The Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor) and Denel, two state-owned entities reporting to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, reaffirmed their commitment to closer collaboration and mutual support following the inaugural joint board meeting. The historic meeting recently held at Armscor Head Office marks the first joint engagement of its kind since Denel’s return under the Department of Defence and comes at an important juncture for South Africa’s defence and security sector.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the newly appointed Secretary for Defence, Mr Bereng Mthimkhulu to outline his expectations as the head of administration for the Department of Defence. Mr Mthimkhulu emphasised that Armscor and Denel are structurally interdependent and integral to South Africa’s sovereign defence capability.
He reminded both entities that they have a duty to protect the country’s defence technology from becoming entirely dependent on other countries. The collaboration between the two entities is critical in rebuilding strategic capabilities lost over the years. He applauded the joint board meeting as a signal towards building a relationship characterised by open communication, mutual respect and a commitment to finding practical solutions to the challenges facing the defence sector.
The Board Chairperson of Armscor, Dr Lesiba Mahapa and Interim Board Chairperson of Denel, Ms Tshidi Mokgabudi set the tone for mutual support and collective success within the defence sector. They outlined challenges confronting their respective entities highlighting the need for funding. Furthermore, they pledged their support to work together in addressing operational challenges and put a united front in advancing South Africa’s defence and security agenda.
“The security of our country requires institutions to work together with a shared sense of purpose. 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,” said Dr Mahapa.
The discussions recognised that a capable and sustainable defence force requires a coordinated ecosystem in which the various institutions of the defence sector work together towards a common national objective. Armscor and Denel acknowledged that their respective capabilities, expertise and institutional roles are complementary and that stronger cooperation can contribute to more effective outcomes for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and, ultimately, the Republic of South Africa. “Denel has a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the defence capability of our country.
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,” emphasised Ms Mokgabudi. High level engagement and updates on key projects such as Project Hoefyester were provided.
As the organisation responsible for strategic defence acquisition, Armscor plays a critical role in translating the operational requirements of the SANDF into appropriate acquisition solutions, while Denel contributes specialised defence industrial capabilities, technologies, products and services. Greater alignment between these complementary roles can support a more integrated approach to developing and sustaining defence capabilities. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining the momentum established through the inaugural engagement and to exploring practical areas of cooperation that will strengthen the defence ecosystem and contribute to a more capable, sustainable and responsive South African defence industry.