By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Defence and military veterans minister Angie Motshekga has joined more than 20 international leaders to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on Friday, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.
The event includes a parade by thousands of troops and military weapons in Red Square.
Among the invited leaders are Burkina Faso’s interim president, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie.
Motshekga was scheduled to address the Joint Standing Committee on Defence regarding the withdrawal of South African troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) criticised her for sending her deputy to answer parliamentary questions rather than attending the session herself.
On Sunday, Motshekga held a media briefing on the conclusion of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the DRC, following the announced troop withdrawal.
DA MP Nicholas Hattigh expressed dissatisfaction with Motshekga’s absence from Parliament, stating: “This meeting was scheduled weeks ago, and her last-minute apology is disappointing.
“I don’t believe that participating in a celebration in Russia is not important, especially given today’s agenda items.”
In her defence, co-chairperson Malusi Gigaba argued Motshekga’s deployment was at the president’s behest.
“Diplomatic relations are involved between countries, and we must respect that.”
Gigaba also suggested that Motshekga might discuss issues related to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, especially following recent visits by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to South Africa.
Members of Parliament pushed for a parliamentary inquiry into the defence force’s deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during which 14 soldiers died.
Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa said that, as was standard practice, the SANDF would be conducting its own investigations.
But some members of Parliament’s joint standing committee on defence said on Friday they feel that Parliament needs to conduct its own oversight to avoid the failures in future and to determine what kind of resourcing the defence force requires.
Gigaba, said it was too soon to decide on whether a parliamentary inquiry was necessary.
He suggested that the committee rather wait until it’s received all the mission reports, including from the SANDF and SADC.