Air force and army chiefs blasted for playing golf while SA soldiers die in DRC

The chiefs of the SA Army and SA Air Force are facing a storm of criticism for playing in a festive golf day this week — while South African soldiers have been dying in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Air force generals and others participated in the golf day at the Copperleaf golf course in Gauteng on Tuesday as part of the celebrations of Air Force Week, an event organised by the chief of the SA Air Force, said Democratic Alliance spokesperson Chris Hattingh.

Posts on social media showed the SA Air Force chief, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, and the SA Army Chief, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, playing in the golf day. This triggered strong criticism, including calls for their resignation from members of the public.

Thirteen SANDF soldiers have been killed and several more injured over the last week in ferocious battles with the M23 rebel group, heavily backed by Rwanda, in eastern DRC.

“Tomorrow evening, the air force ball will take place, followed by more celebrations on Friday, including fly-overs and parades,” said Hattingh on Wednesday, calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa as commander-in-chief of the SANDF to cancel the celebrations “in light of the tragedy our military is enduring”.

Mbambo reacted to the criticism by cancelling the “Prestige Evening” (ball) on 30 January and the SAAF parade and flypasts on 31 January “due to the ongoing involvement of the military in the current situation in the DRC”. He said the events had been postponed until June.

Hattingh said Ramaphosa had abdicated his responsibilities by  remaining silent throughout the crisis, “failing to provide any leadership or support to the grieving families of our soldiers … and it is a disgrace.”

He said Ramaphosa was allowing a military festival to take place “at a time when our military is facing a catastrophic crisis… While our soldiers are risking their lives in a foreign conflict, senior officers are celebrating and enjoying festivities. High-ranking officers reportedly even travelled to the [golf] event in air force transport,” said Hattingh.

He urged Ramaphosa to address the nation about the DRC crisis.

An SA Air Force helicopter at Copperleaf golf course during the event. (Photo: X)

Darren Olivier, defence expert at the African Defence Review, said: “For the chiefs of the air force and army, the two services most directly connected with the fate of the beleaguered South African troops in the DRC, to be spending most of a day laughing and joking around a golf course while soldiers call desperately for support from home is beyond callous and tone-deaf.

“This is a moment where we needed the President, minister of defence, and the most senior military staff officers to stand up and show leadership, but they failed both that test and our soldiers.”

The SA Air Force (SAAF) said the Strategic Networking Golf Day was an annual event organised for the air force to engage with industry partners, business leaders and key stakeholders who had long supported the SAAF.

Beyond networking, the event played a critical role in supporting “the benevolent requirements of the South African Air Force”. The funds raised at the event would help support SAAF families in need, veterans and those who faced hardship.

The proceeds from the event would also help the SAAF to meet its broader social responsibilities through outreach programmes, environmental sustainability efforts or support for educational and healthcare initiatives.

It added that the chief of the SAAF, as host, was in attendance, accompanied by a reduced number of members of the SAAF’s Command Council. The air force chief was supported by the chiefs of the navy and army to “help pull resources and sponsors from all corners of the defence industry”.

It added that two helicopters were committed to the event: a BK117 which was utilised for static display from 8am to 10.30am, after which it was released and a Super Lynx helicopter which was utilised for a flypast at 10am to signal the start of the event.

Siphiwe Dlamini, the spokesperson for the SANDF, declined to comment on the row. DM