THE South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is left with jaw drops following widespread claims on social media.
The military force received clap backs that the deployment of the soldiers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is commercially motivated and related to the minerals of that country.
SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini refuted these allegations claiming they were ‘far from the truth’ and ‘thumb suck’ by those who want to ruin name of the SANDF.
“We reject the article in its entirety as hogwash with the contempt it deserves. This article has no credibility and is not worth the paper it's written,” he said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had announced that at least 2 900 troops would be deployed to the eastern DRC to assist in the fight against illegal armed groups.
At the same time, restore peace and security in the eastern DRC, which has witnessed an increase in conflicts and instability caused by the resurgence of armed groups.
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This deployment, according to Ramaphosa, was in line with ‘fulfilling South Africa’s international obligation towards the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to support the DRC.
Dlamini reintegrated Ramaphosa's statement that the mission is undertaken by the SADC's top contributing countries and the DRC's military to bring sustainable peace and stability in the eastern DRC.
And as a result, finds the claim and its authors ‘disrespectful’ to deployed members.
The deployment of uniformed forces in the DRC was approved last year, but several political parties, including Kobus Marais of the DA, deemed it reckless and could "potentially endanger the lives of the soldiers".
These words have since been met with tragedy as the SANDF sits with two of their soldiers down.
Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono were killed in a mortar incident in the DRC last Wednesday 14 February.
The soldiers were killed when a mortar bomb landed inside a South African contingents' military base.
Condolences have since been out for the fallen soldiers, with Vice Prime Minister of Defence of the DRC, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, expressing his commitment to the security of all AADC forces.
“I assure you that the government of the Republic of Congo will spare no effort for the security of all AADC forces deployed in the east of our country,” he said.
