MPs slam Motshekga’s absence as questions mount over SANDF deployment readiness

Members of the SANDF can be seen in Pretoria during a patrol and roadblock on 7 April 2020. Picture: Jacques Nelles / The Citizen MPs expressed frustration after Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga once again failed to attend a key parliamentary meeting, while concerns were also raised about the preparedness of troops set to be deployed across South Africa. The Joint Standing Committee on Defence met in Cape Town on Friday, 6 March 2026, to receive an update on the readiness of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as troops begin operations in parts of the country.

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of the SANDF to assist the South African Police Service (Saps) in addressing crime hotspots in Gauteng, North West and the Western Cape. The Eastern Cape was later added to the intervention. Themilitary deploymentaims to bolster police efforts against organised crime, gangsterism and illegal mining.

The operation is scheduled to run from 1 March 2026 until 31 March 2027. Alongside the deployment briefing, the committee was also due to receive updates from the SANDF regarding outstanding payments and allowances owed to troops. A presentation from the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) on its annual report was also on the agenda.

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However, both Motshekga and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni – who chairs the NCACC – were absent from the nearlyfour-hour meeting. Motshekga reportedly indicated that she was in Gauteng and would be able to participate virtually.

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