SANDF up in arms over rumours regarding ‘missing rifles’

Earlier reports have stated that the missing rifles that were stolen from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) earlier this week, were recovered on Tuesday 24 December 2019 in Hammanskraal. 

However, there seems to be a miscommunication as SANDF has said that the weapons are still missing. 

According to SABC News, SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini confirmed that the stolen weapons have not been found, even though SA National Defence Union (SANDU) Secretary Pikkie Greeff said the firearms were found near Hammanskraal a day after they were stolen.

Warfare weapons stolen from SANDF 

It is believed that 19 R4 semi-automatic assault rifles were stolen at the Engineering Formation of SANDF’s Lyttelton Tek Base in Pretoria on Monday 23 December 2019. 

It was reported that Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula zeroed in on 11 suspects who were taken in for questioning. However, according to a recent report from eNCA, a 12th suspect has now been arrested. 

Dlamini also said that all the military bases of the SANDF are guarded by their own members, hence why the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Police Minister Bheki Cele think the robbery was an inside job. 

The suspects were due to appear in the military court in Thaba Tshwane on Friday 27 December 2019 for their bail hearing.

Dlamini would not confirm how many suspects were supposed to be appearing in the military court, saying that he does not know.

Exact items that were stolen, yet to be confirmed

The department, however, is yet to confirm the details surrounding the exact items stolen at the Lyttelton Tek Base.

Mapisa-Nqakula condemned the act, saying it had been committed by “unpatriotic and self-serving thugs”.

The suspects were subjected to questioning on Tuesday and a high-level investigation is underway. The minister is also engaging SANDF chief General Solly Shoke.

Shoke has been ordered to rescind leave for relevant military command members and other structures to aid the authorities as they probe the weapons’ theft.

What is SANDF responsible for? 

The SANDF comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the president of South Africa from one of the armed services. 

They are in turn accountable to the minister of defence and military veterans of the Department of Defence.

The military, as it exists today, was established in 1994, following South Africa’s first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution. 

It replaced the South African Defence Force and also integrated uMkhonto we Sizwe guerilla forces.

The SANDF is involved in a number of internal operations, including:

• Safeguarding the border (Operation Corona);
• Disaster relief and assistance (Operation Chariot);
• Safety and security (Operation Prosper); and
• Ridding the country of illegal weapons, drug dens, prostitution rings and other illegal activities (Operation Fiela).