Political parties calls for accountability on soldiers death in DRC

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The Azanian People’s Organisation(AZAPO) has demanded answers and called for accountability following the deaths of SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The organisation said it is concerned that the capacity and preparedness of soldiers appear to be below par.

SANDF confirmed during the week that a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African Contingent military bases.

As a result of this indirect fire, the SANDF suffered two fatalities and three members sustained injuries. The injured were taken to the nearest Hospital in Goma for medical attention, department of defence head of communication Siphiwe Dlamini said in a statement.

AZAPO said it believes that given the number of our soldiers involved and the apparently superior contending forces they face, it is not inconceivable that the number of deaths may rise.

“We are aware the SANDF’s presence in the DRC is part of their commitment to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission and that about 2,900 SANDF soldiers were deployed to assist in quelling the conflict between government forces and the so-called M23 rebels who are both said to be vying for control over the Congo’s valuable mineral resources,” he explained.

Rakwena said they call on the government capacitate ground forces in the DRC and provide superior military intelligence and weaponry to deal with the challenge they face, failing which to recall soldiers back home.

He added; “We further calling for a clear audit and disclosure of those South African individuals and entities with commercial or business interests in the DRC in order to appreciate what influence they have in our involvement in the war in that country.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance(DA) said the blood of the fallen soldiers falls squarely on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s hands.

“We warned him against deploying more troops for the simple reason that the SANDF does not have the capacity to effectively pursue an anti-insurgency campaign against the M23 rebels and neither does it have the prime mission equipment to support the ground forces,” Kobus Marais, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans revealed.

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Marais said the responsibility to stop further loss of life now rests with parliament and as the primary oversight body, parliament should take active steps to review the merits of Ramaphosa’s SANDF deployment to the DRC.

He added; “Although the Constitution explicitly gives the President authority for military deployment, in his capacity as the Commander in Chief, Parliament should not turn a blind eye when he makes decisions that place our sons and daughters in harm’s way. 

Marais is adamant that what Ramaphosa is doing is sending the SANDF members to their death and the only outcome from this reckless deployment will be more body bags coming back home.