defenceWeb reports that “challenges”, “grievances” and “shortcomings” were among three most often used words in a presentation to parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) on succession planning in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).

The presentation by Vice-Admiral Asiel Kubu, the military’s senior personnel practitioner, with input from the Defence Force Service Commission was critical of aspects relating to career advancement and promotion in the uniformed regular and reserve components of the SANDF. The most recent example of seemingly poor, possibly no succession planning was the case of SA Navy chief Vice-Admiral Mosiwa Hlongwane. He was due to exit office at the end of June and a farewell parade was announced. Enquiries about Hlongwane’s successor were met with silence by SANDF Directorate: Corporate Communication and it was only when he didn’t leave that the navy public relations department tersely advised that Hlongwane would remain “until further notice”. Kubu’s presentation indicated that there were four areas relating to the high number of career management grievances. Those “challenges” and “shortcomings” involved the “absence of a dedicated electronic system and programme for career management and succession planning”, different interpretations of career management processes and procedures, a failure to apply basic tenants of career management processes and a failure to balance personal circumstances with operational requirements. Kubu told the JSCD that while there was a succession planning process, the delay in “placement decisions” between 2018 and 2020 “might have created the impression there is no succession planning in the SANDF”.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard on page 7 of The Citizen of 12 September 2022

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