JOHANNESBURG - Military accommodation woes have forced some South African National Defence (SANDF) members to live far from their bases, with others residing in informal settlements.
This is the reality Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa painted as he described how this is affecting operational readiness.
Holomisa made an example of Pretoria, where he said they are renting.
“If there are calls for them to be ready to go and do operations, it's a problem because we don't have accommodation for those troops. They are housed all over,” he said.
He attributed this challenge to an issue that has already been reported on: funding constraints.
Early this year, when Defence Minister Angie Motshekga delivered the department’s 2026/2027 Budget Vote in Parliament, she painted a grim picture of a gap between a defence force willing to work and the resources available.
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Motshekga said the core of the dilemma lies in a persistent misalignment between mandate, expectations, and funding.
This, she said at the time, is a strategic national concern, which requires a structured compact between strategic intent and fiscal planning, sustained over multiple planning cycles.
She said the allocated R57,605 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year is earmarked for, among other things, border safeguarding technology and vehicles, the Air Force, the Navy, as well as uniforms for our military members,
It also includes R37,7 billion set as the ceiling for the compensation of employees.
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Holomisa did not mince his words. He said funding constraints have resulted in a backlog in several areas.
As a possible solution, Holomisa said the department is looking at the private sector for assistance.
According to Holomisa, a public-private partnership policy is allowed in South Africa.
“It is being managed by the National Treasury, and therefore every department is free to come up with proposals in connection with the improvement of their scope,” the deputy minister said.