End the rumours and speculation and tell us what is going on in the CAR

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, must end the rumours and speculation and provide clarity on what is going on in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Five days ago, General Solly Shoke, Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), indicated that he was waiting for a "political decision" on how to proceed in the CAR.

Today, Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga claims that the SANDF are still "awaiting government instructions to tell us whether to withdraw from CAR or to reinforce in CAR".

If President Jacob Zuma, who is the commander-in-chief of the defence force, has made a political decision on how to proceed in the CAR, that decision has evidently not been communicated to the defence force, to the public or to Parliament.

If no political decision has been made, seven days after thirteen soldiers were killed in the CAR, this raises questions about the President's leadership.

Whatever the case, there has effectively been a communication blackout for five days on what is going on in the CAR.

The failure to clearly communicate the "way forward" has inevitably resulted in unconfirmed deployment reports and rumours of a new mission for the SANDF in the CAR.

There have been unconfirmed reports, for example, that SANDF reinforcements have been deployed to Entebbe in Uganda and to Gemena in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

It goes without saying that any plans for "hitting back" at the rebels would be complete madness.

There have also been reports that some soldiers, who were deployed in the CAR, have been withdrawn and have already returned to South Africa.

The Minister needs to end the rumours and speculation and tell the public and Parliament what is going on in the CAR.

In the end, the SANDF should never have been deployed to the CAR.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence & Military Veterans, March 30 2013

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