Mission impossible: SANDF stretched in DRC, ignoring porous borders, Mozambique risk - Kobus Marais

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has come under fire from opposition parties for what they term ‘reckless’ foreign mission deployments. This follows an incident where two soldiers were killed and three injured by a mortar bomb at their base in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they are part of a peacekeeping force. Currently, 2900 South African soldiers are engaged in combat against M23 rebels in the country. Reports have also surfaced in recent days of an expired Denel contract for helicopter maintenance. In an interview with Biznews, the DA Shadow minister for Defence and Military Veterans Kobus Marais emphasised the “irresponsible” deployment of soldiers in the Eastern DRC citing an overstretched and underfunded SANDF with outdated prime mission equipment. Marais exposed challenges in maintaining essential equipment, particularly helicopters, and raised concerns about SANDF’s financial constraints, including the unfunded R2 billion for the DRC mission. Marais suggested withdrawing troops from the DRC to focus on upgrading equipment and prioritising national interests, particularly in Mozambique due to potential security threats. He criticised the lack of clarity on responsibility for troop deployment and the deadlock between Denel and the government. Marais also expressed concerns about our porous borders and the heavy reliance on an ageing reserve force. It is, he says, “like sending guys from the old SADF from an old age home with a R1 rifle” into combat. - Linda van Tilburg
Video production by Frances Hamman
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Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
01:06 - Update on the SANDF
03:51 - What equipment do they need?
15:07 - Denel not being paid
20:57 - Are our borders protected?
25:09 - Prioritising South Africa's borders
26:58 - Conclusion
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[@joecruiser]

The entire def force, navy etc as well as Denel are all in the same state of disrepair as the govt itself.

[@lentongrovetrust5201]

The deterioration has mostly been as a result of the hollowing out of skills, knowledge, equipment and paying for incompetence

[@dgraham1949]

I said this on another plaform, but we need to withdraw from the DRC. We are fighting a loosing war. I was in DRC with integration in 2005 then our SA Amry was already deployed in Kindu, so Shabunda and Bukavu. That is almost to twenry years, with little or no peace has been achieved.

[@afrikanewscongo]

You helped congo win a war in the past, this fight is for land in congo, the area in question is rich with coltan very strategic minerals, and these companies are funding Rwanda to steal those minerals and sell it to them cheap, so I would not be surprised that they trying to push a negative perspective of the Sa helping because they will lose again, they want congo to be divided to benefit Museveni and Kagame, creating more slave colonizes

[@user-ck3ln4yc1i]

The problem is both of you you're South Africans not Africans we know you can't support the African side

[@jjhout5988]

@@afrikanewscongo So it is the same as in the past. African leaders and kings making slaves of their own people for their selfish interest.

[@RianRian-em2ng]

And SA whant too go for Israel he h heeeeee good luck

[@elsabadenhorst9746]

😁

[@valeriecooper3545]

The SANDF can be better utilized here where eskom is at risk

[@penekedirero4636]

Are you the chief in command? Otherwise sit down.

[@jjhout5988]

They will most likely assist in the stealing of Escom property.

[@ZAR797]

It's not a SADC mission. Bring the SADF home and concentrate on fixing the equipment.

[@johanlotter5197]

With Salaries making 70% of the bill to protect SA… its a state institution… BEE and Labour Unions are the mechanisms which the ANC uses to pay for their votes.

[@expose_massive_banking_crime]

I never knew that chairman Mpofu of EFF is married to an ex- Minister of Defense.

[@mikesnyman8346]

Long walk to freedom, sho't left to self destruction. SA is taking tooooo many bad decisions lately. It won't end well.

[@7775dawn]

It al started with this tjommie employment crap,,,

[@bertramhall6131]

Very interesting interview, thanks to both of you.

[@jjhout5988]

All those apartheid equipment (or the few still working) still serving SA 30 years later. What has the Anc invented, built and put into service? They only managed to stuff up those equipment built 30 or more years ago. But lets not worry. Soon the government will buy new equipment at 3 times the price. Ask Zuma how its done.

