The bodies of the 14 SANDF soldiers, that had been killed in clashes with Rwandan backed M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, returned to the country earlier this year. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said government will commit R5 billion to the continued deployment of the troops in the DRC.
Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is showing that he is backing the country's South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops and will be committing R5 billion towards the continued deployment of the troops in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The move comes amid the continued spotlight on the deployment of SANDF troops in the region.
Fourteen SANDF soldiers were killed in the country earlier this year after clashes with Rwandan back M23 rebels.
Godongwana explained that the budget for the peace and security function grows by 4,7 per cent annually, from R250,4 billion in 2024/25 to R287 billion in 2027/28. This increase is primarily to fund SANDF troop deployment in the DRC, enhance capacity in the judiciary and prepare for the 2026 local government elections.
"We will continue working with the Department of Defence on ways to change the composition of expenditure to modernise the defence force," he said.
On Tuesday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa provided a sobering update regarding the ongoing situation, stating that the cessation of hostilities was holding through the various summits and meetings by chiefs of defence, ministers and heads of states.
"We are hoping to consolidate that and hold further movements by any of the armies that are surging forward.
"There will be a meeting of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) followed by the East Africa Community and SADC, and we are hoping we will be able to have a more durable cessation that will lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities," he said.
Ramaphosa made the statement when he was responding to oral questions in the National Assembly.
Overall the allocation to the SANDF forms part of the budget allocated towards crime-fighting, law courts and prisons, and also home affairs. Godongwana said that R9.4 billion will be allocated to fund the defence force and correctional services.
*Additional reporting by Mayibongwe Maqhina.
theolin.tembo@inl.co.za
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