Defence Minister Angie Motshekga was 'evasive', missed opportunity to update South Africans - DA

SK

Sara-Jayne Makwala King

5 February 2025 | 6:20

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and SANDF chief Rudzani Maphwanya are accused of providing scant information about the South African mission in the DRC at a joint meeting on Tuesday.

Clement Manyathela is joined by Democratic Alliance (DA) defence spokesperson Chris Hattingh, a Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans member.

Listen below:

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga was 'evasive' and 'not accountable' when she appeared before Parliament's defence committee on Tuesday.

That's according to committee member and the DA spokesperson for defence Chris Hattingh. 

Motshekga and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief Rudzani Maphwanya faced the joint committee to provide an update on troops deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

It has been a bloody two weeks of fighting in the Great Lakes region, which has seen the loss of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers. 

Hatthingh says the minister provided scant information.

"She couldn't answer. She won't answer."
- Chris Hattingh, Spokesperson for Defence - DA

Hattingh says the minister was grilled over the fate of the South African soldiers in the region.

"Our soldiers are surrounded. The whole of the area in which they are deployed is controlled by M23, supported by Rwanda... We wanted confirmation of this."
- Chris Hattingh, Spokesperson for Defence - DA
"Do we have logistical lines open to them? Can we supply them with food and water and ammunition? They refused to answer."
- Chris Hattingh, Spokesperson for Defence - DA

Hattingh says the minister and the SANDF missed an opportunity to 'come clean' to the nation about South Africa's current position in the DRC. 

"We are learning from Rwanda [what's going on]. From tweets and Facebook posts from Rwanda which outclassed our own SANDF communications by far."
- Chris Hattingh, Spokesperson for Defence - DA

General Maphwanya has confirmed that the remains of fallen soldiers who have died in the DRC will be returned to South Africa today (Wednesday).

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.

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