The Hawks briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Defence today showed welcome progress in several Defence-related investigations, but also exposed serious weaknesses in case tracking and reporting, Department of Defence cooperation and accountability for substantial public losses.
The Hawks confirmed that nine matters have reached the National Prosecuting Authority. Importantly, five interconnected Simon’s Town naval procurement investigations, involving an estimated combined loss of approximately R102.27 million, have been combined and are finally moving towards prosecution.
However, the DA raised concern that cases previously reported to the Committee have disappeared from subsequent presentations without their final outcomes being clearly reflected.
These include the Maponya 911 investigation, involving approximately R17 million and a reported repayment arrangement of about R14 million, and G-Fleet, involving potential prejudice of approximately R1.44 million. The Hawks undertook to send reports on these matters.
Parliament needs a consolidated register tracking every case through investigation, prosecution, recovery and consequence management, and cannot allow cases being investigated simply to disappear.
Significant unresolved investigations also include PPE procurement involving contracts worth approximately R273.5 million and the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of approximately R40 million from the SANDF Group Life Investment Scheme through the South African Army Foundation. Particularly disturbing is that these were effectively soldiers’ funds, money intended for the benefit of SANDF members, allegedly misappropriated or stolen. The investigation must establish where the money went, who benefited and how much can be recovered.
The fuel-procurement Material Irregularity investigation identified by the Auditor-General is being delayed by outstanding DOD documentation. The Secretary for Defence undertook today to intervene personally. The DA requested that it be submitted to the Hawks within seven days or, failing that, that the DOD report to the Committee on the failure to submit.
The Democratic Alliance also challenged the exclusion of a report on the murder of Hawks investigator Lt-Col Frans Mathipa. The Hawks indicated that they do not regard it as a Defence matter merely because persons arrested were SANDF members.
The DA disagrees. The reported circumstances potentially point to organised crime involving SANDF members, with profound implications for military discipline, command accountability and civilian law-enforcement cooperation.
The DA therefore requested a dedicated Hawks briefing on the Mathipa investigation, including allegations of obstruction or non-cooperation by SANDF members and/or the Military Police.
Parliament cannot exercise meaningful oversight if serious cases disappear from reports or investigations are impeded by the institutions required to cooperate with investigators.