By OBAKENG MAJE
9 July 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the handover of the Kommetjie investigation report to the Hawks is long overdue, but it is an essential first step toward justice. The DA said for months, secrecy has smothered this tragedy, fuelling suspicion and outrage.
The DA spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans and Member of Parliament (MP), Chris Hattingh said choosing to push ahead with a high-risk vertical transfer exercise, despite clear weather warnings and a blatant disregard for critical safety protocols, was more than reckless. Hattingh said it was a decision that cost lives.
He further said the evidence now confirms what many feared. Hattingh added that catastrophic failures in planning, risk management and operational oversight directly led to the deaths of Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Hector and her two colleagues.
“But, these were not isolated mistakes, they are the predictable consequence of a defence force stripped bare by years of financial neglect, collapsing capabilities, and absent leadership. This is what happens when critical skills are lost, equipment is left to rot, and operational safety becomes an afterthought.
“That the Hawks see possible grounds for culpable homicide charges underscores the gravity of the failings on that day. Justice delayed is justice denied. The families of the fallen deserve closure. South Africans deserve answers. If negligence is proven, those responsible must be held fully accountable, swiftly and without compromise,” he said.
Hattingh said the lives lost at Kommetjie must not become just another footnote in the SANDF’s growing list of avoidable tragedies. He said the DA will continue to fight for transparency and accountability in the SANDF.
“We will push relentlessly for the full truth around Kommetjie to be made public and for those responsible to face the consequences of their actions or inaction. Our armed forces must be rebuilt into a professional, well-led institution that protects both its own members and the people of South Africa. Kommetjie must mark a turning point, not another cover-up,” said Hattingh.
The Guardian 