The lone permanent South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopter presence in the Eastern Cape, Gqeberha-based 15 Squadron Charlie Flight, spent much of May and June flying humanitarian relief missions in the flood-ravaged coastal province. defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/ae...

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is hopeful the South African Air Force (SAAF) will select its KC-390 Millenium as its next transport aircraft. defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/ae...

Angola has placed an order for up to four of Aero Vodochody’s latest-generation L-39 Skyfox jet trainer aircraft, to become the first African operator of the type. defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/ae...

Armscor has made it clear that efforts to rejuvenate South Africa’s naval maintenance capacity at the Dockyard in Simon’s Town will require at least an additional R218.6 million per year over a five-year period to restore full operational capabilities. defenceweb.co.za/sea/sea-sea/...

Some highlights from pics taken at South Africa's xenophobic protests yesterday.

NPR reports from Mongbwalu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fight to contain the virus faces obstacles from lack of supplies to residents who doubt that the virus is real. n.pr/4gCg2hl

Until those responsible see real personal and professional consequences for things like this, within reasonable timeframes, nothing will change. It doesn’t inspire confidence when the committee responsible for oversight seemingly doesn’t realise that the DOD and DMV are different departments.

Dep Minister of Defence, Bantu Holomisa, has called for the creation of an Independent Defence Task Team to review governance within the Dept & to address recurring audit findings, accountability challenges, governance failures, non-compliance & procurement irregularities. /1

Attended the annual Memorial Service at AFB Ysterplaat this am. Prior to wreath laying, the Airforce flag is lowered, Last Post is played as the National Flag is lowered to half most.Following 2 minute silence, National Flag is hoisted to Reveille. Airforce flag is then hoisted.

Decades of well-funded disinformation campaigns, aimed at turning the public against scientists & convincing them that climate change wasn’t real, were so effective that large segments of many countries, even majorities, are still in denial despite seeing big climate swings in their own lifetimes.

SANDF is cash-strapped Military analyst, Dean Wingrin speaks to Joanne Joseph on #TheDailyDiscourse on South Africa’s military and the consequences of years of defunding, leading to loss of capabilities. omny.fm/shows/thedai...

Several treatment centers have been destroyed and tensions are rising in Congo, the center of the Ebola outbreak.

And here, the statement from the #IRMCT www.irmct.org/en/news/stat...

📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by @ninawilen.bsky.social @egmontinstitute.bsky.social First published in International Studies Review @oupacademic.bsky.social “Security Force Assistance, Social Networks, Coups, and the Re-Ordering of Power Relations” 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👉 tinyurl.com/yeywuazt

“This will be a setback for #Russia more broadly...The Russians negotiating themselves out of #Kidal, leaving their Malian counterparts behind, doesn’t give a good impression" I'm interviewed in @bloomberg.com about latest events in #Mali #Sahel www.bloomberg.com/news/article...?

The new Chief of the Airforce was relaxed as we chatted over breakfast at a local eatery, but the conversation was serious.The SAAF has been defunded & he has a difficult task ahead. But Moatshe remains positive, empowering his people to deliver on the SAAFs mandate. defenceweb.co.za/sa-defence-s...

The SA Navy hosted two Change of Command Parades at NB Simon’s Town today, namely the SAS AMATOLA (frigate F145) and SAS KING SHAKA ZULU (MMIPV P1572). Congratulations Captain Zanele Madiba (F145) and Commander Leon Van Zyl (P1572)! Wishing you fair winds and following seas.

Want to know what the SANDF spends on chartered flights? Well, the amount spent in the past five financial years was R2 396 061 275. This includes logistic support to the various missions (MONUSCO, SAMIDRC, SAMIM, etc), VVIP and other flights. Main contractor is Cobra Aviation.

My contacts have confirmed that this article is grossly exaggerated. AFB Langebaanweg has not had it's electricity cut off. Power to Donkergat (home to 4 SFR) was cut on Wed pm (outstanding account of R2,000+), was back on by Fri pm. SAS Saldanha & the Mil Academy were also cut.

Carl warned us

Defence was on the agenda of yesterday's Cabinet meeting. Cabinet approved the Long-Term Force Evolution Strategy and Planning Concept for the SANDF (the “Journey to Greatness” plan). But without a meaningful budget increase, it's just more words without any substance.

With routing via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait still risky, traffic around the Cape has grown, but most bypass South Africa economically. Two large vessels meant to drydock in the ME are now in Cape Town’s drydock. Hopefully, Cape Town will increasingly become an alternate site.

Parliament’s defence committees have welcome the successful turnaround at Denel Aeronautics, including the posting of a R178 million profit, which should help it better support the South African Air Force (SAAF). defenceweb.co.za/industry/ind...

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that three R4 assault rifles and a grenade launcher were stolen from Tek Base in Lyttelton following a burglary. defenceweb.co.za/sa-defence-s...

The latest addition to the list of stolen SA National Defence Force (SANDF) weapons was laid at the door of “brazen criminal elements targeting a military facility”. defenceweb.co.za/sa-defence-s...

