The South African military has called on analysts and politicians to refrain from criticizing its capabilities as the nation mourns the loss of 14 soldiers who died in combat in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The appeal was made by General Rudzani Maphwanya, the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), during a ceremony on February 13, 2025, where the soldiers’ bodies were handed over to their families.
Following the news of the soldiers’ deaths, several military analysts and opposition politicians criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration, questioning the army’s preparedness to engage in combat against the M23 rebel group. They argued that the SANDF is underfunded and ill-equipped for such operations.
“It seems as though South Africans find solace in self-inflicted pain,” said Gen. Maphwanya. “In a time of national mourning, we should not be engaging in debates about the mission’s costs and relevance. Our fallen heroes would be disheartened to see the nation’s focus shift from their sacrifice to budget discussions.”
He acknowledged the SANDF’s long-standing budgetary constraints, which have been repeatedly raised with government authorities. “We have consistently highlighted the need for increased funding to build a more capable force,” he said.
Gen. Maphwanya warned against politicizing the tragedy, emphasizing that military officials had done their best to equip the troops adequately. “Now is not the time to assign blame or dissect operational decisions,” he said. “We must honor our fallen and support their grieving families.”
The general also assured the public of the military’s commitment to transparency regarding efforts to enhance its capabilities but insisted that such discussions should be postponed until the mourning period ends.
“We urge analysts and commentators to avoid adding salt to the wounds of the bereaved families,” he added.
The 14 soldiers were part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and UN peacekeeping missions in the volatile eastern DRC, where they died during clashes in the towns of Sake and Goma.
