'There was no lie': Lamola dismisses Kagame's claims of DRC fact distortion by Ramaphosa

CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has dismissed claims by Rwandan President Paul Kagame that Pretoria is lying about the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
 
Kagame accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of distorting details of a conversation they had about the recent clashes in eastern DRC.

That’s where the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is deployed as part of a United Nations-backed peacekeeping mission.

READ: Kagame calls out Ramaphosa over distorted version of what's happening in eastern DRC

Thirteen South African soldiers have been killed since last week in fighting against M23 rebels.

In a statement on X, Ramaphosa said investigations into the soldiers’ deaths are underway.

However, Kagame disputes this claiming Ramaphosa privately admitted they were killed by the DRC armed forces.

The Rwandan leader has described SADC’s peacekeepers as “belligerent forces” siding with the DRC government and warned that if South Africa wants confrontation, Rwanda will respond.
 
But Minister Lamola insists everything is above board.
 
"But I can confirm that everything President Ramaphosa has been able to articulate to the people of South Africa has been inclined with the discussions he has had and there was no lie or deliberate distortion. We are not there on a frolic of our own as it is suggested in some of the tweets you’re referring to.”