SANDF employees granted bail after alleged theft of rifles in Lyttleton

Two military workers, arrested for allegedly stealing rifles from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Pretoria, were both granted bail by the Court of Senior Military Judge on Wednesday.

The two, Lance Corporal Sidwel Babini Tyawana (36) and Sapper Tumelo Christian Mangale (28) were arrested in February this year.

Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, said the two suspects were arrested following a joint investigation by the Military Police and the Gauteng branch of the Hawks’ National Priority Violent Crimes (NPVC) after 18 R4 rifles and three pistols went missing from SA Army Engineer Formation in Tek Base in Lyttleton.

“The joint investigation led to the arrest of Tyawana in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, on 3 February this year. Two days later on 5 February, Mangale was arrested while on duty at SA Army Engineer Formation.”

He said the joint investigation discovered that the stolen firearms were hidden, while others were sold to different individuals, particularly in the East Rand area.

“Following leads, another suspect, Kgotso Mooketsi (36), an employee of the Department of Education in Gauteng who was out on bail for an unrelated armed robbery case, was arrested in Springs in possession of an R4 rifle and three empty magazines.

“Mooketsi, was charged and appeared at the Springs magistrate’s court on February and April respectively. He was remanded in custody pending his next court appearance on 4 May.”

Mulaudzi said a pursuit by the joint investigations team led them to Daveyton where a further 13 R4 rifles and a 9mm pistol were recovered.

“Another firearm, a 9mm pistol, was recovered in a veld in Kwa-Thema. The recovered firearms were sent for ballistic testing in Pretoria. The two suspects under the employment of the SANDF are expected back in court at Thaba-Tshwane on 17 June.”

The National Head of the DPCI Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has applauded the joint investigation team and urged them not to rest until the remaining unaccounted firearms were recovered and also to make sure everyone involved is brought to book.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Solly Shoke, has commended the swift action of the joint investigations team that led to the arrest of the suspects. General Shoke reiterated that the military is not the place for criminals and that those found committing a crime will be dealt with and will face the full might of the law.