Defence Dept denies claims that SANDF troops in DRC ran out of ammo, food

PRETORIA - The Department of Defence said there was no truth to claims that South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo had run out of ammunition.

Soldiers from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have been deployed to Goma in the DRC for a United Nations (UN) backed peacekeeping mission.

So far, 13 SANDF soldiers have been killed during the fighting between the DRC government and the militant group, M23.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Cabinet lekgotla in Pretoria on Wednesday, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga said that generals in the DRC had not communicated they were running out of resources.

However, Motshekga said that reinforcements had been sent to the DRC as a precaution.

"Because we were not armed to go and fight with, we armed to go there and keep peace and now that we are caught in the crossfire, it's going to be important for us to reinforce, that's why we reinforced. But there was no stage and I have heard this thing that we ran out of food at Goma, no. I went to our logistics centre and there was no stage where they said: 'Minister, we have no food.'"

ALSO READ:

• Pressure mounting for Motshekga to brief Parliament on SA troop deployment in DRC

• Ramaphosa sends his condolences to families of SANDF soldiers killed in DRC

• SANDF clarifies that white flag in DRC video 'not a flag of surrender'

• Following deaths of 13 SANDF soldiers in DRC, SCOPA eagerly awaiting defence minister's Feb appearance

• Four more SA soldiers die in DRC, confirms SANDF

• Nine South African peacekeepers killed in DR Congo: SANDF