Government complicit in deaths of soldiers in Central African Republic
The South African government should take full responsibility for the deaths of the thirteen South African soldiers in the Central African Republic (CAR). Another 27 soldiers were wounded while one is still missing.
Mr. Pieter Groenewald, the Freedom Front Plus' spokesperson on defence, says the government has increasingly neglected the SA National Defence Force in the past decade by not making sufficient funds available which was needed for a professional and effective defence force.
"The situation is, due to a shortage of logistical an air support which has now been revealed, so desperate that we believe all soldiers should be removed from the area immediately to prevent further loss of life.
"It appears as if President Jacob Zuma had without careful consideration decided to deploy defence force members in the CAR without proper logistical and air support for such operations.
"Military experts have for a long time been warning that the Defence Force cannot properly undertake peace operations without this type of support.