The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the immediate cancellation of the South African Army’s upcoming Cadre Command Conference, citing respect for the country’s troops and the “disastrous” situation the army is in.

On Tuesday, the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans welcomed confirmation from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) that all injured soldiers had been evacuated from Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

So far, 14 soldiers have lost their lives in the conflict, this amid concerns regarding the serviceability of the SANDF’s Prime Mission Equipment and mission deployment readiness.

South Africa’s soldiers are part of the Southern African Development Community mission to the DRC in Goma, where they were recently ambushed by M23 rebels, who has regrouped since 2023 and are fighting against DRC forces.

The Cadre Command Conference is said to host over 500 guests at the end of March to the start of April, to "align and strategise".

DA National Council of Provinces Member on Security and Justice Nicholas Gotsell noted that while deceased numbers of troops were being laid to rest and injured soldiers were being cared for, a recent communique by SANDF Brigadier General KC Pakade sought sponsorships for the conference - for items such as golf caps, cricket hats, smartwatches, mugs, and water bottles.

“This event will do absolutely nothing for our troops in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, who remain stranded due to appalling leadership,” highlighted Gotsell.

He noted that the army’s “jamboree” was not just “insensitive”, but said the request for a donation of about R2-million from the defence industry was “a cheek” when the army was incapable of providing it permits for exports.

“All that our military must be focused on is bringing all our troops home, as well as revealing to the public on what advice our troops were sent to a ‘peace-keeping mission’, which it clearly was not,” said Gotsell.