Holomisa unhappy at being sidelined by SANDF Generals over DRC deployment status

Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa has voiced his frustrations at being sidelined by army generals about the state of the country's Defence Force deployment to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Holomisa and members of the Joint Defence Committee also slammed the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Generals for poor preparation for their presentation at Friday's meeting.

The Joint Committee was discussing a report by the SANDF on the state of preparedness for any future deployment for peacekeeping in the DRC.

Lieutenant-General Siphiwe Sangweni gave the committee a brief presentation on the deployment to the DRC and how it was being terminated due to the UN having challenges with funding missions globally.

But members were left unimpressed with the lack of detail.

Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa also said he only received the presentation on Friday and was not briefed beforehand.

“I only got the presentation at about 8 o'clock this morning. So, this is unacceptable,” he said.

Holomisa added that he will escalate the matter to the highest office.

“And I'm going to talk to the Minister and the President and the Commander of the SANDF to say when they appointed me, they said I've got a little bit of experience in the Defence Force, but if they are going to sideline me, it's not going to work.”

The Committee is planning to hold a special meeting to discuss the issue before the next deployment.