Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga is due to deliver a keynote address at the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association of South Africa’s (AMD’s) annual general meeting later this week as she reinforces ties with the South African defence industry (SADI) – something she calls a “vital economic asset”.
AMD, together with the South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Export Council (SAAMDEC), will host its annual general meeting (AGM) on Friday 11 July at Denel Land Systems in Centurion. Attendees can expect high-level insights into the future direction of South Africa’s defence industry, with a focus on innovation, transformation, and export growth.
Motshekga, appointed to the defence portfolio in July 2024, is tasked with steering the industry through a period of transformation and strategic renewal, especially as her department is now responsible for state-owned defence conglomerate Denel, which previously fell under the now defunct Department of Public Enterprises.
This year’s AGM comes at a pivotal time, following AMD’s recent unveiling of a new vision and mission to position itself as the recognised leader of the South African defence and national security industry. The association is emphasising profitability, sustainability, planning certainty, home market benefits, export support, and responsible corporate citizenship as the pillars for industry advancement.
Motshekga has said she is committed to the sustainable and rapid growth of the economy and the removal of obstacles that stand in the way of growth, including for the defence industry. Speaking during the defence budget vote debate in Parliament on Wednesday 9 July, Motshekga said “defence will work hard to contribute in this objective by repositioning the South African Defence Industry (SADI) to pursue the strategic goal of economic growth and job creation.”
The Department of Defence will focus on several interventions, including the development of a Defence Industry Sector Policy as a component of the National Industrial Policy Action Plan; a Defence Industry Sector Strategy that indicates how the Department intends to maintain and develop industry capabilities that are essential to its Strategic Capital Acquisition Master Plan (SCAMP); and Defence Public-Private-Partnership Policy and Strategy.
“In this regard the SADI must be positioned as a vital economic asset, ready for expansion to drive national development and support government priorities for a capable state and become a strong local defence industry that creates jobs, develops new technologies, and ensures that the SANDF is well-equipped,” Motshekga told Parliament.
Cooperation between Denel, local companies, and international partners will be expanded to boost exports and attract investment, she added. “The centrality of Denel is critical in the maintenance and support of the SANDF. Repositioning Armscor as an entity for SANDF Equipment and Capability Modernisation must be intensified to make sure that Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) for midlife upgrades and modernisation of Prime Mission Equipment (air, land, naval domains) guarantees the longevity and mission effectiveness for the SANDF,” Motshekga stated.
The post Motshekga to deliver keynote at upcoming AMD annual general meeting appeared first on defenceWeb.
