Outspoken Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has criticised the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), labelling them as “toy soldiers”, accusing them of doing nothing while the SANDF troops are being killed in the DRC.
Fourteen South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops were killed last month in Goma, in the DRC, during clashes with the M23 rebel group.
The repatriation of their bodies has been delayed, leaving the family members battling to mourn.
Political parties have been calling on the government to withdraw the soldiers deployed in peacekeeping efforts in the DRC to come back to the country.
In a heated debate at the National Assembly on the SANDF deaths in the DRC on Monday, McKenzie, who is also the leader of Patriotic Alliance (PA), started by extending his deepest sympathy to the families of the fallen troops.
“But, speaker,” he said referring to Thoko Didiza, “I think in this house, all of us need to do some soul-searching. We cannot be leaders, and we are busy debating here while our soldiers are not back,” he said.
McKenzie added that the debate could have been postponed until the soldiers were returned.
“The families of the ones that died must now watch on television hoping to get information. This debate could have been moved until we got our fallen soldiers back and then we can come here and speak about this. Speaker, this is not the time to point fingers,” he said, as some of the members of Parliament clapped hands in agreement.
African National Congress (ANC) member and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni agreed with McKenzie, also clapping hands and saying, “that’s true”.
McKenzie went on to express that the country has been humiliated by the deaths of the soldiers.
“We have been humiliated, and we must teach people that when you kill a South African, there's consequences.”
He suggested that the country’s high unemployment rate could be addressed by conscription, allowing young people to be trained as soldiers.
“Let us use this opportunity and call for conscription, Honorable President (Cyril Ramaphosa), and bring our young people and train them.
“While we train them, let us go and teach M23 a lesson. Let us go and kill those that killed our soldiers,” the minister said.
McKenzie took a sharp turn, attacking the EFF members, accusing them of being all talk, and no action.
“Speaker, these ones are talking a lot here. We need soldiers. You call yourself commissar. You call yourself CIC (Commander in Chief, referring to party leader Julius Malema). We need you there (DRC),” he said, eliciting roars of laughter from other members of Parliament.
McKenzie’s remarks followed an address by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Inkosi Russel Cebekhulu, who spoke after EFF’s Julius Malema’s address.
“There're people that we need you to go fight. We are tired here in Parliament of toy soldiers. This is war,” McKenzie added.
McKenzie accused the EFF of acting tough while troops are being killed in the DRC.
“People are dying. You are calling yourself titans here. Go and fight. I will be one of the first to join the battalion to go and fight. Let us go and get our people. And you must follow me,” he said.
He added, pointing to the EFF members inside the house: “Let's go and fight real fights, not these fake names of the army. I salute you. Thank you very much.”
Meanwhile, speaking on the podium, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga, told members of Parliament that the remains of the soldiers would be returned to home soil by Thursday.
Motshekga said seven of the soldiers are from Limpopo, three from the Free State and the rest of the men from the North West, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape.
She stated that all the officers will be laid to rest in full military honour for their sacrifice.
The soldiers' remains were due to be brought to SA last week, however, there were several delays.
At the weekend, the SANDF said the soldiers' bodies were taken from DRC to the United Nations Logistics Base in Entebbe, Uganda. Further reports state that from Uganda, the soldiers' bodies will be brought to SA.
IOL News