A senior military official who raised the alarm over ANC members allegedly linked to President Cyril Ramaphosa holding meetings at a military base in Joburg south, in violation of the law, has instead landed in hot water with the SANDF top brass.
In his submission to the SANDF board of investigations, Captain Romano Lottering, revealed that weapons went missing from the base in the south of Johannesburg after the meetings, and that one was later recovered during an armed robbery.
Sunday World understands that on March 15, the South African Army Grievances Committee deliberated on the complaint by Lottering that the incident violated the military code of conduct.
Soldiers are prohibited by law from getting involved in politics and “state resources should not be used to advance the interests of a political party by providing weapons and guards to protect those politicians”.
Lottering, who is also the leader of the South African Armed Forces Union, wrote in an affidavit under oath, dated January 17, 2023, that on the morning of July 29, 2022, he saw police sniffer dogs and handlers busy at the battalion headquarters sweeping the area. His investigation revealed that civilians, described to him as “Ramaphosa’s people”, who were attending the ANC’s policy conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg, used the office to host discussions.
He then queried the appropriateness of the arrangement with the regiment sergeant major running the base, who confirmed that “he was told it is Ramaphosa’s people”.
Lottering said the implicated lieutenant colonel, whose name is known to Sunday World, allocated weapons and guards to protect the ANC members.
“I even launched a complaint in September 2022 but have not received any feedback. [I] will give details to the committee,” Lottering wrote.
He wanted the implicated lieutenant colonel charged “in order to prevent the future misuse of state resources and the abuse of power by seniors”.
However, the committee noted that Lottering refused to participate in the proceedings and failed to submit his reasons for refusal in writing.
On April 26, the committee ruled that army grievances committee “took note that, as a primary witness, you made allegations based on a non-factual event and failed to substantiate your allegation”.
The SA Army Grievances Committee said it could not meet the desired outcome due to insufficient evidence. The committee endorsed the decision that Lottering “must be charged for making unsubstantiated allegations against a senior officer of the SANDF”.
It gave Lottering five days to provide reasons for referring the grievance to a higher level. Lottering wrote back that he disagreed with the ruling. “The chairperson is not truthful with her findings, as she never requested me to make any written submissions. The chairperson did not address my concerns that I raised with the board.
“I have raised unhappiness with the board that it looks like their intention was to discredit my evidence,” he continued.
Lottering said the investigators wanted to use as a witness the regiment sergeant major, who was not present during the incident. I have also noted that a decision was taken to charge me. I want to inform you that it will be a malicious prosecution, and I will definitely sue after the case.”
He said his facts were not questionable, including that he saw members of the SAPS with sniffer dogs when they swept the “offices where these politicians were having the meetings from 29 July 2022 to 31 July 2022.
Lottering cautioned against giving his commander “an unlawful instruction” to charge him. “Even if I refer my grievance to the next higher level, I do not expect any positive outcome. I still believe, at the right time, I will get justice in an independent forum. I hereby submit my objection,” said Lottering.
Defence spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said on Friday that he would require more information before he could comment.
