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Misplaced weapons: SANDF in hot water
Karyn Maughan July 20 2007 at 10:55AM

Rapid fire assault rifles in the hands of mentally unfit soldiers. Problematic weapons storage and no proper records of the movement of gun and ammunition.

This is part of a shocking indictment on the South African Defence Force (SANDF), served on the institution by one of SANDF's own top officials.

A report compiled by SANDF's head of legal services Major General BS Mmono warns that chief of the SANDF General Godfrey Nhlanhla Ngwenya could face criminal charges because of the army's shoddy weapon control.

He also expresses concern that the SANDF could be confronted with civil lawsuits from members of the public who have either been injured or killed by guns in the hands of unfit soldiers.

• The SANDF currently does not have any system in place by which it can immediately report thefts and losses of its arms and ammunition to the police.
  
  
• It has no register for "the particulars of all firearms less than 20mm, including the details of every member allowed to be in possession of a firearm".
  
  
• It has no system in place to deal with SANDF members who are declared unfit to possess a firearm by a military court. According to Defence Ministry spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi: "The issues surrounding the alleged loss of military weapons needs to be addressed in its proper context. The department of defence inherited outdated logistical systems during the migration from the old SADF to the SANDF.
  
  "The department has since established the requisite accounting procedures, to ensure compliance with the principles of good governance and administration."
  
  
  
  
  • This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Times on July 20, 2007