The Department of Defence has has been reduced by R2 billion due to the change in the deployment of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The R5 billion we had proposed to allocate to the Department of Defence for its participation in the SADC Mission in the DRC is reduced, but the allocation for 2025/26 has been increased from R1.8 billion to R3 billion,” Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said.
In March, the defence force was initially allocated R5 billion, which was made up of R1.8bn for the deployment of soldiers for the 2025/26 financial year, followed by R1.7bn in 2027 and a further R1.4bn in 2028.
Now, Godongwana has made a R3 billion allocation in the 2025-26 financial year to cater for the deployment and the withdrawal of the SANDF from the DRC.
“This will cover the immediate costs of an orderly and safe withdrawal of our troops and mission equipment,” Godongwna said.
The budget documents from the National Treasury said the allocation for the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMI-DRC) has been adjusted according to the SANDF’s phased withdrawal plan.
“While the medium-term allocation is reduced, the 2025/26 allocation is increased relative to March 2025 to cover immediate withdrawal costs,” reads the document.
The 2025 budget said the Department of Defence will continue to focus on protecting the country’s people and territorial integrity over the medium term through internal and external operations.
This includes safeguarding South Africa’s borders and participating in regional peace support operations.
The department’s expenditure is set to increase at an average annual rate of 2.2%, from R55.5 billion in 2024/25 to R59.2 billion in 2027/28.
“As the department’s work is labour intensive, an estimated 65.1% (R113.8 billion) of its budget of R173.1 billion over the medium term is allocated to compensation of employees.”
It noted that the budget for compensation of employees remained constrained.
“The department will continue to manage commuted overtime within the South African Military Health Service by ensuring that it does not exceed 30% of each employee’s total annual salary package and allow natural attrition to ensure that personnel numbers do not exceed an average strength of 73,000.”
The department plans to exit at least 2,200 eligible members of the SANDF in the government-wide early retirement programme, which allows retirement without penalties on pension benefits, as way to further manage personnel costs over the next two years.
“Over the next three years, R66.5 million is allocated to cover costs related to the 13 staff members overseeing Denel, which shifts from the abolished Department of Public Enterprises to the Department of Defence as part of the national macro organisation of government.
“A further R34.7 million is allocated to the department over the medium term to cover expenses associated with the appointment of an additional Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans,” reads the document.
The National Treasury said border security remained a priority for the SANDF.
The department plans to continue to deploy 15 landward sub-units to patrol 4,471km of South
Africa’s land borders with Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe over the medium term expenditure framework at the cost of R4.1 billion.
“The department will continue to prioritise the acquisition of vehicles and advanced technologies that serve as a force multiplier to enhance border protection and prevent illegal activities. It will also continue to support the South African Police Service to tackle internal security threats as they arise.”
The National Treasury has allocated R150 million for the deployment of the SANDF to support the SAPS during the 2026 local government elections.
