Defence budget reduced by R2bn due to DRC withdrawal

THE Department of Defence budget has been reduced by R2 billion due to the change in the deployment of SANDF in the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

“The R5bn we had proposed to allocate to the Department of Defence for its participation in the SADC Mission in the DRC is reduced, but the allocation for 2025/26 has been increased from R1.8bn to R3bn,” Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said.

In March, the defence force was initially allocated R5bn, which was made up of R1.8bn for the deployment of soldiers for the 2025/26 financial year, followed by R1.7bn in 2027 and a further R1.4bn in 2028.

Now, Godongwana has made a R3bn allocation in the 2025-26 financial year to cater for the deployment and the withdrawal of the SANDF from the DRC.

The budget documents from the National Treasury said the allocation for the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMI-DRC) has been adjusted according to the SANDF’s phased withdrawal plan.