Did a top-ranking army official receive a R900,000 caravan as a birthday present from South African taxpayers?
That’s the question at the centre of a forensic probe currently underway after questions about military spending were submitted to parliament late last year.
The alleged benefactor of taxpayer largesse is Maj-Gen Mzikayise Tyhalisi, the general commanding officer for army support, who is accused of benefiting from “budget support” in the form of an expensive birthday present funded by army bases under his command.
The forensic probe, instituted by the defence and military veterans department, was prompted by witness statements that army support bases were ordered to each contribute about R25,000 from their funds to buy Tyhalisi’s R900,000 caravan gift. It is still unclear whether the gift was ever received – or acquired.
News of the probe emerged in a parliamentary reply from defence and military veterans minister Thandi Modise in response to a question from DA MP and spokesperson on defence Kobus Marais.
Surely, spending R900k on a caravan is ludicrous, irresponsible, most probably irregular
— DA spokesperson on defence Kobus Marais
Marais asked Modise if “any investigation has been conducted into the specified alleged spending intended for the daily rations of men and women in uniform, part of which apparently was appropriated from the defence budget at R128 a day for each person”.
He also asked “whether she found that the specified expenditure was ludicrous, frivolous, and wasteful”.
In her response Modise confirmed her department had instituted a forensic probe into the allegations. She confirmed having received witness statements corroborating the claim that base contributions had been requested.
“In one of the investigations, instituted in August 2022, that is still in progress, witnesses provided sworn statements stating that there was a requirement for contributions to buy a present for the member in question,” Modise said.
“At the conclusion of the investigation, which was preliminary to establish facts, it was decided that a forensic investigation must further be conducted to establish any wrong-doing based on the nature of the allegations, that is fraud and/or corruption at the Army Support Base Garrison on non-public funds.
"Thus far, the investigation has been handed over to the inspector-general of the department to start with forensic investigation.”
Marais said it was unacceptable that Tyahalisi has “so much influence” over the South African Army Foundation.
“Surely, spending R900k on a caravan is ludicrous, irresponsible, most probably irregular and a waste of money,” he said. “I welcome this forensic investigation, but will insist that this investigation by the IG (inspector-general) not unfairly be delayed.
“Wasting money on unnecessary luxuries has become a norm which must be stopped.”
“We need a paradigm shift in how priorities are identified and funded. We as the public and the DA expect the general officers must lead by example to illuminate wasteful expenditure and to determine new priorities to utilise the SANDF to best serve South Africa,” said Marais.
Siphiwe Dlamini, the departmental spokesperson, did not respond to the Sunday Times’ questions.
Tyhalisi was central to a recent army bakery initiative – where army bases were instructed to start baking their own bread as part of a cost-cutting initiative. Tyhalisi attended the official opening of a commemorative plaque at the first new army bakery in 2021.
Attempts to reach Tyhalisi for comment were unsuccessful.
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