The disparity between the senior army generals and foot soldiers of the South African National Defence Force is huge and alarming. Ordinary soldiers are grappling with dilapidated facilities and a dearth of basic necessities yet top generals live extravagantly in luxurious homes fully financed by taxpayers.
An investigation published in Rapport has exposed the damning realities of this divide. SANDF Generals are paid salaries that are close to 2 million rand annually yet they are exempted from all costs for water and electricity and the South African populace shoulders this heavy burden. Some high-ranking officials reside opulently in the prestigious Waterkloof suburb where their utility expenses exceeding 20,000 rand per month.
The SANDF pours substantial funds into refurbishing the generals' houses and this is oblivious to the hardships endured by ordinary who are often deployed to maintain these residences of excessive comfort. Soldiers stand watch outside, patrolling the streets fronting these dwellings.
In sharp contrast lies the conditions confronting those serving on the frontlines. Troops stationed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo struggle with deficient gear, subpar lodging and inadequate medical care. In South Africa, many junior soldiers are living in dilapidated military housing plagued by broken fixtures and overwhelmed sewer systems.
National secretary of the SA National Defence Union Advocate Pikkie Greeff depicts a grim picture of the prevailing circumstances.
"Soldiers are growing more disillusioned because the generals don’t care about the troops at ground level. There’s no [concern] among the top management while the defence force is literally falling apart," Greeff says.
He highlights the case of 4 SA Infantry Battalion in Middelburg where soldiers went for nearly two weeks without power. This prompted Greeff to obtain an urgent court order to restore electricity.
“There’s also a sewerage pipe on the base that’s been clogged for a long time and the sewage is flowing down the streets. This creates an untenable situation for soldiers who have to work and live there, because it stinks to high heaven. When they complain about these disgusting conditions, they’re simply snapped at that they should look for other work or a place to live if they can’t cope where they are," Greeff explains.
The decision to exempt generals from paying municipal bills was made by the defence force's command council in 2018 and was approved by the late Sam Gulube who was the former secretary of defence. General Solly Shoke, the defence force chief at the time, oversaw this decision. Prior to this, generals were responsible for their own bills and paid the same rent as ordinary soldiers – R1 691.38.
This blatant disparity has led to growing resentment among soldiers, who feel neglected and forgotten by their superiors. The tragic death of Landie Africa-Coetzee and her daughter in their unsafe army house in Postmasburg further highlights the dire conditions many soldiers face.
The luxurious refurbishment of Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha's official residence, including a basketball and netball court and a Superman-themed room for one of his children, at a cost of R1.7 million, adds insult to injury.
While SANDF spokesperson Colonel Selinah Rawlins claims the renovations were necessary due to structural damage, the lavish expenditure raises serious questions about the priorities of the military leadership.
Kobus Marais, former DA spokesperson on defence, highlights the concerns raised by former defence minister Thandi Modise about the excessive number of generals and their cost to the defence force. However, no steps were taken to address this issue.
According to the latest defence force annual report, there are 15 generals at salary levels 15 and 16, costing the defence force R382 million in the 2022/2023 financial year. This group, along with the rest of the army and civil service, received a 4.7% salary increase in April 2023.
Defence analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman points out that while there may be too many generals, the number of highly compensated civilians within the department of defence is also concerning. He highlights the loss of experienced soldiers due to voluntary separation packages, while top generals remain in their positions beyond the retirement age of 60.
