Parliamentary row erupts over R813m in SANDF troop allowances for DRC mission

The DA is standing its ground after it came under criticism from Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and the ANC over the R813 million in allowances for SANDF members.

This comes after DA MP Nicholas Gotsell earlier this week accused Joint Standing Committee on Defence co-chairperson Malusi Gigaba of shielding Motshekga from accounting for the R813 million in allowances for the SANDF members who were deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Gotsell said Gigaba refused to call Motshekga, whom he said was silent on the “missing or unaccounted” R813m allocated to the payment of SANDF deployment allowances.

He also said that after initially agreeing to write to Motshekga for answers, Gigaba made a sudden U-turn and blocked the committee from acting.

“This came just days after Minister Motshekga issued a press statement bemoaning the DA’s oversight,” said Gotsell, whose party has reported the matter to House Chairperson Cedric Frolick.

Gigaba said Gotsell’s allegations were unfounded, disingenuous, and illogical.

“While Mr Gotsell is free to escalate any matter to the National Assembly hierarchy, he is not entitled to make baseless, illogical, and false claims. Openness and accountability are the bedrock of the committee’s work. The chairperson does not make unilateral decisions but acts in consultation and by consensus with all committee members,” he said.

Gigaba explained that meetings had been held following the deaths of 14 SANDF soldiers in the DRC, and an engagement had been held about the withdrawal plan from the war-torn country.

He said the committee had agreed that upon completion of the withdrawal, a comprehensive report on the deployment would be tabled in Parliament.

Gigaba also said that due to this year’s unprecedented budget process, the committee had to defer its meetings to allow space for the process to be finalised.

He said the committee was committed to a considered and thorough review of the DRC deployment.

“This commitment remains unchanged, and the review will be scheduled once the report is available. It is on this basis that making unfounded and disingenuous claims is both counterproductive and irrational.”

ANC study group's Thokozile Sokhanyile lashed out at Gotsell, saying his claims were baseless and disconnected from facts.

Sokhanyile said the committee’s work was informed by collective decisions and guided by a commitment to transparency, oversight, and accountability.

She echoed Gigaba’s sentiments that the committee held meetings, and it was agreed that a comprehensive report would be submitted to Parliament after the withdrawal is concluded.

“Mr Gotsell, as a participant in these meetings, is fully aware of this collective decision,” Sokhanyile said, adding that the committee had to adjust its schedule due to the budget process and coordinating meetings required alignment across both Houses of Parliament.

In her response, Motshekga said she has consistently honoured her obligations to Parliament, including regular engagements with the Joint Standing Committee on Defence and other oversight structures.

She also said some portfolio committee meetings have coincided with scheduled Cabinet and its cluster meetings.

“I have always respected the oversight role of Parliament and remain fully committed to transparency and accountability. Where I am unable to attend due to Executive obligations, proper procedures are followed, and appropriate representation is ensured. It is regrettable that some seek to distort this commitment for political point-scoring,” said Motshekga.

But Gotsell insisted that Motshekga gave Parliament the cold shoulder.

He maintained that she infrequently attended meetings and was shielded from scrutiny by Gigaba, who had promised to write to the minister about the troop allowance.

“Motshekga and Gigaba believe this does not deserve urgent accountability before Parliament... Minister Motshekga’s absence is not just a scheduling issue - it is a dereliction of duty.”

Gotsell added that his party has written to Parliament’s presiding officers to demand that the committee’s co-chairpersons immediately convene a meeting where Motshekga can account and get to the bottom of what happened to the R813 million, which SANDF chief of joint operations, Major-General Abotsi, said in May was being “held onto” until the troops returned.

“The committee must act now to uncover the truth behind the missing R813 million, restore integrity to its oversight role, and ensure our troops receive the answers they deserve,” he added.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za