South Africa’s R241 million military agreement with China

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, provided details about South Africa’s multi-million-rand military deal with China.

This response followed a question from the DA’s parliamentary member, Nicholas Myburgh, about the military agreement.

Motshekga stated that the Department of Defence (DOD) has signed an international agreement with the Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China.

This signing happened during an official visit by Minister Angie Motshekga for the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in September 2024.

It is titled, “Agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans of the Republic of South Africa and the Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China on China’s Provision of Military Assistance Gratis to South Africa.”

The agreement, valued at 100 million RMB Yuan (approximately R241 million), is to support Project Zingisa.

Project Zingisa is a sensitive and controversial military infrastructure initiative in South Africa at De Brug, Bloemfontein.

The plan is to establish and upgrade a Mobilisation and Demobilisation Centre. This includes infrastructure enhancements and the storage of military equipment.

Chinese technicians and engineers are directly involved in the planning and execution of the infrastructure upgrades, which raises questions about sovereignty.

Motshekga said the specific descriptions and technical specifications will be detailed in a separate Protocol yet to be concluded.

“The Department of Defence is awaiting a draft protocol from China,” Motshekga said in her parliamentary response.

She added that the agreement has not been tabled before the South African Parliament. However, she did not say why she had not done it.

The agreement slated by the Democratic Alliance (DA)

Chris Hattingh, the DA’s spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, spoke out about Chinese involvement in South Africa’s military operations.

He accused Motshekga of serious breaches of defence protocol, oversight, and sovereignty stemming from Chinese military involvement in SANDF operations.

“The Department of Defence and Motshekga must be held accountable for allowing the Chinese People’s Liberation Army access to strategic military infrastructure,” he said.

He added that there may also have been access to sensitive naval platforms without following due process or considering national security risks.

“It is now apparent that Chinese technicians are involved in classified infrastructure upgrades at De Brug,” he said.

They have been consulted for the maintenance of critical SANDF vessels, including frigates and submarines originally supplied by European manufacturers.

“These platforms are governed by strict confidentiality and intellectual property agreements,” he said.

“Any unauthorised foreign intervention represents a serious violation of defence-sector protocols.”

He added that the Chinese military aid agreement was signed without parliamentary consultation in September 2024.

“There has been no clarity on what equipment is involved, how it will be delivered, or what reciprocal obligations South Africa may incur,” he said.

“This pattern of backroom deals, classified deployments, and diplomatic appeasement is undermining South Africa’s military sovereignty and constitutional accountability.”