The return of the first batch of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members from Tanzania, has been delayed until late Friday night or Saturday morning, at the latest.
This was revealed by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, during a media briefing at the Air Force Base Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein on Friday.
The 249 soldiers are part of a group who were deployed under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).
“We are currently experiencing logistical challenges with regards to the landing time of our troops today. The indication is that the arrival has been delayed due to the technical and logistical challenges with the contracted airline which are being attended to by SADC. We have been assured that they are already on board and will arrive anytime today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday),” said Motshekga.
The minister highlighted that the SANDF is unable to charter a plane to fetch the soldiers in Tanzania, as the mission is under the auspices of SADC, and they had to respect its decision. Furthermore, she bemoaned the Defence department budget cuts, adding that if “the SANDF had money, they would have sent a plane to Tanzania to fetch the soldiers.”
In addition, Motshekga said that SADC experienced challenges when contracting an airline company to fly the soldiers to South Africa.
“Initially SADC had contacted Tanzania Airways, but now they ceded the contract to Kenyan Airways. The initial contract was for 190 soldiers which was a smaller flight. But to carry so many people, they contracted for 250, which is a bigger flight to land here and this is what we were not told initially. There’s another issue of a staircase at the airport, which it doesn’t have one. We’re trying to get a staircase as they’re going to use a bigger plane, but if we fail, the soldiers will have to land in Johannesburg,” said Motshekga.
The minister highlighted that the families have been updated, were disappointed and anxious with the latest developments.
