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ActionSA Condemns Minister Angie Motshekga’s Luxury Travel Amid SANDF Soldier Deaths

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ActionSA has expressed outrage over claims that Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga has spent over R10 million on luxury travel in the past four months. This comes in the wake of a tragic week for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which saw nine soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), followed by four more deaths in clashes with M23 rebels on Tuesday.

Minister’s Spending vs. Soldier Sacrifice

ActionSA’s spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni condemned Motshekga’s alleged misuse of public funds, especially given the dire circumstances faced by South African soldiers on peacekeeping missions. According to a reply to ActionSA’s parliamentary question, Motshekga’s luxury travel expenditures included R4 million on international flights, R2.1 million on car hire, and millions more spent on domestic travel.

“The stark contrast between the sacrifices of our armed forces and the minister’s extravagant spending exposes the level of mismanagement in our government,” Ngobeni said in a statement.

Financial Accountability and Military Mismanagement

Ngobeni raised concerns over the lack of resources for SANDF soldiers in the DRC, highlighting that soldiers had reportedly run out of ammunition and were left waiting for resupplies from thousands of kilometres away. He described this failure as “preventable” and indicative of the “dangerous mismanagement” of military resources under Motshekga’s leadership.

“Reports of soldiers being left without basic necessities while the minister indulges in luxury travel are a betrayal of her duty,” Ngobeni added. ActionSA has long warned that mismanagement and underfunding have crippled the SANDF’s ability to safeguard South Africa’s national security.

Call for Immediate Action

ActionSA has demanded that Motshekga take immediate steps to address the mismanagement within the Department of Defence. The party has called for an independent review to overhaul South Africa’s defence strategy and for Motshekga to halt unplanned SANDF deployments, particularly in the DRC.

“We cannot allow reckless leadership to continue. Our soldiers deserve dignity, respect, and competent leadership,” Ngobeni concluded, urging the minister to take responsibility for her actions.

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