Increasing South Africa’s defence budget to 1.5% of GDP as recommended by the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF’s) Journey to Greatness plan will take many years, and spending will only reach over 2% of GDP in 30 years’ time. This is according to Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga, who was answering a parliamentary question on 11 July. There has been much talk of increasing defence spending to 1.5% of GDP in recent times, particularly since President Cyril Ramaphosa issued such a directive in 2023. Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa earlier this year complained that “Every minister I can think of has been complaining since time immemorial that defence is declining. They have even ignored the president in 2023 who said the budget of defence must move from 0.75% of the GDP to 1.5% of the GDP.