DA Demands Action as SANDF Blocks Corruption Probes

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has warned that more than R2.5 billion in suspected fraud and theft cases inside the defence portfolio remain unresolved, accusing the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) of obstructing investigators.

The issue came to light during a meeting of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, where MPs were briefed on the status of corruption cases within the SANDF being handled by the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit.

DA defence spokesperson Chris Hattingh said: "accountability has collapsed, with the South African National Defence Force actively blocking investigations by the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit." He said MPs were told that these were serious criminal matters, not audit mistakes, yet years of investigation had produced no major prosecutions and almost no money recovered. Hattingh added that: "corruption inside the defence system is not only tolerated but actively protected" and argued that the public could no longer trust Minister Angie Motshekga to safeguard national security.

To respond to the scale of the failures revealed in the committee hearing, the DA says it will push for strong action against the senior officials responsible for financial oversight in the defence portfolio, arguing that they failed to recover the missing money or discipline those implicated. It also wants Parliament to receive detailed quarterly updates showing which cases led to prosecutions, what funds were recovered, and what disciplinary steps were taken.

The party said SANDF obstruction was illegal and openly violated the laws governing public money and defence conduct. It highlighted Special Investigative Units reports that long-standing disciplinary cases linked to illegal tenders had been ignored, while delays by the Hawks and missing documents within the National Prosecuting Authority risked allowing billions to disappear permanently.