Defence Minister rubbishes claim of weak, ill-resourced army

Defence Minister, Angie Motshekga, has dismissed claims that the South African Defence Force (SANDF) members who have been deployed to the DRC for peacekeeping are poorly equipped to carry out their duties.

She was reacting to various quarters, including EFF leader, Julius Malema, who say the South African soldiers in the DRC are not fit for purpose and don’t have enough supplies and ammunition.

“I can assure South Africans that the Generals that are there are highly skilled, highly experienced, they are on the ground and highly capable of leading,” Minister Motshekga told journalists at a Cabinet Lekgotla in Pretoria.

“They are not the only leadership that is there. It’s us, as part of the other forces,” added Minister Motsekga.

“We have for instance, more than 10 countries from MUNESCO. So, there are Generals that are there in good supply there to lead the force.”

The Minister set the record straight that the South African army is not involved in the protracted civil war between the DRC military and M23 rebels, who are said to be backed by Rwanda.

She also rubbished claims that the country’s soldiers who were seen hoisting a white flag amid fierce fighting in the DRC capital city of Goma were surrendering.

“We were not surrendering. The white flag was to allow people safe passage to go and collect their deceased and injured loved ones of the M23,” says Minister Motshekga.

South Africa has, so far, lost 13 soldiers in the conflict, with Minister Motshekga assuring South Africans that they don’t expect the death toll to rise.

She says the M23 rebels have been warned that continued attacks on South African forces would be a declaration of war.

According to the Defence Minister, the situation in Goma is currently tense and they’re keeping tabs on developments. Written by Odirile Rabolao