The DA has submitted parliamentary questions to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans following reports that the SANDF has acknowledged a Special Forces role in an operation linked to the disappearance of Abdella Hussein Abadiga, whom the United States designated an alleged Islamic State recruiter and fundraiser, and his bodyguard, Kadir Jemal Abotese. The two disappeared from the Mall of Africa in December 2022 and have never been found.
The reported admission raises serious questions about evidence previously placed before the courts, including the claim that Special Forces members at the Mall of Africa on 29 December 2022 were conducting a training exercise.
Twelve SANDF members face charges linked to the alleged kidnapping and murder of Abadiga and Abotese and the murder of Hawks investigator Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, who was investigating their disappearance. The accused deny the allegations. All 12 were initially granted bail in July 2025, but the Gauteng High Court revoked the bail of six accused in January 2026 and ordered them to surrender.
It has also been reported that a National Prosecuting Authority memorandum identified a possible risk of perjury, while attempts are reportedly being made to transfer the proceedings from the civilian justice system to military courts.
These allegations must be independently investigated. Military secrecy or military court processes cannot be used to shield possible kidnapping, obstruction of justice or false evidence given under oath.
The DA’s questions to the President require him to disclose:
– whether he authorised the employment of the SANDF or Special Forces, as required by section 201 of the Constitution;
– the legal and operational purpose of any authorisation;
– whether the operation involved SAPS, the Hawks, the State Security Agency or another state institution;
– whether Parliament was informed;
– when he became aware of Special Forces involvement; and
– whether he will establish an investigation independent of the SANDF chain of command.
The Minister must account for the nature and authority of the operation, reported discrepancies in evidence placed before the courts, and any attempt to move proceedings into the military justice system.
In July 2025, the Minister confirmed in response to a DA parliamentary question that all 12 accused SANDF members had received state-funded legal representation under section 60 of the Defence Act. The DA has now asked whether that assistance has been reconsidered in light of the reported information.
The presumption of innocence must be respected. However, this does not remove the government’s duty to preserve evidence and investigate possible wrongdoing independently.
The President is Commander-in-Chief, while the Minister exercises political responsibility for defence. Both must account to Parliament.
The DA will pursue these questions until full answers are placed before Parliament and press for an independent investigation. South Africans deserve to know who authorised this operation, what happened to Abadiga and Abotese, and whether the courts and Parliament were given accurate information.
The Constitution, not military rank or secrecy, must prevail.