Vice Admiral Monde Lobese told Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence that the National Treasury’s reluctance to allocate sufficient resources is diminishing the Navy’s operational readiness and leaving SA’s borders increasingly vulnerable.

Lobese delivered a blunt message during his briefing, saying, “National Treasury can’t be allowed to be a super department or a government on its own over and above the current government.”

He insisted that the Treasury must adhere to directives from the executive, particularly those from the President and Commander-in-Chief.

He added that President Cyril Ramaphosa had instructed that the SA National Defence Force be funded at 1.7% of the country’s GDP, a level Lobese said was essential to maintain the Navy’s ability to patrol and secure SA’s vast coastline.

“Our ability to respond to threats, conduct patrols, and protect maritime trade routes is being eroded. The Navy cannot operate ships, train personnel, or carry out its constitutional mandate without proper funding,” Lobese stressed.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--