SA Airforce's underutilisation of aircraft spells vulnerability, Parly hears

JOHANNESBURG - Despite South Africa's Airforce having over 300 aircraft, only six are in use, painting a bleak picture of the country's defence in the sky. 
 
In 2023, then Defence Minister Thandi Modise revealed that 85% of the South African Air Force (SAAF)'s fleet had been grounded leaving the nation vulnerable to security threats. 
 
But the chairperson of the portfolio committee on defence and military veterans, Dakota Legoete, said the situation has improved. 
 
Speaking on 702 breakfast on Tuesday, Legoete refused to be drawn into how much of an improvement the SAAF has seen.

"I can confidently say, from a report we received in a closed meeting, as the portfolio committee and the joint standing committee on defence, that there is a slight improvement. What we need to do is to increase our numbers."
 
Despite this, Legoete admitted that South Africa is vulnerable.

"We are ready for any possibility of any attack, it is true that we are vulnerable as it is the case, that some of our planes are not yet operational."