DEFENCE POLICY - Helmoed Romer Heitman

DEFENCE POLICY

Nongqai – Helmoed Römer Heitman – January 2026

National Security Correspondent

“The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness.”

(Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826)

A key element of that ‘safety’ is protection against attack or threat of attack by another country.

The first line of protection against external threats lies in having good relations with neighbours and other states, and in supporting efforts by international and regional bodies to promote peace and security. But peace is never guaranteed, which is why South Africa, like any other country, needs a defence force – to deter aggression and to defeat aggression if it cannot be deterred.

The purpose of defence policy is to ensure that South Africa has a Defence Force appropriate to and adequate for its situation, to govern when and how the Defence Force will be employed, and, in general terms, how it will perform its functions. It has the further purpose of, to quote US General John W. Vessey Jr slightly out of his original context, “preventing war by making it self-evident to our enemies that they’re going to get their clocks cleaned if they start one”. That, of course, implies a credible defence policy backed up by credible armed forces.

Defence policy is an integral part of wider government policy and as such:

Is rooted in the Constitution;
Guided and led by national security policy and informed and guided by foreign policy as determined by national interests; and
In turn informs and guides national security policy and informs, guides and supports foreign policy.

The Constitution sets out the “primary object” of the Defence Force as to “defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity and its people in accordance with the Constitution and the principles of international law regulating the use of force.” (Section 200(2)). The Defence Review of 2015 added the protection of national interests, with particular focus on vital interests. The Defence Force may also be employed “in cooperation with the police service and in fulfilment of an international obligation” under the authority of the President (Section 201(2)).

There is additional provision in the Defence Act for the employment of the Defence Force to: “preserve life, health or property in emergency or relief humanitarian relief operations; ensure the provision of essential services; support any department of state, including support for purposes of socio-economic upliftment; and effect border control” (Chapter 3, 18(1)).

Based on this, defence policy must set out in broad terms how South Africa intends to:

Protect and defend itself against aggression.
Protect its people, sovereignty, territorial integrity and vital national interests.
Assist neighbouring and friendly states faced with threats to their security.
Participate in peace support and constabulary operations.
Use defence diplomacy to further national interests and meet international obligations.
Employ the Defence Force in the other roles set out in its overall mandate.

The point here is not just to set all of this out for own consumption and implementation, but also to achieve deterrent or at least dissuasive effect vis a vis potential aggressors. Hence the need for a credible defence policy backed by a credible Defence Force.

To this dual end defence policy must set out:

South Africa’s defence posture, the circumstances in which we will or may resort to the use of military force.
The mechanics of authorizing the employment of force.
The broad defence concept and doctrine.
In broad terms the defence capabilities required to implement that concept.
How South Africa will resource and invest in its defence capability.
The circumstances in which it will make use of the collateral capabilities of the Defence Force.

Defence Policy must further set out:

In broad terms the structure of the Department of Defence and the roles, functions and broad structure of the Defence Secretariat.
In broad terms the structure of the Defence Force.
Government policy on defence related industries and research establishments.

Defence Policy must conform to other national policies in all respects except where unique needs may require divergence to ensure effectiveness.

The foundation of South Africa’s defence policy must be to maintain a Defence Force at the strength, balance of capabilities and training level appropriate and adequate to:

Deter aggression against South Africa or allied nations.
Defeat aggression that cannot be deterred.
Deter violation of its territory, sovereignty, people and vital interests and counter such violation as is not deterred.
Support neighbours facing serious aggression or large-scale instability.

The cornerstone of South Africa’s defence policy should be collaborative defence and security in the region, to which end South Africa should seek to:

Strengthen the overall deterrence, defence and security capability of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Expand and improve interoperability with other SADC forces.
Develop a collaborative approach to defence and security within the SADC, to achieve cost-effective deterrence, defence and security for the member countries.
Develop strategic alliances between the SADC and the other regional groupings of Africa.
Develop strategic alliances with other African states and states outside Africa, and between the SADC and groupings external to Africa^[1].

Employment of the Defence Force

Should peaceful means and deterrence fail, or aggression preclude peaceful resolution, South Africa will, in accordance with the Constitution and international law, exercise its right to employ appropriate, adequate and focused armed force, in partnership or autonomously, to:

Defend itself against aggression;
Protect its people;
Protect its sovereignty;
Protect its territorial integrity; and
Protect its vital national interests, including vital interests outside the territory of South Africa.

South Africa may, in appropriate circumstances, also:

Employ force to protect other key or significant national interests;
Employ force to assist other countries faced with aggression or serious instability;
Make elements of the Defence Force available for peace support operations of the United Nations and African union; and
Conduct constabulary operations, such as counter-piracy missions) outside its territory in agreement with other states and/or regional, continental, or international bodies.

Once established, defence policy must be translated into an appropriate broad defence strategy. That must define the mission sets arising from policy and the capability packages required to execute those missions. Beyond that, defence policy must constantly be reviewed and updated to take into account the evolving strategic situation and developments in relevant technologies.

For instance, to foster security in the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans and to support the safeguarding of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. ↑

Defence Policy

Nongqai – Helmoed Römer Heitman – January 2026