A South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier has published a harrowing, first-hand account of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), exposing severe equipment shortages, poor planning, and a lack of post-deployment support.
The anonymous soldier’s testimony details a mission plagued by systemic failures from the start in February 2024.
Critical Failures Highlighted:
•Self-Funded Deployment: Soldiers had to buy their own boots, tents, and passports, with no reimbursement.
•Equipment Shortfalls: Arrived without flak jackets, helmets, or proper weapons. Armoured vehicles were insufficient/unserviceable.
•Poor Base Location: The Sake base was catastrophically sited, leaving troops exposed. Tents were next to perimeter walls.
•Inadequate Allowances: Received a “deprivation allowance” of just R761 and danger pay of R48 per day—rates unchanged for 25 years.
•Betrayal & Trauma: The FARDC (DRC army) often collaborated with M23 rebels. Soldiers witnessed extreme combat trauma and received only a 30-minute counselling session upon return.
The soldier states the mission was “a failure to the core” and calls for leaders to “plan with more caution and strategise according to military standards, leaving politics to politicians.”
This testimony demands urgent attention. It is crucial for oversight bodies and the public to engage on the issues of soldier welfare, proper defence funding, and accountable mission planning.
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