The ANC has called for calm as calls mount for the recall of South African soldiers currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
The calls for the soldiers’ return follows this week’s killing of 13 of them at the hands of rebel group M23 which has advanced towards the city of Goma, the provincial capital of Eastern DRC.
“The ANC extends its deepest condolences to the families of the SANDF soldiers who tragically lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the UN Mission deployed in the eastern DRC. These brave men and women paid the ultimate price in their service to peace and security on the African continent,” said Mbalula.
Mbalula called on South Africans to ignore unconfirmed media reports suggesting the SANDF team lacks basic equipment and supplies saying the ministry of defence will take the nation into confidence during a media briefing scheduled for Wednesday.
“I saw one account showing someone hoisting a white flag and it’s now claimed our soldiers have surrendered but the account we are getting from the generals is completely different so we have to wait for minister Motshekga and the generals to take the nation into confidence,” said the Secretary General.
He hailed the slain soldiers as heroes who died on a pan-African mission.
“The ANC salutes their courage, dedication, and sacrifice in the fight for peace and stability. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time, and we wish a swift recovery to those injured in the attack. As a nation, we stand together in support of the SANDF and the families who have lost loved ones in this tragic incident,” said.
The ANC adapted a cautions approach on the role of Rwanda which is actively supporting the rebel group made-up of mostly Tutsis who accuse the Kingshasa government of President Felix Tshisekedi of marginalising them.
Mbalula said the ANC did not regard Rwanda as a hostile element in the conflict.
“At that level our president is seized with the matter including talking to everyone and not excluding Rwanda so I can’t stand here and say Rwanda this, Rwanda that, you can’t start pointing fingers because as you would know South Africa is always neutral on these kind of issues,” said the Secretary General.
The conflict has been going on for decades with the UN peacekeeping mission having started in 2003. South Africa, according to Mbalula, has been part of 28 peacekeeping missions and rarely lost soldiers.
Other than this week’s fatalities, 13 South African soldiers were ambushed and killed by the SELEKA rebel movement in Central African Republic in 2013 where they were training the local army.