Too early to declare SA mission in DRC a success - Deputy Defence Minister Holomisa

CAPE TOWN - Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa has told Parliament it's too early to declare South Africa's mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo a success.

Appearing alongside the SANDF before Parliament's joint standing committee on defence on Friday, Holomisa said the success of the operation should not be determine based on the experiences of the South African contingent alone. 

14 South African soldiers died during the mission, which started in December, 2023.

With three convoys of troops and equipment now said to have arrived safely by road at a transition camp set up in Tanzania, preparations were being made for their onward travel to South Africa. 
 
Holomisa said, as is customary, the defence force would initiate its own inquiries into the deployment.  

"The question of whether this operation was a success or not, is too early because we are not working alone. The secretariat of SADC has to say something about this operation."

At last count, R1.6 billion had been spent on the operation. 

But co-chairperson of the joint committee Malusi Gigaba said the costs must be weighed up against the benefits, such as achieving a ceasefire.

"You cannot put rands and dollars to what we have achieved as a result of the rands and dollars we have spent on operations of this nature."

Gigaba said it was still premature for Parliament to decide whether or not to launch its own inquiry into the deployment.