It says the South African defence industry, like others, was negatively affected by ‘problems of the past’ and needs change.
The South African National Defence Force said on Wednesday it would launch a broad-based black economic empowerment programme on Friday to create a framework for the meaningful and sustainable transformation and growth of the industry. It said the South African defence industry, like others, was negatively affected by “problems of the past” and needed change to spur its growth.
Friday’s launch would set the path for its transformation through ownership, management and skills development programmes with an emphasis on military veterans and small, medium, and micro enterprises, SANDF said. “Such transformation must include access to economic opportunities and productive resources for previously excluded groups, the promotion of local business and entrepreneurship, the development of skills for a knowledge-based economy, and the development of innovative and intellectual property,” it said.