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Sunday Times Daily reports that faulty air conditioning systems, vital for the cooling of critical military computer servers, have jeopardised the payment of more than 70,000 SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members’ salaries.
An internal department of defence letter dated 6 February 2023 reveals that the servers need to be taken offline to prevent a complete breakdown. SANDF sources described the situation as dire and said the payment of salaries of all junior- to senior-ranked members, including administrative and general support staff, was at risk. Defence force salaries are paid on the 15th of every month. Every SANDF unit has a paymaster representative, but they do not do payroll payments, which are all centralised and run through the computer servers. The servers are situated underground in specially designed and highly secure bunkers within the SAAF headquarters in Pretoria. The systems ensure the payment of permanent and reserve force members and civilian employees. The servers also process allowance payments. Pikkie Greeff of the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) described the situation as “highly concerning” as there was a real risk that no-one within the SANDF would receive their salaries on 15 February.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Graeme Hosken at Sunday Times Daily (subscriber access only)
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