𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟮 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮. How has the South African National Defence Force landed up in critical care? From stemming countrywide riots last year, to humanitarian relief operations following the Durban floods; quelling gang violence in the Western Cape, and keeping the peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - the SANDF has been called upon to defend the land and its citizens in many ways. Now, the budget taps are running dry. While President Cyril Ramaphosa announced sweeping changes to the military command and just greenlit an extended deployment in Cabo del Gado, Mozambique, for another year – at a cost of R2.8 billion that was never budgeted for – Carte Blanche questions whether our military can continue fulfilling its mandate.