Exercise Mosi II must be open to the media

2 February 2023

The DA has called on the Defence Minister, Thandi Modise, to immediately reverse the decision to ban the media from covering Exercise Mosi II, the upcoming naval exercise with Russia, China and South Africa.

The decision to exclude media is totally unacceptable and is a clear indication that South Africa under the ANC is moving away from its democratic values.

We condemn this decision and the lack of transparency that goes with it.

This move could further alienate SA from our largest and most important trading partners. This decision proofs the communistic totalitarian and dictatorial doctrines which is Russian.

Perhaps the ANC government is ashamed of how they have let the army and its capabilities go to waste.

This is unacceptable and just further evidence that the ANC government wants to secretly prepare with their Russian allies for further maritime attacks by the Russians. This could make SA jointly liable for the attacks by the Russians, and then probably for war crimes.

Our military is supposed to act in the best interest of South Africans.

We believe that with the 2024 National Elections the voters must send a very strong message that the ANC's covert actions are unacceptable.

The DA will continue to expose government's bias towards Russia and continue to hold them accountable.

Statement issued by Kobus Marais MP - DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Affairs, 2 February 2023