Parliament's joint standing committee on defence has called for minister of defence and military veterans Angie Motshekga to provide a full briefing on the deaths of nine SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who died in recent clashes with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The SANDF on Saturday confirmed the soldiers had been killed over two days of fierce fighting in the DRC this week, describing the soldiers as “gallant fighters” who put up a “heroic resistance” that prevented rebels in the DRC from taking over the city of Goma.
SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said in a statement on Saturday that the number of soldiers injured was still to be confirmed.
South African troops form part of a 5,000-strong Southern African Development Community (Sadc) mission, deployed early last year.
But while the SANDF hailed the success of the troops to hold back the rebels, the South African National Defence Union (Sandu) said the soldiers were reportedly heavily outgunned by a rebel group on Thursday.
And now parliament's joint standing committee on defence says it has scheduled a meeting to get a full briefing on the incident and the overall status of the deployment.
The defence committee, backing Sandu’s claims the soldiers were not supported and under-resourced, said in a statement on Sunday the death of the nine soldiers required investigation to prevent recurrence.
Phiroane Phala, co-chair of the committee, said: “The joint standing committee on defence raised concern regarding the serviceability of prime mission equipment and readiness of the mission for deployment.
“The capacitation of our soldiers is a primary obligation that the SANDF must ensure. Due to the seriousness of the matter, the committee will urgently schedule a meeting to get a full briefing on the incident.
The minister of defence’s misleading public statements and delayed response reflect gross incompetence
— EFF
“It is important that we get a full briefing from the minister, the acting secretary of defence and the chief of the SANDF not only on the incident but also on the status of the mission and the availability of adequate equipment for SANDF members deployed in DRC and in any mission.”
The deaths came after a week-long visit this week by Motshekga to the DRC to, among other goals, "assess the operational conditions and welfare of SANDF personnel deployed in the region" amid criticism over the army’s lack of support by defence experts as well as political parties.
Meanwhile, the EFF has also called for an emergency joint sitting of parliament over the conflict and the deaths. On Sunday the EFF called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and Motshekga to account for this failure.
“It is unconscionable the president remained silent, prioritising his engagement at the World Economic Forum while our nation grieved. Similarly, the minister of defence’s misleading public statements and delayed response reflect gross incompetence. Both must take responsibility for these failures, and we demand the minister’s immediate resignation,” said the party.
The UN Security Council was expected to meet on Sunday over the deadly clashes.
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