The plundering of the assets of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), including weapons and ammunition with almost no successful prosecution, is shocking and is indicative of a collapse of the management structure of the SANDF, says Dr Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus.
In the response to a written parliamentary question that Dr Groenewald directed at the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, it came to light that in 2016 there were a total of 417 incidences of robbery (272) and burglary (145) at the respective military bases. (Please see question and answer below).
Thus far, only fourteen of the cases were successfully prosecuted, of these three were cases of burglary and eleven were cases of theft. Not even one person has been successfully prosecuted for the theft of weapons.
A wide variety of items were stolen, but what is especially worrying is the great incidence of the theft of weapons and ammunition during this time. A follow-up question regarding the quantity and types of weapons that were stolen will be submitted to the Minister.
The theft of computer equipment is also prevalent, but the thieves literally plunder everything that they can get their hands on; from food, batteries, petrol, alcohol, cash, bicycles, gardening tools to camping equipment, clothes, car parts, uniforms and even documents.
According to Dr Groenewald, these figures clearly indicate that the SANDF management is failing. He says that it is a direct consequence of Affirmative Action (AA), which lead to poor training and a lack of discipline.
“What is ironic is that computer equipment, weapons and cash were stolen from the military police, while they are the ones that are supposed to protect the SANDF’s property.
“If the SANDF is not even able to protect its own military bases against theft and plundering, one can rightly question whether it will be able to protect the country and its inhabitants against possible threats,” says Dr Groenewald.
No arrests have been made after three South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers allegedly opened fire on a marked police vehicle and that of a tracking company.
According to provincial spokesperson Colonel Leonard Hlati, detectives from Mbuzini are investigating three SANDF soldiers who allegedly “ambushed” a marked police vehicle and that of a tracking company following the hijacking near the Mozambican border at around 22:30 last Wednesday, Lowvelder reported.
The incident came after a vehicle was reported stolen in Tonga, Mpumalanga that night. The vehicle was fitted with a tracking device and the managing company, Cartrack, located the abandoned vehicle a few hundred metres from the border.
Tonga police were then notified of the recovery and invited to the scene where the abandoned vehicle had been left. An SANDF commander was then notified that the abandoned vehicle would be returned.
“Soldiers are patrolling the border and we wanted to warn them that we would be returning to the scene, so that they would not open fire on us,” a source who was at the scene, said.
With the Cartrack vehicle travelling in the front, followed by the marked police vehicle, the party approached the hijacked vehicle. “We had our emergency lights and sirens on,” the source added. However, the recovery party was still fired upon.
The occupants of both vehicles saw it was SANDF soldiers patrolling the fence who were shooting at them.
They shouted and called on the radio for the soldiers to cease fire, but to no avail. The soldiers kept on firing at the convoy. The police vehicle’s engine was hit and it eventually seized.
One witness described the incident as an “ambush” and added that the shots fired were not warning shots, but aimed to kill.
The SANDF soldiers accused of firing the shots claimed to have thought the approaching convoy to be hijackers, despite the notification from police.
SANDF spokesperson Colonel Piet Paxton, confirmed the incident and said a panel of inquiry had been requested.
“As far as we know, five shots were fired, believed to be from one firearm.
“One soldier could not account for five bullets and it seemed as though five shots were fired at the convoy. The panel of inquiry will investigate the circumstances around the shooting, as well as which disciplinary steps would have to be followed,” He said.
Paxton added that it was almost impossible for the major on duty to notify troops in the field of the police’s arrival, thus the troops had been unaware.
The Sudanese government of president Omar al-Bashir literally held a gun to South Africa’s head to secure his safe return to Khartoum.
Netwerk24 can reveal that about 800 South African soldiers in Darfur were held “hostage” by Sudanese troops when the drama around Al-Bashir’s possible arrest in South Africa escalated.
According to military experts, this effectively means Sudan blackmailed South Africa and the soldiers’ lives served as a guarantee for Al-Bashir’s safe return.
