Local defence company Hensoldt South Africa has highlighted a recent speech by its executive manager: strategic affairs, Sihle Mayisela. His topic was the need for complementary and innovative solutions to address threats to coastal and maritime security in Southern Africa. 

He spoke at the recent Maritime Security Conference in Simon’s Town (near Cape Town and home of both the country’s naval dockyard and its main naval base), which was partially sponsored by the company, and attended (both in person and online) by representatives of industry, governments and armed forces from across Southern Africa and beyond. In his address, he cited the experiences of other countries in other regions.

“Just like other countries, South Africa needs to improvise and create innovative solutions to work within budget constraints,” he affirmed. “Until we have everyone coordinated, who speak the same language, the challenge of the security on the [maritime] border will remain a big challenge.”

There were a number of challenges and threats on the coasts of Southern Africa, he pointed out. Some of these were criminal, and one was the Islamist insurgency in north-eastern Mozambique.

“Our problems are many, but fortunately for now, the insurgents aren’t our biggest problem here, if we can manage the Mozambican situation,” he stated. “Pirates, insurgents, smuggling, poaching, fishing and illegal immigrants are all things that sabotage the South African economy. The economy of South Africa impacts everyone and therefore it is everyone’s problem. I believe that as much as we have budget constraints, we need to sit amongst ourselves – the industry and the defence force – and look at the solutions and what we can provide. We need to consolidate our resources to leverage on what we already have.”

He cited as examples Vietnam’s responses to smuggling and indeed threats from China and India’s reactions to the threat of terrorist attacks from the sea. “Iran has come up with a very creative solution, developing fast attack boats armed with surface [to surface] missiles as the counter to American aircraft carriers,” he noted. “The idea is to swarm the enemy by deploying a number of these boats at the same time – indeed an innovative way to deal with the challenges you have on a limited budget.”

Some of the suggestions put forward at the conference were that the South African government invest in surveillance technology, determine activity levels along the coast, and create situational awareness at border posts. Hensoldt could supply radars and cameras, as well as integrate systems and subsystems from other companies, to provide integrated solutions.