Families demand transparency in submarine tragedy investigation

The widower of Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector, who was among three people who died in the submarine tragedy in Kommetjie in 2023, has welcomed the DA's demand to declassify and publicly release the SA Navy’s internal investigation report. 

This comes as the SANDF last night said the re-opened Board of Inquiry (BOI) has been completed and the report is being processed by the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) legal team.

Hector, Warrant Officer William Malesela Mathipa, and Warrant Officer Mokwapa Lucas Mojela were killed during a storm when high waves impacted a vertical transfer exercise involving the South African Air Force Maritime Lynx helicopter and the SA Navy’s submarine SAS Manthatisi in Kommetjie on September 20, 2023.

The submarine was en route to Cape Town when seven crew members were swept out to sea during the incident, of whom four survived.

DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, said evidence shows that serious failures in planning and operational oversight directly contributed to the fatal outcome..

“The report, finalised in December 2023, remains hidden behind a wall of secrecy, censored by Defence Intelligence and withheld from the victims’ families, their legal representatives, and even the Hawks,” said Hattingh. 

In a commentary shared with the Cape Argus via his lawyer, Hector's widower, Romero Hector, said the families had not been given full insight into the report. 

“The demand by the DA into the declassification and release of the BOI is welcomed. It is welcomed with tears in my eyes,” said Romero.

“I have been fighting behind the scenes to get this done and finally two other institutions are assisting in this regard. The Hawks and the DA."

Hector’s attorney had written to the SANDF and the Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, calling for transparency and the reopening of the first BOI as a secondary portion.

In response, the SANDF last night said: "The SAN (South African Navy) is committed to full cooperation with the law enforcement authorities within the confines of formal protocols and legal procedures. The re-opened BOI has been completed. The report is currently being processed by the PAIA legal team. Once the necessary legal procedures, including declassification and sign-off by relevant authorities (Defence Intelligence, SANDF, and the Secretary of Defence), are completed, a response will be provided in accordance with PAIA requirements. In addition, it can be confirmed that the Navy is in contact with Commander Hector’s legal representatives regarding their requests and concerns. The SAN is not in a position to comment on Commander Hector’s personal circumstances or family arrangements."

During the one year anniversary, Lobese hosted a memorial for families renaming of submarine buildings in their honour.

Gillian Hector was the first female officer to navigate a submarine in Africa.

He also shared insight into the BOI with the media, in which he said equipment such as safety gear and the safety line and life jackets could not with stand the force of nature.

Cape Argus