- At the weekend the South African National Defence Force launched its own podcast, Defence in Focus.
- Billed as a way to engage with the people of South Africa, we’re not sure a four minute run time accomplishes anything of value.
- Citizens have dragged the SANDF which faces several issues related to finances and operations.
Buoyed by the likes of Joe Rogan receiving a quarter of a billion Dollars from Spotify, everybody and their dog now has a podcast, whether people listen to it or not. The topics of these podcasts cover practically anything you can imagine and now the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is getting in on the action.
At the weekend, during the Rand Easter Show, which the SANDF has used to perform public outreach since this journalist was knee-high to a grasshopper, the Defence Force launched a podcast. Yes, a true blue podcast where folks sit in front of microphones and gab about a topic.
The first episode runs for little over four minutes and basically introduces the general public to the branches of the SANDF.
We’re a little shocked by this. Given the fanfare the SANDF is making about this we were expecting an in-depth discussion that ran for at least 30 minutes but no, we get what could’ve been a YouTube Short with a bit of editing.
However, the reactions in the comments have been wholly positive.
“Well done to our communicators from the three Services. Super proud of what you do and the articulate and prestigious way in which you do it. Our communication is indeed in safe and capable hands,” one commentor said.
But YouTube is where the praise begins and ends.
Citizens have jumped on Facebook and X to drag the SANDF for what most believe to be a bad idea. Some have said that the idea is good but the timing couldn’t be worse for the defence force.
— Mr Mogul (@petjoza01) April 23, 2025
So we have turned Sandf into a podcast…
Yet we have only 6 operating aircraft, and 2 function sea vessals.
We have porous borders and a highly ineffient personal. But great a podcast will fix this.
— ZebraZ (@zebzDPD) April 22, 2025
The department has seen its budget slashed and it struggles to keep up with inflation. Members of the defence force are reportedly stuck in the DRC despite a peace keeping mission being called off and the state of South Africa’s defence equipment is best described as woeful.
A podcast then should the last thing on the agenda and yet here we sit.
Whether the SANDF intends to make this podcast longer or more substantial than a high-level overview of its operations. If it intends to engage with citizens in a serious manner and address the department’s failings then we’re all for something like this, but right now it feels like little more than set dressing for an embattled military.
[Image – SANDF Facebook]
