The MK Party reflected on former President Jacob Zuma’s presidency during the urgent debate on a matter of national importance relating to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members who died in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Within the first few paragraphs of his speech, MK Party MP Mzikayise Ntshingila said there is nothing wrong with South Africa’s participation in peacekeeping missions including in the DRC, but such should be done with maximum support and military capacity which “this government” is not providing to the SANDF.
“We as uMkhonto weSizwe believe that South Africa and all other progressive forces of the African continent must not retreat and never surrender to rebels and external forces at the centre of the ongoing conflict in the Eastern part of the DRC, particularly Goma,” Ntshingila said.
He said DRC is kept in perpetual conflict because there are forces that seek to loot its natural endowments and mineral wealth. The African continent must never surrender the DRC to external forces and rebels sponsored by foreign governments and private role players.
“When President Zuma was president of our country, there was never an attempt to attack our forces because they had maximum support,” Ntshingila said.
He said South Africa’s participation in any peacekeeping mission should be strategically placed, well-funded and supported, whether as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) or the United Nations.
“Under President Jacob Zuma, South Africa played a key role in bringing peace and stability to the DRC, supporting military and diplomatic efforts to curb violence and foster democratic transitions. President Zuma’s administration provided substantial support to peacekeeping missions and actively engaged in conflict resolution efforts,” Ntshingila continued.
“President Zuma played a leading role in safeguarding the peace, stability, political and economic progress of the DRC because he understood that our progress and success as a people cannot be separated from the development of the entire African continent. Additionally, to military and peacekeeping deployment, President Zuma played a leading role in safeguarding the political stability of the DRC in order to realise socio-economic progress and prosperity.”
Mr Mzikayise Ntshingila of @MkhontoweSizwex says South Africa must continue to play meaningful diplomatic, economic, political and military roles in the #DRC with the aim of safeguarding maximum stability and economic progress. #7thParliament #DefenceDebate pic.twitter.com/YeheVNzfQC
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) February 10, 2025
Through Ntshingila’s speech, the MK Party demanded the following:
- South Africa and all other African countries and continental organisations must continue to play meaningful diplomatic, economic, political and military roles in the DRC to safeguard maximum stability and economic progress.
- South Africa must fully support the SADC and East African Community Joint Summit resolutions to declare a ceasefire in Goma. The chiefs of defence forces must develop a security plan for the region within five days.
- South Africa must fully support the idea brought by President Jacob Zuma in 2014 of establishing an African Standby Force which will combat all forms of rebel movements and terrorist activities in the African continent. It is only a unified African Standby Force with maximum ground, Air Force and Naval Capacity that can sustainably defend our continent from sponsored destabilisation which is done for theft of our resources.
- The restoration of the SA Air Force and the army with full operational capability, and that it be a top priority. Also to develop and implement a Sustainable Peacekeeping Strategy.
- The government must invest in local defence manufacturing to ensure that our armed forces have the necessary equipment and resources, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthening national security.
- The South African government must broaden and strengthen our economic cooperation and integration with the DRC. The immediate task in strengthening economic cooperation should include strategies to complete the Inga Hydroelectric Project (Grand Inga Hydropower Project) which will be a turning point in the economic life of the DRC and the sub-continent.