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National Security
Dialogues 2026
A national roadshow of invitation-only forums convening government officials, defence industry leaders, and strategic partners to address South Africa's security landscape.
The South African Aerospace Maritime Defence Industries Association
Our Mission
AMD represents and promotes the interests of South Africa's aerospace, maritime, and defence industries. We advocate for a strong, sovereign defence industrial base that supports national security and economic development.
Our Position
We believe national security is not a narrow sectoral issue, but a foundational condition for economic growth, social stability, and sovereign resilience — directly affecting how Government governs, businesses invest, and communities function.
Our Members
AMD's membership spans prime contractors, sub-system suppliers, technology developers, and service providers across the full aerospace, maritime, and defence value chain — from large corporates to SMMEs.
Our Advocacy
Through structured dialogue with government, parliament, and strategic partners, AMD drives policy engagement, capability development, and investment in South Africa's defence industrial ecosystem.
What Are the National Security Dialogues?
South Africa is entering a new phase in which national security, economic resilience and sovereign capability are increasingly interdependent. Rising violent crime, organised criminal economies, infrastructure vulnerability, border pressures and geopolitical instability are converging with constrained fiscal capacity and institutional fragmentation. The result is a widening gap between national security risk exposure and state capability. At the same time, the country's economic and developmental ambitions rely on a stable operating environment in which people, infrastructure, trade routes, borders and democratic gains can be protected and preserved. It is within this context that AMD is convening a series of National Security Dialogues in 2026, to reposition security as a core enabler of economic development, sovereignty protection and social stability.
Invitation-Only Forums
Each Dialogue is a curated, closed-door session bringing together senior government officials, defence industry leaders, security practitioners, and strategic partners.
Multi-City Roadshow
The 2026 series spans multiple cities across South Africa, bringing the national security conversation to key provincial centres and ensuring broad geographic representation.
Action-Oriented Outcomes
Each Dialogue produces structured outputs — policy recommendations, industry commitments, and collaborative frameworks — that feed into AMD's ongoing advocacy and engagement programmes.
“As the South African Aerospace Maritime Defence Industries Association (AMD), we believe that national security is not a narrow sectoral issue, but a foundational condition for economic growth, social stability and sovereign resilience.
It directly affects the operating environment in which Government governs, businesses invest, infrastructure is maintained and communities function.”
Sandile Ndlovu — Chief Executive Officer
AMD — Aerospace Maritime Defence Industries Association
Dialogue Dates & Venues
Johannesburg
ConfirmedGauteng
Illegal Mining and its Economic and Security Impact
Limpopo
To be ConfirmedLimpopo
Countering Illicit Trade Flows
Cape Town
To be ConfirmedWestern Cape
Maritime Security: Protecting Ports, Trade Routes and National Interests
Johannesburg
To be ConfirmedGauteng
National Security Town Hall
Dates marked TBC will be confirmed and communicated to invited guests directly. For enquiries: [email protected]
Themes & Focus Areas
The State of National Security in South Africa
An assessment of the current threat landscape — from violent crime and organised criminal economies to border pressures, infrastructure vulnerability and geopolitical instability.
The Defence Industrial Base as a Strategic Asset
South Africa's defence industry as a sovereign capability — its role in national security, economic development, technology localisation and export competitiveness.
Maritime Security & the Blue Economy
Protecting South Africa's coastline, exclusive economic zone and strategic sea lanes — and unlocking the economic potential of the ocean economy through capable maritime security.
Border Security, Organised Crime & Illicit Economies
The convergence of porous borders, transnational organised crime and illicit financial flows — and the integrated response required across law enforcement, intelligence and the defence sector.
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Securing energy, water, transport and digital infrastructure against sabotage, criminal exploitation and cyber threats — and the role of the private sector in national resilience.
Funding National Security: Fiscal Constraints & Strategic Priorities
Navigating constrained public finances while maintaining sovereign capability — exploring public-private partnerships, defence procurement reform and investment in the security sector.
Programme & Dates
Download the full AMD National Security Dialogues programme.
RSVP for Johannesburg
2 July 2026 · The Canvas Riversands, Fourways. Confirm your attendance for the first Dialogue of the 2026 series.