[@grantbarnado7007]

Back hands are a pitance at the borders..

[@gabriellarvlahopoulospolisco]

This is very serious. What the hell?

[@Henniechampschoeman]

WAKE UP GOVERNMENT, CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME!!!

[@lenawagner6405]

😢😮think the same........

[@yusufabrahams4179]

How can they protect or defend themselves, show us anyone DEFEND THEMSELF ,NOT ONE OF THEM? ARE PROPERLY TRAINED THEY COULD NEVER COMPETE WITH THE OLD SA DEFENCE FORCE

[@rishigenviranna8080]

Sadly poor analysis of why the SANDF should deploy to the DRC. The eastern DRC is the largest sending pool of refugees in SADC & SA is one of the largest recipients of Congolese refugees, legal & illegal. We have seen how immigration causes massive internal strife in SA communities, especially in the townships & CBDs. If SA can stop the conflict at source it can stop one of the major push forces of Congolese coming to SA. In whether the SANDF can achieve this, he is completely correct in analyzing their readiness & capabilities.

[@learningtostream3919]

They not very good are they

[@imnotanalien7839]

Those 900 soldiers should be protecting the SA electrical grid from theft. Work on electrical and water grid SA….before being concerned about other countries. ANC is deflecting priorities from inside the country to outside the country. Work on the economy and the poor people in South Africa ANC…that should be your ONLY priority!!❤😢

[@francoisrichardsmith6595]

🙈...my magtig!!!

[@annsnetler6510]

Is anyone surprised?

[@andrescheuer4400]

They are welcom to call my old arse up to go fight i believe my wife would like sone piece at home

[@damianntaganzwa316]

South Africa should not be emotional or just a macho state.Cyril Ramaphosa should critically appraise the concerns of M.23. Thabo Mbeki understands this; Late Mwalimu Nyerere articulated their concern well. Is Ramaphosa so blinded by his business ambitions?! Please go back to the drawing board;be Pan Africanist,or,atleast a sound ANC and listen to M.23.

[@andrescheuer4400]

I know the chap that built the gearbox on the rooivalk he lives close to me

[@carolanngelderbloem3209]

😮😮😮😢😢😢😢😂😂😂😂

[@marrionclenton456]

No one should dare render the death of our soldiers useless. They are there to protect the interests of South Africa and for the freedom of the Congolese. Stop with this double standard, you know what I'm talking about.

[@lenawagner6405]

interests of SA???? Or interests of SA specific individuals????????🤔🧐🤑

[@marrionclenton456]

@@lenawagner6405 what do you mean? Of course is it for interest of Mzansi and this can spread and can easily turn into a regional security problem. Don't take this lightly because it doesn't affect you in any way. Regional stability needs a regional effort and in this case a militarily response is needed to this military rebellion that causes the displacement of many, turning them from citizens to refugees and later to asylum seekers. Next we have another influx of foreigners as a result of regional instability. Sometimes as citizens we shouldn't just show patriotism in sports, there are some instances where we should put differences aside in respect of our men in uniform who left everything behind for the sake of others.

[@jjhout5988]

@@lenawagner6405 Correct. I mean why do they not send troops to south Sudan? There has been conflict there for years. Nothing to gain there for individuals I guess. Mugabe had many mines in DRC secured by Zim soldiers.

[@lenawagner6405]

Do not forget! Zuma received two mines in DRC. It is personal interests, not Public interest! This was in our Sunday papers!

[@marrionclenton456]

I hear you. Let's hope things get better soon.

[@michaelventer885]

All these DA "ministers" criticizing the anc, but what the hell have you been paid for all these years? You are part of the govt no?

[@deniscoyne5671]

Don't talk k@k

[@penekedirero4636]

So if we give them what Marais is complaining about can they then go?

[@powertechnical]

Who is we?

[@penekedirero4636]

Omplai! Complain! Complain! DA = Comolaint. We will provide the rooivolk then, will you keep quite.

[@deniscoyne5671]

Why are you defending an incompetent government ?

[@kobusmarais4533]

We don't just complain and blame. We offer better alternatives