Johnathan Paoli
THE Presidency has announced the government’s intention to extend the deployment of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) in various international projects and interventions.
Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told the National Assembly that in accordance with section 201(2)(c) of the Constitution, the extension was for services in fulfillment of significant international duties in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Maritime Security strategy.
Magwenya confirmed that 1495 members of the SANDF will be deployed, and said that current serving members of the country’s army would see their period of service extended until 31 December this year, at an expenditure estimate of R984 368 057.
The spokesperson said on Wednesday that the extended employment of 1198 members were for the intervention in the DRC at an expenditure of R805 057 755, while 200 members would see service in the SADC’s Maritime Security Strategy at a cost of R35 325 852.
“The deployment will help combat acts of terrorism and violent extremists affecting the northern areas of Mozambique under Operation VIKELA,” Magwenya said.
The Presidency is expected to communicate the report to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.
The deployment came one day following the death of a South African soldier at a hospital in Goma, who was one of four SADC soldiers killed in the DRC.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticised the government’s decision to send troops, with the party’s Shadow Minister for Defence Kobus Marais saying that it remained concerned about sending troops into a combat situation for which they are not adequately equipped.
Marais said that the SANDF lacked crucial logistical and resource support, and said that the country’s military forces did not have the capacity to effectively pursue an anti-insurgency campaign against the M23 rebels.
“We do not have a problem with peace-keeping missions in the SADC regions, provided that the deployment has got value for us…with regards to our national security and protecting our national interests,” he said.
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