SAS AMATOLA departed Naval Base Durban for Simon's Town this morning, arriving this Saturday morning, capping an epic three month deployment that saw her visit India, China, Malaysia, Kenya and Tanzania. Bet crew and families are equally excited!

From over 5 000 employees a decade ago, Denel is trying to make do with 1 600 today, but the loss of critical engineering and programme management capabilities is threatening its ability to deliver on key projects. defenceweb.co.za/industry/ind...

As the war in Ukraine continues, Moscow is prioritising bilateral engagements with African nations to counter the political and economic fallout of Western attempts to isolate Russia. defenceweb.co.za/joint/diplom...

The just passed SA Navy (SAN) festival in Simon’s Town hosted the 100th firing since 2011 of the nine inch rifled muzzle loader (RML) cannon from its permanent site on the Middle North battery. defenceweb.co.za/military-his...

Gallery: South African Navy Festival 17-19 April 2026 defenceweb.co.za/galleries/ga...

The SANDF’s ability to execute its mandate is under severe strain. Budgetary constraints over an extended period have significantly impacted operational readiness, force design and long term sustainability, warns SANDF Chief Rudzani Maphwanya. defenceweb.co.za/sa-defence-s...

SAS AMATOLA departed Kenya this morning, arrives in Tanzania tomorrow ⚓

SAS AMATOLA of the South African Navy spotted off Mombasa, Kenya this morning, having arrived from Malaysia. 📷 Mark Blaine

Finally, the Code of Conduct for all SANDF personnel deployed to support the Police under the current Operation PROSPER deployment has been published in the Government Gazette. Only a month late, but at least it's published. 👍

The fact they made this travesty and didn't even call it Your Own Personal Jesus is the worst crime of all.

Confirmation that the US has also destroyed the IRGC Navy's expeditionary base ship Shahid Mahdavi (110-3). Thus, all three Iranian vessels that took part in Exercise Will for Peace in Cape Town during January this year have been destroyed/sunk.

France's Marine Nationale (Navy) Jeanne d'Arc 2026 task group, comprising Landing Helicopter Dock Dixmude and stealth frigate Aconit, departs Table Bay on Friday, having spent a week enjoying the hospitality of Cape Town. Bon voyage!

4 April 1944 | A Mosquito plane from 60 Photo Recon Squadron of the South African Air Force flew out of #Foggia base in Southern Italy to photograph the IG Farben factory 6 km from the #Auschwitz concentration camp. As a result, the camp was photographed for the first time.

Deploying the SANDF: Tactical relief rather than strategic and sustainable solutions defenceweb.co.za/sa-defence-s...

Cabinet has _finally_ announced a new Secretary of Defence: Bareng Mtimkulu. Thobekile Gamede has been Acting Secretary of Defence since December 2022! The Secretary for Defence serves as the principal accounting officer for the Dept of Defence (similar to a DG).

SAS AMATOLA sets sail for Africa! After wrapping up her port call in Malaysia, the South African Navy frigate has bid farewell to Port Klang and is now en route to Kenya. 🚢🌍⚓

Congratulations to Lt Gen Carl Moatshe, who will take over command of the South African Air Force on 1 April 2026. The Handing Over Parade was held in Pretoria today. He is taking over as Chief of the Airforce from Lt Gen Wiseman Mbambo, who retires today.

South African Navy frigate SAS AMATOLA has arrived in Port Klang, Malaysia. She is on her return voyage following a naval exercise in India. Having visited China and exercised with Singapore, her next stops will be Kenya and Tanzania before arriving home in early May.

New Chief of the SAAF named! Congratulations to Maj Gen Carl Moatshe, who will be appointed and promoted to the rank of Lt Gen as Chief of the South African Air Force wef 1 April 2026, in the place of Lt Gen Wiseman Mbambo who retires on 31 March 2026. Congratulations! 👏

Fire fighting pilots are a very special breed. Long stressful hours in a hot cockpit, flying through smoke in turbulent air, close to obstacles. Intense concentration 100% of the time. This Huey pilot survived fighting a fire in Hout Bay, Cape Town, today. They all deserve praise.

The SANDF says all deployed members were paid the full amount due to them. Deploying members were also briefed and informed about the applicable allowances for the operation during Mission Readiness Training. The R813m is allowances is split as per below. /5

South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopters are still deployed in Mozambique to assist with humanitarian operations in the aftermath of extreme weather earlier this year and have, to date, rescued 759 people and delivering much-needed food and fuel. defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/sa...

Billions of people, possibly including you reading this, are alive today because you can run natural gas into a reactor and spit out ammonia (Haber Bosch). A large % of the installed base for that process is shut in or exploded. It’s northern hemisphere spring.

Lord knows I hate what Twitter / X has become. But it's only on Twitter that I can still get real-time African reactions to the Cup of African Nations stripping Senegal of the CAF championship and giving it to Morocco. I wish Bluesky were more global. It's just... not.

It does no good to pretend that Bluesky does Middle East (or Africa) as well as XTwitter — it doesn’t (especially Arabic content), Karen is obviously right and it’s a real problem and we should take it seriously.