Cape Town – While the SA Navy, SA National Defence Force and the Minister of Defence pass the buck on the outcome of a board of inquiry into what happened 10 months ago when three naval officers died during a naval exercise in bad weather off the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, a grieving husband says he wants answers.
Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Hector was the first woman in Africa to navigate a submarine, the SAS Manthatisi.
On September 20 last year, despite warnings from the SA Weather Service, the Heroine-class submarine was conducting a training exercise in rough conditions when tragedy struck.
Hector, together with Warrant Officers William Masela Mathipa and Mmokwapa Lucas Mojela, were killed when high waves hit the SAS Manthatisi while the boat was involved in a so-called vertical transfer exercise with a SAAF Lynx maritime helicopter.
The incident occurred off Kommetjie, a local surf spot known for its massive waves. The submarine was on its way to Cape Town. Seven crew were swept into the sea; only four survived.
Hector’s husband Romero Hector said he is yet to receive the final outcome of the inquiry into the deaths of the three naval officers.
Romero, also a naval officer is restricted from speaking to the media, told Weekend Argus he could not say much, but that he deserved to know the truth after warnings were issued by the weather service just days and hours before the September 20 tragedy.
“My patience is running out and I want answers. It is approaching 10 months now and there has been no report on the incident. I have documents from the weather service. There is a clear indication that warnings were ignored. I have lost a lot.”
Romero and their son, Tristan, have since relocated from Cape Town to Gqeberha, where he is able to rely on his family for support. The couple, who were dating for years married in 2021.
At the ceremony, Romero was smartly dressed in his white naval uniform, while Hector looked radiant and beautiful in her wedding dress, and was described as the “Queen of the Sea” by relatives following her death.
She was born in Port Elizabeth and joined the SA Navy in 2010. She joined the Submariner Branch in 2015, completing her general submarine course that year. She qualified as a submariner in 2018. She also completed a BMil in Technology at the Military Academy.
After the incident, SA Navy Chief, Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese, said the tragedy was due to “Mother Nature” rather than any lack of professionalism on the part of the SA Navy.
Prior to the tragedy, the weather bureau indicated that a spring tide had been experienced in Cape Town, with metres-high swells.
Mojela was a coxswain under training on board the SAS Manthatisi. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Mathipa was the coxswain on board the SAS Manthatisi. He joined the SA Navy in 1997. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
The SA Navy appointed a Board of Inquiry. Last month, Angie Motshekga, the former basic education minister, was named as the new Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Weekend Argus approached her office for a response to questions about the outcome of the inquiry, but media spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the SA Navy was best positioned to comment.
“Commander Theo Mabina is the one who has to give the outcome to the media,” he said.
Brigadier-General Xolani Mabangu of the SANDF said their naval offices would be formulating a response soon.
Yesterday, SA Navy Communications’ Ruwayda Grootboom said Mabina was not available to comment on the matter, after numerous attempts were made to reach him the entire week.
“Commander Mabina is currently our acting head of public relations and is the person that is able to comment on the matter… he is currently out of office.”
In February, in a response to Weekend Argus, Mabina said the findings of an investigation by the Board of Inquiry were handed over to SA Navy Chief, Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese.
He said the matter was set down for review before it could be sent to the Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans to be finalised.
He also confirmed that SANDF legal officials would review the board’s findings to verify whether compliance and regulations had been followed.
Former minister of defence and military veterans Thandi Modise was also expected to be briefed on the outcome before the inquiry was deemed completed.
Mabina earlier said that the inquiry process was intended to check, reconcile and ensure compliance with the terms of reference issued by the convening authority.
“Once the evaluation process is finished, the Chief of the SA Navy will brief the Chief of the SANDF, who will in turn brief the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans,” he had stated.
“The board will not be considered finished until all these processes are completed.”
The board of inquiry panel included four people. The cause of death was yet to be revealed publicly.
According to the Defence Force’s website on Board of Inquiry standard procedure for incidents, the board was to have completed its work by November last year, the day it was given an extension with no date attached.
At the time the board started work – on October 11 – the SAN’s public relations department indicated its outcome would be “shared within the prescripts of the law and in line with SANDF policies and procedures”.