Training shortfall so new assets stand idle

The arms deal has been a point of controversy for much of the past decade, with estimates of the total taxpayer costs ranging from R60 billion to R70bn.

Now, some experts feel the Defence Department doesn’t have enough money to man and equip its new purchases, which included 28 Gripen jet fighters and four frigates.

“The military is most definitely not capable of manning all their frigates and submarines or fighter jets,” said Pikki Greeff, national secretary of the SA National Defence Union (Sandu), which has about 15 000 soldiers on its books.

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