Defence acquisition agency Armscor, and defence industrial group Denel, both State-owned organisations which fall under the aegis of the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, have, for the first time ever, held a joint meeting of their boards. The event was hosted by Armscor in its Head Office and was presided over by new Secretary of Defence Bereng Mthimkhulu, who emphasised the structural interdependence of the two entities and their role in maintaining the country’s sovereign defence capabilities.

Armscor’s essential role is to convert the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF’s) operational requirements into relevant acquisition projects.

“The security of our country requires institutions to work together with a shared sense of purpose,” agreed Armscor chairperson Dr Lesiba Mahapa. “Armscor remains committed to fulfilling its mandate as a strategic acquisition agency while working constructively with Denel and other stakeholders across the defence ecosystem. Our focus must remain firmly on ensuring that the SANDF is equipped with the capabilities it requires to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.”

Denel provides specialist defence technologies, industrial capabilities, products and services.

“Denel has the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the defence capability of our country,” affirmed Denel interim chairperson Tshidi Mokgabudi. “Our engagement with Armscor is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation, leverage our respective capabilities and ensure that our collective efforts contribute to a sustainable and capable defence industry. We are committed to working with Armscor in a manner that places the national interest and the requirements of the SANDF at the centre of our efforts.”

In their discussion, the two organisations agreed that a coordinated defence sector ecosystem was necessary to permit a sustainable and capable defence force. They acknowledged each other’s capabilities and agreed that these were complementary. Greater cooperation between them could result in more effective results for the SANDF and the country.  

The joint meeting saw updates on major projects, such as Project Hoefyster (for a new armoured vehicle family for the army). It ended with agreement to maintain the momentum created by this initial meeting and to investigate practical areas for future cooperation, to strengthen the country’s defence industry and ecosystem.