SANDF Surgeon General Ntshavheni Maphaha
By Thabo Mosia
Bloemfontein – A senior South African National Defence Force (SANDF) official, Lieutenant-General Ntshavheni Maphaha, has taken a bold swipe at the country’s politicians, saying they’ve turned the military into a “Mickey Mouse defence force.” Speaking at a soldier’s funeral in the Free State on Sunday, the SANDF surgeon-general warned that South Africa’s borders are “unprotected” and “porous,” leaving the nation vulnerable. His stinging words come as the SANDF reels from the loss of 14 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), shining a spotlight on the military’s struggles both at home and abroad.
A General’s Cry at a Soldier’s Farewell
The funeral in the Free State was a solemn affair, a moment to honour a fallen soldier whose name has not been publicly released. But it was also a platform for Maphaha to voice a growing frustration within the SANDF ranks. Standing before mourners, he didn’t hold back. “We are not protected. Our borders are porous and they are porous because you as politicians have decided that you want a Mickey Mouse defence force,” he said. His use of “Mickey Mouse”—a phrase implying something weak or laughable—cut deep, aimed squarely at the government’s handling of the military.
Maphaha, a respected figure as the SANDF’s surgeon-general, tied his concerns to the bigger picture. “If we are going to play big brother in Africa, what we give to the defence force should symbolise that,” he told the crowd. “I am saying to the politicians, next time you sit and debate, think of whether you are protected or not.” His speech wasn’t just about borders—it was a plea for the country to wake up to its security risks.
The DRC Fallout: A Heavy Price Paid
Maphaha’s outburst comes hot on the heels of a tragic chapter for the SANDF. Just weeks ago, 14 South African soldiers lost their lives in the DRC, where troops are deployed as part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) peacekeeping mission, known as SamiDRC. Their goal? To stop the M23 rebels from spreading chaos across southern Africa. But the mission has been anything but smooth. The rebels, backed by Rwanda according to UN reports, seized the key city of Goma in late January, leaving the SANDF battered.
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has been grappling with the aftermath. On Friday, she promised that the 189 wounded and sick soldiers still in the DRC—including five in critical condition and two who are pregnant—will return home “soon.” But a failed evacuation attempt last week has left many doubting those words. Soldiers were told to pack up on Friday morning, expecting to leave by Saturday. An air ambulance from Kigali and a Botswana Air Force plane were ready, yet by evening, the plan collapsed. “Morale was very low in the camp,” Rapport reported, citing logistical snags like disputed landing rights.
Porous Borders, Strained Resources
Back home, Maphaha turned his focus to South Africa’s borders, calling them a free-for-all. “A lot has been said about the South African Defence Force (SANDF) in the news, that they are not properly funded, and it’s not a secret… that’s the truth,” he said. He argued that illegal foreigners are slipping through these “porous” borders, draining resources meant for South Africans. “That grant that you are giving to the people out there, the education of your children and everything else will not materialise if you are not protected,” he warned.
His comments echo a long-standing debate. South Africa’s 4,862 km of borders—with countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Lesotho—are notoriously hard to patrol. A 2023 report by the Auditor-General found the SANDF’s border security budget had shrunk by 20% over five years, leaving just 15 companies (about 2,250 troops) to guard them. Maphaha’s point? Without proper funding, the military can’t do its job. “Constitutionally, the South African National Defence Force is mandated to protect and defend the country,” he reminded mourners. “Any home displays its worth or its character by the level of security it places around it.”
A Nation Mourns Its Heroes
The Free State funeral wasn’t the only one this month. In Limpopo, Rifleman Richard Chokoe from Mokgokong village was laid to rest, with Motshekga in attendance. Polokwane’s MMC for Community Safety, Cllr Joosuf Pemma, joined her, along with MECs Nakedi Kekana and Kgabo Mahoai, to honour Chokoe’s sacrifice in the DRC. “His bravery will never be forgotten,” Pemma said. Motshekga added, “Our soldiers face unimaginable challenges in the field, it’s our duty to provide them with the support they need to succeed and return home safely.”
Yet, the reality on the ground tells a different story. In the DRC, SANDF troops are stuck in a nightmare. One soldier, his left leg amputated above the knee and right leg below, waits for rescue. A young captain, hit by shrapnel, lost an eye and can barely see with the other. Most of the 189 injured have shrapnel wounds, and infections are spreading due to filthy conditions. “We are suffering as food and water are withheld from us as part of M23’s power play,” a soldier at Goma airport wrote in a desperate message. “Tell the people and our families at home exactly what we are subjected to. Tell them the truth without all the lies about our circumstances.”
A ‘Big Brother’ with No Muscle?
