Mon 27 January 2025:
The Department of Defence stated that the soldiers, deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission (MONUSCO), fought valiantly to stop the rebels’ advance toward Goma, the provincial capital.
“The M23 hostile forces had launched a full-scale attack on our troops with the intention of taking over Goma but were unable to advance due to the heroic resistance put up by our gallant fighters.”
“Our forces were not only able to halt the M23 advancement but were able to push them back. The intention of the M23, amongst others, is also to take over the city of Goma, but it met with heavy resistance from the SANDF contingent, which managed to prevent them from proceeding into Goma.”
The process of informing the families of the deceased is ongoing. The Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, and other senior officials expressed their deepest sympathies.
“The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Angie Motshekga, the Deputy Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans, Maj Gen (ret) Bantu Holomisa and Mr Richard Hlophe, together with the Acting Secretary for Defence, Dr Thobekile Gamede and the Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya send their heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and the entire defence family.”
Despite their bravery, the loss of life has left families grieving and raised serious questions about the mission’s management.
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Opposition Parties Criticise Government for Their Part in the Tragedy
Opposition parties have sharply criticised the government’s handling of the tragedy. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemned the SANDF for delaying communication with the public and grieving families.
The party accused Defence Minister Angie Motshekga of incompetence and President Cyril Ramaphosa of neglecting his duties, focusing on ANC political matters instead of addressing the crisis.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa, as Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, and Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga must account for this failure. It is unconscionable that 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.”
They also alleged that the soldiers were under-resourced, claiming they lacked sufficient ammunition to face the well-equipped M23 rebels.
“The EFF reiterates its long-standing warnings that SANDF troops deployed in the DRC are under-resourced and ill-prepared to face the dangers posed by the well-equipped M23 rebels. In fact, it is reported that our soldiers had no supplies or ammunition as of Friday, a glaring case of neglect on the part of our government.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) echoed these concerns, denouncing the Defence Minister for flying out of Goma on a luxury jet. At the same time, wounded soldiers were left without SANDF air support.
The DA further criticised the government for sending ill-prepared troops into combat despite receiving additional funding in the latest budget. They have demanded an urgent parliamentary briefing to outline measures to protect soldiers and plan for their withdrawal from the DRC.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa sent the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to combat in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the full knowledge that our troops were unprepared, that the mission could not be won, and that our fiscus could not afford it.”
“The crisis has now escalated to the United National Security Council, where South Africa’s recklessness in this conflict will damage our reputation.”
“While frontline services face budget cuts, the Department was still allocated an additional R2bn in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). This is despite the Department’s disastrous financial management, with unauthorised expenditure of R3.4bn in their latest audits.”
“With additional funding, our troops were still surrounded by rebels and killed.”
Both parties insist that the deaths of the SANDF soldiers could have been avoided with better preparation, leadership, and communication. They have called for accountability and immediate action to address the failures that cost lives, damaged South Africa’s international standing, and to withdraw troops from the DRC.
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