Tents, flak jackets and other essential equipment prioritised for SANDF

The department of defence (DoD) has reprioritised some available funding for “absolute essentials” required for deployed South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members and is acquiring thousands of tents and flak jackets, among other items. This was revealed in a presentation prepared by the DoD for the parliamentary portfolio committee on defence and military veterans (PCDMV), which convened on Wednesday to discuss: One of the items highlighted in the BRRR was the PCDMV’s “frustration and displeasure at the unacceptable lack of basic equipment for soldiers, especially those being deployed. Quality boots, uniforms, bullet proof vests, weapons and serviceable vehicles should be the minimum requirement for any military force.

The committee therefore insists on a ‘back to basics’ approach, with a funding reprioritisation by the DoD to focus on the absolute essential tasks and equipment provision.” In response, the DoD said it had reprioritised available funding for the absolute essentials required for deployed forces, namely: “To enable this, the logistics division was allocated R64m specifically to procure and deliver Border Safeguarding Optimisation Plan (BSOP) equipment,” the department said. The National Treasury has not allocated the full requested funding, particularly for goods, services, and capital expenditure, which affects the BMA’s ability to invest in necessary operations and technology Some items have already been procured and delivered, while others are in the procurement process. These include: “As part of the procurement process, all of the above were advertised, closed, and had their functionality evaluated on January 26,” the DoD said.

A go-ahead was given to the supplier to prepare for the delivery of 2,810 flak jackets with bullet proof inserts (approved at a November 2025 meeting). Ballistic tests have already been completed and 203 sets have been delivered to the SANDF’s mobilisation centre. TheBorder Management Authority (BMA)received R150m in funding from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) — against R500m requested — and has used it to acquire vehicles, firearms, body cameras, scanners, boats and drones, among other equipment.

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However, it still requires much more. This was revealed by home affairs ministerLeon Schreiberin a December reply to a parliamentary question posed by ActionSA’s Lerato Ngobeni. She was informed more than R60m has been spent on acquiring vehicles, and these have all been delivered. They include: Armscorhelped the BMA acquire weapons and personal kit for BMA border guards, including:

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