The Action SA party has joined the growing call for South Africa’s Defence Minister, Angie Motshekga, to resign following the deaths of 14 South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Member of Parliament for Action SA, Athol Trollip, has supported the call for Motshekga to step down.
On Monday, the Parliament held an emergency meeting to discuss the tragic deaths of the soldiers from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The soldiers were killed during clashes with M23 rebels in the DRC two weeks ago. Their bodies are currently in Uganda, where the process of repatriation to South Africa is underway.
During the meeting, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP for Defence, Chris Hattigh, also urged Minister Motshekga to resign. “One day we will understand the real reason why President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Angie Motshekga as Minister of Defence. Right now, it is unclear and unacceptable. We agree that it’s not acceptable. Let me be clear – we need to withdraw from the DRC immediately, and Minister Motshekga must go, with respect, or otherwise. The time for excuses is over,” Hattigh said.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, blamed the government for not providing the military with sufficient weapons. “The truth is that our soldiers are not there to keep the peace. They are directly fighting against M23 rebels who are better armed and strategically equipped than us, backed by the incompetent President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame. Our president lied to the people. The reality is that our soldiers are fighting an enemy who has superior weaponry, better resources, and military intelligence. While the rebels possess military equipment, our soldiers are sent to war without essential military tools.”
Member of Parliament for Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK), Edward Ntshingila, stated that former President Jacob Zuma, now leader of MK, had overseen a more effective deployment of SANDF troops to the DRC during his tenure.
