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Sub-Saharan Africa
517
Řȱ¢ȱ
were also deployed domestically in 2021 to help counter inter-
ȱ ȱ
nal unrest and in 2023 to tackle illegal mining. Historically, South
ŗȱȱ
African forces have also played a key role in training and support-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
ing other regional forces. The SANDF can independently deploy its
forces, and it participates in national and multinational exercises
ȱ ȱ
as well as peacekeeping missions. However, reduced funding has
MBT ȬśŚȦśś
undermined modernisation ambitions, resulting in programmes
RECCE ȱŜŜŗŜ a multinational force to combat the Islamist insurgency. Troops
being behind schedule and di culties in maintaining and replac-
ȱ• ǻ Ǽȱ ȱŜŜŗŚȱ ing obsolete equipment. The air force has signi cant challenges in
26 ARTILLERY • MRLȱȱȱ ȬŘŗȱGrad maintaining operational capabilities. Naval availability, meanwhile,
D EF EN S EH ER E A A D 2 0 2 4 E D I T I O N
AIR DEFENCE •ȱ ȱ• 23mmȱ ȬŘřȬŘ is dependent on serviceability and many vessels have been under
repair or maintenance in recent years. Budget cuts are also likely to
Ministry of the Interior have hurt training. South Africa has the continent’s most capable
South afrıca tion of South Africa (ARMSCOR) and weapons manufacturer Denel,
defence industry, including the state-owned Armaments Corpora-
Coast Guard 600
ȱȱȱȱȱŗŖȱ though both face nancial di culties. Cuban personnel remain
engaged in a project to maintain and refurbish land vehicles.
FOREIGN FORCES ACTIVE 69,200 (Army 35,250 Navy 5,550 Air 8,900
South African Military Health Service 6,900 Other
ȱ ȱ ȱŗŞŖ 12,600)
South Africa’s Defense Industry and Military Capabilities RESERVE 15,050 (Army 12,250 Navy 850 Air 850
South Africa RSA South African Military Health Service Reserve 1,100)
South Africa’s armed forces are recognized as the most South African Rand ZAR 2022 2023 2024
capable in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet their operational ef- GDP ZAR 6.63trn 6.99trn 7.45trn ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
fectiveness has been gradually undermined by persistent
economic and structural challenges. The country’s primary USD 405bn 381bn 401bn Army 35,250
military roles include safeguarding territorial integrity and per capita USD 6,684 6,191 6,427 FORCES BY ROLE
supporting domestic police services. The South African Na- Growth % 1.9 0.9 1.8 ȱȱȱ£ǯȱ ȱ ȱ¢ȱȱȱȱ
tional Defence Force (SANDF) operates under the “Depart- In ation % 6.9 5.8 4.8 ȱřȱ¡ȱȦȱȱǻŗȱǰȱŗȱ
ment of Defence Strategic Plan 2020–2025,” which seeks to Def bdgt ZAR 52.3bn 52.5bn ȱȱŗȱ¢ǼȱȱŗŘȱȱǻŗȱ
halt the deterioration of essential military capabilities and USD 3.19bn 2.86bn ǰȱŗȱǰȱŝȱǰȱŗȱǰȱŗȱȬ
equipment. USD1=ZAR 16.36 18.35 18.55 ȱȱŗȱȱǼ
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) COMMAND
Capabilities and Challenges 3.55 Řȱȱ
Although SANDF aims to modernize, its efforts are con- ȱ
strained by budget shortfalls, preventing it from renewing 2.73 Řȱ ȱǻȬǼ
aging equipment and meeting performance objectives. 2008 2016 2023
The army is undergoing restructuring, returning to a more Population 59,795,503 Reconnaissance
conventional brigade system. South Africa also contributes ŗȱȱȱ
personnel to UN peacekeeping missions and remains a sig- Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
nificant component of the Force Intervention Brigade in the Male 13.7% 3.8% 3.5% 3.6% 21.4% 3.1% Armoured
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The country is an Female 13.7% 3.9% 3.6% 4.0% 21.5% 4.3% ŗȱȱǻȬǼ
active member of the Southern African Development Com- Mechanised
munity (SADC) Standby Force and deployed 1,500 troops to Capabilities Řȱȱȱ
Mozambique in 2021 to combat an Islamist insurgency. However, the domestic deployment of SANDF in 2021, aimed at Light
South Africa’s armed forces are, on paper, the region’s most
countering civil unrest and illegal mining, further strained its resources. Şȱȱȱ
capable, but continuing economic and structural problems are ŗȱȱȱ Sub-Saharan Africa
eroding its capabilities. Its principal roles include maintaining terri-
torial integrity and supporting the police service. The Department ȱ
of Defence Strategic Plan 2020–2025 is the South African National ŗȱ ȱ
Defence Force’s (SANDF) primary policy instrument. A priority for ŗȱȱȱ
Sub-Saharan Afr ca defence spend ng, Act ve m l tary personnel – top 10
the SANDF is to arrest the decline of critical military capabilities and
2023 – top 5 (25,000 per un t) equipment. However, a lack of funds is constraining the SANDF’s Amphibious
ability to renew equipment and meet performance targets. The ŗȱȱ
Un ted States Eth op a 503,000 Global
total
army is reverting to a more traditional structure, with standing ȱ
20,646,000
USD905bn brigades being formed. South Africa contributes personnel to UN ŗȱ¢ȱ
Er trea 301,750
operations and remains a key component of the Force Intervention
Brigade in the DRC. South Africa is a member of the SADC Standby ŗȱȱ
N ger a 143,000
Force and sent 1,500 personnel to Mozambique in 2021 as part of ŗȱȱ
Democrat c Republ c of the Congo 134,250
Total Angola 107,000
Sub-Saharan
Afr ca
spend ng Sudan 104,300
USD20bn
South Sudan 90,000
South Afr ca N ger a
USD2.9bn USD2.0bn South Afr ca 69,200
Uganda 45,000
Eth op a Kenya Angola
9.7% Reg onal
N ger 39,100 total
USD1.5bn USD1.3bn USD1.2bn 2,002,000
