Pac President Mzwanele Nyhontso Calls For More Funding For Sandf

Pan Africanist Congress of Azania PAC president and Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso has called for more funding for the South African National Defence Force SANDF.

This follows the deaths of nine SANDF members in clashes with M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo DRC. Many observers say the SANDF is underfunded and overstretched.

Nyhontso has told SABC News that with the latest budgetary constraints, the SANDF will not be in a position to defend the country if it comes under attack.

In the DRC, yes, we are conveying our condolences, but honestly, we are calling for the government to give money to the army. You see, ever since this democratic government, there have always been budgets with the Defence, and fortunately, in the previous term in Parliament, I was sitting in the Portfolio Committee of Defence, and we have been complaining that every year the Defence budget has been cut. And we are calling for the government to give more money to the Defence. And we are calling on the government to invest in the security of our state because if you are cutting budgets, what can happen tomorrow if South Africa is attacked? I am not sure if we are equal to the task, adds Nyhontso.