South Africa’s Department of Defence (DoD) has again raised concerns about a lack of funding which has led to the continued deterioration of its abilities over the last few years.

In a presentation to parliament on Wednesday (2 September), the DoD said that it requires an average Human Resources strength (HR) strength of 77,000.

To assure a more sustainable defence capability, an average HR strength of 75,000 will be maintained during FY2020/21, supplemented by a Reserve Force.

This will result in a projected budget shortfall of R3.07 billion for 2020/21, it said. The Department of Defence’s actual strength as at 30 June 2020 was 73,595 – well below the planned requirements.In a May presentation, the DoD said the defence force is in a ‘critical state of decline’ which is characterised by force imbalance, unaffordability of its main operating systems, and an inability to meet current standing defence commitments.The SANDF faces equipment obsolescence and most of the army’s vehicles and other so-called prime mission equipment (PME) are ageing with very slim prospects for modernisation.

The department said that maintenance backlog will continue with consequent loss of industry expertise and PME unless funding is made available. It warned that a lack of maintenance may also lead to a collapse in PME.

Cut to the bone

In an opinion column for Business Day, independent defence analyst Helmoed Römer Heitman said that SANDF has no muscle because funds have been ‘cut to the bone’.

“The army lacks the infantry units to handle and sustain any serious contingency beyond its deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and along the border; has good but mostly obsolete equipment from 1980-1990 and some from the 1970s and even 1950s, and lacks key capabilities such as modern air defence systems,” he said.

Heitman said that air force also lacks much-needed weapons on much of its aircraft, lacks maritime surveillance capability, and does not have the radars to cover air borders effectively.

He said that the navy also lacks significant force and that a number of its ships are too small to be useful. Heitman said that the primary problem is that the government does not seem to know what level of defence capability it wants.

These concerns have been directly echoed by minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who said that the future of the SANDF is squarely in government’s hands.

“The prevention of the SANDF capabilities from declining further is entirely dependent on the budget allocation of the defence force, which has been decreasing at an alarming rate over the years with a negative impact of the entire capabilities,” she said in a Q&A and the end of 2019.

“The Defence Review 2015 has been developed with a plan to arrest the decline of the SANDF but unfortunately no funding has been received to attend to the declining capabilities of the SANDF.”

Mapisa-Nqakula added that the years-long decline of the SANDF meant that it was becoming increasingly difficult to protect the country.

“The defence has become progressively unsustainable in terms of declining defence allocations and have reached a point where the republic must decide on the kind of Defence Force it wants and can afford,” she said.

Left unchecked and at present funding levels, this decline will severely compromise and further fragment South Africa’s defence capability, it said.

Chief among these concerns are consistent budget cuts as well as the capping of the compensation of employees (CoE) ceiling below the force’s existing strength. This has led to a direct decline in historic actual strength, it said.The DoD has also raised continuous concerns around the army’s training, technology and equipment – leading opposition MPs to call for a full restructure.

The May report shows that there has been a decline in the ability to maintain and sustain military processes and activities especially pertaining to military-specific commodities and equipment. Notably, stock levels are inadequate to support current defence commitments.

DJ Black Coffee has lent his voice to protests by musicians in KZN this week, slamming the government for the “vile treatment” given to those in the arts industry.Several artists were arrested after conducting an illegal strike on the N3 near Durban on Wednesday. They were protesting about Covid-19 regulations related to hosting events and demanded that the government open up the entertainment industry.Popular musicians DJ Merlon, Mshunqisi Dladla and Zodwa Wabantu were among those spotted in the crowd with placards calling for events to be open with at least 70% attendance.

What has our industry done to receive such vile treatment, we need your intervention Mr President,” Black Coffee said.
Author Jackie Phamotse added her voice to comments on the protest, slamming the president for responding to artists’ cries with “guns and teargas”.

“Dear Mr Cyril Ramaphosa you seem not to care about the arts industry! We have not been catered for during this lockdown! If guns and teargas is the only way you handle our hunger then so be it! We are tired of being ostracised. Please open the country!”

Today (September 03, 2020), marks the 50th birthday of our most-loved celebrity-mom Modiehi Thulo, mother to the beloved television presenter and rapper Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo.

Born on September 03, 1970, in Potchefstroom – the super mom raised Boity as a single mom and she did a damn good job.

The woman, who’s now a certified traditional healer and one of South Africa’s most-loved reality television stars, has had her fair share of troubles. She was once forced to leave a job because a colleague kept on sexually harassing her and her employer did nothing about it. She has also had her car highjacked and Boity made sure she buys her a brand new Mercedez Benz E Class as a gift. Talk about mother and daughter goals.HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Queen! September has always been my harvest season & it’s deeply rooted in it being my mom’s birth month! Thank you for teaching me courage, independence, hard work, love, patience & perseverance. Most importantly, thank you for leading by example.🎉🎊🎁❤️👑

This morning the Bake hitmaker made sure that the first thing she posted on her social media was a sweet 50th message to her queen.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Queen!” She tweeted. “September has always been my harvest season & it’s deeply rooted in it being my mom’s birth month! Thank you for teaching me courage, independence, hard work, love, patience & perseverance.” She added. “Most importantly, thank you for leading by example.”

Nay Maps has taken the time to reflect on his humble beginnings by thanking the show that made him into the actor he currently is.

Paying homage to SABC 1’s Uzalo, he thanked the production for recognizing the young talented actor who had landed his first acting gig.

Nay Maps, real name Nkosinathi Maphalala, first entered our households when he started out as one of the first cast members of the hit telenovela. He played a young spoilt and hard-headed Mxolisi Xulu who was born into the wrong family. Then after that went on to learn his identity.

His departure from the telenovela was not in vain as he promised to do even bigger things and land on equally popular TV productions, because of the talent he possesses.On Instagram he started his thank you post with, “Don’t Forget Where You Come From….. And Remember WHO YOU ARE!” He then went on to thank not only the production members but the cast as well for pushing him even though he was a newcomer in the industry.

“Jerusalema”, a global hit single produced by Limpopo-born musician and record producer Master KG, featuring local vocalist Nomcebo Zikode, continues to reach greater heights across the globe.

The chart-topping song is enjoying international success with more than 110 million views on YouTube. The song that was recently certified platinum in Italy has captured the attention of many, including US singer and actress Janet Jackson.

The award-winning singer shared a video of a young girl dancing to the international anthem “Jerusalema”.

In the video shared on Twitter and Instagram, the talented little girl shows off her dance skills while the audience looks on in awe. The music icon captioned the post: “Get it sis! #GoinIN #BlackGirlMagic 👸🏾🔥 • 🎧: @MasterKGSA.”During a recent interview with Kieno Kammies on Cape Talk, the 24-year-old muso revealed that he has signed a record deal with Warner Music Group’s Elektra France.

“There were a lot of international record labels that wanted to take care of my career for me going forward. I chose Elektra France because they understand the music that I’m doing.

“Most of their artists are doing house music – David Guetta is also under them – so they understand dance music. I partnered with them to push my career to the next level,” said Master KG.