The DA demands that Defence Minister Angie Motshekga immediately halt all wasteful spending in the SANDF, conduct lifestyle audits on top generals, and cancel the upcoming Cadre Conference.
This comes after the Chief of the Army invited defence industry members to sponsor and participate in a golf day on 4 April 2025—while South African soldiers remain stranded and held hostage by M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The invitation states that the Chief of the Army is “excited” about the day, which includes luxury sponsorships of up to R300,000, 110 bottles of sponsored wine, and catered meals for 420 guests. While SANDF generals sip wine and play golf, soldiers in the DRC are rationing food and surviving on as little as four to six bottles of water per week.
Instead of prioritising the safe return of soldiers in Goma, the Army’s leadership is focused on networking and fundraising for entertainment.
The DA is calling for urgent action. Every effort should be directed at securing the safety of our troops and fixing the crisis at the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) and the Directorate for Conventional Arms Control (DCAC), whose inefficiencies are costing South Africa billions.
There is no excuse for this level of arrogance and waste. Soldiers are risking their lives while top brass enjoy a day on the green. The Minister must intervene—immediately.