Why Are South African Soldiers Dying Like Flies In Peacekeeping Missions?

13 SANDF soldiers have been killed by M23 rebels in Goma since January 24

The question I would like to ask the spineless and supposed commander-in-chief of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), President Cyril Ramaphosa, is why is he allowing our troops to die like flies in unstable African countries like the Central African Republic (CAR) and most recently the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)?

Whose interests are these soldiers serving/protecting in these godforsaken regions? Will Ramaphosa be pulling our troops out of these UN-/SADC-/AU-backed suicide peacekeeping missions? If yes, when, and if no, why?

In a hard-hitting statement on Sunday, the far-left EFF reiterated its "long-standing warnings that SANDF troops deployed in the DRC are under-resourced and ill-prepared to face the dangers posed by the well-equipped M23 rebels".

"In fact, it is reported that our soldiers had no supplies or ammunition as of Friday, a glaring case of neglect on the part of our government. These deployments appear to serve the interests of multinational corporations exploiting the DRC’s mineral wealth, rather than prioritising peace or South Africa’s sovereignty," the red berets said.

"The EFF calls on the deployment of South African soldiers to the DRC to be withdrawn with immediate effect! We further call for an emergency joint sitting of Parliament to hold President Ramaphosa accountable and to urgently present the withdrawal plan for our soldiers to return home safely. Lasting peace in the region can only be achieved by addressing the root causes of the conflict and resultant exploitation of the DRC."

This after many peace-loving South Africans were left enraged on Saturday (January 25) when the department of defence announced that nine SA soldiers had been killed in Goma in the eastern DRC on Friday, following two days of "fierce fighting" with the notorious M23 rebel group.

"In the course of this gallant resistance against M23 rebels, the SANDF lost nine (9) members by Friday, 24 January 2025, after two days of fierce fighting. Seven (7) of these members were part of the South African contingent deployed in the eastern DRC in December 2023 as part of the 16-member regional bloc SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC) and two (2) members were from MONUSCO."

On Tuesday, the SANDF announced that four more soldiers had died in clashes with the M23, bringing the total of those tragically killed to 13.

According to Wikipedia, the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or MONUSCO (an acronym based on its French name Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo), is a UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

It's time that South Africans stood up and demanded answers from the powers that be in order to bring those responsible to book. It can't be that our troops, instead of securing our borders, maintaining peace, stability and defending our sovereignty and constitutional democratic order, are being sent to their untimely deaths fighting deadly wars that have nothing to do with them.

The useless Ramaphosa, who ordered the deployment, is probably sitting comfortably on a dollar-stuffed sofa and sipping on piña coladas. He is way too busy to attend to the plight of our troops in the eastern DRC, because fighting ANC internal battles is more important than safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of our soldiers.

This is a man who proudly proclaimed during the Armed Forces Day in 2023: "The primary function of the SANDF is to protect the territorial integrity of this nation’s borders. It is a tough task ... From North Africa to Southern Africa, from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region, South Africa depends on the SANDF to support peacebuilding on the continent as part of a mandate from the African Union and the UN. We extend our appreciation and respect to our forces deployed in various missions across the continent. We mourn all those who have lost their lives in the effort to silence the guns on our continent."

That is why we need a Donald Trump in South Africa, as far as a leader who is decisive, has a strong backbone, willpower and and is ready to take unpopular decisions - no matter the noise - and sticks by them, is concerned.

Look at the divisive and polarising Trump, just moments after being sworn in for his second term as President of the United States on January 20, he told the world: "Our armed forces will be free to focus on their sole mission—defeating America's enemies. Like in 2017, we will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen."

But Trump, who played a crucial role in the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and Somalia, was not done: "We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end. And, perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into. My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That's what I want to be. A peacemaker and a unifier. I'm pleased to say that, as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families.

I can't imagine Ramaphosa telling world leaders that South Africa will no longer be deploying its troops into wars and peacekeeping missions it has nothing to do with. It would probably take the man two lifetimes to make that decision!

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing SANDF troops

Who could forget the slaughtering of SA soldiers in Bangui in the Central African Republic in 2013? A total of 13 SA troops were mercilessly killed as Seleka rebels seized the capital city Bangui. SA had about 200 troops in the city to block the rebels from seizing power when the 13 met their fate. Former president Jacob Zuma would later stress, as if boasting, that the deceased had died in a nine-hour "high-tempo battle".

I don't care whether it was a 50-hour battle. The fact is and remains that our troops had no business fighting those ignorant rebels. It was never SA's war to begin with.

