A joint delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence has commended Denel Aeronautics as a critical strategic partner to the South African Air Force.
The delegation visited Denel Aeronautics’ Kempton Park campus on 29 April 2026 at the start of a three-day oversight visit.
During the engagement, concerns were raised about the South African Air Force’s limited aircraft availability and low flying hours. The delegation also noted concerns regarding the SAAF’s reported expenditure of around R2.4 billion on chartered aircraft over the past five years, which was viewed as a worrying indicator of operational gaps and reduced capacity.
According to the delegation, this underlines the urgency of restoring Denel’s capacity and credibility, while ensuring that the SAAF is appropriately structured and funded.
Denel Aeronautics was commended for its recent turnaround, including the removal of maintenance backlogs and the posting of a R178 million profit. However, concerns remain over the financial instability of the broader Denel Group. Denel informed the delegation that the Group continues to face severe liquidity constraints and remains dependent on government recapitalisation.
The delegation also raised concern over delays in the procurement and delivery of spares for aircraft refurbishment, maintenance and overhaul. These delays affect the completion of projects and the availability of aircraft to the SAAF. The delegation said the delays point to serious coordination and governance weaknesses among the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, Armscor and Denel.
Beyond the financial risks, the delegation warned that the continued loss of critical engineering skills, driven by uncompetitive salaries and international poaching, poses a serious threat to Denel’s long-term sustainability. However, it noted that Denel Aeronautics appears to have mitigated this risk by attracting a significant number of engineers in recent years and by fulfilling all accreditation requirements for aircraft maintenance.
Denel Aeronautics was also commended for being selected as a service provider for various international aircraft manufacturers in Africa.
During a tour of the facilities, the delegation welcomed the recruitment of young engineers and artisans receiving training through the National Skills Programme. It applauded Denel Aeronautics for its commitment to youth and critical skills development, while cautioning that without strong retention strategies, the entity’s talent pipeline could be weakened.
Co-Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Mr Phiroane Phala, said Denel had only recently been transferred to the defence portfolio and that both committees were aware of the challenges facing the entity. Despite these challenges, Denel Aeronautics remains a critical part of South Africa’s defence system, as its work directly affects the operational readiness of the South African National Defence Force.
Mr Phala also called for steps to ensure that revenue generated by Denel Aeronautics is retained within the entity and protected from the broader liquidity challenges facing the Denel Group.
The delegation concluded that, without decisive intervention, Denel’s sustainability and its ability to support national defence capabilities will remain at risk.
