IN a sombre reflection of the dire circumstances facing our armed forces, RISE Mzansi has conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who have reportedly lost their lives in recent gunfire incidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The nation grapples with uncertainty as the exact number of casualties remains undisclosed.

The SANDF has been deployed to the DRC as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) since 2013.

This mission was initiated to stabilise a country grappling with violence and instability stemming from conflicts involving various armed groups, most notably the M23 rebel faction.

However, RISE Mzansi expressed concern that soldiers were “facing an impossible task due to being underfunded, underresourced, and mismanaged”, which tragically means that “women and men have been sent to their deaths”.

RISE Mzansi said in its statement that, according to sources, defence forces from other countries were reluctant to commit further resources to the ongoing mission, effectively forcing the SANDF to bear the majority of the operational burden.

It said reports indicated that SANDF soldiers were so deeply underresourced that “ammunition is beginning to run out or has already run out”, which exacerbates the already precarious nature of their mission.

The situation has reached critical levels, with the United Nations describing the conditions in the DRC as “deteriorating”. Each year, the UN provides assessments of the security landscape, noting the increasing frequency of violent clashes and humanitarian crises stemming from ongoing conflicts.

In recent months, violence has surged, particularly in the eastern regions of the DRC, where rival armed factions engage in deadly confrontations.

In light of these alarming developments, RISE Mzansi is urgently calling for accountability from the highest levels of government. The organisation insists: “The Minister, who is scheduled to return to South Africa from the DRC today, or the commander-in-chief, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to urgently brief the nation on the status of our mission to the DRC.”

Furthermore, RISE Mzansi demands that the minister “appear before the Portfolio Committee to provide a detailed report.”

According to departmental sources, the Minister was in Kinshasa to “strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and the DRC, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defence Cooperation, while also assessing the operational conditions and welfare of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel deployed in the region.”

However, troubling reports have emerged of a puzzling incident involving a Bulgarian private military company (PMC) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), which resulted in further deaths among SANDF personnel.

The latest Auditor-General’s report indicates that South Africa’s armed forces “face significant governance and resource constraints”, placing fighting personnel at risk. RISE Mzansi said South Africans should be “outraged that its armed forces are being sent to die unnecessarily in their name”.

Last year alone, “at least six soldiers were killed in the DRC, while another four fell victim to illness, murder and suicide.”

As these brave soldiers continue to serve in perilous conditions, RISE Mzansi calls upon the government to prioritise their well-being and safety. It is essential for South Africans to have “transparency and accountability regarding the military operations” that put our young lives at risk.

The time for action is now; we cannot afford to lose more lives in the pursuit of peace without understanding the full scope of the mission. It is urgent that Ramaphosa and Motshekga step forward to reassure the public that the safety of our soldiers is a top priority. The nation deserves answers, and its soldiers deserve unwavering support.

Sunday Independent