Opposition parties have expressed outrage at the Department of Defence and state-owned military manufacturer Denel following revelations of irregularities in procurement processes and contract awards. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) uncovered these discrepancies during investigations presented to parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa).
One of the investigations focused on Denel’s board of directors approving a 10-year contract in 2007 for the purchase of 264 Badger vehicles from Armscor, a deal worth R8.3 billion. Despite Armscor paying over R8.1 billion, only 21 vehicles were completed, and the entity had not taken delivery of them.
Additionally, the SIU looked into the procurement of Microsoft software licenses by the Department of Defence and Military Veterans from 2016 to 2019, involving IT company EOH and a company referred to as “Software.” Civil proceedings have been initiated at the special tribunal to cancel contracts valued at approximately R467 million.
These revelations have sparked anger among political parties, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) criticizing the mismanagement at Denel and the Department of Defence. The DA highlighted the impact of these issues on South Africa’s soldiers, particularly referencing the recent deaths of 13 soldiers during a rebel attack in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
ActionSA also vowed to hold Defence Minister Angie Motshekga accountable for addressing corruption, mismanagement, and incompetence within the department. The party emphasized the importance of safeguarding national security and the well-being of defence force personnel.
Scopa chair Songezo Zibi announced that Motshekga is scheduled to appear before the committee on 18 February to address these concerns. The ongoing investigations and revelations underscore the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and ethical governance within the defence sector to ensure the safety and effectiveness of South Africa’s military operations.
