KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa as a whole have experienced a deplorable humiliation that will reverberate in malicious laughter around the world. A theft of South African National Defence Forces (SANDF) uniforms, unlicenced firearms, “mine explosives”, ammunition and vehicles from a SANDF military base in KwaZulu- Natal has now seen Democratic Alliance National Assembly MP Mlondi Mdluli for the uMzinyathi constituency in KZN, raise the matter in Cape Town. Mdluli wants the minsters of Defence and Military Veterans (Angie Motshekga) and Police (Senzo Mchunu) to provide “urgent answers on how state-issued military gear ended up in civilian hands”.
His questions were sparked by a recent police operation in the uMzinyathi District Municipality, which has Dundee as its administrative hub and local government headquarters. A party statement has him saying the “alarming discovery” raises questions about organised crime in the province and “potential complicity within state security structures”. It appears from the statement Mdluli was in contact with a police officer who confirmed a suspect appeared in the Greytown Magistrate’s Court last Friday (14 February). The statement notes “other suspects”, without giving numbers, might have appeared at the Glencoe Magistrate’s Court.
“We will be closely monitoring court proceedings to ensure justice is served,” the statement quotes him as saying adding “the presence of military-grade equipment – including bulletproof vests and official SANDF uniforms – is a clear indication of a severe security breach”.
Crime is certainly a serious problem for the country as a whole. Organized crime in particular has deep roots in terms of manipulation and influence. The theft of weapons, ammunition and vehicles in particular is a humiliating and disgrace affair for the department of Defence and military veterans. The equipment was stolen from a military base no less. A facility that was supposed to be highly secured. The risk of the theft of military uniforms, firearms, other weapons and ammunition as well as vehicles would definitely raise anguish. What would the criminals who committed the theft do would this equipment? Rob a bank? shopping centres?
It is good that some of the culprits were caught. Theft of military goods and arsenal is not a good image for the stability of the nation. As the trial and investigation unfolds and more suspects at large are caught, the truth of how this occurrence took place will come to the fore.
South Africa has adopted a peacekeeping role in the DRC, as it has in previous conflicts in southern Africa. This policy shift involved not prioritising and equipping battalions to fight insurgents, which came with long-term consequences. “We phased out our doctrine, training, equipment and research and development in that domain because it was politically unfavourable,” Jordaan said. Director of the Centre for Military Studies Dr Moses Khanyile explained how funds were being wasted in the Department of Defence (DoD) and SANDF. He said programmes were launched with funding staggered over multiple years, whereafter a change in priorities left the programmes stalled or cancelled without achieving tangible objectives. “At a practical level, when you look at management and initiation of projects, there is no optimal use of what we have at our disposal because money is tied up in a project with no prospects of being funded properly,” Khanyile said.
If our troops are unable to protect and conserve their own equipment from criminals back home, how will they be able to combat insurgents abroad? The war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) needs expert attention to restore order and stability. But Pretoria needs to take a more disciplined approach to its army and the department running it. A special investigation by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) should be set up to investigate the DoD’s practices of finance and fiscal discipline. A more thorough investigation by the military police should look into the discipline practices and training of SANDF troops. If funds in the government are being misused and ministers cannot answer for it, then resignations should be in order. Political careers and ambitions should end.
The theft of uniforms and military arsenal from the SANDF is a warning to the county that all is not well with the management of the army, the country’s primary defence force. Now is the time for a thorough and transparent overhaul of the country’s defence machine.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
