A storm is brewing within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as soldiers who recently returned from a 15-month deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) demand R600,000 each in unpaid allowances, alleging they were short-changed despite promises of R108,000 per month.
The deployment, part of the Southern African Development Community Mission (SAMIDRC), placed troops in high-risk combat zones, where 14 soldiers lost their lives in battles against M23 rebels. Yet, many report receiving as little as R34,000 to R58,000 per month, sparking outrage and calls for justice.
The South African National Defence Union (Sandu), which is backing the troops, has branded the alleged withholding of pay as illegal and urged affected soldiers to pursue legal recourse rather than resort to protest.
An urgent meeting between SANDF and Sandu has taken place, but the military leadership has yet to offer a clear timeline or explanation, only stating the issue will be “addressed and clarified.”
Political parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), have entered the fray, demanding full transparency and a breakdown of how the R5 billion budgeted for the mission, along with SADC contributions, was actually spent.
As pressure mounts, this unfolding scandal adds to growing concerns about the state of the SANDF, marked by underfunding, logistical breakdowns, and poor treatment of personnel risking their lives on foreign soil.
