Subs and ships defended

Submarines and frigates that the SA Navy acquired in the 1999 arms deal were needed and had been used, Rear Admiral Philip Schoultz told the Seriti Commission of Inquiry yesterday.

"I believe that we have adequately utilised these assets. Every commitment that this country has made, we have met," he told the commission in Pretoria.

"It is safe to say that the submarines have been reliable and [have] served us well . As far as the frigates are concerned ... in the normal course of operating there have been certain defects, but . we continue to discharge them."

Schoultz said frigates were built with "redundancy" and there were always risks at sea, but the SA Navy was satisfied that the security requirements had been met.

It was the duty of the SA Navy to defend and protect, and it was often more important to deter and prevent conflict. The mere presence of military capability provided a deterrent, he said.

"The military is about providing safety for us all at our borders. It is about us assisting the government in its effort to bring peace to this continent of ours," he said.

Schoultz took the commission through reported "defects" in SA Navy equipment.

There had been an issue with the batteries of submarines because of a build-up of gas.

"A repair solution was investigated and was brought about on the submarine batteries, and it was also brought to the attention of the manufacturer," he said.

The navy had sourced a replacement battery, Schoultz said.

The frigates were doing good work and would continue doing so.

"There have been defects both on the submarines and the ships," he said.

"Our experience is that the submarines have been more reliable than the frigates."

Cancelling the contracts had immense complications, Schoultz said.

Earlier, the commission heard that the SA Navy and its frigates had played a vital role in security during the 2010 soccer World Cup, with ships deployed in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth for the duration of the World Cup.

The navy was involved in events leading up to the World Cup from as early as 2008.

The commission heard of various exercises conducted in Africa, including in Namibia and Mozambique.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission, chaired by Judge Willie Seriti, in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the 1999 multi-billion-rand arms deal.