Only after Al-Bashir safely touched down in Khartoum on Monday, were Sudanese troops withdrawn. President Jacob Zuma is the commander-in-chief of the defence force.
“We were so scared – we were surrounded by soldiers. We handed out extra ammunition to all our troops in case they needed it,” said one South African soldier in Sudan on Tuesday.
“I am so thankful that South Africa did not arrest Bashir. The battalion commander said after Bashir touched down safely in Khartoum, all the [Sudanese] troops were withdrawn. The calamity has returned to normal,” reads a message sent by a soldier in Darfur to his friends in South Africa.
About 1 400 South African soldiers are serving in Darfur as part of a combined African Union/United Nations peace mission (Unamid). The current group are from 8 SA Infantry Battalion in Upington.
“Our nerves were shot and we were very relieved when the militants withdrew on Monday evening. We knew we were sitting ducks,” said a South African soldier.
The Department of Defence is apparently trying to reverse racial quotas in its recruitment.
The latest South African Survey by the SA Institute of Race Relations shows that the military plans to employ more whites and fewer blacks.
The defence force admits there is a shortage of white personnel but says its recruitment drives are not based on racial quotas.
The survey shows the department’s employment equity targets are changing:
The black employment target from the current 72% to 65%;
Coloured employment from 13% to 10%;
Indian employment will remain at 1%;
The target for whites will increase from 14% to 24%.
The Institute of Race Relations figures are based on information contained in the defence department’s annual report and on its own calculations.
Stats SA’s 2015 midyear population estimates show that blacks represent 80% of the population, coloureds 8.8%, whites 8.2% and Indians 2.4%.
The research shows that there are huge numbers of vacancies in the military’s land and air defence, medical, and defence intelligence services.
The military currently has 57141 black, 10991 white, 10099 coloured and 916 Indian members.
SA National Defence Union national secretary Pikkie Greeff said the military found itself in this position because “when they started awarding exit packages they let go too many of the racial groupings that they now want to increase”.
Defence Department spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini admitted that there was a shortage of full-time white members but denied there were plans to change racial quotas.
A SA Air Force member appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on a murder charge on Tuesday.
The matter against Corporal Simphiwe Magudulela, 27, was postponed until September 17 for further investigation and to make arrangements for a psychiatric evaluation.
Magudulela was represented by a Legal Aid lawyer.
A man was killed and another was critically wounded in a shooting at the Bloemspruit Air Force Base, outside Bloemfontein, at 2am on September 1.
At the time, police said a member on duty had shot two colleagues.
One of the men died on the scene and the other was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
SA National Defence Force spokesman Brig-Gen Xolani Mabanga said the circumstances leading to the shooting at the base were being investigated internally. – Sapa
None of the South African Air Force’s 18 Agusta A109 helicopters are being used, because there is no money to operate them, say reports.
The helicopters were occasionally enabled, but did not ascend, an anonymous source reportedly told the newspaper on Wednesday.
In the long-term, this reportedly meant pilots could lose their competency skills and that the helicopters would fall into disuse.
Beeld reported that the SAAF’s 26 Gripen fighter aircraft, which were also bought in the multimillion-rand arms deal a few years ago, were also rarely used.
A senior South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officer reportedly told the newspaper said the situation was grim.
Amid a 60% budget cut, it was considering selling the Gripens and not just the A109 helicopters, but all helicopter operations.
Military expert Helmoed-Romer Heitman reportedly said the SAAF was suffering from the government’s indecision about what it expected from an army.
“An air force without fighter aircraft is a dead duck in Africa’s military context. An army without helicopters and transport aircraft is a dinosaur in a swamp,” he was quoted as saying.
“An army without attack and tactical transport helicopters is a lame duck. A navy without helicopters and maritime patrol planes is blind.”
According to the newspaper the SANDF did not respond to requests for comment. – Sapa
The SA National Defence Force refused to comment on Wednesday about allegations that its 18 Agusta A109 helicopters were grounded as there were no funds to operate them.
