The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence has been informed about the ongoing power supply crisis at Air Force Base (AFB) Makhado. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works (DPW) indicated this week that it will take a further three months and some R9 million to fix the problem.

A delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Defence visited AFB Makhado on 30 January as part of a routine programme. The purpose of the visit was to investigate the extent of transformation, with specific focus on the training of black combat pilots and associated challenges.

The committee then apparently learned for the first time that the base has been without a normal power supply for more than four months now. For the 13 standby generators, which have been in use since October last year, the average expenditure on diesel alone now runs into more than R1,2 million per month.

In the meantime, no response has been forthcoming on formal enquiries at national defence headquarters about reports of the massive retrenchment of members of the Denel AMG unit, comprising 90 specialists involved in the maintenance of the Hawks and Gripens at AFB Makhado. The reported pending retrenchment of the entire local unit comes in the wake of an announcement in Parliament that the South African Air Force (SAAF) does not have sufficient funds to keep all 26 Gripen fighter planes in the air.

On enquiry, the officer commanding AFB Makhado, Brig.-Genl. Schalk van Heerden, confirmed the portfolio committee's visit and the purpose of the visit this week. He remarked: “In addition, the delegation also checked on the general state of facilities and working conditions of members, as well as progress made with current maintenance and upgrade of facilities. The problem of the electrical failure at the base was communicated to the group as one of the main challenges facing the base currently. Questions regarding the slow response by the Department of Public Works were referred to the national office of the DPW.”

The major power supply crisis at the base was caused when a high-voltage electrical supply cable that feeds Eskom power to the Braambos residential area exploded in two places on 10 October last year. A massive power failure left 234 households at the base without electricity for more than a week. More than 1 000 Braambos residents then had to be assisted by means of a charity project and other means to provide them with fresh food and rations, before mobile generators could be deployed by the air force as an interim measure. The operational area was initially also affected by a complete power failure. Van Heerden confirmed that the DPW in Polokwane was informed immediately. The support measures via SAAF standby generators have been in force ever since, pending further action by the DPW.

A media enquiry last year to the Polokwane office of the DPW was referred to the national office. The national department's communications officer, Thami Mchunu, then acknowledged the enquiry and replied: “You will be informed if a response is available.”  After a reminder this week, the DPW issued a statement on Tuesday, stating that:  “Consultants are on site, working on fixing the problem after the preliminary design report, scope of work and cost estimates were received in January.” The statement further reads: “...we envisage the work to take more or less three months at an estimated cost of R9million.”

On Tuesday, however, Brig-Genl Van Heerden said he had no knowledge of the presence and activities of such consultants at the base.

In the meantime, the continued electricity crisis, together with the reported pending retrenchment of AMG staff and the budget problems in the SANDF, is exacerbating concerns about the overall combat readiness of AFB Makhado.