Arms Deal

In August 1994, Steyn was appointed the inaugural Secretary for Defence, a new civilian position at the head of the Department of Defence. He resigned in August 1998.^[1] He has said that he resigned because of financial management and procurement irregularities relating to the Arms Deal, which was signed in 1999 after his departure. He testified about the deal at the Arms Procurement Commission in May 2014, and was highly critical of the conduct of former Defence Minister Joe Modise and former SADF Chief of Acquisition Shamin "Chippy" Shaik.^[3][4][8]

The Night of the Generals

In December 1992, in what is sometimes known as "the Night of the Generals,"^[12] de Klerk met with Steyn and, the next day, announced that 23 SADF members had been compelled to retire or suspended pending further investigation.^[7][10][13] In Steyn's account, he had presented a situation report on his investigation to de Klerk, but had not recommended any specific actions or dismissals; instead, de Klerk had decided on the dismissals following consultation with SADF leadership.^[7]

Further reports and aftermath

Steyn submitted several further reports to de Klerk before the Commission closed in July 1993.^[7] Some of the matters raised by Steyn were referred back to the Goldstone Commission or were taken up by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.^[9]

A criminal investigation was conducted into implicated SADF officers, at Steyn's recommendation. According to SADF Chief Georg Meiring, the investigation was initiated in January 1993 under the Attorneys-General of the Transvaal and Witswatersrand, but was unable to substantiate Steyn's allegations.^[7] Ultimately, Wouter Basson, one of the generals suspended in December 1992,^[11] was the only SADF official to face criminal charges for activities investigated by the Steyn Commission.^[9][14] Indeed, Steyn had noted in his first report that his suspicions would be difficult to prove conclusively, especially due to the destruction of records and other evidence by SADF officials.^[10][15]

Findings

The report of the Commission was partly leaked in 1997, but only declassified in 2006.^[16][17] According to the Mail and Guardian, President Nelson Mandela had decided that its findings were so "explosive" that their publication might threaten the stability of the post-apartheid transition.^[18] The report shows that the Commission found prima facie, but primarily under-corroborated, indication that SADF members had been involved in:

• Extra-judicial killings, including by poison^[11][17]
• Chemical attacks^[9]
• Weapons stockpiling in Portugal, elsewhere in Africa, and domestically^[9][17]
• Corruption^[9][17]
• Train violence and hostel violence^[17]
• Provision of military training to insurgents in neighbouring countries^[17] and to Inkatha^[9]
• Third force activity through "Project Pastoor"^[17]

Among the SADF units implicated in such activities were the 7 Medical Battalion; Special Forces; and Military Intelligence and its Directorate of Covert Collection. Some projects were allegedly undertaken in collaboration with the police or Civil Cooperation Bureau.