Only 27% of SANDF fit for combat: DA calls for implementation of 2015 Defence Review

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for a full review of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) following alarming reports that only 27% of the army is healthy enough to be deployed into combat.

The party's Defence Spokesperson, Chris Hattingh, says that under current conditions, there is no justification for sending South African soldiers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for another peacekeeping mission.

Hattingh was reacting to a weekend City Press report which stated that the SANDF is "too broke and too sick" to perform its fundamental functions.

ARMED FORCES IN DECLINE
DA Defence Spokesperson Chris Hattingh stresses that the country's armed forces are in decline and that the risks associated with this decline are "too high to ignore."

He argues that the SANDF doesn't require just a full defence review, but also a full implementation of the 2015 Defence Review. That review specifically calls for sustained and layered military health support, assessing personnel health, logistical capabilities, training, and funding.

Hattingh says recent reports have revealed the shocking reality that only 27% of the SANDF is healthy enough to deploy, while the health status of a significant 36% of soldiers remains unknown. He attributes this to commanders failing to enforce mandatory health assessments, coupled with a lack of young recruits to bolster combat readiness.

Furthermore, Hattingh adds that budget constraints mean the SANDF cannot even fully fund its 70,000-strong force.

"This is a direct threat to the safety and effectiveness of our military," says Hattingh.

He notes that the Joint Standing Committee on Defence was last week presented with a "bare-bones, three-slide" briefing on the upcoming rotation of South African troops in the DRC but was denied crucial details regarding troop readiness.