Give SA soldiers what they need to do their job
The deaths this week of two South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel and the injury of three others in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has again shone a spotlight on our military involvement in continental conflicts, with some questioning the wisdom of our country’s current activities. In this instance, questions have been asked about the readiness of the SANDF to intervene in hotspots such as the DRC.
Criticism has centred on the logistical preparedness of our defence force to fight in the perilous war zone that is the eastern DRC, and whether our troops are properly equipped for the tasks they are being asked to execute. This is a valid concern. While suffering casualties in combat situations is often unavoidable, the nation’s expectation is that those who lead our servicemen and women will ensure any loss of life is kept to a minimum.
The SANDF’s capacity constraints — the result of repeated budget cuts owing to fiscal pressures — have been a cause for concern for a while. The reductions in funding have led to a progressive degradation of the defence force’s ability not only to defend the country but to assist in necessary peacekeeping operations on the continent.
Of course, in the light of this week’s losses, it will be tempting to question the need for South Africa’s involvement in continental conflicts, or to suggest that we should rather be focusing on our own domestic problems, which are many. The reality is that our country cannot afford to adopt an isolationist stance towards the continent, as this will prove to be short-sighted in the long run — given that our fate, including our security and long-term economic prosperity, is intertwined with that of the rest of Africa.
The question is not whether we should be involved in conflicts as members of the African community of nations, but rather whether, while we are engaged in operations to keep the peace on our continent, our troops are suitably equipped and effectively led to perform their task.
It would be unconscionable for us as a country to ask the women and men in our army to put their lives on the line while neglecting to give them the proper means for the job.