“My comment is very clear: we do not discuss operational matters and [the defence force’s] state of readiness,” said SANDF spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini.
According to Beeld newspaper, it was told by an anonymous source that the helicopters were occasionally enabled, but did not ascend.
In the long-term, this reportedly meant pilots could lose their competency skills and that the helicopters would fall into disuse.
Beeld reported that the SAAF’s 26 Gripen fighter aircraft, which were also bought in the multi-billion rand arms deal a few years ago, were also rarely used.
A senior SANDF officer reportedly told the newspaper the situation was grim.
Amid a 60 percent budget cut, it was considering selling the Gripens and not just the A109 helicopters, but all helicopter operations.
Military expert Helmoed Romer-Heitman reportedly said the SAAF was suffering from government’s indecision about what it expected from the army.
“An air force without fighter aircraft is a dead duck in Africa’s military context. An army without helicopters and transport aircraft is a dinosaur in a swamp,” he was quoted as saying.
“An army without attack and tactical transport helicopters is a lame duck. A navy without helicopters and maritime patrol planes is blind.” – Sapa
MILITARY spending could increase from R38 billion to R83 billion a year and the total size of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) could be doubled in the near future.
This is if government decides to implement the recommendations of the Defence Review committee’s 2013 report.
It explains that while South Africa now spends 1.1% of GDP on the military, “international donor agencies have used the figure of 2% of GDP as being a reasonable amount for a developing country to spend on defence when it is at peace, is not faced with instability in its immediate region or with any direct threat”.
But if the SANDF is to be equipped to operate effectively in the current strategic environment in which there is increased instability, it would require South Africa to “increase the capabilities of its peace-time force”.
This would entail employing 207 000 people and receiving funding “in the order of R83 billion in 2013/14 rand value, equating to 2.7% of GDP and 7.1%” of government spending”.
The Citizen recently reported that the report also recommends the acquisition of new military hardware, which could cost as much as R100 billion, according to sources.
Department of Defence (DOD) spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini criticised the report, saying that recommendations that billions be spent were contained in a draft report that had not yet been finally accepted by the department.
“The fact of the matter is that the portfolio committee on defence and military veterans has requested to visit the Department of Defence as part of their oversight function.
“The programme and agenda was designed by the committee and communicated to the DOD. It is concerning to the DOD that such a programme is splashed all over The Citizen newspaper with innuendos.”
Whatever weapon systems finally end up being acquired, concerns have been raised about who will operate them. Pikkie Greef, national secretary of the South African National Defence Union (Sandu), told The Citizen the frigates and submarines bought in the 1999 arms deal are tied up in docks because there aren’t enough sailors to staff them.
“We also don’t have enough pilots to fly the aircraft that we bought in the last arms deal.
“The SANDF does not have proper mobile catering trucks. That means that the SANDF cannot properly feed its soldiers in the field.
“It is ridiculous to consider buying warships when we cannot even give an infantryman a hot meal. The Defence Review committee was supposed to consult with all role players – but they have certainly not consulted in any way with the only trade union that organises within the SANDF.”
Greef said that staffing levels in the navy were such that there are not enough sailors to put two frigates to sea at the same time.
“The last arms acquisition process was shrouded in secrecy and loaded with corruption as a result. One hopes that in future acquisition processes are conducted openly and transparently – as the constitution says they should.”
The Defence Review suggests that billions should be spent on arms in order that South Africa can “influence the international agenda through optimised defence diplomacy and active multi-lateral and bi-lateral engagements”.
Terry Crawford Browne of Economists Allied for Arms Reduction said: “I know that the figure of R100 billion and more has been bandied about.”
The upcoming meeting of Parliament’s defence portfolio committee “will discuss programmes relating to the Strategic Defence Review, which recommends we go on another major spending spree, which will no doubt provide many nice back-handers for the well connected.
