The Department of Defence and Military Veterans says Minister Angie Motshekga will be taking “appropriate steps” against Navy Chief Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, for what the department termed “unfortunate” statements that cast aspersions at the leadership of government.

Last week, at two events in Tshwane, Lobese cited chronic underfunding of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which he said impacted the country’s navy and weakened South Africa’s national security.

He noted South Africa needed to advocate for a stronger, well-resourced defence force.

“…we need to think about what is at stake for not having the navy present at sea.

“So, what I am stressing is that our prolonged absence at sea due to non-availability of serviceable ships and submarines, all because of the outsourcing of our Navy should concern you as fellow South Africans,” he stated.

Motshekga regarded Lobese’s remarks as “inappropriate, disingenuous and unfortunate”, claiming that the SANDF budget was receiving attention in the department and in Parliament.

Lobese went on to question whether decision-makers responsible for defunding the SANDF “may be directly or indirectly influenced by drug cartels, illegal traders, maritime criminals or human traffickers.”

“Because it will appear that this consistent underfunding and incapacitating of the South African Navy and the defence force in general is to ensure the success of the operations that undermine our nation, compromise its sovereignty and jeopardise the future of our children,” he said.

Lobese also compared Cabinet’s approval of SANDF workforce cuts to “a Defence version” of the closure of the Political Killings Task Team, as revealed by South African Police Service KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.