What is taking so long? Why SANDF troops can’t get a lift home

A transport no-show has been blamed for the delay in transporting soldiers back to South Africa.

The officers were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission. They were on the frontline of a conflict between the Congolese army and M23 rebel fighters, which raged for three years in the East of that country until a ceasefire was called in April.

But while there was hope that the lengthy process of bringing SA troops home would be sped up, soldiers are still stuck in the region.

According to City Press, promised transport for the soldiers has failed to materialise, with no money to send buses among the issues cited.

“Our feedback is that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has not yet hired the buses, and we are not aware of any flights,” a senior officer told Rapport.

Plans for the return have changed over the last month, with troops now expected to travel 250km by bus to another airport.

Guns more important than people

Meanwhile, soldiers are stuck with dwindling supplies and broken morale.

“The problem is that we are completely in the dark, while we just see how the equipment becomes less and less, but we’re not going anywhere,” an officer explained.

The officer added that weapons have already been transported out, leaving many feeling like guns are more important than those who had risked their lives for their country.

He said troops were fed once a day and relied on “mercy” not to starve to death.

He warned of possible protests by soldiers if conditions do not improve.

The SADC and SANDF have yet to respond to the allegations. Any update will be included, once received.

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Mission a success, says SANDF

Earlier this month, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) head, General Rudzani Maphwanya and defence minister Angie Motshekga called the mission a success and said it had contributed to peace in the area.

The DA slammed this, calling the deployment a “national tragedy”.

“The death of 14 South African soldiers and a further 174 injured in battle – brave men and women sent into an unstable conflict zone without air support, adequate equipment, or a coherent operational mandate – is not a success story. It is a national tragedy.

“Their blood is on Minister Motshekga’s hands. Whilst the returning troops make their way back to South Africa, the minister continues to spin political fairy tales instead of reckoning with the facts.”

It claimed that SA troops were paid less than a quarter of the stipend they were allegedly allocated, while Tanzanian and Malawian troops on the same mission “earned nearly double”.

Minister a no-show to Parliament – twice

No reason for the discrepancy had been given, but it was among the issues likely to come up when the minister appeared before Parliament on 9 May.

But the minister did not show up. Instead, she was in Russia, on instruction from the ANC, to attend World War II Victory Day celebrations.

While Parliamentarians raged, committee chairperson, and ANC member, Malusi Gigaba defended the minister.

Motshekga failed to pitch to committee meetings again on Friday.

Additional reporting by Jarryd Westerdale

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