“It seems ridiculous to even consider buying arms when we cannot provide toilets and clean water. We don’t need to engage in gunboat diplomacy and warmongering.” – citizen.co.za
South African soldiers are caught between M23 rebels and government forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Fighting erupted anew in the war-torn east of the DRC on Sunday and continued yesterday after about 100 armed men disguised in women’s clothing entered the country from Rwanda, said local sources.
Soldiers of 6 SA Infantry Battalion have been deployed in the DRC in a United Nations “intervention brigade”.
The intervention brigade consists of 2069 soldiers, of whom 850 are South African, and falls under the authority of the UN’s broader 19000-strong Monusco peacekeeping mission in the Congo.
Unlike the peacekeeping force, the brigade, which also has Tanzanian and Malawian contingents, has been mandated to engage any group that tries to destabilise the region.
Lieutenant-Colonel Felix Prosper Basse, a spokesman for the Monusco force, said yesterday that the South Africans were ”in the middle” of the fierce fighting around Goma, the provincial capital.
“The [Monusco] operational base in Monigi has always been a South African base. It is on a hill dominating Goma,” said Basse.
The South African troops have been involved in two other clashes in the past week, sparked when another rebel group, the Mai Mai, attacked a nearby M23 base.
“The M23 repelled the attack and the Mai Mai turned and started to shoot at civilians and the blue helmets [UN soldiers] to intimidate them. The blue helmets fired warning shots but when they kept on coming we engaged them,” said Basse.
One rebel was killed in the fighting and two others were wounded.
Heavy calibre weapons were used, including multiple-rocket launchers, mortars and artillery. DRC government forces have been involved in heavy fighting against the M23 rebels since Sunday.
SA Defence Ministry spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini said the fighting was taking place in the areas where the South African troops are deployed.
“We are not involved,” he said.
The South African base was formerly held by M23 rebels but was taken by Monusco after the two M23 factions started fighting each other, leaving a gap for the UN force to move in. – Sapa-AP, AFP
As South African troops prepare for deployment to the violence-racked east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the enemy is gearing up for full-scale war.
M23 welcomed in Goma
As South African troops prepare for deployment to the violence-racked east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the enemy is gearing up for full-scale war.
A 1000-strong South African contingent is expected to be deployed to the region within a month as part of an African intervention force. It will almost certainly be drawn into conflict with the heavily armed and battle-hardened M23 rebel group after the collapse of peace talks between the rebels and the central government in Kinshasa.
One of 33 rebel groups in the region, the M23 has 40t of munitions looted from DRC army armouries in clashes in the east of the country last year.
The M23 routed DRC government forces in November in a fight for the capital of the country’s eastern region, Goma, where South African peacekeepers were deployed. In the battle for Goma, South African soldiers were caught by surprise and the M23 forces – whose officers have over 20 years of jungle combat experience – were able to take the town within days.
Reported to have access to T55 and T72 Soviet-era tanks, and armed with anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns, armoured vehicles and rocket-propelled grenades, the M23’s 5500-strong force is in the final stages of preparing for war.
The rebels have upped their propaganda war against the South Africans since warning President Jacob Zuma last month of a “catastrophic and apocalyptic” response if the SANDF engaged them.
The group has since revealed that it plans to kidnap SANDF troops to force South Africa to about-turn on the deployment.
The rebels are said to be backed by Rwandan and Ugandan military advisers and special forces, a claim both countries deny.
In March, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of a 3000-man intervention force to the DRC to work alongside 17000 UN peacekeepers. The intervention force, which will comprise South African, Malawian and Tanzanian troops, is expected to arrive in the DRC within a month.
As opposed to the peacekeeping force, the new intervention force’s mandate will see troops being able to engage rebel forces regardless of provocation in order to bring stability to the region.
The SANDF has limited heavy-lift air transport capability, its Rooivalk attack helicopters’ Makopa anti-tank missiles are not yet certified, and it is most unlikely that the air force’s Gripen fighter jets will be deployed to the DRC. Knowing all this, South African soldiers are gravely concerned about the impending battle.
