Latest news with #Sadc
TimesLIVE
15-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Second group of SA troops returning home from DRC to arrive on Sunday
The second group of South African soldiers returning home after being deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the Sadc peacekeeping mission is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed. They are scheduled to land at Air Force Base Waterkloof between 3pm and 5pm while a third group is expected to return on Monday afternoon. The SANDF said, the returning troops would undergo the standard demobilisation programme, which includes health screenings, psychological support and reunification services.
TimesLIVE
13-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Delay in SANDF soldiers' return from DRC yet another example of poor planning: DA
The DA has expressed dismay at the chaotic scenes in Bloemfontein on Friday where 249 South African soldiers returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo were expected to land at midday. Briefing the media at the Tempe military base in Bloemfontein on Friday afternoon, defence and military veterans minister Angie Motshekga said the midday arrival of the first group of South African National Defence Force troops who were deployed to the eastern DRC had been delayed due to technical and logistical challenges. She said the Sadc, which is facilitating the flights, had challenges with the contracting airline company. 'Despite full media coverage and the presence of dignitaries, the soldiers are now unlikely to arrive before nightfall,' the DA said in a statement. It said what was meant to be a dignified homecoming had descended into disarray. 'This is yet another example of poor planning. The same kind of failure that plagued SANDF operations in the DRC. 'The DA warned that this event was more about spectacle than sincere recognition. Today, those concerns were proved correct. The entire ceremony has turned into a public embarrassment, with soldiers stranded and their supposed heroes' welcome left in ruins.' The DA said this was not just a failed media stunt. 'It is a sign of deeper dysfunction within the department of defence. Repeated logistical failures, both abroad and at home, raise serious questions about leadership and competence at the highest levels.'
TimesLIVE
13-06-2025
- TimesLIVE
'Logistical challenges' delay SANDF soldiers' midday arrival: Motshekga
Defence and military veterans minister Angie Motshekga says the midday arrival of the first group of South African National Defence Force troops who were deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been delayed due to technical and logistical challenges. The group included 249 troops due to arrive from Tanzania. They were part of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Mission in the DRC. Motshekga said the troops were expected to fly from Tanzania and their latest estimated arrival was Saturday morning. 'The indication is the arrival has been delayed due to technical and logistical challenges with the contracted airline. We have been assured they are on board and will arrive any time today [Friday] or tomorrow [Saturday].' Sadc, which is facilitating the flights, had challenges with the contracting airline company.
TimesLIVE
13-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Group of SANDF troops due to arrive home from DRC
The first group of SA National Defence Force (SANDF) troops deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission there are expected to return on Friday. They are arriving at air force base Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein at about midday and will be welcomed by minister of defence and military veterans Angie Motshega, accompanied by members of the military command council. The mission was sent to assist Kinshasa's fight against rebel groups in the DRC's war-ravaged eastern borderlands in December 2023. The 16-member Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said in mid-March it had terminated the mandate and would begin a phased withdrawal of its force from the DRC. According to the SANDF, the withdrawal was informed by the directive issued by the Sadc extraordinary summit of heads of state and government meeting held virtually on March 13. The bodies of 14 SANDF troops killed when M23 rebels captured the key city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, were returned to SA in February. Earlier this year scores of SANDF soldiers were wounded in clashes between M23 rebel forces and DRC government troops. About 200 soldiers returned in February from the DRC.
TimesLIVE
30-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
SA's Swazi Tshabalala loses out on AfDB presidency to Mauritanian Sidi Ould Tah
His win means the presidency of the bank will again stay between West and North Africa. Southern Africa had fielded two candidates, Tshabalala and Zambian economist Samuel Maimbo. This caused a rift within the regional body Sadc, which publicly endorsed the Zambian, but SA refused to back down. Tah previously served as director-general for the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa. He also served as an expert at the Mauritanian Bank for Development and Commerce between 1984 and 1986, then as a financial analyst at the Food Security Commission in 1986. He also worked as a financial analyst at the Khartoum-based Arab Authority for Agriculture, Investment and Development between 1996 and 1999. Thereafter, he served as investment promotion officer and then technical assistant to the president of the Islamic Development Bank. He was the adviser to Mauritania's president and prime minister, respectively, in 2006 and 2008. In 2008, he was nominated and appointed as Mauritanian minister of economy and finance. Tshabalala joined AfDB in 2018 after she was appointed as vice president of finance and CFO. She previously served as a finance manager at Standard Bank Group and as group treasurer at Transnet. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana previously commended Tshabalala for her contribution and commitment to achieving the AfDB's vital goal of increasing investment in the continent.
