EFF MP Carl Niehaus has criticised Defence Minister Angie Motshekga for cancelling a scheduled meeting with Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans.
The postponement was announced by the committee’s chairperson, Dakota Legoete.
Niehaus, a member of the committee, accused Motshekga of neglecting the SANDF’s operational readiness, particularly for demanding missions like the one in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Niehaus says, “Last night, late at 10:30, we suddenly received a message that the meeting was postponed for seven days. The Minister must appear at any time, especially in a crisis like this. SANDF soldiers’ young lives have already been lost, and we are told to give the Minister adequate time to get her mind together. The Minister must be on top of the issues 24/7.”
VIDEO | EFF in Parliament wants Defence Minister to appear before the committee:
Meanwhile, the family of Corporal Justice Matome Malesa, one of the 13 SANDF soldiers killed in the DRC, say they’re devastated.
Malesa, 43, from Mashishimane in Limpopo, died in a battle with M23 rebels in Goma last weekend. He was one of five soldiers from Limpopo killed in the conflict.
Family spokesperson Mpho Monyela says Malesa had served in the army for over 20 years and had been deployed in the DRC for a year.
Monyela says, “Malesa was the head of the family. We were excited, expecting him to come back. We were very sad and disappointed when we heard he had passed on. But we understood the nature of his job. We were forced to accept the situation, even though it was difficult for his wife and kids. The kids are too young to lose him.”
The criticism and family’s grief highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the SANDF and the impact of its operations on soldiers and their families.
VIDEO | Limpopo family mourns loss of SANDF soldier:
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