A joint delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence committee has expressed its concerns with the manner in which Project Hotel is managed during its visit to the Sandock Austral Shipyard in Durban.
The committees made these observations while conducting oversight in Durban over the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) facilities.
Project Hotel was initiated to modernise and sustain the South African Navy’s hydrographic surveying capability. Hydrography involves measuring and describing the physical characteristics of oceans, seas, coastal areas, and inland waters. It provides the data required for nautical charts, safe navigation, and maritime operations. Without accurate hydrographic information, ports, shipping lanes, offshore activities, and naval operations face increased operational and safety risks to Naval Base
The core part of Project Hotel is the procurement of a new Hydrographic Survey Vessel (HSV) to be named SAS Nelson Mandela, intended to replace the ageing SAS Protea. The committee noted as a concern that the HSV has been in the dock since 2017. The committee said this situation cannot be allowed to continue because by the time the ship is completed the technology would be obsolete and this will also include waiting times for any repares from overseas suppliers.
Furthermore, the committee said without the cost implications being presented to it, it was difficult to fully assess the real status of Project Hotel. The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Dakota Legoete said “You are not giving the cost breakdown but a project flow which does not assist the committee in understanding what is outstanding in terms of finalising the project Hotel costs. This is a result of serous misalignment not just in the Defence but across government.”
The Co-Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Dr Malusi Gigaba added that an important voice was missing in the committee’s engagements namely, the custodian of the Defence Force and the shareholder of both Denel and Armscor. “We need a seamless relationship among all defence stakeholders that responds to the needs of the defence force. We must also determine how many other projects are facing similar delays and cost overruns, and what impact this will have on the defence force,” he said.
The committee also paid a visit to the Durban Naval Base where there are plans to relocate it from Durban to Richards Bay. The committee noted that relocations plans have been on the pipeline for a number of years without certainty as to whether the land identified in Richards Bay is still available. The committee also noted that the proposal of moving the base could end up taking several years to finalise.
Members of the committee warned that, in a world increasingly prepared for conflict, delays in completing projects for SANDF pose a serious risk.
The Co-Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee, Mr Phiroane Phala emphasised that restoring the country’s hydrographic capability is critical for maritime safety and broader economic activity. He stressed that the country cannot afford further delays on this strategic priority.
Jabulani Majozi
30 April 2026
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