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Holomisa's battle to clean up defence – the general's one-year scorecard
Holomisa says the department of defence is still reeling from the effects of state capture.
He warns that the SANDF is not equipped to handle climate disasters or peacekeeping missions.
He calls on Parliament and the UDM to stop being passive and demand real consequences.
In a candid and comprehensive year-in-review report, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans General Bantu Holomisa, has laid bare the systemic challenges confronting the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and the department of defence, ranging from the lingering effects of state capture to the country's limited response to natural disasters.
Addressed to UDM's parliamentary leader Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, the report, dated 24 June, reflects on the UDM's first year in the government of national unity (GNU), offering an unflinching account of the party's experience within the executive while calling for intensified parliamentary oversight and accountability.
Holomisa's reflection noted critical issues, including the SANDF's preparedness and budgetary constraints, and the fallout from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) deployment.
The report calls on Parliament, and especially the UDM, to take a stronger stand, drive meaningful reform and ensure accountability where it's long overdue.
According to Holomisa, the Auditor-General's report has been instrumental in guiding the new ministry, the joint standing committee on defence and the portfolio committee on defence, providing critical insight into the terrain we are expected to navigate.
He wrote:
It is clear that the department of defence did not escape the effects of state capture. The ongoing SIU [Special Investigating Unit] investigations initiated through proclamations signed by the president and the fact that the former minister is still before the courts highlight the depth of the challenges we face.
Bantu Holomisa
Former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is facing several counts of corruption and money laundering after being accused of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to R4.5 million from a defence contractor.
'These realities point to a protracted process of restoring the integrity and capacity of the SANDF, a task further complicated by years of chronic underfunding,' Holomisa added.
He mentioned the DRC debacle, which placed the department of defence under intense scrutiny, a matter that garnered considerable public and institutional attention. There were concerns about the overall capacity, preparedness and logistical readiness of the SANDF to effectively carry out its continental peacekeeping and combat obligations.
He explained how this matter further brought into question the adequacy of the department's planning processes, resource allocation and strategic command structures in high-risk deployments.
'The DRC episode served as a stark reminder of the urgent need to review and strengthen our defence capabilities, particularly in the context of multinational operations under the auspices of Southern African Development Community or the AU,' read the report.
Adding to the ongoing concerns is the increasing impact of climate change, which continues to present new and evolving threats to the country's security and humanitarian stability.
According to the report, this changing climate landscape is testing the capacity of the SANDF to respond swiftly and effectively, particularly in the deployment of rescue equipment and disaster relief operations.
A case in point is the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape, which tragically claimed the lives of at least 100 people, though the final death toll is yet to be confirmed. Despite the scale of the disaster, only one Oryx of 12 helicopters was deployed for rescue and relief efforts days after the disaster had occurred, illustrating the severe limitations in the aerial response capabilities during emergencies.
In the report, Holomisa outlined how this highlights the urgent need to improve the SANDF's disaster response readiness in alignment with the growing frequency and intensity of climate-related events
The report was sent to Kwankwa to provide him, as the UDM's parliamentary leader, with a concise reflection on the oversight and executive work Holomisa has undertaken since taking office. It also aims to urge 'in the strongest terms' the reactivation and strengthening of Parliament's role in holding the executive accountable on several unresolved national issues, particularly those long championed by the UDM.
After Holomisa was appointed as the deputy minister of defence and military veterans, he faced criticism for allegedly softening his stance on corruption since his appointment to government.
Known for his fierce condemnation of the ANC, often calling them 'amasela (thieves)' in previous administrations, some questioned whether he had lost his edge.
However, in an interview with City Press, he explained that his strategy of calling out amasela had been effective, as evidenced by the fact that those who had been governing (the ANC) received only 40% in the recent election results.
Now that he is in government, his focus has shifted to addressing corruption from within, particularly in the defence department, which has been deeply affected by corruption – with even the minister facing allegations.
'Now, we are trying to clean from within. There are people who have been on suspension for a long time, some are in court, so we are busy addressing that set-up, as well as the procurement problems that were affected by corruption,' said Holomisa.
No, I won't be making a lot of noise now. I need to focus on my task. The amasela within the defence department – I'll deal with them, but action will be seen publicly, not through shouting.
Bantu Holomisa
He also explained that Kwankwa was the one who could continue to say amasela. If the GNU is not doing well, Kwankwa can call it out.
In the report, Holomisa said he believed that the UDM's 'principled, consistent and people-centred voice' must now take a more assertive role in ensuring that findings, commissions and legislative frameworks lead to real consequences and reform.
He detailed the scope of his official engagements since his appointment in July 2024. The report outlines a demanding schedule spanning parliamentary oversight, departmental coordination, Cabinet involvement and international diplomacy.
According to Holomisa, the meetings serve as a record of the work he has undertaken in the execution of his duties.
They include:
63 Department of defence-related meetings with entities such as Armscor, Denel and the Defence Secretariat, covering strategic areas such as Auditor-General compliance briefings, logistics planning, HR and command and management information systems oversight, and force design sessions.
42 engagements with SANDF service formations, including operational visits to SA Army HQ, Navy HQ, AFB Waterkloof, Military Police, Defence Intelligence, SA Military Health Service, Logistics HQ and the SF Brigade.
12 meetings with the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, focusing on oversight briefings, acquisition performance reviews, and coordination with Treasury and Armscor.
58 sessions with the portfolio committee on defence and military veterans, centred on oversight of military veterans, departmental annual reports and policy matters.
33 Cabinet and cluster meetings, including engagements in JCPS and ICTS Cabinet clusters, deputy minister forums, Cabinet lekgotla and executive caucuses.
51 international and diplomatic engagements involving countries such as Turkey, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, China, Cuba, India, the US, Japan, France and Russia. These included multilateral platforms such as Brics, AU Peace & Security Council sessions, arms control dialogues, and various conferences.
6 bilateral missions abroad, to Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Cuba, Japan and France.
19 community and civic engagements, including veteran forums, traditional leadership sessions, Youth Day and Women's Month events, rural civic visits and meetings with local councillors.
Holomisa described these engagements as more than a schedule. 'Each meeting represented a deliberate effort to advance the priorities of our defence mandate, strengthen operational efficiency, and respond to the needs of our servicemen and women, veterans and broader society,' he wrote.
He emphasised that public office must be anchored in accountability and purpose-driven action and reiterated his commitment to upholding the integrity of the portfolio in a way that is informed, inclusive, and responsive to both national and global contexts.
Holomisa outlined how military diplomacy was prioritised to deepen international defence cooperation and open training opportunities for SANDF officers.
Holomisa also advocated greater collaboration between South Africa's defence industry and global partners in manufacturing and technology exchange. Far from ceremonial, some of these engagements helped defuse tensions and avoid diplomatic fallout.
On the home front, he confirmed that the department of defence had met its deadline to submit the reviewed 2015 Defence Review to the presidency, which includes new strategic frameworks and long-term planning up to 2055. However, the release of the document to Parliament now rests with the president, pending formal clearance.
