German-South African naval exercise a risk to penguin colonies, says City and environmental activists

Exercise Good Hope, the eighth edition of joint naval exercises between the South African and German Navies, has begun along South Africa’s West Coast. Despite its scaled-down nature, concerns have arisen over the environmental impact, as the exercises are taking place within an endangered penguin sanctuary. The Democratic Alliance (DA) government has voiced apprehensions, highlighting potential risks to the delicate ecological balance in the region.

German participants, arriving on an Airbus A400M transport aircraft, were welcomed by Acting Exercise Director Captain S.W. Majozi and Combined Joint Task Force Commander Captain C.J. McKenzie at Air Force Base Langebaanweg on January 18.

The City of Cape Town, in response to the Navy’s plan for underwater explosives training near an endangered penguin colony, has called for a comprehensive review. Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews stressed the importance of involving the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Environment, South African National Parks (SANParks), and city staff in the assessment.

While acknowledging that explosive training in a Marine Protected Area is less than ideal, Andrews suggested that any immediate impact would be confined to the designated area. Looking ahead, he advocated collaboration between the South African Navy, SANParks, and the Department of Fisheries and Forestry to identify alternative training areas with lower environmental risk.

Environmental activists have raised concerns about the potential adverse effects of underwater explosive exercises on marine life, emphasizing the need for transparency and responsible decision-making.

The City of Cape Town has urged SANParks, the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, and the Southern African Foundation for The Conservation Of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) to measure and record the blast’s impact during the exercise. This data, according to Deputy Mayor Andrews, should inform future decisions and training protocols.

The South African Navy, planning a one-day underwater demolitions training exercise, has faced criticism for its perceived lack of transparency regarding environmental concerns. While the Navy contends that the exercise’s impact will be limited, stakeholders are pushing for rigorous monitoring and data collection to ensure the preservation of the fragile ecosystem.

Exercise Good Hope VIII, though more modest than previous editions due to real-world commitments, aims to enhance interoperability and cooperation between the South African and German Navies. The exercises involve scenarios such as searches, vessel boarding and seizure operations, fast roping exercises, and search and rescue missions. The strategic and operational objectives include establishing and managing forward operating bases, conducting maritime air defense, and implementing command and control procedures.

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