Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has disclosed that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) spent R2.4 billion on chartered flights over five financial years. The expenditure, which was incurred between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 financial years, has raised concerns about the lack of detailed information on how the funds were spent. According to Motshekga, the SANDF used chartered aircraft for various operational requirements, including accessing remote areas, medical evacuations, and peacekeeping missions.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has demanded a detailed breakdown of the expenditure, citing a lack of transparency in the department's reporting. The DA's spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, said that two recent parliamentary replies had not provided the necessary information, despite the department confirming that it had the underlying records. The DA had requested the number of flights and expenditure for each financial year, as well as a breakdown by operational category.
According to the department, chartered flights were procured through different mechanisms, including ordinary travel-management arrangements, supply chain management deviations, and emergency or operational procurement. The SANDF used chartered aircraft for various purposes, including VIP transport, military training, and urgent operational deployments. Motshekga also cited the non-availability of commercial flights and sensitive security movements for critical military operations as reasons for using chartered flights.
The department reported a total spending of R2,395,521,275 on chartered flights over the five financial years. The expenditure varied from year to year, with R15,492,850 spent in 2021/22, R753,797,591 in 2022/23, R622,790,063 in 2023/24, R629,043,694 in 2024/25, and R374,937,076 in 2025/26. The DA has questioned a R540,000 discrepancy between the annual figures and the department's stated total.
The DA has raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the department's spending. Hattingh said that the outstanding information was needed to properly scrutinise the expenditure and that the people of South Africa deserved answers, not evasion. The DA will submit further written questions seeking verified figures, a firm deadline for completing the reconciliation, and the identification of the official responsible for the process.
The department has attributed the delay in providing detailed information to the need to reconcile its records to ensure accurate attribution and avoid double counting. The department is working to ensure that the records are accurate and that the information is provided in a transparent and accountable manner. The DA has expressed concerns about the department's ability to manage public funds and has called for greater transparency and accountability.
The SANDF's charter flight spending has raised concerns about the department's financial management and accountability. The DA has called for a complete, accurate account of how the money was spent, and the department has been urged to provide Parliament with the necessary information. The issue highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
Key points
- The SANDF spent R2.4 billion on chartered flights over five financial years.
- The Democratic Alliance has demanded a detailed breakdown of the expenditure, citing a lack of transparency in the department's reporting.
- The department has attributed the delay in providing detailed information to the need to reconcile its records to ensure accurate attribution and avoid double counting.
