Defence Minister Angie Motshekga refuted allegations that the viral video of SANDF troops raising a white flag was an act of surrender. Image: The Citizen
(The Post News)- Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has guaranteed South Africans that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) camps in and around Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have not been attacked by M23 rebels in the last 48 hours. At the Cabinet Lekgotla in Pretoria, she stated that efforts are being made to get South African troops out of the DRC.
“The latest information that I got around one o’ clock is there’s fighting in Goma between your M23 and your DRC forces and the place is completely tense,” Motshekga said. “From our side there’s been no activity, no attacks.”
Theteafter, she addressed the viral social media video where South African troops were raising a white flag. The Defence Minister said this occurance happened after three SANDF soldiers were killed in crossfire. The white flag was an indication to the M23 at Sake, less than 30 km from Goma, to come and retrieve their dead.
“Even now there’s not been any attacks since the ceasefire that we requested or instructed from M23,” said Angie Motshekga.
Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa however, said South African troops were let down by the other countries defending Sake and Goma from M23 rebels.
Experts have said that many Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers surrendered or abandoned the fight. The Malawian and Tanzanian soldiers with the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) did not even engage the rebels.
According to the Deputy Defence Minister even the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) forces made no efforts and instead held back.
“The troops of Congo surrendered,” Holomisa said.
“All of a sudden these troops of South Africa ended up being attacked by mortars and so on,” but acquitted themselves well.
“In terms of the issues related to us coming back and bringing those troops back now, the situation currently is as follows: our government is in contact with the United Nations so that they can facilitate the transportation of those people out of the Congo,” Holomisa said.
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