Government says National Treasury has allocated funding to strengthen SANDF border operations, including upgrades to mobility, technology and maritime capabilities aimed at addressing smuggling, trafficking and illegal immigration concerns.
South Africa’s border security operations remain under sustained pressure amid concerns over smuggling, trafficking and illegal immigration.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is also facing long-standing capacity constraints, including ageing equipment, infrastructure backlogs and operational strain across land, air and maritime domains.
Recent parliamentary defence briefings have also highlighted that the SANDF is operating under significant resource pressure, with a large portion of its budget absorbed by personnel costs, limiting available funding for modernisation, mobility upgrades and equipment maintenance across key operational areas.
The matter was raised in Parliament after MK Party Member of Parliament Cele Zibuse asked the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, how the SANDF is addressing funding shortages and operational limitations in combating smuggling, trafficking and illegal immigration along South Africa’s borders.
