MK Party MP Mzikayise Ntshingila. | Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
The MK Party reflected on former President Jacob Zuma’s presidency during the urgent debate on a matter of national importance relating to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members who died in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Within the first few paragraphs of his speech, MK Party MP Mzikayise Ntshingila said there is nothing wrong with South Africa’s participation in peacekeeping missions including in the DRC, but such should be done with maximum support and military capacity which “this government” is not providing to the SANDF.
“We as uMkhonto weSizwe believe that South Africa and all other progressive forces of the African continent must not retreat and never surrender to rebels and external forces at the centre of the ongoing conflict in the Eastern part of the DRC, particularly Goma,” Ntshingila said.
He said DRC is kept in perpetual conflict because there are forces that seek to loot its natural endowments and mineral wealth. The African continent must never surrender the DRC to external forces and rebels sponsored by foreign governments and private role players.
“When President Zuma was president of our country, there was never an attempt to attack our forces because they had maximum support,” Ntshingila said.
He said South Africa’s participation in any peacekeeping mission should be strategically placed, well-funded and supported, whether as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) or the United Nations.
“Under President Jacob Zuma, South Africa played a key role in bringing peace and stability to the DRC, supporting military and diplomatic efforts to curb violence and foster democratic transitions. President Zuma’s administration provided substantial support to peacekeeping missions and actively engaged in conflict resolution efforts,” Ntshingila continued.
“President Zuma played a leading role in safeguarding the peace, stability, political and economic progress of the DRC because he understood that our progress and success as a people cannot be separated from the development of the entire African continent. Additionally, to military and peacekeeping deployment, President Zuma played a leading role in safeguarding the political stability of the DRC in order to realise socio-economic progress and prosperity.”
Mr Mzikayise Ntshingila of @MkhontoweSizwex says South Africa must continue to play meaningful diplomatic, economic, political and military roles in the #DRC with the aim of safeguarding maximum stability and economic progress. #7thParliament #DefenceDebate pic.twitter.com/YeheVNzfQC
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) February 10, 2025
Through Ntshingila’s speech, the MK Party demanded the following:
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za