South African Air Force (SAAF) Boeing 737-7ED BBJ ZS-RSA (Inkwazi), carrying Pres Ramaphosa, on its way to New York for the UN General Assembly. Call sign LMG1.

The SA Navy Submarine Squadron Memorial Site at the SAS Assegaai Submarine Museum in Simon's Town,Cape Town, will be unveiled this Sat, 20 Sep. It will serve as a permanent tribute to all submariners who have died in service.

Il-76 on charter to the SAAF flying south, possibly carrying cargo from Lubumbashi to South Africa. A Cobra Aviation Boeing 737 with a SAAF callsign departed SA for the DRC at midday today. Seems a SANDF repatriation is on the go.

Weekend inspiration: #SAAF Oryx medium-lift helicopter sortie in the Drakensberg mountains.

Two Zimbabwe Air Force pilots died in a training crash on 10 Sep. The jet went down shortly after take-off during a training sortie from the Josiah Magama Tongogara airbase in Gweru. Whilst the type of aircraft is unconfirmed, it could be a Hongdu K-8 Karakorum. RIP aviators.

South African Minister of Defence, Angie Motshekga, will attend the Seoul Defence Dialogue 2025 (SDD2025), from 8 to 10 September 2025 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. She will also participate in the 75th Anniversary Commemoration of the United Nations (UN) Command.

BRICS is and was never intended to be a military alliance, but an economic grouping. It seems to be morphing into something very political and Iran is very happy to keep South Africa in the spotlight. en.mehrnews.com/news/236161/...

The joint maritime exercise between South Africa, China and Russia (aka EX MOSI) has been long planned to take place in SA in Nov. So has the G20 summit. SANDF has only just woken up to the rather embarrassing fact that the two should not happen at the same time. Oh, the optics!

I'm hoping the SANDF turns up at the correct venue (*Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (Swartkop)*) for the Parade scheduled for *today* (29 August 2025).

Not to be outdone, 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat in the Cape also got in the action! Both the Oryx and the Super Lynx conducted training today. 😀

The latest #SAAF squadrons to play around Dragons Peak, Drakensberg mountains, are 15 and 17 Squadrons. Seems like they are having fun with the Oryx and A109. 😎

In a video on social media of two apprehended men suspected of a weapons-related crime, one claims that the weapons were stolen from the SA Navy. The SA Navy has clarified that no weapons have been stolen from any of its units, but may relate to a theft case at the Inst for Maritime Technology.

#SAAF mountain flying phase in the Drakensberg mountains this weekend, for the Command Course students. 1 x Oryx, 1 x A109 and 2 x BK117 from 87 HFS and 15 Squadron 'C' Flight.

Still life left in the old Lady! Despite not having flown for three years, reports that the C47-TP Turbo Dakota being retired from the South African Air Force (SAAF) service appear to be greatly exaggerated as they may be returned to service. www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/ae...

Just yesterday four ground runs were performed on the Oryxes at Lubumbashi. Three are in perfect condition, one Oryx just has an engine issue. 🚁😎 They are not abandoned.

The Dept of Defence has issued another statement on Gen Maphwanya's visit and statements in Iran. Not sure what is being said? It does not deny what he was reported to have said, only that Iran disclosed it? So it was OK to engage in political policy, just not to report on it?

Worth listening to the good Profs comments. The US has asked SA for its policy clarification on Iran following SANDF Chief Rudzani Maphwanya's comments during his trip. Prof Abel Esterhuyse says Maphwanya's Iran visit is conveying a political message. youtu.be/NqtrPPgXdZk?...

Five SANDF Oryx helicopters are expected to remain in the DRC indefinitely, with funding shortages preventing repairs, including engine replacements. Defence analyst Dean Wingrin shares insights on the implications for the military’s operational capacity. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNgL...

General Maphwanya's mission in Iran www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/gene...

Chief SANDF "comments have not gone down well in Pretoria, with the Presidency and the DIRCO issuing a sharp rebuke of Maphwanya for overstepping his role." President will meet with Maphwanya in the next few weeks. Will be an uncomfortable flight home, even if in Business class.

For once, I agree with Redi. Is anybody home? Redi Tlhabi on why the South African Army Chief’s Iran visit is a diplomatic disaster in the making youtu.be/imSZhR7TFgs?...

Now the Min of Defence acknowledging that a line may have been overstepped.

DIRCO coming out strongly against the statements attributed to General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the South African National Defence Force, during his visit to Iran. This confirms what many of us has suspected, that the DOD & SANDF didn’t clear or coordinate it with DIRCO.

DIRCO Media Statement, supporting my views below.

Disturbing that the South African military is playing politics, with SANDF pledging "military and political alignment with the Iranians." This high profile trip to Iran, at a sensitive stage of negotiations with the US, must be approved by the President? www.citizen.co.za/news/south-a...

The wildlife of AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town. ❤️

Seems MK Party forgot that it was the USSR that supported the liberation movements, both Russia and Ukraine hosted and supported the training of liberation movement members, including those from (the ANC) MK. www.citizen.co.za/news/south-a...

