As global power shifts toward hard power and unilateralism, SA’s sovereignty faces growing risks. With a weakened defence force and limited defence investment, the country is exposed despite its moral authority and diplomatic ties. Without serious strategic planning, reinvestment in defence, and capable leadership, the promise of the Rainbow Nation – and its democracy – cannot be safeguarded.
International law was conceived as a safeguard against imperialism, a framework to ensure that nations, whether big or small, could coexist under rules of fairness and justice. The United Nations (UN), born out of the ashes of World War 2, was meant to embody this principle. Yet, in recent decades, the UN has been sidelined, ignored, and disregarded by power players who prefer unilateralism and hard power over multilateral consensus.
From Iraq to Libya, interventions have often bypassed the UN Security Council, which exposed the fragility of international law when confronted with imperial ambition. South Africa, once a beacon of reconciliation and democratic rebirth, now finds itself vulnerable in this shifting order. The ideals of a Rainbow Nation founded on unity, equality and justice are increasingly tested by global currents that reward military might over moral authority.
Read Full Article on Daily Maverick
[paywall]
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF), once respected across the continent, is now a shadow of its former self. Years of disinvestment, budget cuts and neglect have left the military struggling in every domain. On land, dwindling boots on the ground, with recruitment and retention undermined by poor morale and inadequate resources, has become the norm.
In the air, machinery is outdated, with aircraft grounded due to a lack of maintenance and spare parts. At sea, naval presence is minimal, leaving vast stretches of coastline exposed. This decline is not merely a technical issue, it is a strategic vulnerability.
If SA were to be invaded today, the question of how to protect its sovereignty would be met with grim silence. The defence force lacks the capacity to repel a modern, well-equipped aggressor. Sovereignty, in such a scenario, would rest not on military strength but on diplomacy, alliances and the resilience of our people.
Sun Tzu said that: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles,” and that: “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” For SA this means that an honest assessment is imperative, which should involve shoring up logistics and intelligence, and investing in asymmetric, cost‑effective capabilities (such as maritime domain awareness, coastal anti‑access, cyber- and reserve readiness) rather than symbolic parades such as the BRICS-led naval “Will for Peace” parade. The central question we need to ask moving forward is: What becomes of a country founded on the ideals of the Rainbow Nation if it cannot defend itself? The promise of a “better life for all” risks being hollowed out if imperialist agendas prevail. The erosion of sovereignty would mean the erosion of democracy, social justice and the fragile gains of post-apartheid transformation.
[/paywall]
