South Africa’s Defence Force is in crisis — underfunded, under-resourced, and soldiers left vulnerable, even unpaid for their sacrifices in the DRC. Yet, shockingly, while the men and women in uniform are struggling, the Ministry of Defence has been living large. ActionSA has revealed that
since taking office, Minister Angie Motshekga and her deputies have blown over R20 million on travel alone — jetting off to Vietnam, Cuba, Malaysia, Japan and Turkey. The spending includes nearly R5 million on car hire, R5.6 million on domestic flights, and over R3 million on luxury accommodation. Add this to the R282 million the GNU has already spent on travel, and it paints a damning picture of
a government gorging itself on perks while the defence of our nation suffers. Tonight, we ask: can such expenses ever be justified when soldiers on the frontline are underpaid, and the SANDF is said to be limping along with a funding crisis?

South Africa&rsquo;s Defence Force is in crisis &mdash; underfunded,&nbsp;under-resourced, and soldiers left vulnerable, even unpaid&nbsp;for their sacrifices in the DRC. Yet, shockingly, while the&nbsp;men and women in uniform are struggling, the Ministry of&nbsp;Defence has been living large. ActionSA has revealed that since taking office, Minister Angie Motshekga and her&nbsp;deputies have blown over R20 million on travel alone &mdash;&nbsp;jetting off to Vietnam, Cuba, Malaysia, Japan and Turkey.&nbsp;The spending includes nearly R5 million on car hire, R5.6&nbsp;million on domestic flights, and over R3 million on luxury&nbsp;accommodation. Add this to the R282 million the GNU has&nbsp;already spent on travel, and it paints a damning picture of a government gorging itself on perks while the defence of&nbsp;our nation suffers. Tonight, we ask: can such expenses&nbsp;ever be justified when soldiers on the frontline are&nbsp;underpaid, and the SANDF is said to be limping along with&nbsp;a funding crisis?

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

Luxury for Ministers, Neglect for Soldiers? Defence Travel Spending Under Fire

Imagine waking up one morning and discovering that thousands of people on social media believe you’re a murderer. Your name, your face and your reputation circulating online — all because strangers on the internet think they’ve solved a crime. That’s exactly what happened to Sollange Williams. After a disturbing video of an Uber driver being strangled to death by a man believed to have a female accomplice began circulating online, social media users started trying to identify the woman in the footage. Before long, many claimed it was Sollange. The accusations spread rapidly, and with them came threats and harassment. Now, the woman at the centre of those claims has had to turn to the South African Police Service to clear her name and protect her safety. Tonight we speak directly to Sollange Williams about what it’s like to be falsely accused in the court of social media — and
whether this growing trend of online “detectives” is putting innocent lives at risk.

Imagine waking up one morning and discovering that&nbsp;thousands of people on social media believe you&rsquo;re a&nbsp;murderer. Your name, your face and your reputation&nbsp;circulating online &mdash; all because strangers on the&nbsp;internet think they&rsquo;ve solved a crime. That&rsquo;s exactly&nbsp;what happened to Sollange Williams. After a&nbsp;disturbing video of an Uber driver being strangled to&nbsp;death by a man believed to have a female accomplice&nbsp;began circulating online, social media users started&nbsp;trying to identify the woman in the footage. Before&nbsp;long, many claimed it was Sollange. The accusations&nbsp;spread rapidly, and with them came threats and&nbsp;harassment.&nbsp;Now, the woman at the centre of those claims has had&nbsp;to turn to the South African Police Service to clear her&nbsp;name and protect her safety. Tonight we speak&nbsp;directly to Sollange Williams about what it&rsquo;s like to be&nbsp;falsely accused in the court of social media &mdash; and whether this growing trend of online &ldquo;detectives&rdquo; is&nbsp;putting innocent lives at risk.

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Social Media Vigilantism and False Accusations

Africa’s economy is inching forward — but only just. New numbers from Statistics South Africa show GDP grew by 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, slightly better than the 0.3% growth recorded in the previous quarter. The gains were driven mainly by finance, trade and agriculture, while manufacturing continued to shrink. So the economy is technically growing — but is this meaningful progress, or just another example of South Africa’s slow-growth trap?

Africa&rsquo;s economy is inching forward &mdash; but only just. New numbers from Statistics South Africa show GDP grew by 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, slightly better than the 0.3% growth recorded in the previous quarter. The gains were driven mainly by finance, trade and agriculture, while manufacturing continued to shrink. So the economy is technically growing &mdash; but is this meaningful progress, or just another example of South&nbsp;Africa&rsquo;s&nbsp;slow-growth trap?

ISAAC KHAMBULE - PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL ECONOMY - UJ

The South African National Defence Force has now touched down in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg.
Soldiers have begun going door-to-door as part of a major security intervention aimed at tackling
gangsterism and violent crime in the area. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing during the State of the Nation Address that the military would be deployed to crime-ridden communities in Gauteng, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape under Operation Prosper. Around 550 soldiers have been deployed in Gauteng, with the operation expected to run for a full year and cost more than R80 million in the province alone. The soldiers are working alongside the South African Police Service to try and stabilise communities that have been gripped by violent crime. But the big question tonight is this: what does it say about the state of policing in South Africa when the army has to be called into our neighbourhoods? Is this a necessary intervention to protect residents, or does it signal a deeper failure of law enforcement and social policy in our country?

The South African National Defence Force has now&nbsp;touched down in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg. Soldiers have begun going door-to-door as part of a&nbsp;major security intervention aimed at tackling gangsterism and violent crime in the area. This follows&nbsp;President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing during the&nbsp;State of the Nation Address that the military would be&nbsp;deployed to crime-ridden communities in Gauteng, the&nbsp;Western Cape and the Eastern Cape under Operation&nbsp;Prosper.&nbsp;Around 550 soldiers have been deployed in Gauteng,&nbsp;with the operation expected to run for a full year and&nbsp;cost more than R80 million in the province alone. The&nbsp;soldiers are working alongside the South African&nbsp;Police Service to try and stabilise communities that&nbsp;have been gripped by violent crime.&nbsp;But the big question tonight is this: what does it say&nbsp;about the state of policing in South Africa when the&nbsp;army has to be called into our neighbourhoods? Is&nbsp;this a necessary intervention to protect residents, or&nbsp;does it signal a deeper failure of law enforcement and&nbsp;social policy in our country?

Luxury for Ministers, Neglect for Soldiers? Defence Travel Spending Under Fire

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