An army officer, who has knowledge of the mission’s planning, said: “We train and fight hard. We know our job and are capable, but with little air support, this fight is difficult. We learned good lessons in CAR but, make no mistake, this will not be easy.
“The M23 are well-armed and have good intelligence. They will not fight conventionally. It will be guerrilla-style attacks preying on our weaknesses, and our lack of cohesion and joint training with the other forces.”
SANDF spokesman Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga declined to comment other than to say: “We are awaiting the UN’s force deployment orders.”
Defence analyst Helmoed Heitman said: “The M23 are not a bunch of ragtag rebels. They are superior in their jungle-fighting capabilities with backing from neighbouring countries [that are] running proxy military forces in the region.
”Our biggest problem is lack of air capabilities. We have the Rooivalk attack helicopter and Oryx troop-carrying helicopters, but we have no proper heavy-lift transport aircraft to get our equipment and troops in and out safely.
“The Rooivalk’s anti-tank missile is not certified, meaning it will have to get dangerously close to the enemy for its rockets to be effective.
“We are taking our long-range G5 cannon and various armoured vehicles but these vehicles will not withstand the M23’s fire-power. Their 37mm anti-aircraft guns are lethal both to air and ground targets and they have the support of tanks and special forces.”
Heitman said major hindrances included the lack of intelligence. “Our defence intelligence is what got us into trouble in CAR.
“Added to this is the UN’s view that this is just another peacekeeping mission. Instead of additional forces, they divided the current peacekeeping force, transferring the South African brigade to the intervention force and creating a vacuum for the rebels to capitalise on. This is not peacekeeping. It will be aggressive counter-guerrilla warfare in which people, including civilians, will die. You need numbers that are not there to bring about peace.”
Heitman said the M23 rebels knew the SANDF’s capabilities.
“They will not pick on us. They will pick on the possible weak links – Malawi and Tanzania – who have little battle experience. They will harass, divide and conquer.” He added: “They have the strong possibility of tank and special forces support.”
Sources from the DRC however, say there is little evidence that the different parties involved understand the real issues in the country. According to the dominant ethnic group, the Lingala, the president is happy about the diversion that both Malawi and Rwanda have created in order to bolster his power. – timeslive.co.za/PRAAG
Civilians who have undergone military training could soon be called up for active service and be deployed on potentially deadly peace-keeping operations.
The South African army – already overstretched by peacekeeping deployments across the continent – is fast preparing for the deployment of hundreds of additional troops, including civilian reservists, to peacekeeping missions. There are some 15000 army reservists.
Prior to yesterday’s announcement, President Jacob Zuma said he would strongly consider deploying soldiers to Mali on an African Union peacekeeping mission. If Zuma gives the go-ahead, the deployment could happen early next year.
Army chief Lieutenant-General Amos Masondo yesterday confirmed the urgent requests by Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“We are waiting to hear what needs to be done,” he said.
Masondo said the appointment of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as AU Commission chair would lead to increased demands for South African forces to be deployed elsewhere Africa.
“Unfortunately, we are limited by our numbers. If the request is approved, the forces will have to include lots of reservists.
“We simply do not have enough permanent force members. We are already overstretched in Africa, with hundreds of our troops deployed internally on our borders.”
Masondo said vast amounts of money were currently being spent on training, and that the upgrading of equipment was a priority.
Mali’s government is currently embroiled in violent confrontations with al-Qaeda linked groups trying to overthrow the state.
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with the UN, is currently involved in bloody battles against rebel forces who are armed with heavy artillery and tanks.
The proposed deployments are being considered while 3000 South African soldiers take part in an exercise at the combat training centre in the Northern Cape.
A senior officer – deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2010 – said the missions would require more than just a few hundred troops.
“These rebels are not playing around. They have serious numbers and serious fire-power. They are battle-hardened and have been at war for years. If we don’t do this right we will be bringing body bags home,” he said. – timeslive.co.za
The SA National Defence Force has officially been deployed domestically from September 14 until next year in Marikana “and other areas of the country where needed”, the Presidency said in a statement on Thursday.
