The first of three of SA’s S101 new-generation German-made submarines, SAS Manthatisi, will sail into Simonstown this morning, marking one of the final steps in the creation of the country’s new navy. Four frigates (general-purpose warships which can be armed with guided missiles) have already been delivered and two more submarines will be in service within about two years.
Claims of irregularities in parts of the contract for the frigates, the lack of transparency in the industrial offset programme, the fact that it is very unlikely that the fleet will be used in peacekeeping, and just its sheer cost set against the country’s development needs have made the buildup in naval power controversial. And to the chagrin of the Democratic Alliance and many defence analysts, a fifth frigate may be ordered.
The South African Navy now has more firepower and reach than it has had in its history and is the only navy in sub-Saharan Africa that comes close to comparison with those of any other that can be considered "serious". The navy’s reach is minimal compared with that of the US, but SA has entered into the "blue water" category, allowing for sustained operations well beyond our shores.
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