Agb Speaker ... [Hon Speaker ...]
I think it is insensitive that hon President Jacob Zuma, as the supreme commander of the SANDF, is not present here today to explain to Parliament why we were deployed in the CAR. I think the fact that President Zuma is not present is a slap in the face of those 13 soldiers who were killed in the battle of Bangui. [Interjections.]
Ek s dit omdat die Grondwet van Suid-Afrika bepaal dat die President as opperbevelhebber die Parlement moet inlig. Hy moet kom verduidelik hoekom hy toestemming gegee het dat ons troepe in die Sentraal-Afrikaanse Republiek, SAR, ontplooi word. Dit is 'n klap in die gesig van daardie 13 soldate wie gesterf het, en die President is nie eers teenwoordig om te kom verduidelik nie. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Dit is 'n baie belangrike vraag.
Hoe kon dit gebeur het dat die kontrak wat in 2007 gesluit is, in Februarie 2012 verstryk het, en 10 maande later word daar weer 'n kontrak gesluit. Dit is dan 'n feit dat ons troepe onwettig in die SAR was. Ons moet 'n antwoord kry. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[I say this because the Constitution of South Africa states that the President, as the supreme commander, should inform Parliament. He should come here and explain why he gave permission for the deployment of our soldiers to the Central African Republic (CAR). It is a slap in the face of those 13 soldiers who died there; yet the President is not even present here today to explain. [Interjections.]
It is a very important question.
How did it happen that the agreement that was signed in 2007, expired in February 2012, and an agreement is signed once again 10 months later? Then, as a matter of fact, our soldiers were indeed illegally based in the CAR. We should be given an answer.]
My information is that, with regard to the new agreement, the general of the SANDF said and warned that we should not be deployed because we do not have the efficient, logistic, intelligence and other support for a deployment. [Interjections.] There is another question that needs to be answered, and that is, did the general of the SANDF give the go ahead, or was it a political decision for a political image that we have as big brother in Africa? We must get answers to these questions.
I have heard about all the other countries, especially those in central Africa, that are begging South Africa to go back. Of course they will beg us, and we will be the useful idiots who use our taxpayers' money to protect them. [Interjections.] I think the time has come for the central African countries to ensure their own safety and stability. Don't use South Africa's taxpayers' money to give that to them. [Interjections.] Thank you. [Applause.]