Widower of Lieutenant-Commander in Kommetjie submarine tragedy reveals negligence behind her death

On 20 September 2023, a naval exercise near Kommetjie turned tragic when three South African Navy officers, Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Hector, Warrant Officer Mmokwapa Mojela, and Master Warrant Officer William Mathipa, lost their lives. The Navy initially called it a freak accident caused by a rogue wave that swept the officers off a submarine.

But new findings dispute that version. In July 2025, the Hawks confirmed a formal investigation, citing evidence of serious failures in planning, risk management and leadership.

A report compiled with input from Senior Navy Officer Romero Hector, husband of the late Lieutenant-Commander Hector, alleges the tragedy stemmed from systemic negligence tied to years of financial mismanagement and deteriorating naval capability.

One of the most alarming revelations is that the submarine’s captain allegedly jumped overboard during the crisis, leaving 45 crew members without command. "As the captain of a submarine, just like the captain of an aeroplane, you cannot simply jump off and leave the lives of others at risk... This speaks to the level of experience and incompetence of the submarine’s captain,"Hector said.

He further accused the Navy of hiding the truth: "It is complete and utter lies that the Navy told on that day... but it is my duty as a husband and father to make sure this does not disappear, as well as assist the Hawks in their criminal investigations."

A former maintenance officer in the submarine squadron, Hector said he recognised early on that the Navy’s public account was false and vowed to expose it.

He added that he would leave the Navy by December.

"I can’t see myself in this environment... It’s not what I thought it was."

Romero Hector, South African Senior Navy Officer and husband of the late Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector speaks to CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit.