Stranded 130 New Recruits Cry For Help

(The Post News) – A staggering number of 130 South African naval recruits are still stranded at SAS Saldanha from July 2025 till date due to lack of accommodation in Simon’s town. There have been some families who have reported on witnessing inhumane living conditions, described as having minimal food rations and lack of day usually does pass and unfortunately, recruits tend to face inhumane treatments from others. Living conditions only improved after media enquiries with the navy, suddenly granting a daily pass to each recruit and made promises of transfers before the year ends.

Regarding the 130 sailors who have completed their basic Naval training during the month of July 2025 and have been left stranded ever since then at the SAS Saldanha training base due to a current lack of accommodation in Simonstown, there has not been any budget drawn up or allocated for them since their completion in July. This resulted in them struggling with food and can afford to eat only twice a day.

As a training unit, instructors are left with frustration and therefore do not have a clue on what steps to take to help salvage the situation. To remedy this, they decided to start weeding gardens and stand inspections with their underwears pulled over their uniforms. The new recruits have been kept in confinement and do not get day passes as instructions are afraid that if the recruits do indeed go out, they might take advantage of that minimal time of freedom and use it for alcohol consumption.

Loved Ones Of New Recruits Express Dissatisfaction.

“They are being treated and shouted at like bandits. They should have started functional training after basic training.” states the girlfriend to one of the new recruits out of obvious vivid frustration.

The remaining of the approximately 450 new recruits who have completed their basic training in July have been transferred to Simonstown, however, no one has concrete knowledge of what should happen to the 130 and fear that they are falling behind with their functional training progress.

The larger group are all servicemen who join normally the military for a period of two years at a time with an available option of being selected for longer service.

“We understand that basic and further military training is tough, but thus group is now being handled as if they are in a punishment camp because they something wrong. The signal for the group’s transfer to Simonstown was sent out directly after their passing-out parade on July the 25th” says a concerned citizen who is witness to all events taking place.

Another one of the girlfriends’ of the new recruits expressed herself in concern and distraught and stated “But then 130 of them were suddenly told out of the blue to stay another two months in Saldanha for extended basic training. This has severlyaffected their morale because everyone was eager to start their “real” naval training. My boyfriend has already lost more than 20kgs and he was not fat to begin with.”

“And they do not dare ask for more food because then hey are told there is no money for it. It borders on the inhumane. They are not even allowed to receive packages from home” Says another concerend girlfriend to one of the new recruits.

Rear Admiral, Prince Tshabalala, whom is known as the spokes person stated that upon enquiry that a private building contractor is currently busy with upgrading the accommodation facilities at Simonstown.

However, the contractors work is currently going through a delay which the navy itself has no control over. The group of 130 new recruits my stay in Saldanha until the contruction work has reched its completion.

According to Tshablala, the in-service training of the volunteers is structured so that “holistic” development takes place with various activities. He mentioned that provision has been made that the group’s specialization-specific training will not fall behind in Saldanha.

Tshabalala states that “Inspections and routine maintenance tasks (like pulling weed) are according to him, part of military culture. This is in line with the navy’s high standard of discipline, professionalism and uniformity.” Tshabalala chose to withhold any and every comment on allegations that they receive minimal food. According to CityPress sister publication Rapport, there was an abrupt turn around within the group’s situation after Rapport’s enquiry.

The group was suddenly informed about which functional units of the navy they are going to be added to. There was a mention of the “possibility” of leaving the base daily for a time of three full hours to go purchase essential personal items.

This gave a sense to a fellow family member of one of the new recruits, they stated “Now they are can at least also go buy extra food for themselves, which has already lightened the mood. They completely understand that the construction work has been delayed. They will apparently finally be transferred to Simonstown before the end of the year.”