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In the past 18 months the Military Police have investigated thousands of their colleagues in the SANDF for a myriad of criminal offences, including the alleged breaching of international military laws.

The revelation comes amid opposition calls in Parliament for President Thabo Mbeki to appoint someone with the political will to ensure that discipline and professionalism are restored in the SANDF.

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, in reply to parliamentary questions, said that between April 2005 and September 3 this year, 891 crimes had been reported to the Military Police Agency. The alleged crimes were committed both within and outside South Africa.

These offences include the breaching of several international agreements with the United Nations and the African Union. The breaches are believed to include, among others, at least 400 cases of sexual offences and the theft of military equipment.

These cases, according to the SANDF, do not include crimes committed by SA troops which were reported to the SAPS, the UN or the AU.

Adding to these criminal cases are another 3 377 unfinalised cases that were carried over from the 2004/05 financial year.

Of the 7 268 cases currently being investigated, military and civilian courts finalised 1 091 cases in the past 18 months, leaving 5 968 cases still to be investigated and prosecuted.

The cases reported to Military Police between April 2005 and September, said Lekota in reply to DA questions, included 1 106 cases of theft, 391 house burglaries and 272 cases of common assault.

DA defence spokesperson Roy Jankielsohn said the Auditor-General had “hit the nail on the head” in several of his reports over the past couple of years when he raised concerns about serious problems relating to poor personnel and asset management within the SANDF.

He said: “It is the poor management skills, as well as the lack of investigative resources, that are causing this criminal crisis within the defence force.

“It is clear that the Military Police are completely under-resourced when it comes to successfully investigating crimes committed by their colleagues.”

Jankielsohn, who added that the SANDF was fast becoming a haven for criminals, said if criminality was to be stamped out within the SANDF then Lekota needed to take drastic steps to bring back discipline to the defence force.

“It is clear from the high number of cases being reported to the Military Police that there is a complete lack of discipline within the SANDF.

“The minister has to show a lot more interest in his portfolio and play a more active role in supplying the defence force management with the necessary political and strategic direction if criminality is to be stamped out in the SANDF,” said Jankielsohn, adding that the key deterrent would be the certainty of punishment.

He said criminal activity was flourishing within the defence force because troops knew that they could get away with their crimes and need not fear prosecution.

“If the minister is unwilling or unable to take responsibility, the President needs to appoint someone who has the political will to ensure discipline and professionalism within our national defence force,” he said.

Defence spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.