Members of SANDF should not be in war-torn DRC: DA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) should not be in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

The DA was commenting amid news of nine South African soldiers being killed in clashes with M23 rebels near the strategic city of Goma in eastern DRC.

Flights to and from Goma have been cancelled as rebels advance on the city.

The UN’s security council will meet later today in an emergency session- to discuss the escalating crisis.

DA spokesperson on defence Chris Hattingh, says the deployment fuels speculation that the SANDF is in the DRC to protect private interests.

“This is an untenable situation, and we should get out of there as soon as possible. We don’t need to be there, why we’re there- well the motivation from the President’s side is we need a stable Southern Africa, we are supporting SADC. But, even the SADC countries with most interest in the conflict, Angola, and Zambia- they do not have troops there. We’ve got no business there, and the more people ask these questions, the more the rumour comes up- we are there in the mineral rich eastern DRC- to protect the mining interests of some very prominent South Africans.”

Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) president and Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso has called for more funding for the SANDF.

Many observers say the SANDF is underfunded and overstretched.

Nyhontso has told SABC News that with the latest budgetary constraints, the SANDF will not be in a position to defend the country if it comes under attack.