Sandf Deployment In Drc To Cost Taxpayers R2.3 Billion For 1 Year
The deployment of South African National Defence SANDF troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC will cost taxpayers R2.371 billion for a period of one year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed this amount in a letter to Parliament dated 24 December 2024.
SANDF is part of the United Nations UN and Southern African Development Community SADC peacekeeping missions in eastern DRC. The SADC mission started in December 2023, while South Africa has been part of UN missions in DRC as early as 2002.
The deployment has come under scrutiny following the loss of lives of 14 South African troops when the M23 rebel group escalated its conflict with DRCs army. Around 200 more were injured.
SANDF DRC mission to cost R2.3 billionThis week, Parliaments Joint Standing Committee on Defence published a report after considering Ramaphosas letter.
The letter informed Parliament that the deployment is in support of an international obligation and comprises 2,900 SANDF members.
The deployment is aimed at SADC efforts to support the government of the DRC in its efforts to neutralise illegal armed groups and negative forces in the conflict-affected areas of the DRC, it added.
The duration of the deployment is from 16 December 2024 to 15 December 2025. The expected expenditure of the deployment is R2.371 billion.
The Committee is seeking a closed meeting with Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and/or SANDF Chief of Staff General Rudzani Maphwanya to obtain further information on the troops situation.
It is also seeking clarity from Ramaphosa on the exact mandate of the SANDF forces deployed to the DRC as part of the SADC mission under Operation Thiba.