The Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) and the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) revealed on Thursday that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is severely underfunded, lacking the manpower to properly monitor the borders shared with Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.

The committees expressed concern that South Africa’s borders are “effectively open” and that government departments and entities responsible for border management are not collaborating on the issue.

The two committees, currently conducting an oversight visit to the SANDF in Limpopo, visited border areas near Musina to assess the situation.

JSCD co-chairperson Dr Malusi Gigaba said the visit was a fact-finding mission to understand the challenges facing the SANDF and communities affected by the movement of people from neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe.

“We should have 22 military companies patrolling our borders, but currently there are only 15. Even these are struggling due to shortages of personnel, vehicles and modern technology, such as drones,” he explained. 

Gigaba said soldiers were required to cover hundreds of kilometres, often with limited resources.

The SANDF also noted that informal settlements near the Limpopo river make border control even more difficult, as some residents are supposedly involved in aiding illegal crossings.

“If we are being honest, we don’t have functioning borders, and this puts the safety of our country at risk,” said PCDMV chairperson Dakota Legoete.

JSCD co-chairperson Phiroane Phala highlighted that while it is important to maintain good relations with neighbouring countries, South Africa must also protect its territorial integrity.

“We cannot allow people to enter and leave the country without control,” he said.

During their inspection along the Limpopo river, the committees observed damaged fencing and areas where illegal crossings regularly occur.

Soldiers stationed there said they were too few to effectively monitor and respond to the constant flow of border jumpers, the committee heard.

The joint committees are expected to meet with the Border Management Authority, SANDF, the South African Police Services and the South African Revenue Service on interdepartmental cooperation at Beitbridge border post on Thursday.