Military analyst supports Defence Force Day but slams R372m cost

Eyebrows are being raised over the approval of R372 million for this year’s Armed Forces Day parade in Thohoyandou in Limpopo.

Cosatu has already called on the government to reconsider the spending, warning that once logistics, overtime, security, accommodation and VIP transport are factored in, the final bill could hit R500 million.

It's a bill the cash-strapped SANDF can ill-afford.

Defence analyst Helmoed-Romer Heitman says he's baffled by how the SANDF arrived at the R372 million figure.

"Because the previous Armed Forces Day, they were in the region of R30 million or so, which is still a lot of money."

He suggests the amount includes soldiers' salaries, but adds this shouldn't be factored into the final costing.

"You shouldn't be including salaries because you're paying them anyway. I think it may be an overblown figure."

But Heitman isn't against the idea of Armed Forces Day per se. There are benefits to it, he says.

As a recruiting aid, for one.

"Young people can go and see the kit, speak to soldiers, maybe get interested, maybe you get some youngster joining."

It also allows the army to practice moving from one place to another, he explains.

"If you don't practice, you're going to have a disaster. I know, I've been involved in a couple of those."

Such exercises allow soldiers to practice movement planning, convoy organisation, and convoy management.

And it's not just soldiers on the ground that need to practise, says Heitman.

"Pilots have to fly, so they might as well do something that makes people happy."

He disagrees with the criticism that the event is money poured down the drain.

"It's actually part of the training programme", he says.

To listen to Heitman in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: