To stop a salary payment crisis within the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), last-minute decisions kept vital computer servers functioning despite their air conditioning systems not working.
An internal SANDF document written by Maj-Gen Mokete Shashape to senior military commanders, the acting secretary of defence and the chief financial officer last week revealed that if the computer servers were to be protected from damage caused by overheating, they would have to be shut down.
In his letter, however, Shashape warned that shutting down the systems, which was necessary, would result in the SANDF’s 72,000 members, including reserve force members and civilian employees, not being paid their monthly salaries.
The letter revealed it was the second time in four months that the servers’ cooling systems had broken down.
SANDF members are paid on the 15th of every month. They woke on Wednesday to see their bank balances reflecting their latest salaries.
Despite the servers’ temperature threshold being breached, they were kept on to ensure salaries were paid
— Pikkie Greeff, SA National Defence Union national secretary
“A last-minute decision was taken by senior commanders to keep the systems running. The operation of the systems and the ultimate payment of salaries were deemed far more important than the systems crashing," an SANDF source told TimesLIVE.
“The problem is the air conditioning systems, which are critical to keeping the servers at a regulated operational temperature, are still faulty. The problem has not been solved — it has just been moved to next month.
“Repairs were done in November to the air conditioners, but they broke again, with the problems from then reoccurring now. The danger posed to the servers will continue until the repairs are done properly. There are new computer systems, but they cannot be installed because of the high temperatures caused by the faulty air conditioners which will cause them to break down.”
SA National Defence Union national secretary Pikkie Greeff confirmed defence force members had been paid their salaries.
“Despite the servers’ temperature threshold being breached, they were kept on to ensure salaries were paid.”
Greeff said salary payments would not have been possible if the servers had been switched off.
He said despite salaries being paid, the air conditioners’ faults had not been resolved.
“Every day the air conditioners are not fixed, the risk of the servers breaking down increases. Sooner rather than later the servers will become inoperable.”
SANDF spokesperson Brig-Gen Andries Mahapa said on Wednesday afternoon: "The mentioned problems regarding the cooling was a temporary setback and is finally resolved and all members within the DOD are paid."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.