Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

However, this may be short-sighted. A strong defence force has a huge role outside of war, and the security of SA's citizens depend on it, be it in search and rescue missions or other civilian duties.

More importantly, SA cannot afford to lose the skills and technologies that the defence industry has fostered and can still promote. No clearer example of this can be found than the serious current shortage of skilled technicians.

Difficulties in attracting technicians at both SAA Technical and the Air Force are well-documented, and a strong, vibrant aerospace industry driven by Denel can reverse that. The same applies to technology. The value of Denel's research and development has value beyond the arms group.

With the numerous social challenges facing SA, it is pointless arguing for a return to the defence spend of the 1980s. Neither would we argue for another R30bn arms deal. But with a defence budget that barely covers salaries, there is scope to expand spending. Much of the South African National Defence Force's (SANDF's) equipment is dated and often hampers the work they do.

As Sadik points out, defence spending has slumped from 5% of the national budget in the 1980s to about 1,2% now, and as a result only half Denel's orders are from SA's defence industry. Denel would like to increase this closer to 70% and so is pushing for closer co-operation with the SANDF and the relevant state agencies.

Denel is too important for SA to dispose off. It is also too important to allow it to continue to operate unprofitably as it has since 2005. Management has done its bit to turn the group around.

State investment now in both defence and Denel would go beyond the financial rewards it would receive once the group returns to the black. It will be rewarded with a strong, well-functioning defence force, strong skills and sought-after intellectual capital to help build this country.