While the Navy acknowledges that accommodating foreign delegations is a key factor in the decision, it has been revealed that they only receive an average of seven such high-level visits annually. This revelation has fuelled criticism that the purchase is an extravagant and misdirected use of scarce public funds.
According to procurement documents seen by Rapport, the fleet consists of one steel-grey Q5 and five white models, all featuring dark leather interiors. Curiously, only the front seats are equipped with heating, leaving visiting dignitaries in the back to endure potentially cold seating conditions.
Despite the premium nature of the vehicles, the Navy secured a discount of R75,353 per vehicle, bringing the final cost down to around R800,000 each.
Rear Admiral (junior grade) Prince Tshabalala, the military spokesperson, defended the acquisition, stating that it represents a "necessary and strategic investment to improve the mobility of naval forces" and enhance operational efficiency.
However, sources within the Navy suggest that the Audis will primarily be used by senior admirals when not chauffeuring VIPs. The funds for the purchase were reportedly secured outside the standard procurement channels towards the end of the fiscal year.
Invoices for the vehicles are dated March 7, with the fiscal year ending on March 31. Insiders allege that unspent funds from various commodity accounts were abruptly transferred to the chief of logistics, who possesses the financial authority to authorise large expenditures, including the purchase of luxury vehicles.
This reallocation of funds has reportedly left some commodity managers struggling to procure essential items such as furniture, ink, photocopiers, and tyres, as their budgets were suddenly depleted.
Despite the controversy, Tshabalala maintains that the new vehicles are part of a broader strategic procurement project aimed at upgrading the Navy's entire fleet.
The spokesperson highlighted the dire state of the Navy's existing vehicle pool, stating that 400 service vehicles are currently out of order, while a further 483 require urgent repairs. Only 435 vehicles are currently serviceable, falling far short of the 1,318 vehicles deemed necessary to effectively perform daily tasks.
Tshabalala explained that a moratorium on new vehicle purchases, implemented in 2018, has contributed to the significant deterioration of the Navy's fleet. However, this explanation has done little to quell the anger of Navy members, who are outraged that a substantial sum is being spent on luxury vehicles instead of addressing the critical need for repairs and maintenance of general support vehicles.
The officers responsible for managing and coordinating the procurement of commodities for various Navy units are equally disillusioned. They claim they were not officially informed about the reallocation of funds from their budgets and only discovered the changes later.
The Navy, however, insists that the acquisition aligns with the military's directive that all divisions must ensure "critical mobility is guaranteed at all times" across all management levels.
In addition to the Audis, the Navy has also acquired a range of other vehicles as part of last year's interim budget allocation for operational vehicle replacements. These include:
- One 10-ton truck
- Six mini-buses
- Twelve sedans
- Six utility vehicles
- Three specialist vehicles
- Two panel vans
Of the 40 vehicles purchased since 2022, 30 will be used for daily support services, while the remaining 10 utility vehicles, including the controversial Q5s, are designated for use by admirals.
However, some logistics specialists within the Navy argue that the allocation of funds for vehicles is fundamentally flawed. They contend that while more vehicles are being acquired, insufficient resources are being allocated for maintenance and provisioning.
Furthermore, the Navy's scrapyard in Simon's Town is reportedly dysfunctional. Vehicles that have been written off could have been sold years ago to generate revenue, but instead, they remain on site, rusting in the corrosive sea air. These vehicles, which could have fetched a reasonable price at auction a decade ago, are now considered worthless wrecks.
The Democratic Alliance's (DA) Chris Hattingh has called for a full explanation of the spending on luxury vehicles, particularly in light of the fact that many soldiers lack essential equipment.
Hattingh has described the purchases, made shortly before the end of the fiscal year, as a form of fiscal dumping. He also drew parallels with a similar controversy last September, when Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, the air force chief, acquired two Audi Q7s for R3 million, ostensibly to transport "high-level visitors."
Hattingh argues that these incidents demonstrate a clear preference within the military's top echelons for luxury vehicles over ensuring that rank-and-file soldiers have the equipment they need to perform their duties.
He further highlighted the fact that a significant proportion of the Air Force's aircraft are non-operational, and only one of the Navy's frigates is currently seaworthy.
"The extravagant spending indicates a culture of privilege – complete with red carpets and golf days – while the soldiers suffer and are left to their own devices," Hattingh stated.
"This merely confirms the poor military leadership that miserably fails to put South Africa first," he concluded. The controversy surrounding the Navy's luxury vehicle purchases is likely to intensify scrutiny of military spending and raise further questions about the priorities of South Africa's defence establishment.
