly including President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy Paul Mashatile, to venues for ANC political events, was grabbed with both hands by the opposition DA.
Millions of rands for ‘best of the best’ for Inkwazi passengers
Finances
The South African Air Force – in other words, the taxpayer – had to cough up almost R139 million over the past five years for, among other things, catering on board Inkwazi, the presidential jet.
SAAF Command Council hears funding abuse will ground it
Finances
Lt Gen Wiseman Mbambo’s SAAF Command Council strategic work session – the second of the year – acknowledges problem areas and notes an â€"updated strategy†is â€"real progress†with implementation next on the agenda.
Most SAAF aircraft maintenance contracts only partially funded
Finances
State defence materiel agency Armscor has maintenance contracts in place for most South African Air Force (SAAF) aircraft, but most of these are only partially funded at present.
South African Air Force Chief highlights challenges of underfunding
Finances
Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), recently spoke to defenceWeb about the challenges faced by the Air Force due to underfunding and the need for increased financial support.
SAAF in crisis as aircraft serviceability drops to less than 20%
Finances
The continued emasculation of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was vividly brought to the fore by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise when answering a Parliamentary question
SAAF Gripen engine support contract finally awarded
Finances
Armscor has placed a support contract with GKN Aerospace for the maintenance of the SAAF’s Gripen engines, meaning both engines and airframes are now fully supported for South Africa’s fighter jet fleet.
SAAF just beats austerity adjusted flying hour target
Finances
Implementation of austerity measures at the SA Air Force (SAAF) saw it pass – even if only slightly – a reduced flying hour target for the 2022/23 financial year.
SAAF aircraft unavailability to be questioned in Parliament
Finances
Armscor’s seeming inability to â€"conclude†maintenance contracts for equipment in SA National Defence Force (SANDF) service, especially aircraft, has reached an untenable point, with questions coming for Defence and Military Veterans Minster Thandi M
Lack of maintenance contract grounds SAAF C-208 Caravans
Finances
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has had to ground its Cessna 208 Caravan light transport aircraft with age and funding cited as guilty partners.
SANDF pilots grounded due to unairworthy aircraft
Finances
Pilots from a critical SA Air Force (SAAF) unit are grounded and doing desk jobs because Armscor, the state arms procurement agency, is failing to maintain and repair its aircraft.
Lack of maintenance funds hits Rooivalk and Oryx serviceability
Finances
Major underfunding means that two of the most important helicopter types in the SAAF – the Oryx transport and Rooivalk attack helicopter – are largely grounded, with only a handful serviceable at present.
SANDF Budget 2023/24 comments
Finances
Herewith some Tweets (@deanwingrin) I sent earlier this afternoon after the release of the 2023/24 Budget by National Treasury, as it relates to the SANDF.
