THE Democratic Alliance (DA) has slammed the Minister of Defence Thandi Modise’s trip to Russia, saying it was an extremely poor judgement on her part to attend the 10th Moscow Conference on International Security.
The party said her trip to Russia was worrying because the country has been embroiled in a war against Ukraine for the past 6 months after instigating an invasion.
“The ANC government is maintaining its blind spot when it comes to its war-mongering comrades, which does not bode well for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF),” said Kobus Marais, DA Shadow Minister of Defence.
“If Minister Modise and her comrades in Cabinet are unable or unwilling to acknowledge the truth of Russia’s atrocities, they will never be able to address the reality of the serious concerns plaguing SANDF and the rest of the country.”
“Instead of appeasing Russia, the Minister must pivot this wasted and fruitless expenditure into an opportunity to call for peace in Ukraine. The DA also encourages her to visit Ukraine and see the destruction for herself.”
The Conference, which takes place from the 15th to the 17th of August 2022, will be attended by Ministers of Defence from different countries as well as experts and key stakeholders in the military field.
According to Modise’s department, the Conference‘s objectives are to share practical ideas and explore solutions on matters of global security.
Modise will address the conference on Tuesday, the 16th of August.
Modise is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with the Russian Minister of Defence, General Sergei Shoigu, on the margins of the conference.
“The money being wasted on Minister Modise’s trip should have been channeled into capacitating the Defence Force,” said Marais.
“The Minister must account for her poor decisions before the parliamentary portfolio on defence. The men and women putting their lives on the line to defend South Africa deserves a Minister who cares more about them than about appeasing her Russian comrades.”
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