Angie Motshekga, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of South Africa, Chief SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya and Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, the Chief of the SA Army
By Nomazulu Moyo
South Africa’s military staged one of its largest annual capability demonstrations at Lohatla this week. Still, the event unfolded against an unavoidable backdrop: a defence force under financial strain, and leadership trying to prove the institution remains dependable despite shrinking resources.
Exercise Vukuhlome brought together senior officials, the defence industry and military representatives from Zimbabwe and Botswana. The SANDF showcased rapid deployment drills, infantry manoeuvres, artillery, air support and locally manufactured equipment. It was an impressive show of coordination, but the defence minister’s remarks quickly grounded expectations.
Minister acknowledges deep challenges
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga opened her comments with unexpected honesty about the state of the department.
“We experience very many challenges… due to many, many years of underfunding,” she said. “It’s very humbling knowing the challenges the department is experiencing, the stress we are going through because of financial challenges.”
She added that the government is aware of the scale of the problem: “It’s not as if we are insensitive. We are doing all we can… to sustain this pride of the nation as far as possible.”
Motshekga also confirmed that the government is dealing with reports of South Africans stranded in Russia, saying the matter is “at a sensitive stage.”
SANDF chief tries to reassure
SANDF Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya used the demonstration to argue that, despite the constraints, the military retains a credible capacity.
“Each year, there is an improvement,” he said. “The essence of this exercise has been to confirm that we do have a rapid capability.”
Maphwanya said the simulated scenarios—ranging from uprisings to insurgencies and conventional threats — were designed to test how the security cluster works together. He noted that the army, air force, medical services and specialised units were all integrated in the exercise. But he also conceded the funding gap is shaping how the SANDF operates.
“We are not crybabies,” he said. “When we realised we did not have sufficient funds, the chief of the army went out and put together this force that you see here.”
His comments highlighted a recurring tension: a defence force expected to deliver regional stability but with limited resources to maintain equipment or modernise.
Regional observers offer their own assessments
The SANDF’s regional partners did not ignore the spectacle. Major General Augustine Chipwere of Zimbabwe described the display as “very impressive” and said South Africa’s capability improvements “indirectly contribute to the SADC security architecture.”
Botswana’s Colonel Sahaba Seonaka said the exercise showed “a lot of interoperability” and praised the decision to source equipment locally, noting its potential economic value.
But their praise also pointed to another reality: SADC members depend heavily on South Africa as the region’s anchor force. The comments, though positive, reflect an interest in ensuring the SANDF remains stable enough to uphold that role.
Capability on display, uncertainty in the background
The demonstration included South African-made infantry systems, artillery, armoured vehicles and inshore patrol vessels — some recently commissioned to ease pressure on the navy’s ageing frigates. However, the event also underscored the contradiction shaping South Africa’s defence environment: a capable military with declining financial support.
Motshekga said Cabinet and Parliament were discussing both urgent interventions and long-term reforms to stabilise the department. But no detail was offered on timelines or commitments.
A defence force with potential — but questions remain
Exercise Vukuhlome achieved what it set out to do: show that the SANDF can still mobilise and coordinate complex operations. It also highlighted the role of the domestic defence industry in filling capability gaps. What it could not hide is the strain beneath the surface. Even the SANDF’s top leadership framed their achievements as a form of improvisation under pressure.
For regional forces, the message was mixed: South Africa remains a key military player in SADC, but its ability to sustain that role in the long term will depend on whether the funding crisis is finally confronted rather than acknowledged.
