by Joan Swart | Oct 22, 2026 | Defence Policy and Strategy, Military strategy, SANDF, SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE, STRATEGIC STUDIES
Abstract: South Africa’s 2026 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement highlights the gap between defence funding, operational readiness and strategic ambition. Examining budget adjustments, military performance indicators and the unresolved strategic framework, this...
by Joan Swart | Oct 6, 2026 | Defence Policy and Strategy, Military strategy, SANDF, SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE, STRATEGIC STUDIES
Abstract: South Africa’s Zama Zama crisis extends beyond illegal mining into organised crime, institutional vulnerability and national security. Tactical operations can disrupt activity, but lasting progress requires intelligence-led investigations, institutional...
by Joan Swart | Sep 20, 2026 | Defence Policy and Strategy, Global Power, Middle East, Military strategy, SANDF, STRATEGIC STUDIES
Abstract: Military power is constrained by more than weapons, soldiers and technology. From Napoleon’s disastrous Russian campaign to the US war with Iran and South Africa’s operations in Central Africa, the ability to sustain forces at distance can...
by Joan Swart | Jul 2, 2026 | Defence Policy and Strategy, CSIR, Military Academy Stellenbosch, R&D, SANDF, South Africa, Strategic Interconnectivity
Abstract: Defence research is about far more than technology. It is the mechanism through which a defence establishment learns, adapts and remains strategically relevant. This article argues that the real challenge is not simply increasing R&D expenditure, but...
by Joan Swart | Jun 24, 2026 | SANDF, National Security - Nasionale Veiligheid, Public Safety, South Africa, South African Intelligence History, SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
Abstract: Five years after the July 2021 unrest exposed serious weaknesses in South Africa’s national security architecture, questions remain about the country’s preparedness for future instability. Drawing on the findings of the Expert Panel and SAHRC...
by Joan Swart | Jun 19, 2026 | Defence Policy and Strategy, SANDF, South Africa, Strategic Interconnectivity
Abstract: The debate over defence spending is often framed as a choice between security and development. This article argues that the real challenge is not choosing between “guns” and “butter”, but ensuring that resource allocation is guided by...
