Shape up or ship out, sailors told
Admiral cracks down on crime in the ranks amid morale crisis
● Theft and ill-discipline aboard warships and at naval bases have prompted a security clampdown led by the chief of the navy.
Vice Admiral Mosiwa Hlongwane has ordered members of his command to spare “no quarter” in restoring law and order to the navy, which he says is being undermined from within.
“I have instructed my unit commanders to deal with any criminals in the strongest possible terms,” Hlongwane told the Sunday Times this week.
“Some members have been stripped of their ranks, slapped with heavy fines, incarcerated in detention barracks and discharged from the service.”
The crackdown follows widespread reports of theft, ill-discipline and dwindling morale which some believe is linked to significant budget cuts.
In the latest edition of Navy News, Hlongwane launched a broadside, saying: “Of particular concern to me is security on board our ships and in the units and bases.
“I have given my command cadre express instruction to deal very harshly with incidents of theft.
“The punitive measures will be most severe and in keeping with those of other militaries around the world.”
Hlongwane told the Sunday Times he had decided to act in the interests of safeguard- ing vital equipment and weaponry.
“We take this responsibility seriously and I wanted to reiterate to members of the SA Navy how serious this situation is. We regard any theft or loss of equipment as totally unacceptable.” As a result of the firm response, incidents of ill-discipline had markedly decreased, the admiral said. Recent security breaches include:
● Theft of ammunition from a depot above Simon’s Town;
● Theft of bulk food supplies and vehicle spares;
● Dismantling of two antenna farms at the high-security Silvermine base, where thieves made off with more than 5km of copper cable; and
● Violence and rowdy behaviour at Waterfall barracks in Simon’s Town.
In one incident, a sailor was stabbed and seriously wounded by a fellow recruit. The guilty man, convicted in a military tribunal, was symbolically stripped of his rank and marched out of the navy gates in a full parade.
Military consultant and author HelmoedRömer Heitman said: “I’m glad they are doing it now because it is time. Sometimes we are an embarrassment to other African militaries. But it tends not to be the real soldiers who have a discipline problem; it is the slobs who hang around at the bases.”
Heitman said the problem stemmed from budget cuts that translated into less time at sea and more sitting around.
“The navy’s morale is down and there is no money to go to sea. The moment that happens, discipline slips.”
Rear Admiral Arne Söderlund, former director of fleet force preparation, said budget cuts had added urgency to the task of restoring discipline.
“Due to reticence by naval headquarters in the past to put youngsters back on the street after their two years’ military skills development, the navy grew, with few leaving as planned. This resulted in increasing personnel costs plus limited promotion prospects, which did not help morale.”