Unchecked plundering of military bases by thieves
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.
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE & MILITARY VETERANS
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
2365. Dr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:†
(1) Whether any incidents of (a) theft and/or (b) break-ins were reported at military bases (i) in the period 1 January to 31 December 2016 and (b) since 1 January 2017; if so, in each case, (aa) how many in each specified period and (bb) at which specified base;
(2) what was stolen at each base;
(3) (a) in how many cases was criminal prosecution successfully instituted and (b) which items were retrieved;
(4) whether she will make a statement on the matter? NW2610E
ANSWER:
2365 (1) (a) Theft of State Property and 2365 (1) (b) Burglary Business Premises (Break-ins) – 1 January 2016 to 31 July 2017 = 417 Cases.
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 144 x Theft State Property (SP) · 71 x Burglary Business Premises (Burg Bus Prem) |
SA Army |
Rations, batteries, fuel, non-ferrous metals, cables, tools, cash, bicycle, documents, motor vehicle radio, ammunition, garden equipment, fire-arms, ICT equipment, electrical spares, liquor, irrigation equipment, television, motor vehicle parts, GPS, empty cartridges, camping equipment, fuel, rations, electrical parts, fire-arms, batteries, garden equipment, mattresses, communication equipment, doors, hair clipping equipment, music system, television, pluming equipment, electrical equipment, metalwork equipment, military clothing, refrigerator, non-ferrous metals |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 58 x Theft SP · 19 x Burg Bus Prem |
SA Air Force |
ICT equipment, liquor, irrigation equipment, rations, communication equipment, cables, photography equipment, non-ferrous metals, empty cartridges, generator, vehicle parts, light fittings, tools, television, rations, linen, fuel, plumbing equipment, motor vehicle speakers, gardening equipment, non-ferrous metals, liquor, air cooling system, tyres, tools, batteries, electrical appliances, musical instruments, compressor, crockery, equestrian jumping poles, gardening tools, door, motor vehicle radio, visual equipment, electrical spares, military clothing, generator, electrical equipment, clothing, batteries, visual equipment, cash, liquor ammunition |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 39 x Theft SP · 26 x Burg Bus Prem |
SA Navy |
Irrigation equipment, Television, fire-arms, fuel, ICT equipment, non-ferrous metals, electrician equipment, tools, rations, batteries, cables, hardware (bolts), cash, communication equipment, electrical appliances, maritime parts, gas cylinders, rations, fire-arms, irrigation equipment, plumbing, electrical appliance, safety clothes, battery, tools, speakers, television, alcohol, gardening equipment, engine, shooting range equipment, electrical tools, electrical appliances |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 9 x Theft SP · 14 x Burg Bus Prem |
SA Medical Health Services |
Compressor, ammunition, rations, medical equipment, air conditioning parts, stationary, ICT equipment, visual equipment, cash, television, sound system, batteries, electrical tools |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 11 x Theft SP |
Joint Operations Division (Div) |
ICT equipment, ammunition, rations, fuel, documents, batteries, hardware, communication equipment, goodwill parcels, medical equipment, batteries |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 2 x Theft SP · 3 x Burg Bus Prem |
Human Resource Div |
ICT equipment, cutlery, liquor, television, cash |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 2 x Theft SP |
Defence Intelligence Div |
Non-ferrous metals, batteries |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 3 x Theft SP · 1 x Burg Bus Prem |
Logistic Div |
ICT equipment, cash, sound system, alcohol |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 2 x Burg Bus Prem |
Legal Div |
ICT equipment |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 3 x Burg Bus Prem |
Command Management Information Systems Div |
ICT equipment |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 1 x Theft SP · 1 x Burg Bus Prem |
Inspectorate Div |
Cables, ICT equipment, fire equipment |
***
|
2365 (1) (a) (aa) Number of Cases |
2365 (1) (a) (bb) Military Bases |
2365 (2) What was stolen |
|
· 3 x Theft SP · 5 x Burg Bus Prem |
Military Police Div |
ICT equipment, fire-arms, camping equipment, bicycles, non-ferrous metal, plumbing, cash |
***
2365 (3) How many cases was criminal prosecution successfully instituted (14 Cases)
|
2365 (3) (a) criminal prosecution successfully instituted – (number of cases) [on 2365 (1) (a) Theft of State Property and (1) (b) Burglary Business Premises] |
2365 (3) (b) which items were retrieved [on 2365 (1) (a) Theft of State Property and (1) (b) Burglary Business Premises] |
|
· 11 x Theft of State Property · 3 x Burg Bus Prem |
Rations, ICT Equipment, non-ferrous metal, ammunition, rations, industrial tools, fuel, crockery, sport equipment |
Whether she will make a statement on the matter? NW2610E” – Not applicable to the Military Police Division.
ENDS
Statement issued by Dr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 29 September 2017
