SA Navy hands over inquiry report to Hawks in submarine tragedy investigation

The SA Navy has handed over a copy of the Board of Inquiry's investigation to the Hawks, as the investigation into the death of three people in the submarine tragedy in Kommetjie in 2023 continues.

In a media release issued on Tuesday night, SA Navy public relations officer, Commander Theo Mabina, said it forms part of the ongoing investigation.

“The SA Navy handed over a copy of the Board of Inquiry to the Hawks during a meeting held on Tuesday, July 8, at Naval Headquarters, in Pretoria,” he said.

“The engagements were meant to assist the Hawks with their ongoing investigations into the tragic incident wherein the SA Navy lost three of its submariners following a vertical transfer exercise between SAS MANTHATISI and SA Air Force Maritime Lynx helicopter in September 2023. 

“The Chief of the SA Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese subsequently convened a Board of Inquiry on the incident.

“This meeting and engagement with the Hawks underscores the Navy's commitment to transparency, cooperation and accountability, as the Chief of the SA Navy has always maintained that the organisation will, within the confines of the laws and regulations communicate the outcomes of the Board whenever the need arise.”

Last month, the widower of Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector, Romero Hector, under his TikTok account name Romero&GillianHector, went public, announcing that he was going to embark on a cycling campaign titled: #justice4submarine3 in which he vowed to complete 800 kilometres within four days by capturing and documenting his journey.

This was after the SA Navy confirmed that the reopening of the BOI had been completed and that the report was 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 the vertical transfer exercise.

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

Earlier, DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, said evidence showed that serious failures in planning and operational oversight directly contributed to the fatal outcome and called for declassification of the report.

The SANDF also rejected the claim that they were refusing to release the report or obstructing justice.

They added that they were fully cooperating with the Hawks and that they were supporting the families.

Romero via his lawyer in June said they welcomed  the call by the DA for declassification of the report.

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.

Lobese 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 withstand the force of nature. 

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