Guy Martin, defenceWeb Journalist Profile

Articles

A dozen SANDF soldiers arrested in probe of murdered Hawks investigator

4 days ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

A dozen members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have been arrested in connection with the 2023 murder of Hawks investigator Frans Mathipa, who was looking into the 2022 kidnapping of a terror suspect by a ‘rogue unit’ Special Forces team. On Sunday 22 June, two members of the SANDF, aged 36 and 51, were arrested in Centurion and at OR Tambo International Airport.
Somalia receives T-129 attack helicopters from Turkey

4 days ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

Somalia has taken delivery of three T-129 attack helicopters from Turkey as part of growing Turkish support for the East African country’s military. Three T-129 Atak helicopters arrived in Somalia in the first week of June, along with two unnamed utility helicopters for the Somali navy as part of a defence agreement signed between the two nations in February 2024, which allowed Turkey to establish a naval presence in Mogadishu.
Stealth strike: Deployment of the B-2 bomber and lessons for African defence

4 days ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

In the early hours of 21 June 2025, the United States executed a high-stakes precision strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities in a mission dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer. This was not just another air operation—it was a historic moment in strategic aviation. Seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were deployed from the US mainland in what is now confirmed to be the largest operational use of the aircraft in its history.
Two dead after soldier stabs colleagues

6 days ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

In what the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has described as an “unfortunate incident,” an altercation involving soldiers saw one fatally stab two colleagues. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning (21 June) at the Macadamia Military Base near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga. The soldiers were most likely deployed there for border protection duties under Operation Corona.
Denel wage negotiations unresolved following protest

1 week ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

Workers affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) picketed outside Denel’s head office in Centurion on Wednesday to demand a 7% wage increase but salary negotiations remain unresolved. Union spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said it’s been five years since the workers were given an increase. “Workers at Denel feel they have suffered to save the entity, and they feel justified in demanding a wage increase.
Fifth group of SANDF soldiers returns from SAMIDRC mission

1 week ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

A fifth group of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers has returned from the now terminated Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). The 258-strong group arrived at Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein on Friday morning (20 June), aboard an Air Tanzania Boeing 787 Dreamliner. They were welcomed by senior SANDF officials and support personnel.
SAS Isandlwana refit due for completion next year; submarine refit a way off

1 week ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

The refit of the South African Navy’s Valour class frigate SAS Isandlwana is due for completion in March next year, at a cost of nearly R600 million. This is according to an Armscor presentation on South African naval and air force contracts, delivered to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence on 13 June. The refit is being carried out by Sandock Austral Shipyards in Durban as well as at Transnet’s Prince Edward Graving Dock in Durban.
Survivor tells how trapped miners ate human flesh and cockroaches to survive

1 week ago | protectionweb.co.za | Guy Martin

Zama zama miner Patrick Ntsokolo saw colleagues eating cockroaches and even dead bodies underground after police from Operation Vala Umgodi blocked deliveries to illegal miners at Stilfontein. He hopes to tell his story to the SAHRC. Ntsokolo, a 40-year-old father of six children, survived underground for 18 days with no food except scraps of expired goods. He said he would be willing to testify during upcoming hearings of the SAHRC, but had not yet been approached.
SCOPA probes state corruption fight: SIU, Hawks, NPA and IDAC detail progress and obstacles

1 week ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) received detailed briefings from South Africa’s key anti-corruption bodies on Tuesday, revealing the scale, complexity, and slow grind of prosecutions linked to government corruption and State Capture.
Tunisia orders a dozen Bell 412EPX helicopters

1 week ago | defenceweb.co.za | Guy Martin

The Tunisian Air Force has ordered 12 Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopters for multi-role military and security missions, marking the first order for this Bell 412 variant in the region. Announced at the Paris Air Show that is underway this week, Bell Textron said the order will expand expands Tunisia’s rotary wing fleet of 39 Bell aircraft, including Bell UH-1s, 205s and OH-58s. The Tunisian National Guard, meanwhile, recently began operating the Bell 429.