The South African Navy’s Valour-class frigate SAS Amatola has embarked on a maritime security patrol as part of Operation Corona, aimed at safeguarding the country’s borders. The frigate arrived at Gqeberha Port (Port Elizabeth) on 7 January, with mission readiness training conducted on 9 January before commencing its patrol mission.
According to South African media defenceWeb, On 11 January, two rigid-hulled inflatable boats carrying Navy and South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel were seen entering Port Alfred Marina, conducting inspections on boats and licenses. The SA Navy confirmed that its members are collaborating with SAPS, Joint Tactical Headquarters Eastern Cape, Border Management Authority, and other government departments for the Amatola patrol.
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga had previously announced that the SAS Amatola would undertake a long-range piracy patrol in the Mozambique Channel from 30 November to 28 February. However, the current patrol appears to be focused on South Africa’s East coast. In October last year, Amatola participated in Exercise Ibsamar VIII off the Cape coast, and in August, it conducted border safeguarding patrols under Operation Corona off the west coast of South Africa.
After years of inactivity due to maintenance issues, SAS Amatola was brought back into service in 2024 through the dedicated efforts of its crew. The extensive work required for safe operational readiness had initially been underestimated, leading to the cancellation of a planned voyage in July 2024 to participate in the Russian Navy’s anniversary parade in St Petersburg.
Unserviceable vessels have resulted in the SA Navy missing its target for hours spent at sea. The latest Department of Defence annual report revealed that the SAN spent 2,641 hours at sea out of the 8,000 planned for the 2023/24 financial year. The underfunding of refit, maintenance, and repair of vessels negatively impacts the Navy’s ability to prepare naval platforms for force readiness and employment.
The SAN has reported ever-diminishing sea hours to Parliament each year, driven by a declining budget. The Navy has failed to meet its annual sea hour target of 10,000 hours. The SAN received R4.9 billion for the 2023/24 financial year, with similar allocations for 2024/25, and R5.2 billion for 2025/26. Of the R4.9 billion allocated for 2023/24, R1.45 billion is designated for Maritime Combat Capability, while the majority (R2.3 billion) is allocated to salaries.
Of the SA Navy’s four frigates, only SAS Amatola was partially refitted in 2014/15, and only one of the three submarines, SAS Manthatisi, was refitted in 2013/14. The remaining three frigates—SAS Isandlwana, SAS Spioenkop, and SAS Mendi—and the submarine SAS Queen Modjadji 1 have not been refitted due to funding shortages. Plans to refit these vessels will be finalized based on the availability of progressive funding, with estimated costs for a frigate refit at R687 million and a submarine refit at R660 million.
Armscor Dockyard is currently refitting the submarine SAS Charlotte Maxeke, with R189 million earmarked to ensure the completion of the current refit during the 2023/24 financial year.
The continued operation of SAS Amatola and the efforts to maintain and upgrade the fleet are crucial for the South African Navy’s operational readiness. The success of these initiatives depends on securing adequate funding and resources to ensure that the Navy can meet its mission objectives and maintain its presence at sea.
With the recent patrols and collaborative efforts with other agencies, the SA Navy is demonstrating its commitment to maritime security and border protection. However, the challenges of underfunding and maintenance issues highlight the need for sustained investment in the Navy’s infrastructure and capabilities.
The future of the SA Navy will depend on its ability to adapt to budget constraints while ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of its vessels.
