Taking complaints – in one instance about an unserviceable toilet at an SA Army base to a public representative – drew response from the Department of Defence (DoD) in the form of its Head of Communication (HoC).

Carl Niehaus, designated Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Parliamentary point man on matters defence and military veterans, was alerted to an out of order toilet at Makhanda-based 6 SA Infantry (SAI) Battalion. A video clip of the unserviceable bathroom was sent to the Member of Parliament (MP) and pounced on by the outspoken Niehaus.

Forwarding it on one of his social media accounts he starts by stating that he has been asked why his contributions to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) and the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) are “becoming increasingly angry”. Answering himself, he puts it that SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers and military veterans are subjected to “the most awful abuse and neglect” with Parliament’s oversight role “outrageously and dismissively disregarded”.

“I take no pleasure in posting this terrible video of the disgusting condition of a bathroom” at 6 SAI, he wrote. “However, it is high time to reveal the abuse that our SANDF soldiers are being subjected to, and to expose the senior Generals. Enough is really enough!”

The posts were responded to by Siphiwe Dlamini, DoD HoC, by way of a statement. It notes the structure referred to by Niehaus is not occupied and “not used for occupation or any other purpose” adding a scope of work to refurbish it was done by “the Defence Works Regiment” ahead of future use.

Quick on the uptake, Niehaus turned to social media again saying, among others, the Dlamini statement, is not truthful. “The SANDF’s statement is dishonest once again. They are attempting to cover up and lie about the dire circumstances our soldiers face.”

Niehaus explains that “the video was sent to me by a soldier stationed at 6 SAI Bn. While unpleasant to examine closely, it clearly shows that the toilets had recently been used when the footage was recorded. The soldier shared it in outrage, as a desperate plea for help regarding the appalling conditions he and his colleagues endure. To protect the soldier, I cannot reveal his identity. It is a grave issue that SANDF members fear retribution and victimization if they speak out about the terrible living and working conditions at their bases”.

In a related opinion piece, Niehaus said the 6 SAI exposure is not just about one battalion or one video — “it uncovers a nationwide scandal of dereliction that robs our soldiers of their dignity. During oversight visits by the Portfolio Committee and the Joint Standing Committee, we have seen the horrors up close.

At Thaba Tshwane in Pretoria, the so-called ‘Brown Flats’ are a disgrace: crumbling buildings with leaking roofs, faulty plumbing that floods living quarters, and electrical wiring so hazardous it poses a constant threat to life. These are not barracks; they are slums unfit for habitation… And this is not confined to Pretoria or Grahamstown—similar reports emerge from bases across South Africa, from Limpopo to the Western Cape.”

The EFF representative goes on to note the human cost includes families who have lost loved ones in preventable fires sparked by defective wiring in housing long declared uninhabitable. “Our soldiers are humiliated daily — forced to queue for broken showers, endure pest infestations, and live in fear of structural collapses.”

“Consider the story of one soldier from 6 SAI Bn, whose plight exemplifies this betrayal. Deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC) in the eastern DRC, he was grievously wounded, losing both legs in a brutal attack. He fought with valour for regional stability and our collective security, yet upon his return, he faced not rehabilitation and honour, but further indignity. Back at his base, he encountered the same substandard conditions: inadequate housing, lack of proper support, and now, inadequate medical care at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria.

Once a premier institution renowned for its excellence in treating military personnel, this hospital has been reduced to a shambles through years of corruption, maladministration, and neglect. Critical facilities like emergency theatres and radiology units remain incomplete, renovations stalled amid scandals of misappropriated funds. Lawmakers have raised alarms about the Repair and Maintenance Programme’s paralysis, yet the leadership dithers. This wounded hero who sacrificed his legs for our safety now endures subpar treatment in a facility that is a shadow of its former self.”

Niehaus claims the root of the crisis lies squarely with the SANDF’s leadership, living in opulent homes funded by taxpayer money, enjoying perks that include chauffeured vehicles and lavish allowances, while the rank-and-file wallow in squalor. “Their callousness is evident in the persistent underfunding of basics — protective gear during deployments, mental health support post-trauma, and even nutritious meals. In the DRC mission, troops have reported shortages of essential equipment, leading to unnecessary casualties.”

He warns that incompetence at the top trickles down, manifesting in low morale, high desertion rates, and a force ill-equipped to defend South Africa’s sovereignty. The EFF continues to call for audits, prosecutions of corrupt officials, and a reallocation of budgets to prioritise soldiers’ needs.

While not at the same level of interaction, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Chris Hattingh who, like Niehaus sits on the JSCD and PCDMV, told defenceWeb a specific agenda item for a joint meeting of the defence oversight committees Minister Angie Motshekga alluded to in her reply to at least four Parliamentary questions did not happen.

She deferred direct answers on the condition of SANDF prime mission equipment (PME) including the SA Navy (SAN) replenishment vessel SAS Drakensberg (A301), its Type 209 Heroine Class submarines and the Valour Class frigates. In all instances Motshekga cited “security” as a reason for not going into detail, writing instead she would explain to a closed, joint JSCD/PCDMV meeting during Parliament’s third term this year. That term, according to Parliament, finished on 21 September with no joint meeting having taken place.

“It did not happen,” Hattingh told defenceWeb, adding, “it [the ministerial reply to Parliamentary questions] has become a fairly standard response on equipment, even more do when there is the possibility of embarrassment in the response”. By Kim Helfrich/Guy Martin, Defense Web