Commando rip-off probed
2004-10-10 08:33
Johannesburg - Military police in Pretoria have clamped down on a network of allegedly corrupt commando members in Brits and Tshwane who have claimed hundreds of thousands of rands from the defence department for duties they apparently did not perform.
Twenty-seven commando members from the Brits regiment were arrested three weeks ago and two from the Tshwane regiment were arrested last week. Seven are still on the run in Tshwane.
Sources close to the investigation said close to 2 000 commando members could be investigated nationally for allegedly defrauding the state by claiming for work they did not do.
All the suspects were released on bail and police are expecting more arrests in other provinces.
Police said the alleged corruption is thought to have cost the department hundreds of thousands of rands and they believe the activities date back as far as 1998.
A major in a commando unit earns R5 000 a month, while a lieutenant colonel earns about R8 000.
Commandos operate under the authority of the regional command of the South African National Defence Force but are organised and deployed in a tradition similar to that of the US National Guard.
Originally they were volunteers trained for quick response to local emergencies. During the apartheid era they were used to quell protests against the apartheid regime.
In 2002 the government announced its intention to phase out the commandos over a six-year period.
The arrested suspects include professionals such as teachers, clerks and state department employees.
"Some of these people are families, like the father, daughter, son, son-in-law and so on.
"In one family their father passed away in April this year but they booked him on duty to collect the money," said one of the investigators.
Police believe the practice is nationwide. The fraud and corruption allegedly includes the private use of state vehicles allocated to the commandos.
"The law must take its course," said defence ministry spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi, adding that the process of phasing out commandos was on track.
Commandos generally serve a total of 1 000 days active duty over a period of 10 or 12 years.
In emergencies, the period of active duty is increased in increments of 50 days.