SA Navy R30m PR stunt will deplete most of navy's budget

<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbSGQweqX4L5sk3EvoduMd4DjPlcPia2DjW-0yVEBbznHcDkvY3fDb3KHSrny0Mxkeq_H_oj3fHAl8eW2CxXsCfsaGi92-1eIAu0rr3TxIxvmQVFavtlcKhwEhnM_Dv9o1r6ZrMXsYao/s1600-h/SAS-SPIOENKOP.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230562522918549618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbSGQweqX4L5sk3EvoduMd4DjPlcPia2DjW-0yVEBbznHcDkvY3fDb3KHSrny0Mxkeq_H_oj3fHAl8eW2CxXsCfsaGi92-1eIAu0rr3TxIxvmQVFavtlcKhwEhnM_Dv9o1r6ZrMXsYao/s400/SAS-SPIOENKOP.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Simon's Town - The navy is going to dedicate its only extensive visit abroad this year to supporting the government's diplomatic relations in China and other eastern countries, at a cost of about R30m.<br /><br />In the past and due to the navy's limited budget, these types of visits usually focused on training and joint exercises with naval allies.<br /><br /><br /></span><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000099;"></span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#000099;">SAS SPIOENKOP The third of the South African Navy VALOUR Class Frigates </span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">"Strategically seen, the saying is that you keep your friends close and your enemies closer," said military analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman.<br /><br />"China is a future colonial power in Africa and it makes sense for South Africa to seek favour now.<br /><br />This will mean that South Africa will become a client rather than a colony of China in the future.<br /><br />"This is really the only alternative for South Africa, seeing as it regards the USA as an enemy and Europe as an officious entity in Africa."<br /><br />Inter-continental ties<br /><br />Navy spokesperson Captain Lisa Hendricks said one of the navy's brand new frigates, the SAS Spioenkop, will support the government's diplomatic initiatives.<br /><br />The ship will also visit Vietnam, India, Mauritius and Singapore.<br /><br />The trip will last from October until December and will deplete most of the navy's budget for these kinds of deployments.<br /><br />"The aim of the visits is to create inter-continental ties with the East and the Far East and to develop co-operation," Hendricks said. </span></p><p></p>

SA Navy R30m PR stunt will deplete most of navy's budget

Simon's Town - The navy is going to dedicate its only extensive visit abroad this year to supporting the government's diplomatic rel...

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