Drones as an Emerging Technology in the South African Military: Challenges for African Values

The South African National Defence Force is investing in technology and drones are becoming popular. There is no policy on how drones are to be used and integrated into the military. Drones in South Africa could impact the essence of the African value of Ubuntu. It took South Africa many years to get out of the apartheid system where the military was used to promote the apartheid agenda and the civil-military relations were non-existence. The military is starting to win the trust of the community. The introduction of technology could jeopardize this trust and compromise the African values. The military members are recruited from the society practicing these values and one cannot afford to see these values diminishing with technology. Using drones in warfare is morally controversial since it fails to pass the test of any justified use of military force. Often drone operators or the fighting force do not need any courage to fight. There is little sacrifice required to be made for the cause fighting for; drones are costless to own forces risk and they rendered war easy and inhumane. Soldiers see less suffering and the community see fewer injuries and deaths. As a result, it becomes easy to wage war as there is less suffering to own force.