CHRISTOPHER MOTABOGI

South Africa cannot hope to prosper as a country while other African countries are unstable. This is according to the chief of the Army, Lt. Gen. V.R Masondo addressing families of slain soldiers in Bloemfontein this afternoon.
Masondo was speaking at a memorial service at the Tempe Military base to remember the 13 SA soldiers who died in fierce fighting in the CAR two weeks ago.
He also took the time to dismiss what he termed “negative sentiments” about reasons for the presence of SA soldiers in the CAR.
“South Africa has a bilateral agreement with the Central African Republic (CAR) according to which we were deployed to train soldiers, build their capacity and ensure peace and stability in that country”.
Masondo conceded that it was the first time SA had lost so many soldiers in battle, since the integration of all armed forces into the SA National Defence Force.
He says what was even more painful is that the dead soldiers were youngsters who themselves left behind widows and young children.
But the media did not survive Masondo’s wrath regarding reporting since the CAR incident.
“These negative sentiments show that as a country, we have NOT forged a common national identity, because countries all over the world, especially democracies, realize that the defence force is a national asset and at such times (like the CAR tragedy), they rally behind the army” says Masondo.
Masondo added that: “South Africa cannot be an island of stability in a sea of instability” saying SA is part of the African community on whose own stability, this country itself depended.
Meanwhile, Major Jiyana, commander of the dead soldiers, said “it will take years and years to fill the void left by the dead soldiers” describing them as “brave men”.
Free State (FS) Premier Ace Magashule and his Safety and Security MEC, Butana Khompela lit candles in memory of the soldiers, seven of whom are reportedly originally from Bloemfontein.

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