Julius Malema calls for SANDF’s return from DRC

EFF leader Julius Malema has criticised the deployment of South African National Defense Force (SANDF) troops to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying it must be withdrawn with immediate effect.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the deployment of 2,900 members of the SANDF to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to address the deteriorating security situation in the eastern DRC.

DRC CONFLICTS LEAD TO THOUSANDS OF DEATHS

The deployment, known as SAMIDRC, also aims to assist in the fight against illegal armed groups in the region. The region has been battling conflicts resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of thousands of people.

The budgeted expenditure for the SAMIDRC deployment amounts to just over R2 billion.

Critics have criticised this decision, arguing that foreign deployments should only be made when there is clear evidence of a direct threat to South Africa’s national security.

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JULIUS MALEMA: SANDF NOT PROPERLY TRAINED

While speaking at a EFF press conference Malema said the army should not be deployed in the DRC as it is not properly trained.

“South Africa’s deployment to DRC is out of order and it must be withdrawn with immediate effect. We saying South Africa is not supposed to deploy in DRC, we just don’t have the army. Our army can’t look after cabbages. We just don’t have the army; the ANC has collapsed the army.

That’s why in the manifesto of the EFF we said we will finance the army and ensure that it is properly trained. The army has collapsed. They are sent there to be killed because they are not properly trained. Cyril Ramaphosa wants to kill our children in DRC, our troops are sent there to be killed because they are not properly trained, they must come back home and we must stop with any military deployment,” he said.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the obligation to contribute troops to the SADC mission in the DRC is borne by all SADC member states. 

“The employment will cover the period from 15 December 2023 to 15 December 2024 and it was authorized in accordance with the provisions of section 201(2) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,” Magwenya said.

Meanwhile, the SABC reported on Thursday that two SANDF members have been killed in a motor attack in the DRC and three others were transported to hospital with injuries.