i-Namibia

Wieder ein Beitrag der Bundesrepublik zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung Afrikas. Sagenhafte EUR 660 Million fließen auf deutsche Konten, minus Provisionen für lokale Politiker, aber dafür teilt Deutschland sein immenses Wissen über navale Kriegsführung und so können die Südafrikaner jetzt mit topmodernen U-Booten die Küste gegen mögliche Attacken der Killer-Königspenguine aus der Antarktis schützen.

Hier die Tatsachen. Und achtet am Ende auf die Worte des südafrikanischen Verteidigungsministers: “This assists with the consolidation of democracy within the sub-Saharan region of Africa”. Deutsche U-Boote!

SOUTH AFRICA: Second of three new submarines arrives in Simonstown

Shaun Benton on www.mopane-tree.com

Cape Town – The second of the South African Navy’s three new submarines arrived at its home base in Simonstown Thursday.

The 30-member crew of the S102 were welcomed by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, describing them as the “cream of the crop”.

The submarine travelled directly to Simonstown from the port of RotaSpain, following its launch from Emden in Germany, escorted by the SA Navy’s combat support vessel, SAS Drakensberg. The arrival of the SAS Charlotte Maxeke at the naval base of Simonstown was described by Minister Lekota as another “milestone” in the re-equipping of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

The diesel-electric submarine, manufactured in the German naval shipyards at Emden in Germany by the German companies NDW and Nordsee Werke under the umbrella of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, is one of three being produced for the SANDF.

The first submarine, the S101, arrived at Simonstown – where all three submarines are to be based – in April last year, and the third and last submarine is expected in April next year.

The total cost of the three submarines, according to Stephen Laufer, spokesperson for Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, is Euro 660 million (about R6,2 billion at today’s exchange rate), which includes the intensive training of the submariners and ongoing logistical support.

An arms offset package worth up to Euro 2,8 billion is also part of the deal, said Mr Laufer Thursday, adding that the Defence Industrial Participation – an industrial participation of direct benefit to the SANDF – is worth Euro 178 million, while a national industrial participation element constitutes the rest.

The training of the submariners is a key element, with Mr Lekota saying that the training provided to the crews of the vessels makes the human resources of the SANDF “attractive to the private sector” while facilitating also the aims of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA) and the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquistion.

The intensive training required is demanded also by the nature of the technologically-advanced submarines, which come equipped, said Mr Lekota, with “some of the best underwater sensor and weapon systems in the world”.

“The development of technological expertise and the retention of scarce skills,” said the Defence Minister today, “is not only important but fundamental to the accomplishment of our strategic objectives”.

With a coastline that stretches 3 000 kilometres, Mr Lekota said that the primary role of the submarine is to defend South Africa’s interests and territorial integrity.

However, “her task is far greater”, he said, adding that all three submarines “bring to the region and the African continent a significant strategic deterrent capability”.

Together with the four new MEKO-class frigates recently acquired by the SA Navy – with all four already delivered and moored also at Simonstown Naval Base – the maritime defensive capability of the SA Navy is considerably strengthened while enhancing South Africa’s regional reach and the provision of security for the entire Southern African Development Community, Mr Lekota said.

Altogether, this assists with the consolidation of democracy within the sub-Saharan region of Africa, he said, adding that this should be seen in the context of the continent’s post-conflict reconstruction objectives “which highlight the necessity for longer engagements in theatres of conflict”.

“It is our opinion,” said the defence minister, “that the contribution of extra-continental role-players in this arena will continue to reduce.”