Project Hotel, the acquisition of a new hydrographic survey vessel (SAS Nelson Mandela) and related capabilities for the SA Navy, was contracted in 2017 with an original delivery target around 2021. As of mid-2026 there is still no firm completion date; the project may require another five years. Progress claims have been disputed, and serious allegations of revolving-door conflicts of interest have been raised, writes Carl Niehaus.
The Defence Industry Lekgotla, held from 20 to 22 July 2026 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, was an important initiative. Convened by the Department of Defence and Military Veterans together with the South African defence industry, it brought together officials, state-owned entities, private-sector representatives and Members of Parliament to address long-standing challenges. Discussions across the six work streams — innovation, localisation and exports, acquisition and procurement, strategic issues and partnerships, capacity building and inclusivity, and financing — focused on reducing red tape in the conventional arms control system, validating Armscor’s transformed value proposition, stabilising Denel, exploring responsible public-private partnerships, and building sovereign capabilities suited to contemporary threats.
