A fierce political row has erupted in Parliament after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Carl Niehaus accused Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana of betraying national security and undermining President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to increase Defence spending to 1.5% of South Africa’s GDP.

Niehaus, known for his fiery rhetoric and sharp critique of the ruling ANC, submitted a written parliamentary question on 13 June 2025, seeking clarity on whether National Treasury was committed to implementing the President’s pronouncement made during Armed Forces Day in February 2025, where Ramaphosa declared that government would raise Defence spending to 1.5% of GDP to meet South

Africa’s constitutional and regional security obligations.

Niehaus’s question was direct: “The President committed the government to increasing defence expenditure to 1.5% of GDP. However, the current allocation remains at less than 1%. Is this an indication that Treasury is not taking the President’s directive seriously?”

In a written reply in July 2025, Godongwana sought to downplay the immediate relevance of Ramaphosa’s statement, describing the 1.5% figure as a “strategic aspiration” rather than a directive.

“This should not be interpreted as a defiance of the President’s directive,” Godongwana wrote. “Rather, it is a responsible and measured approach to incrementally strengthen the Defence budget in a sustainable manner. The current allocation of approximately 0.8% of GDP reflects what is feasible in the immediate term, given prevailing fiscal constraints.”

Godongwana said the government recognises the pressures faced by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), including the challenges around combat readiness, modernisation, and troop welfare. However, he insisted that all budget decisions must remain consistent with the broader fiscal strategy.

“The 2025/26 budget allocation of R57.2 billion is informed by government’s overarching fiscal framework, which seeks to stabilise public finances, reduce debt-service costs, and prioritise social investment,” he said.

He added that within this constrained environment, the Department of Defence was allocated an additional R4.3 billion over the 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to support its priority needs. Between 2017/18 and 2024/25, the department received more than R13 billion in additional funding, he said.

“These allocations were made to ensure that the SANDF’s ability to execute ordered commitments is not compromised and that prime mission equipment is properly maintained to meet strategic and operational demands,” Godongwana explained.

Despite the figures, Niehaus was not impressed.

Reacting on 29 July, the EFF MP lambasted Godongwana’s reply, calling it “pathetic” and “nothing short of a betrayal of our nation’s security.”

“Minister Godongwana warps the President’s promise into a fluffy ‘strategic aspiration,’ babbling about a ‘phased, long-term approach’ tied to fiscal strategy. Pure rubbish!” said Niehaus in a strongly worded statement.

He accused the Finance Minister of using bureaucratic language to avoid taking decisive action, while the country’s defence capabilities continued to deteriorate.

“He claims 0.8% is ‘feasible’ short-term, while our brave soldiers battle with obsolete gear, decaying ships, and grounded aircraft. Borders wide open to smugglers and traffickers, sovereignty in tatters amid African unrest, troops demotivated and impoverished—this non-committal garbage unmasks the ruling elite’s hypocrisy,” Niehaus fumed.

“They favour servicing debts to imperialist vultures and funding corrupt deals over defending the masses,” he added.

Niehaus’s intervention has struck a chord in security circles, as pressure mounts on the government to back its defence commitments with actual budgetary support. With South Africa facing growing regional instability, increased transnational crime, and rising threats to infrastructure, analysts say the SANDF is overstretched and under-equipped.

Defence analyst Dr Monwabisi Mkile said Ramaphosa’s 1.5% target is “politically sound but structurally unsupported.”

“You cannot announce a strategic shift without aligning the budget process,” Mkile told African Times. “Right now, Treasury is taking a wait-and-see approach, but the SANDF doesn’t have the luxury of time. Every year of underfunding degrades core capabilities.”

The friction comes as Parliament prepares for the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in October, which is expected to spotlight Defence, policing, and intelligence spending. Insiders say the EFF and other opposition parties are likely to push for clearer timelines and more robust funding commitments.

President Ramaphosa’s speech in February had raised hopes among military ranks and veterans, many of whom expected a long-awaited shift after years of budget stagnation and capability erosion. However, without alignment across government, the 1.5% target may remain more of an ideal than an actual plan.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs, including the EFF, are expected to push for clarity on timelines and to demand a firmer commitment from the Executive to honour the President’s defence pledge.