Hawks investigating SA Navy fraud, theft, and corruption worth half a billion rand
The Hawks are investigating five cases of fraud, theft, and corruption within the South African Navy (SAN) worth nearly half a billion rand. This was revealed by the Hawks, officially the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), on 12 November during a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV).
Updating the committee on its cases pertaining to the defence portfolio, the Hawks stated that nine cases involve the Department of Defence, four involve the Department of Military Veterans, and one relates to material irregularities. The cases go back as far as 2009 and were passed to the Hawks in the wake of seemingly stonewalled investigations by Military Police (MP).
Deputy Minister of Police, Dr Polly Boshielo, told the PCDMV that the Military Police took a long time to refer to cases and then military officers refused to cooperate with them.
“It is alleged that the appointment of the service provider whose documents were tampered with was irregular. Total amount of the tender was R52 000 000.”
The case was reported by the Military Police in 2018 and referred to the Hawks in July 2024. To date, 42 statements have been taken to support corruption and fraud charges in this specific investigation.
Fraud and theft are suspected in another SAN contract to supply the Navy with spares for surface and submarine vessels for a period of three years. The contract, awarded in 2017/18, is valued at R395 million. “Internal investigations reveal that the service provider supplied the SA Navy with sub-standard spares, claiming that the spares were procured in Germany whilst they were procured locally,” the Hawks stated. The case was reported by the Military Police in 2018 and referred to the Hawks in mid-2024. Witness statements are being obtained.
Another case involves the SAS Umzimkhulu, covering invoices submitted for work done between November 2015 and February 2021. The service provider was paid R16 million without the Navy knowing that services were never rendered – something confirmed by an internal investigation. This case was reported by the Military Police in 2021 and referred to the Hawks in July last year. Seven statements have been obtained in the ongoing investigation. According to the Sunday Times, the R16 million contract was awarded to GRIMMS. GRIMMS founder Shafiek Hendricks has dismissed the allegations.
Format of the original report also notes that the cases involve material irregularities and that investigations span multiple years with involvement from the Military Police and the Department of Defence and Military Veterans.
Доcтаточно, показатели указывают на системные нарушения и попытки скрыть факты через подделку документов и завышение контрактных сумм.
Авторская резюме: Расследование дел о мошенничестве в Южноафриканском флоте охватывает пять случаев на десятки миллионов рэнд, демонстрируя устойчивость коррупционных схем и необходимость реформ для обеспечения прозрачности и подотчетности в оборонном секторе. [120–200 символ]