The main short term objective of the South African navy will be to build infrastructure to receive the new naval corvettes and submarines which were procured through the R30 billion arms procurement deal. 

The navy will also take receipt of six minesweepers from Germany this month. These vessels will serve as patrol craft and for training purposes.

Speaking in Pretoria this morning, vice admiral Johan Retief, the newly appointed chief of the navy, says other objectives of the navy are to complete the integration of statutory and non statutory forces, and to complete a navy review to be able to plot a course for the future. 

Only 10 to 15% of naval staff go out to sea. Retief says in the future more attention will be paid to staff members who act in a support role as they are crucial to successful operations. 

Retief takes over the navy after 37 years in the service, serving in the navy, ministry of defence, and on the defence secretariat.

With acknowledgement to SABC News.