South African defence industry: negative development

Abstract

Towards the end of the twentieth century, the Republic of South Africa had developed one of the most powerful and innovative defence industries in the world. New post-apartheid ANC government, in the light of new approach in the economic and political spheres, decided to switch resources from military to human security. This decision led to the stagnation of the defence industry and ultimately to negative development, which continues to this day. Not only South Africa rankings in the world defence sector lowered to unprecedented positions but the industry’s survival into the future years now at stake.