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Defence Minister Angie Motshekga.
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga has acknowledged that porous borders compromise territorial integrity and lead to several national security threats.
The Minister tabled a R57.6 billion budget this week in Parliament for the 2026/27 financial year.
The Defence Department has long been in a state of decline due to underfunding.
Under ideal conditions, the department is meant to receive a budget of 1.5 per cent of the GDP, but it is currently receiving just under half of that.
The border control project will receive R557 million.
Motshekga says this will respond to criminal value chains and syndicates, illicit financial flows and unauthorised movements.
“Porous borders not only compromise the territorial integrity of the state, but it lays a fertile ground for the emergence of several other national security threats, including threats to the economic well-being of the Republic as well as a discord between the citizens and foreign nationals.”
Motshekga says her department is working hard to restore the integrity of the army, navy and air force.
This, as political parties criticised her budget vote this week, saying it will not rescue the security forces from their crisis.
Motshekga acknowledges the challenges.
“We have challenges with our infrastructure shortfalls, which remain acute. The South African Air Force provides essential support not only to border safeguarding but also to disaster aid relief, search and rescue and rapid development. Helicopter numbers and service ability are inadequate as we speak to sustain rapid response across domestic and national security tasks. Radar and air control traffic infrastructure also need more resourcing and upgrading. I can refer to the dockyard where we have challenges that have reached a critical point. Essential equipment and port infrastructure continue to deteriorate and need to be repaired or replaced.”
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