Good news for SAAF firefighters who lost their allowances due to a policy change in 2022. Judgement just out: New policy declared unlawful as it wasn’t negotiated with Sandu union in Military Bargaining Council (MBC). Minister directed to back pay and to negotiate in the MBC.

The ageing of SANDF: Equipment and budget constraints are critical issues @AfricaMelane of @CapeTalk is joined by Dean Wingrin, aviation and defence analyst, to unpack whether SANDF is still fit for service, considering equipment and budget constraints. www.primediaplus.com/the-ageing-o...

Too old to fight, too broke to fix: The SANDF’s march to mediocrity | News24 If the SANDF is to reclaim credibility, both political and military elites must step aside from self-preservation, and lead with vision, accountability and purpose, writes Dean Wingrin. www.news24.com/opinions/fri...

This morning, the SA Navy held a Change of Command Parade for SAS King Sekhukhune I, the first of three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. Cdr Lelethu Bixa took over command from Cdr Jabulani Mashamba, the vessels first OC. Wishing Cdr Bixa fair winds and following seas!

Armscor is the acquisition agency for the SANDF, responsible for procurement and contracting. However, the SANDF has been complaining about the level of service received, impacting operational readiness. So, what are the complaints? A🧵 /1

Following VAdm Lobese heartfelt plea to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence on Fri, lamenting the defunding of the SANDF budget and its impact on the SA Navy, partially blaming National Treasury, NT has hit back at Lobese with this press release. The truth is in-between. /1

wesome in-cockpit video of #SAAF C-130BZ Hercules (serial 401 of 28 Squadron) landing at Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) airport last night. She's currently on her way from PE to Pretoria.

Much discussion in South Africa about a possible coup, This after KZN Police Comm Mkhwanazi accusations, and the suspending of the Min of Police and the Dep Ccomm for Crime Detection. Not something I think is very likely, particularly from the SANDF. My uneducated thoughts: 🧵 1/

Spare a thought for the South African troops still attached to the UN MONUSCO FIB. Whilst all attention has been on the returning SANDF SAMIDRC troops, the troops still in the DRC are also going through tough personal issues.

Finally! Minister Ntshavheni has released the public version of National Security Strategy and National Intelligence Estimates (2019 – 2024). Now we get to see how Defence fits in and what is required. /1

Joining John Maytham to unpack the implications of Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga’s defence budget and what it means for national security is Dean Wingrin, defence and aviation analyst. @CapeTalk www.primediaplus.com/sandf-motshe...

The Min of Defence delivered her Budget Vote speech this morning and I was left underwhelmed. It did not start off well when she could not even get the month of the largest SANDF soldier fatality since 2013 correct. Hint: It was Jan this year, not Feb. /1 x.com/SANDF_ZA/sta...

Interesting. In Sep 2023, three South African Navy submariners died, swept off the deck of SAS Manthatisi by a large wave during a training exercise near Kommetjie, Cape Town. The BOI report was released in Sep 2024. Then I hear a second BOI was convened. Now this. Criminality involved?

Another delay in the release of South Africa's National Security Strategy. The NSS was approved by Cabinet in 2023! In July last yr, the Min in the Presidency said the NSS would be released in Sep '24. Still nothing! Now she says there is ongoing consultations... 1/

SAAF chief visits Pakistan, discusses ties with PAF. I'm happy for CAF to visit Pakistan and look at future co-operation. But what must India think, as a fellow BRICS+ member? But: SA is non-aligned and BRICS+ is a commercial grouping, not military. tribune.com.pk/story/255383... /1

As if killing a policeman investigating them was not enough, SANDF Special Force members of the alleged "rogue unit" may have attempted to kill the detective investigating the first killing. Chief SANDF (a former GOC Special Forces) & the Min of Defence must account! www.news24.com/southafrica/...

It's not easy for a politician to tell the truth, particularly when talking about the country's defence. Not a nice reality, but the General is being honest. Only by acknowledging the problem can we do something about it. #SANDF #SouthAfrica www.ewn.co.za/2025/07/01/h...

I've written a lot on South Africa's military decline, reduced #SANDF budget, lost capabilities, etc, culminating in ineffective missions in the DRC and Moz. Seems words are too much. Perhaps this will work to make those that matter see what a critical state the SANDF is in.

Another aircraft from Tanzania landed at Bloemfontein today, this time an Ethiopian Airlines B738, flying from Lusaka, same day as the last of the SANDF SAMIDRC troops arrived via Air Tanzania. Could this flight also be connected to South Africa's troops deployed in the DRC?

Another Air Tanzania flight approaching Bloemfontein. Previous flights using this callsign and route brought the SANDF troops back from their SADC mission in the DRC.

Qatar Airways Boeing B777-300 flypast over Cape Town Stadium! Thanks to Japie Steyl for the video.

Airlink and Qatar flights in the hold, ready for the Cape Town Stadium flypast!

Mike Wills speak to Dean Wingrin, defence and aviation journalist, to understand how the South African Navy has deteriorated to this point, what it means for our maritime sovereignty, and whether there’s any way back from the brink. www.primediaplus.com/the-status-o...