South African Military Logistics

A Holistic Perspective

Abstract

During peacetime, the South African military has experienced cyclical neglect to the detriment of its ability and readiness to conduct and sustain expeditionary operations. Since the South African democratic transition, this pattern of neglect manifested again, which left the military largely unprepared for interventions and expanding involvement in peace operations in Africa since the late 1990s. The aim of the study on which this article reports, was to provide a contextual understanding of logistics as a strategic variable for the South African military, with specific reference to logistics related to expeditionary operations. Within this context, logistics is considered an important indicator of the functionality of a defence organisation. In the post-1994 period in South Africa, various dichotomies emerged between the political ideals of the ruling party pertaining to foreign policy, economics and development on the one hand, and the limitations that government placed on the South African National Defence Force in terms of its roles, funding and deployment, on the other. The paradigmatic tension between the design principles of the logistic system of the defence force and the predominant political thinking in government is discussed. Within the military context, the influence of leadership, old paradigms and legacy equipment on logistics and finances receives attention. The restructuring of the defence force in the late 1990s and the disruptive influence thereof on procurement systems and generic logistic functions, is covered. It is argued that the military has not undergone the necessary doctrinal innovation or reforms to promote efficiency, accountability and effectiveness within the domain of logistics for expeditionary operations.