The Department of Defence has dismissed reports that South African troops ran out of ammunition whilst at war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was deployed to Goma in the DRC for a United Nations (UN)-backed peacekeeping mission.

THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION

Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC's Lekgotla in Pretoria today, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga said there was no communication from the generals in the DRC that they are experiencing a shortage of resources. "Because we were not armed to go and fight, we were armed to go there and keep peace, and now that we are caught in the crossfire, it's going to be important for us to reinforce; there was no shortage . I have heard this thing that we ran out of food at Goma,.. no! I went to our logistics centre and there was no stage where they said, "Minister, we have no food." However, Motshekga said that reinforcements had been sent to the DRC as a precaution.

MISINFORMATION

Motshekga explained the video of South African soldiers in the DRC seen hoisting up a white flag. "It was not a surrender but a gesture to guarantee M23 fighters 'safe passage' to collect their deceased from the battlefield. Motshekga said President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear to fighting forces in the DRC that if they continue putting South African soldiers' lives in danger, they would be declaring war with South Africa and the country would be forced to defend its people. So far, 13 SANDF soldiers have been killed during the fighting between the DRC government and the militant group, M23.