Independent defence analyst Helmoed Heitman has supported a call for more investment in the South African Defence Force.
This follows a call from the South African Aerospace, Maritime, and Defence Industries Association (AMD) for urgent and comprehensive investment in South Africas national defence capabilities.
AMD says the SANDF is beset by challenges, including inadequate funding and training, outdated equipment which have compromised its ability to protect South Africas territorial integrity and support state security services.
Heitman says the country needs to maintain its military even when theres peace because peace is not guaranteed.
What weve done now in the last 35 years or so, we havent given it the money it needs to update its equipment, modernize it to close capability gaps. Ideally, if youre going to spend money on defence, ideally you should make as much of the equipment as you can ourselves. Then you keep money in the country, you create jobs in the country and not in some other country.
