PARTY leaders took aim at government with a range of accusations during the National Assembly’s urgent debate on the issue of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, last month.
And they largely repeated calls for the withdrawal of SA troops from the region.
Some of the accusations that surfaced included government neglect, private mining interests and the withdrawal of troops from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The EFF, DA and the PA’s representatives were among the most outspoken about the matters regarding the fallen SANDF representatives who were part of a multi-national Southern African Development Community (SADC) force.
They were deployed in the DRC to stabilise the region amid ongoing clashes between the DRC military and M23 rebels.
The debate was held under the theme: “The recent casualties incurred by the SANDF in the Democratic Republic of Congo and their implications for the defence force.”
Several parties called for the withdrawal of the soldiers deployed in the DRC. Some parties focused on resources afforded to the deployed soldiers and military capacity while others called for Defence and Military Veterans of South Africa Minister Angie Motshekga to be fired or to resign.
EFF leader Julius Malema said the deployment of South African troops under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) which began in December 2023, was presented as a peacekeeping effort.
“However, the truth is that our soldiers are not there to maintain peace; they are engaged in direct combat, fighting against highly armed and strategically superior M23 rebels, who are supported by the reckless President of Rwanda, under Paul Kagame,” Malema said. “The reality is that our soldiers are facing an enemy that has better weaponry, better resources and better intelligence.”
Malema continued: “The government has neglected its duty to ensure that our soldiers are adequately prepared and equipped for combat. This is despite the fact that this deployment has cost our government R2,3 billion since it began.”
DA MP Emma Louise Powell said the conflict is about politics and money and the M23’s advances are not ideological; they are designed to consolidate control over critical mineral resources and supply lines to Rwanda She said in December, the United Nations reported that M23 generates $800,000 in taxes on mineral trades monthly.
“South African soldiers have been sent to die in a war that is not ours in order to safeguard the financial interests of the African National Congress (ANC) and their benefactors,” Powell explained.
“The ANC’s willingness to compromise our national sovereignty for political and financial gain is not limited to mining interests - but extends to the very infrastructure of our nation,” Powell said.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie said: “... We have been humiliated, and we must teach people - when you kill a South African, there are consequences.”
He said South Africa has the highest youth unemployment in the world. This should be an opportunity to call for conscription, bring young people and train them.
IFP MP Inkosi Russel Cebekhulu warned against an abrupt and uncoordinated withdrawal of peacekeepers in the absence of a commitment from all states and parties, to ensure that lasting peace will be guaranteed.
“South Africa cannot afford another wave and influx of refugees and asylum seekers, which would be the case if we summarily withdraw troops at a time of uncertainty, instability and rise in hostilities,” Inkosi Cebekhulu said.
On the repatriation of the mortal remains of the 14 soldiers, Motshekga said the soldiers are still in Uganda, undergoing all the standard pathology procedures. It was hoped that hoped they would be home on Monday but the latest is now Thursday, she said.
Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation said an abrupt withdrawal of South African troops from the region would be worse than a surrender.
“I also want to point out that these missions, notwithstanding their challenges at the time, have made Africa a better place,” Lamola said.
DAILY NEWS