Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
3 February 2025 |13:00 CAT
2 min read

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was warned over a year ago that its mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would likely end in failure, but those warnings were ignored. Senior generals who voiced their concerns were reportedly summoned one by one and instructed to drop their objections. These warnings have now become painfully clear, especially in the wake of the tragic deaths of 14 SANDF soldiers in the DRC.

Military expert Helmoed Heitman discussed the mission’s feasibility in an interview with Radio Islam International, acknowledging that the SANDF’s involvement in both the DRC and Mozambique stretched the already depleted military resources. “It was not a good idea, even in Mozambique, the force that went in was far too small to be effective. The DRC mission, where South Africa was the largest component, had no air support, making it impossible to be effective,” Heitman said.

He emphasised the futility of the mission, especially given the lack of proper military resources, stating: “The DRC mission, at the time, was to have 5,000 Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops, with no air support, to do what 15,000 UN troops have failed to do for 20 years. That was never going to fly.”

Despite the strategic and economic case for stabilising the eastern DRC, Heitman pointed out the need for adequate support in terms of troops, airlift capabilities, and equipment. “We don’t have enough people in the army, and we don’t have the air support. We deployed slowly using chartered aircraft and don’t have our own planes to support such an effort. And when we do have to fly into a risky area, we don’t have the resources to respond effectively,” he said.

The military expert also criticised the government’s disregard for the military’s warnings. “The generals were right. The government has deliberately neglected the Defence Force for over 20 years and now places the military in a dangerous situation. This is unacceptable,” he said.

With the deaths of the 14 SANDF soldiers, there has been growing public pressure to reconsider the DRC mission or even pull out entirely. However, Heitman noted the complexities of withdrawing, given South Africa’s involvement in the larger SADC peacekeeping efforts. “It’s not as simple as just pulling out. You are part of a greater community. We are part of SADC, and we can’t just leave without significant diplomatic consequences,” he said.

According to Heitman, the situation is further complicated by the reality of South Africa’s military condition: “The military has been on a downward trajectory for years now. We’ve had discussions about staffing, maintaining buildings, and equipment. It’s all been neglected, and now we’re paying the price.”

He added that despite South Africa’s relative peace compared to previous decades, a well-maintained military is essential, stating: “A conflict can emerge unexpectedly, as we’ve seen with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Falklands, or even Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. A military that isn’t maintained could prove catastrophic if a sudden crisis arises.”

Heitman emphasised the importance of proper military preparedness. “Maintaining a defense force isn’t cheap, but letting it decline and then rebuilding it is far more expensive. The world is becoming less peaceful, and we need to prepare for any eventuality,” he warned.

As South Africa navigates its role in regional peacekeeping efforts, the ongoing challenges with the SANDF serve as a stark reminder of the cost of neglecting the military and the consequences of underfunded defense forces.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Military expert Helmoed Heitman, here.