Ten years later, Flight Sergeant Vusi Mabena was killed when his helicopter came under attack in the eastern DRC in 2023, and all Ramaphosa did was to "extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family, friends and colleagues." Yep, that was all.

The latest casualties have spurred SA's opposition political parties to demand answers from Ramaphosa and his defence & military veterans minister Angie Motshekga.

DA spokesperson on defence & military veterans, Chris Hattingh, called on Motshekga at the weekend to "to urgently brief Parliament on the deteriorating and calamitous situation in the DRC, with 9 soldiers killed in action and many more wounded in the past two days".

"As our hearts go out to their families, we will not rest until we get answers and we hear a plan from the Minister to safeguard the SA base and personnel on the ground. It is unacceptable that while SA soldiers are marched to their deaths, while the President, who ordered the deployment, sit locked in internal party scuffles, fighting internal party battles, at the ANC Lekgotla," Hattingh said.

"It is just as unacceptable that ... Motshekga and her generals, in stark contrast to the plight of the wounded SANDF soldiers, flew out of Goma [on January 25] in a luxury VIP Falcon jet, leaving behind wounded soldiers with no SANDF air support available for them."

Hattingh said Ramaphosa sent the SANDF to combat in eastern DRC "with the full knowledge that our troops were unprepared; that the mission could not be won; and that our fiscus could not afford it".

"The crisis has now escalated to the United National Security Council, where South Africa’s recklessness in this conflict will damage our reputation".

"A report to Members of Parliament in both Houses will help determine how best we withdraw the SANDF from eastern DRC and engage with regional and international partners to seek a solution.

While frontline services face budget cuts, the department was still allocated an additional R2bn in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). This is despite the department’s disastrous financial management, with unauthorised expenditure of R3.4bn in their latest audits.

With additional funding, our troops were still surrounded by rebels and killed. The SANDF crisis in the DRC is as a result of a political decision by the Commander in Chief, Mr Ramaphosa, costing lives, our international reputation, and critical government resources," Hattingh said.

He added the DA "repeats its call for the withdrawal of the SANDF forces from the DRC. The continued deployment of undertrained, underequipped and under supported South African soldiers in an escalating regional conflict cannot be supported".

"The South African casualties come after repeated concerns of the DA about the preparedness of the SANDF after years of throttled budgets which resulted in cutbacks in training, failure to modernize equipment, reduced serviceability of equipment, including main battle equipment and the withdrawal of SA air support."

Indeed, Motshekga visited the DRC from January 22 to January 25 in a trip sold as forming part of her "ongoing mission to prioritise the well-being and interests of South African soldiers in line with her "soldier first" principle", according to her ministry.

Soldier first principle, my foot! If there was ever such a principle, our soldiers would not be fighting wars they have no business fighting. They'd be living in clean, well-equipped barracks fit for troops and not in the squalid conditions they are forced to live in in Centurion near the capital city Pretoria/Tshwane.

The South African National Defence Force

"During the visit, Minister Motshekga aims to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and the DRC, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation, while also assessing the operational conditions and welfare of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel deployed in the region.

"The minister's engagement will contribute to the ongoing efforts to promote peace, stability and security in the DRC. The visit underscores South Africa's commitment to regional and continental peacekeeping initiatives as well as its dedication to supporting MONUSCO," Motshekga's ministry said in a statement dated January 22.

Members of the South African Airforce

Rise Mzansi leader and chair of parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), Songezo Zibi, said the SANDF are facing an "impossible task due to being under-funded, under-resourced and mismanaged, meaning that women and men have been sent to their deaths"

"It also reported that defence forces from other countries are reluctant to commit further resources to the ongoing mission, forcing the SANDF to carry the burden of this conflict. Sources have informed Rise Mzansi that the SANDF soldiers in the DRC are so deeply under-resourced, to extent that ammunition is beginning to run out or has already run out. The UN has described the situation in the DRC as 'deteriorating', Zibi said.

Zibi called on Motshekga or Ramaphosa to "urgently brief the nation on the status of our mission to the DRC. Moreover, we call for the minister to appear before the Portfolio Committee to provide a detailed report".

"The latest Auditor-General’s report is clear in showing that SA’s armed forces face significant governance and resource constraints, a situation that places fighting personnel at risk. South Africans should be outraged that its armed forces are being sent to die unnecessarily in their name. Just last year [2024], at least six (6) soldiers were killed in the DRC, while another four fell victim to illness, murder and suicide," Zibi said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa with members of the SA army

Even the useless Southern African Development Community (SADC) issued a statement on the latest calamity in Goma, saying it noted with concern the recent attack on the "Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) from Wednesday, 22 January 2025, by the M23 armed group".

