SA not the police of Africa, should stop meddling in regional conflicts, says EFF

JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says the government should stop meddling in regional conflicts, adding South Africa is not the police of Africa.  

A contingent of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) city of Goma on a peacekeeping mission sanctioned by the United Nations (UN), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).  

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So far, 13 South African soldiers have died in the conflict between the DRC government and the rebel group, M23.  

Speaking at an EFF event on Friday, party leader Julius Malema said there is no embarrassment in a strategic and necessary retreat to save the lives of SANDF soldiers.  

“Mr President [Cyril Ramaphosa], bring our soldiers home and desist from meddling in the affairs of the DRC and Rwanda as if you are the USA of Africa because we don’t know if you will be able to defend us when the rest of Africa turns their guns to the south. The manner in which the former liberation movement has collapsed our military and defence capacity is the embarrassment we must talk about.”