Defence Minister to deal with SA Navy Chief’s ‘unfortunate outburst’

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga has said that she will be addressing the remarks made by Navy Chief Admiral Monde Lobese over the weekend.

“The Minister will be taking appropriate steps to deal with this unfortunate outburst, worse still from a senior person at his level,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

This comes after the South African Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, said that South Africa’s seas were at risk at the SA Navy gala concert in Pretoria.

“All I’m putting to you this evening is that we cannot continue to be silent observers while our country is being taken to the dogs,” he said.

“We need to advocate for a stronger, well-resourced defence force; we need to think about what is at stake for not having the navy present at sea.”

Motshekga said that during his speech, Lobese made comments that ‘cast aspersions on the government’s leadership.’

While she did not specify which statement this referred to, she is most likely referring to his claim that the defunding of the various branches of the South African National Defence Force is deliberate.

“The consistent underfunding and incapacitation of the South African Navy and the defence force in general is to ensure the success of the operations that undermine our nation,” Lobese said.

He said that he often finds himself questioning whether those responsible may be directly or indirectly influenced by these drug cartels, illegal traders, maritime criminals, and human traffickers.

Motshekga said that she regards these remarks as “not only inappropriate, disingenuous and unfortunate on a matter he is fully aware is receiving attention at all levels, from her department to Parliament.”

Noting the Department of Deence’s desion to take disciplinary action against Lobese, Democratic Alliance MP and spokesperson on defence, Chris Hattingh, said that the Navy Chief’s comments “come perilously close to outright insubordination.”

“It is unacceptable for a service chief to publicly accuse National Treasury of ‘sabotaging’ the SANDF or to suggest that government leaders are acting in bad faith.”

However, the MP did acknowledge that many of the issues highlighted by Lobese, such as the chronic underfunding of the SANDF, which he says have by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence.

The Auditor-General of South Africa recently told Parliament that the Navy’s hours at sea have dropped from 7,338 in 2012/13 to 3,717 in 2024/25 — a 49% decrease.

This was primarily attributed to the department’s lack of funding for mid-life upgrades to its four frigates and two submarines.

“For seven years, the four frigates – SAS Amatola, SAS Isandlwana, SAS Spioenkop, and SAS Mendi – have been virtually non-operational,” Hattingh previously said.

“The projects were grossly mismanaged, breaking procurement rules and causing massive cost overruns.”

‘Spies could be listening,’ says committee chairperson

Dakota Legoete, the chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, recently expressed a similar sentiment to Hattingh.

He said that while he agrees with the fact that the SANDF is underfunded, something he and the committee are pushing to improve, Lobese should not have publicly announced that South Africa’s national security is compromised.

“It’s very wrong because it gives credence to some international espionage and foreign intelligence agencies to understand what is happening in our country.”

Legoete said that instead of pleading his case to the public, Lobese should be using the relevant platforms and institutions available to him to voice his concerns.

For instance, this can be addressed to the National Security Council through the Defence Minister, Angie Motshekga, as well as through the President, who is the “general of all generals”.

The chairperson stated that Parliament is currently advocating for an increase in South Africa’s defence spending from 0.7% of GDP to 1.5%.

However, this is not a new issue, implying that Lobese’s frustrations may have reached a point where he felt like he had no other option but to go public.

During his speech, he compared the situation to General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who made several allegations during a press conference in July about the alleged capture of the country’s criminal justice system.

He also raised the issue several times with senior officials and in Parliament, but was only taken seriously once the public was made aware, prompting the president to launch a Commission of Inquiry.

However, Legoete did point out that Lobese has yet to voice his concerns about funding in Parliament.