The Citizen reports that according to the Chairperson of Joint Standing Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Malusi Gigaba, parliament has not yet seen the final withdrawal plan to bring SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers home from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Last month, the SA government announced that it would be withdrawing its troops from eastern DRC following a meeting of the heads of state of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Briefing the media on Thursday, Gigaba said the portfolio committee was monitoring the deployment in the DRC. “As soon as a withdrawal plan has been finalised, the committee will get an update on the process to be followed to withdraw SANDF soldiers from the SADC mission in the DRC. Of critical importance for the committee is how members of the SANDF and our prime mission equipment will be secured and returned to the country. Especially in light of the volatile and unpredictable nature of the area in Goma,” he indicated. The government has been criticised for allegedly sending SA troops to die in a war that SA could have avoided.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa at The Citizen

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