Mr Speaker and hon members, two weeks ago the hon Minister told the nation;
They had gone to the CAR to assist. We never anticipated that we would be attacked. When I was being interviewed, somebody asked if it wasn't that we might have been failed by our intelligence that had not picked up that we were going to be attacked.
The Minister would have given better answers had she demanded an operational report from her commanders. The Minister's argument, that we did not anticipate being attacked, is incomprehensible considering that she visited the CAR towards the end of last year to assess the situation in that country. The CAR government briefed her about the imminent attack by the rebel forces and they requested the reinforcement from South Africa. She came back and briefed the President about this request.
Subsequently, we know that President Zuma announced the deployment of an additional 400 troops in the CAR with the mandate to disarm and integrate the rebel forces and to protect the 26 trainers of the SA National Defence Force, SANDF, in the CAR. Given this unambiguous mandate, it is puzzling to hear the hon Minister say that she and her commanders did not anticipate being attacked.
The existence of the operational report that I mentioned earlier, would have helped to shed light on details regarding who failed our troops in the CAR and in the process disgraced our country. This same report would further establish who provided a passage for these rebels to march towards the city centre. This report is important if we are to avoid making similar mistakes in future, and to ensure that we take punitive steps against those who did not carry out orders. The same report would speak to the allegations that our troops were deployed in that country to protect former President Bozize and the business interests of some politically connected South Africans.
Former President Bozize made a startling revelation in December last year when he publicly complained that his government was being targeted for giving mining rights to South Africa and China. The question now remains as to what extent these mining rights have been diverted away from South African state-owned mining companies in favour of a selected few politically connected individuals and companies such as Chancellor House, as reported. [Interjections.] It is becoming a norm in the African continent for countries to help other countries in exchange for their resources.
We should therefore ask ourselves whether our presence in the CAR served national interests or narrow party political interests. Given the government's reluctance to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate this matter, we are compelled to agree with those who claim that our troops in the CAR were used to ensure that the looting spree in that country continued unabated. [Time expired.] [Applause.]