The latest South African Survey by the SA Institute of Race Relations shows that the military plans to employ more whites and fewer blacks.

The defence force admits there is a shortage of white personnel but says its recruitment drives are not based on racial quotas.

The survey shows the department's employment equity targets are changing:

• The black employment target from the current 72% to 65%;
• Coloured employment from 13% to 10%;
• Indian employment will remain at 1%;
• The target for whites will increase from 14% to 24%.

The Institute of Race Relations figures are based on information contained in the defence department's annual report and on its own calculations.

Stats SA's 2015 midyear population estimates show that blacks represent 80% of the population, coloureds 8.8%, whites 8.2% and Indians 2.4%.

The research shows that there are huge numbers of vacancies in the military's land and air defence, medical, and defence intelligence services.

The military currently has 57141 black, 10991 white, 10099 coloured and 916 Indian members.

Kerwin Lebone, a researcher at the institute, said the organisation had repeatedly asked the defence force to explain its recruitment plans but to no avail.

"We believe a skills shortage - especially of members able to operate equipment bought during the arms deal and subsequent acquisitions - is the reason," he said.

"There are not enough skilled people in the defence force. It's no secret that equipment is lying around because no one can operate it. Look at the air force and its grounded fighter jets, which can't be flown because there are hardly any pilots."

Lebone said that when the military started to get rid of whites to bring it into conformity with national demographics it could not have foreseen that the new equipment would need people with experience or skills.

"Because of this, one of the things the defence is doing is hiring skilled personnel. It takes time to train people."

Lebone added: "The principles of [black economic empowerment] must be weighed against what's important for the country."

SA National Defence Union national secretary Pikkie Greeff said the military found itself in this position because "when they started awarding exit packages they let go too many of the racial groupings that they now want to increase".

Defence Department spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini admitted that there was a shortage of full-time white members but denied there were plans to change racial quotas.

"In terms of the 2014 South African Defence Review, the department's personnel system must ... adhere to the principles of equity and equal opportunities.

"The SANDF's recruitment campaigns include high schools and tertiary institutions. Potential white recruits are also reached and invited to consider following a military career," he said.

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