South Africa’s military capabilities face strain amid budget constraints, as Defence Minister proposes voluntary retirement scheme for senior officials.

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga told Parliament that early retirement of highly-paid senior officials could help address the department’s financial challenges. The 69-year-old minister highlighted successful implementation of similar measures in the education sector.

“We are looking at measures as to how we can compensate, because we just can’t complain and keep on spending,” Motshekga said during her department’s financial report presentation.

The funding shortfall has impacted the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) operational capacity. Motshekga revealed that the air force can only operate four planes instead of six due to maintenance constraints.

Despite these challenges, the minister expressed confidence in SANDF’s defensive capabilities. “I have no doubt that while we may not have everything we need, we have enough capabilities to defend ourselves,” she said.

The proposed early retirement program aims to create opportunities for younger staff while reducing personnel costs. Motshekga emphasized this strategy previously proved effective in the education sector.

The minister acknowledged the widespread impact of underfunding across the department, affecting both human resources and equipment maintenance. However, she maintained that SANDF has managed to fulfill all its missions despite resource constraints.

The Defence Department’s financial struggles come amid broader government efforts to reduce public spending. The early retirement initiative represents one of several measures under consideration to address budgetary pressures while maintaining operational effectiveness.

DEFENCE Minister Backs Early Retirement To Cut Costs