Johannesburg - Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota on Tuesday vehemently denied reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was unready to defend the country.

"I want to start by saying the SANDF is perfectly placed to fulfil its obligations to the country. On the basis of risk analysis I've got no reason to believe the SANDF would fail or be unable to defend the country," he said.

Recent media reports, he said, had created an impression of a sickly, overweight and over-generalled defence force unable to fulfil its constitutional obligations.

The reports also said the SANDF's salary and acquisitions bills had left too little money in the budget to deploy the SANDF in support of the police or regional obligations, or for training or maintenance of its equipment.

"I remain satisfied that with what is available there is nothing we cannot deal with."

With acknowledgements to Sapa and www.news24.co.za