Speaking at the South African National Assembly on Monday during a debate on the deaths of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in eastern DRC, Malema condemned the government's decision to send troops under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).
Malema argued that the mission was not a peacekeeping effort but a direct combat operation against the "well-equipped" and strategic M23 rebels. He accused the government of deploying soldiers without essential military assets, such as drones and fighter jets, leaving them vulnerable.
"Our government has deliberately misled the people. The reality is that our soldiers are fighting an enemy with superior weaponry, resources, and intelligence," he remarked.
Malema also blamed the recent casualties on SANDF's failures in intelligence and coordination, particularly during the M23 offensive on Goma.
According to him, intelligence lapses left South African forces unprepared, while poor coordination with regional allies and the Congolese military led to a weak and fragmented response.
The lack of clear directives from leadership, he added, resulted in disorganized retreats and unnecessary casualties, which also led to the deaths of two soldiers from Tanzania and two from Malawi under SAMIDRC.
The EFF leader further attributed SANDF's declining capability to years of government neglect and corruption. He noted that budget cuts have crippled the military, grounding aircraft and helicopters due to lack of maintenance.
Despite the deployment costing the government R2.3 billion since it began, he argued that mismanagement and corruption have severely weakened the army's effectiveness.
"Officials have looted and mismanaged funds, sending South Africa's defence technology to foreign entities. This is nothing short of crazy," he said.
Additionally, Malema criticized the Department of Defence for wasting over R250 million outsourcing IT services while ignoring internal capabilities, calling it blatant theft of state resources at the expense of soldiers.
Some of the fallen soldiers were killed in the battle for Goma City, while others died in clashes in Sake involving M23, the Congolese military, and allied coalition forces.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) transported their remains to Uganda through the main Rwanda-DRC border crossing, La Corniche, around noon on Friday, following days of delays.
Upon arrival in Kampala, the decomposing bodies were scheduled for preparation before being flown to South Africa via Entebbe International Airport. However, as of Monday afternoon, they were yet to be repatriated, with final arrangements expected this week.
Malema expressed outrage over the delays, calling the situation "unacceptable."
"We must be clear. The deployment of our soldiers in the DRC is not about achieving peace. It's about sacrificing our soldiers for a war with no end in sight. This government continues to send them to die in a foreign land, and when they do, their bodies are not even repatriated with the dignity they deserve," he lamented, adding that the delays had subjected the families of the fallen soldiers to severe anguish.
M23 accuses the Congolese government of decades-long persecution and marginalization of Congolese Rwandophones.
Malema called for the immediate withdrawal of South African troops, arguing that no more lives should be lost in a "senseless conflict."
He urged the government to bring the troops home, echoing calls for a ceasefire made during discussions at the recent joint Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) summit in Tanzania.
During the EAC-SADC summit on Saturday, regional Heads of State called for a political solution rather than a military one. The Congolese government has been urged to prioritize meaningful and honest dialogue with M23 and other rebel forces in the country to silence guns in the eastern region.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
