Sinking feeling about navy

The navy's declining capacity to maintain maritime patrols because of few serviceable ships and submarines and little funding leaves the nation vulnerable.

- William Saunderson-Meyer

Starved of resources, riddled with criminal infiltration, crippled by weak command and warped by political interference that's the picture of the police service emerging from sworn testimony in recent months. There is reason to fear the defence force may be succumbing to the same rot.

The chief of the Navy, Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese, ignited a furore. In speeches at two events, he said government officials and political decision-makers are colluding to starve the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) of funds so it can no longer defend against "Western threats". He questioned whether criminals and "unpatriotic sellouts" were influencing funding decisions and warned of an attempt to "privatise" the navy.

Lobese drew a direct parallel with the crisis in the SA Police Service (Saps) that prompted the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.