The Presidency said in a short statement that the soldiers would be deployed to support the police “in the prevention and combating of crime as well as the maintenance of law and order in the Marikana area, North West province and other areas around the country where needed.”
The statement did not detail where the other areas may be.
The deployment will last from September 14 until January 31, 2013.
“The extended period will see the SANDF soldiers supporting the police during the festive season period around the country, as they did last year, 2011,” the statement read. – Sapa
The SA National Defence Force will seek legal advice on expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s address to soldiers, the SANDF said on Thursday.
“We want to understand the legality of it and the implication. The meeting between Mr Malema and SANDF members… we need to find the legal basis of that,” said Brig-Gen Xolani Mabanga.
“We cannot think that any member of the public can just go and talk to members of the SANDF.”
Mabanga said it was also unacceptable for SANDF members to invite a person to address them outside defence structures.
“Anybody outside the established military structure and the South African government, that would be out of order. Even if they invited a pastor, or a priest or a bishop or a sangoma or whatever,” Mabanga said.
He said SANDF members who had grievances should use existing structures to voice them and not air them with private individuals such as Malema.
Mabanga said legal advice would not be sought by the SANDF itself, but through its civilian leadership in the department of defence.
On Wednesday, Malema addressed about 60 soldiers in civilian dress at the Lenasia Recreation Centre.
There he criticised the political leadership of the country and accused them of ignoring the needs of SANDF members, including not re-instating the 1100 soldiers put on special leave for protesting at the Union Buildings in 2009.
Mabanga said some of the 60 soldiers at Malema’s speech were among the 1100 members put on special leave and they could face disciplinary action for their attendance.
“They still fall under the military disciplinary code. They’re still members of the SANDF,” Mabanga said.
He said they had been ordered to return to their home units and would now be charged with failing to obey that order.
Some of the other SANDF members had already been dismissed and the military had no jurisdiction over them. – Sapa
The situation at the Lonmin’s Marikana mine in the North West was stable on Tuesday morning following the deaths of nine people, police said.
Captain Dennis Adriao said police had been monitoring the situation at the mine where violence had erupted from Friday.
“At this stage no other incidents were reported throughout Monday night.”
Nine people — two police officers, two security guards, three protesters and two other men — had been killed by 8.30pm on Monday.
The deaths were linked to violence apparently triggered by union rivalry.
Adriao said the two police officers were killed on Monday afternoon and three protesters were shot dead.
One other police officer was critically injured, he said.
About 3000 Lonmin rock drill operators started an illegal work stoppage and protest march on Friday.
Earlier, officials from the platinum mine announced that the body of a man was found on the premises. He had been shot dead.
Adriao said the man’s death was believed to be linked to the violence.
Another man died in hospital on Sunday after being hacked with a panga as he left the mine after the evening shift.
On Saturday, two security guards were killed when the car they were travelling in was set alight.
Scores of other people have been injured in the violent unrest in the last four days. Police also reported that eight vehicles were torched on the mine property on Sunday.
Violence at the Lonmin Marikana mine has been linked to clashes between members of the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which are reportedly fighting for control of local mines.
Lonmin has called for an end to the violence.
“Whilst our first thoughts must be with the families of those killed and injured in these criminal clashes, our operational priority is to see the violence stop,” says Lonmin CEO, Ian Farmer.
Num has condemned the violence and has called for immediate action from the police.
“[We are] alarmed at that the escalating violence has been allowed to continue unabated by the law enforcement agencies in that area in North West Province,” said Num general secretary Frans Baleni.
“We call for the deployment of a special task force or the SANDF to deal decisively with the criminal elements in Rustenburg and its surrounding mine.”
Baleni dismissed statements that it was a rivalry attack and said the Num was a victim of Amcu. By Monday afternoon, police had made no arrests.
In February, the two unions also clashed over membership at Impala Platinum’s mines in Rustenburg. – Sapa
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