Question NW1144 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
19 June 2017 - NW1144
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(a) How many submarines does the SA National Defence Force have, (b) how many of the specified vessels are (i) operational, (ii) non-operational and serviceable and/or (iii) non-operational and unserviceable state, (c) how long has each vessel been in this state and (d) (i) what are the reasons for each vessel’s current state and (ii) how can this be prevented in the future?
Reply:
(a) How many submarines does the SANDF have?
Three.
(b) How many of the specified vessels are operational?
(i) At present two of the three are operational.
(b) How many of the specified vessels are non-operational and serviceable?
(ii) One of the submarines is non-operational and serviceable.
(b) How many of the specified vessels are non-operational and unserviceable state (sic)?
(iii) N/A.
(c) How long has each vessel been in this state?
Apart from the two operational submarines the third submarine has been in a refit period from 2014.
(d) What are the reasons for each vessels’ current state?
(i) A refit period normally takes 24 months. Delays when experienced are attributed to funding and long lead times for the delivery of spares.
(d) How can this be prevented in the future?
(ii) N/A.