The joint meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, alongside the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, has urged the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to prioritise the repatriation of soldiers who died in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a session held on Tuesday at Parliament, the committees focussed on understanding the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths of 14 soldiers in a confrontation with the M23 rebel group.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Dakota Legoete, emphasised the importance of bringing home the fallen soldiers for dignified funerals.
“It is important that our gallant soldiers must come home and be given dignified funerals. This is vital to ensure that families are afforded an opportunity to mourn, and the assurance that repatriation is imminent should be welcomed,” he said.
Furthermore, the committees highlighted the need for adequate support for the bereaved families and adequate medical care for injured soldiers.
The committees also expressed the urgent need for an investigation to determine the causes of the soldiers' deaths. Additionally, they acknowledged ongoing diplomatic efforts by the Heads of State of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community to resolve the longstanding conflict in the DRC.
Co-chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Malusi Gigaba, said, “The African Union’s Agenda 2063 strategic framework provides a blueprint on how Africa can silence the guns and adopt diplomacy as a tool to end conflicts across the continent. The reality is that it is only through dialogue that the DRC matter can be amicably resolved, and the military can only create space for a political solution.”
The committees have thus welcomed the current ceasefire and called for continued diplomatic interventions.
While noting the severe underfunding of the SANDF, the committees acknowledged that the SANDF’s deployments in both the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) were adequately supported.
Legoete emphasised, “The capacitation of our deployed members is sacrosanct”, stressing the need for appropriate air, logistical, and intelligence support for successful missions.
The committees have also resolved to hold a closed meeting to allow the SANDF to provide further details on the operational matters of the SAMIDRC mission, including the replenishment of capabilities and intelligence support.
However, they cautioned against negative narratives surrounding the deployment’s intentions.
“South Africa is a role player in a global system and an active member of SADC, AU and the United Nations, and has a responsibility to participate in ensuring peace and security across the globe. We should be solution-driven to add value to a complex situation,’’ said Gigaba.