Members of the M23 rebels drive along a street in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), yesterday. Questions have been raised about the lack of air support for SANDF soldiers in the DRC. Picture: AFP
Defence experts believe the lack of deployment of fighting army helicopters significantly contributed to the inadequate cover provided to South African soldiers deployed in a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
It has emerged that South Africa's signature attack helicopter, the Rooivalk, was not part of the deployment in the DRC.
The SANDF argued that countries that were part of the mission had to bring different resources.
A (“military photographer”) Andre Venter revealed that three Rooivalk helicopters that were in the DRC are now back in South Africa. They last flew 2022.
He posted on Facebook that three South African Air Force (SAAF) Rooivalk attack helicopters serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC have been flown back to South Africa after years of inactivity.
“The Rooivalks have not flown since August 2022, as neither the SA Air Force nor the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (Monusco) had the funds to operate them in support of the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade. The Rooivalk helicopters are scheduled for maintenance and repair,” he posted.
The Mercury tried to reach out to Venter through his Facebook page but was unsuccessful.
Defence analyst Dean Wingrin spoke on a radio news station about the importance of air power, saying that when the Rooivalk had been deployed in previous missions, they had repelled the advance by the rebels.
“These are South African troops, and cannot rely on any other country to protect our troops; those other countries’ priority is their citizens,” he said. “We did not have sufficient air power.”
Retired Army General Mojo Motau said: “We should accept that we underestimated this situation in the Congo. Experience has not taught us much; it is not the first time we are in the Congo facing a rebel movement supported by Rwanda.”
He said it was not acceptable that South Africa had not deployed its own air force to the DRC.
SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini described the situation as volatile. He said there was air support but it was not enough.