By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A contingent of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has been stationed in the DRC on a peacekeeping mission sanctioned by the United Nations.
Thirteen South African soldiers died in the recent escalation of violence in the conflict between the DRC military and the M23 rebel group.
Addressing delegates to the EFF’s first plenum following the party’s national people’s assembly last month at the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa in Bela-Bela, Limpopo, Malema on Friday said the nation finds itself in the middle of a war in the DRC without a clear explanation.
“Our soldiers must withdraw from the DRC not only because they have not been given the necessary equipment to pursue the so-called peace they are there for but because the motivation to send our forces to the DRC is dishonest,” he said.
Malema continued: “Our children, our sons and daughters of the SANDF have been sent to their deaths because the mineral interests of multinational corporations and individuals must be secured.”
He added the SANDF members in the DRC have been sent to become glorified bodyguards of mines and that this mission has been disguised as a pursuit of peace and a defence of democracy.
“Bring our soldiers home because our army should not be a pawn in a game of capitalists which has now exposed the weakness of our military capacity,” Malema explained.
He said they must be brought home because every day, “we see the consequences of the deliberate destruction of our arms manufacturer, Denel, and the consequences of the year-on-year budget cuts to the Defence Department”.
Malema also accused the ANC for the current situation.
“The manner in which the former liberation movement has collapsed our military and defence capacity is the embarrassment we must talk about,” he said.
Malema also appealed to Ramaphosa to abort the DRC mission.
“Cyril Ramaphosa, I appeal to you and your conscience, bring our soldiers home. Even if you threaten to fight a war against Rwanda, we don’t have the military capacity to fight any other country. Our army has collapsed because you have taken money away from them and put it under your mattresses,” he said.
According to Malema, to rescue the SANDF soldiers from a war they are not prepared for is not an embarrassment, but a strategic and necessary retreat that prioritises lives over profit.
“Our children, our sons and daughters of the SANDF have been sent to their death because the mineral interests of multinational corporations and individuals must be secured,” he insisted.
Malema said the SANDF members should return home because they are the first line of defence for the people of South Africa and not the first line of defence for the interests of the capitalists and mining corporates.
“Today, our soldiers do not have food, do not have ammunition, do not have sophisticated equipment. We are not scared to fight but at the moment, we are not ready and capable to fight. The best thing is to retreat,” he added.