We need to know if the SANDF is going to war in the DRC

President Jacob Zuma must immediately inform Parliament about the reported deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (see report).

The President has an obligation to inform Parliament promptly and in appropriate detail about any deployment of the SANDF. However, despite reports about a massive deployment of the defence force ­- including Gripen fighter jets and Rooivalk attack helicopters being airlifted to the region by chartered Illuyshin 76's and Antonov 124's - no information has been provided to Parliament.

The defence force is reportedly being deployed as part of the United Nations (UN) newly established "specialized intervention brigade" in the DRC. This is not a peacekeeping mission. It is a peace enforcement mission. 

The UN's "specialized intervention brigade" has a clear mission: to neutralise and disarm rebels in the DRC. The UN's "specialized intervention brigade" is also authorised to conduct "offensive operations" against the rebels in the DRC.

If the reports are correct, then the SANDF will, to put it simply, be going to war against rebels in the DRC. There will, therefore, be a very high risk of more SANDF casualties, this time in the DRC. We cannot be kept in the dark any longer. The President must tell us what is going on.

The DA, therefore, calls on the President to immediately inform Parliament if the defence force is being deployed in the DRC. The President misled Parliament about the deployment of the SANDF in the CAR; he must not be allowed to mislead Parliament about the deployment in the DRC.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, April 7 2013

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