"SADC unequivocally condemns this act of aggression by the M23 operating in the Eastern DRC adding that such actions undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace and security of the DRC and the SADC region.

"The pursuit of territorial expansion by M23 only exacerbates the already existing dire humanitarian and security situation in the Eastern DRC, which has left thousands of people dead and forced millions in North Kivu, particularly women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, to flee their homes.

The rebel group M23 attacked the SAMIDRC in Goma to which SAMIDRC retaliated and successfully repelled the armed group. SADC commends the actions of the brave men and women from SAMIDRC who sacrificed their lives for the Region," the SADC Secretariat said in a statement on Saturday.

"The actions of the M23 armed group contravenes the Nairobi Peace Process and is a clear violation of the agreed Ceasefire brokered through the Luanda Process led by His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa. We, therefore, call on all parties in the conflict to adhere to their obligations in the Ceasefire, calling for immediate cessation of hostilities and atrocities perpetrated by M23 as well as unconditional withdrawal from all occupied positions.

SADC further encourages all parties to the conflict in Eastern DRC to comply with the terms and conditions of the existing peace agreements and engage through dialogue for everlasting peace, security and stability in the DRC and the Region.

SADC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to continue supporting the DRC in its pursuit of safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as sustainable peace, security, and development. To this end, the SAMIDRC will remain resolute in supporting efforts aimed at addressing the unstable and deteriorating security and humanitarian situation prevailing in the Eastern DRC.

We call upon the international community, including the UN, to join us in denouncing these unlawful actions by the M23. SADC Region reiterates its solidarity with the people of the DRC and commends them for resilience against brutal actions perpetrated by the M23 and other armed groups. SADC wishes those who were injured a speedy recovery and sends its heartfelt condolences to the countries and families of the deceased."

Meanwhile, in a statement on Sunday, Rwanda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, particularly the recent heavy fighting around Goma, was triggered by "constant violations of the ceasefire by the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in coalition with UN-sanctioned genocidal militia FDLR, European mercenaries, ethnic militias (Wazalendo), Burundian armed forces, SAMIDRC forces as well as MONUSCO troops".

"The UN confirmed in their reports that the late Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, the Military Governor of North Kivu who was killed during fighting around Sake, served as liaison with the FDLR and was responsible for sabotaging planned operations by the FARDC to neutralize the leaders of the FDLR.

This fighting close to the Rwandan border continues to present a serious threat to Rwanda's security and territorial integrity, and necessitates Rwanda's sustained defensive posture," it said.

"It is important to recall that the resurgence of M23 in late 2021 did not originate in Rwanda, although the Government of DC has scapegoated Rwanda as the Congolese Tutsi community that the M23 represents are conflated with Rwanda. The M23, a Congolese rebel group tighting to protect their community in eastern DRC cannot be accused of violating "territorial integrity" of their own country.

The breakdown of the Luanda process, following the refusal by the Government of the DRC to dialogue with M23, and the consistent refusal to address the root causes of conflict in eastern DC has resulted in the intensification and prolongation of the fighting, and perpetual security and other threats to neighbouring countries, including Rwanda. Those who should be playing a role towards a long-term solution should not be part of the problem."

Rwanda, which has denied accusations it backs the M23 rebels, said it was committed to the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict. 

"However, the Luanda process must not be personalized or taken as an end in itself, but as a tool to resolve security concerns between Rwanda and the DC. Both the Luanda and Nairobi processes urgently require new impetus, in order to achieve sustainable peace and stability for all the countries in our region," Rwanda's foreign affairs ministry said.

Rwandan minister Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe

On Monday, January 27, the M23 announced it had captured Goma, the capital of North-Kivu in the eastern DRC.

As I conclude, I agree with Zibi that South Africans should be outraged that its armed forces are being sent to die unnecessarily in their name.

Yes, our poor troops are being marched to their deaths in the name of political expediency and silly gentlemen's agreements that do not benefit SA Inc. Those involved in decisionmaking should hang their heads in shame in the wake of these unnecessary and avoidable deaths, but I won't be holding my breath, because they won't. And if ours was a properly functioning democracy, they would resign ASAP, but don't hold your breath.

The question is: How long shall we remain silent, dear South Africans, as our under resourced, ill-equipped and weary troops play the Last Post for their fallen comrades?

Update: January 28, 2025 - This article has been updated with new information.