Kaya 959 Point of View with Phemelo Motene

SANDF Quietly Pulls Troops Out of DRC as Unpaid Soldiers Threaten Legal Action

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As tensions rise in the DRC, the SANDF has started pulling back its troops and gear from Lubumbashi – months after deploying them in a failed bid to support peace efforts in the conflict-ridden North Kivu region. Despite being flown in at great cost, sources say the troops never saw action – and now nearly 3,000 soldiers are threatening to take the SANDF to court over unpaid allowances worth R600,000 each. Flight data shows a quiet but steady extraction of soldiers and equipment using SANDF aircraft, but the Defence Force is tight-lipped. Govan Whittles speaks to Defence Analyst Ricardo Teixeira about what this quiet pull-out really signals.
23 Sep 2025 5PM English South Africa Education · Careers

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