Three foreign nationals have been arrested after joint SANDF and SAPS operations recovered stolen military weapons in Mooiplaas, Pretoria.
The South African National Defence Force said the intelligence-driven operations led to the recovery of multiple grenade launchers and an R4 assault rifle.
In a statement on Tuesday, the SANDF said a joint team “mobilised on foot” during the first operation and arrested two foreign nationals.
The suspects appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on 8 June 2026.
Bail was denied and the matter was remanded to 19 June.
Second operation nets another suspect
The SANDF said a second operation took place in Mooiplaas last Wednesday.
The team was reinforced by members of the SANDF’s 13 Provost Company.
During that operation, another foreign national was arrested and another multiple grenade launcher was recovered.
The latest suspect was expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
“The Military Police remain resolute in their mission: they will not rest until every suspect has been brought to justice and the last outstanding weapon has been recovered,” the SANDF said.
Weapons theft raises concern
The arrests come amid growing concern over weapons theft from military facilities.
Economic Freedom Fighters MP Carl Niehaus, who serves on Parliament’s defence committees, recently linked the thefts to what he described as signs of collapse within the SANDF.
Niehaus referred to an incident on 27 April, when thieves allegedly entered the Thaba Tshwane military precinct and stole weapons.
“This is happening right now, in the heart of our country’s largest military establishment,” he wrote in an opinion article.
He said the incident was part of a wider pattern he had warned about for years.
Defence force under scrutiny
The Thaba Tshwane precinct and 1 Military Hospital have also faced scrutiny in Parliament.
MPs have raised concerns about the poor state of the hospital despite more than R1 billion being allocated and spent on renovations.
The Department of Defence has confirmed it is assessing long-term options for military healthcare infrastructure.
Brigadier General Selinah Rawlins said the hospital’s ageing infrastructure had serious limitations.
“The present facility no longer meets the standard required for a military hospital of its kind,” she said.
She said a new facility was being considered because the current hospital may not accommodate modern medical equipment, even after refurbishment.