The SAAF Forum

SA Navy Festival sails through stormy weekend in Simon’s Town

Dean Wingrin

The South African Navy’s annual festival at Naval Base Simon’s Town sailed through persistent rain this past weekend, with sailors refusing to let the weather dampen spirits by proving that there’s no rain in the Navy, but a Navy in the rain.

While Thursday evening’s Drydock Concert was held under clear skies, the heavens opened early Friday morning and the downpours continued throughout the weekend, deterring many would-be visitors, but the maritime service kept its programme largely intact. The inclement weather also forced the cancellation of aerial displays by the South African Air Force, a traditional highlight of the festival programme.

Undeterred, the warships and a submarine remained open to the public for guided tours, tugboats ferried visitors around the historic naval harbour, and precision drill displays continued, showcasing the discipline and professionalism of the South African National Defence Force’s maritime arm.

Saturday morning’s centrepiece was the Right of Entry Parade at Jubilee Square, where Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the South African Navy, took the salute as sailors marched through Simon’s Town’s historic main street with swords drawn, a tradition granted by the City of Cape Town that the Navy holds dear.

Addressing a mix of dignitaries, sailors and members of the public, Lobese emphasised the enduring bond between the Navy and the local community.

“It is through this Right of Entry Parade that we celebrate the military heritage that has existed between the South African Navy and Simon’s Town since time immemorial,” he said, “We are here in Simon’s Town, not just in terms of protecting our national waters; but also to continue fostering collaboration, understanding, and support within this wonderful community.”

The Navy’s commitment to the community extended to all inhabitants of the area, but “excluding the baboons that are terrorising and harassing us, as we continuously try to learn how to live and share the space with them.”

The Admiral used his address to also speak about military discipline, calling it “the backbone of any military establishment,” adding that it “reflect[s] excellence, integrity, and accountability in everything we do.”

He noted with pride that the SA Navy had recently been recognised by SABC News as the best arms of service in the SANDF for marching and drilling, and that the Navy Choir and Band are the reigning champions of the Chief of the SANDF competition.

Lobese remarked on the operational achievements of two of the Navy’s vessels. The Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel SAS Adam Kok III recently completed an Operation Corona coastal patrol, during which its crew tracked and interdicted an Ecuadorian-registered fishing vessel suspected of narcotics trafficking. The ship’s company also conducted the safe return of three South African sailors, winners of the 2025 Cape to Rio Yacht Race, after their yacht Angel Wings sank in the South Atlantic.

The Valour class frigate SAS Amatola, meanwhile, was on day 83 of a diplomatic voyage that had taken her to Exercise MILAN and the International Fleet Review in India, followed by missions to China, Malaysia and Kenya.

“These achievements…stand as a testament of what we can achieve with disciplined, professional, and operationally ready sailors,” he said.

The Admiral used the achievements of both ships to press the case for greater naval resourcing. Since hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz, maritime traffic via the Cape Sea Route has surged by 112% since mid-March, and referenced the staggering statistic that daily ship traffic through South African waters has jumped from 150 to 368 vessels.

“Let the developments in the Straits of Hormuz be a reminder and wake-up call to us as a country to resource our Navy,” Lobese urged, “because we occupy a strategic world trade route that requires a very strong and capacitated Navy.”

“Such an investment cannot be undertaken during the time of crisis; the time is now,” he stated.

In closing Lobese spoke directly to the communities who had braved the conditions to attend, reminding them that the sailors they were watching are “your sons and daughters, people who have chosen to put others before themselves.”

As for the rain: “If anyone knows someone that can do something about this rain, please call them,” he told the crowd. “Obviously, we are asking this for our visitors, because for us as Navy Family, we believe that there’s no rain in the Navy, but the Navy in the rain.”

For the most dedicated navy supporters, Saturday night’s fire demonstration at the Lower North Battery was the undisputed highlight of the weekend, with light machine guns, 12.7 mm heavy machine guns and 20 mm cannons lighting up the rain-soaked night sky in a spectacle that drew appreciative crowds despite the conditions.

Though attendance was thinner than in previous years and some may point to the number of non-operational vessels on display, visitors who did attend were treated to close-up access to ships, equipment and personnel, reinforcing the Navy’s identity as, in Lobese’s words, “the People’s Navy.”