Members of Parliament have expressed doubt over a recent South African National Defence Force survey that found morale among soldiers to be high.
During a briefing to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence on Friday, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and senior SANDF officials presented the results of the survey, which gathered responses from thousands of defence personnel. The findings suggested that morale within the force remains strong, with respondents rating the SANDF highly on training standards and its image as an employer.
According to the department, morale plays a vital role in maintaining discipline and resilience during operations, helping to reduce battle stress and improve performance. The only area to receive a notably negative rating was the availability of resources.
However, committee members were sceptical of the results. Several MPs said the report does not reflect the conditions faced by soldiers on the ground, particularly those deployed in difficult environments.
Committee member Carl Niehaus questioned whether the survey accurately represented soldiers’ experiences, saying there appeared to be a clear gap between the findings and what Parliament observes during oversight visits. He also raised concerns about whether participants may have felt pressured to provide positive feedback.
In response, Minister Motshekga defended the credibility of the survey, stating that it serves as an important internal tool for assessing the wellbeing of defence personnel. She said she had full confidence in the report’s accuracy, noting that understanding morale levels helps the department prevent potential unrest or loss of discipline within the ranks.
Motshekga added that monitoring morale remains essential to ensuring stability and effectiveness within the armed forces.
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