Dear Standing Committee on Auditor General,

During 2012, the State Treasury instructed the Department of Defence Force to record, report and manage all military heritage assets. This process was completed. However, a copy of the moveable heritage asset register of the DoD was never forwarded to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). This is a requirement of the National Heritage Act 25 of 1999. SAHRA is responsible for the population of the National Heritage Asset Register of the State.

The State Treasury made millions of rands available for this DoD project that was spent. However, the management and reporting by the DoD and SAHRA is questioned. SAHRA has no record of the DoD moveable heritage assets, more than 8 years after completion of the project. The management of DoD moveable heritage assets by the DoD and SAHRA, should be investigated in full, including verification of these assets on a regular basis. There is a huge market for military heritage assets and they must be protected at all cost.