Maphaha’s “big brother” comment cuts to the heart of South Africa’s identity. The country has long seen itself as a leader in Africa, stepping into conflicts like the DRC to promote peace. Motshekga has been clear: “Our presence in DRC is not a declaration of war against any country or state.” It’s about supporting the DRC’s fight for stability, she says. But Maphaha argues that without a strong defence force, this role is a hollow boast. “Now we are saying to politicians, especially now that the nation has rallied together after the loss of our troops, let’s keep this moment and ensure that we have a defence force that will be able to defend and protect this country,” he urged.
The stats back him up. The SANDF’s budget for 2024/25 sits at R51 billion, a fraction of what regional powers like Nigeria (R103 billion) spend. Years of cuts have left the air force with no working cargo planes—hence the reliance on Botswana and Tanzania to ferry troops and bodies home. A soldier at the Free State funeral reportedly warned against pulling out of the DRC, saying it would undo years of effort. But without resources, can the SANDF hold the line?
The DRC Crisis Deepens
The DRC mission has turned into a quagmire. After losing Goma, the M23 captured Bukavu on February 16, a move the UN called “unprecedented.” On February 21, the UN Security Council demanded Rwanda stop backing the rebels and pull its troops out. Meanwhile, 189 SANDF soldiers—mostly women—languish at the Sake camp, now under M23 control. Two pregnant soldiers are among them, their fate uncertain. “Several members of the group urgently needed trauma counselling,” a source told City Press, noting the young troops’ inexperience in foreign wars.
The failed evacuation wasn’t just a logistical flop—it breached the Geneva Convention, which guarantees medical care even for prisoners of war. Doctors in South Africa and the DRC pushed for urgent action, but Goma’s hospitals can’t cope. One female soldier said she’d “preferred a mercy killing” to the endless suffering. Another wrote, “It is time for our government to realise that we are the pawns in the diplomats’ diplomatic delays. We will not forget this.”
Social Media and Public Outrage
Maphaha’s speech lit up social media. On X, @Newzroom405 shared a clip: “South African borders are porous because you, the politicians, have decided you want a Mickey Mouse defence force,” with users calling it a “wake-up call.” @TimModise posted, “A serious indictment by an SANDF general,” asking why politicians would want a weak military. @AfricanHub_ quoted Maphaha’s border warning, sparking debates about immigration and security. The sentiment? People are angry—and worried.
Posts on X also highlighted the DRC crisis. @News24 reported the aborted evacuation, amplifying fears for the stranded troops. @KabagambeI tied it to geopolitics: “South Africa sees itself as Africa’s leader… yet its borders are porous.” The public’s frustration is clear: they want answers, not promises.
New Details: A Military in Decline
Recent reports add weight to Maphaha’s claims. A February 20 piece by The Citizen revealed the SANDF’s vehicle fleet is crumbling—only 30% of its trucks are operational. The navy’s submarines haven’t sailed since 2021, and the air force’s Gripen jets are grounded due to budget cuts. Defence analyst Helmoed Heitman told eNCA on February 22 that “the SANDF is a shadow of what it was 20 years ago.” He blamed a decade of underfunding, with spending dropping from 1.6% of GDP in 1994 to 0.7% today.
The border issue isn’t new either. In 2024, Operation Corona—the SANDF’s border patrol mission—arrested 12,000 illegal entrants, but thousands more slipped through. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber admitted on February 19 that porous borders fuel crime and strain public services, aligning with Maphaha’s point about grants and education.
Voices from the Top and Bottom
Motshekga has tried to steady the ship. “The government is committed to ensuring that soldiers have the resources they need to effectively fulfil their mission,” she said last week. But the gap between words and reality is stark. The SA Air Force couldn’t fly the DRC dead home—Tanzania did. Reinforcements sent to Lubumbashi this month, reported by Reuters, show resolve, but M23’s grip on Goma’s airport has isolated troops further.
On the ground, soldiers feel abandoned. Leaked letters show officers begging M23’s Colonel Augustine for rations. One letter apologised after a UN driver nearly hit rebels, promising he’d “obey M23 commands.” It’s a humiliating picture of a force at the mercy of its enemies.
What’s Next for South Africa?
Maphaha’s words aren’t just a rant—they’re a challenge. “The country should take pride in its national security and display its position as a global force on the continent,” he said. But pride needs funding, and analysts like Theo Neethling argue it’s time to rethink the SANDF’s mandate. “The SANDF is shaken,” he wrote in News24. “Now is the time to revisit its means.”
For the troops in the DRC, the wait drags on. For families like Chokoe’s, the pain is raw. And for South Africans watching their borders, Maphaha’s warning rings loud: a “Mickey Mouse” defence force can’t protect a nation with big dreams. The ball’s in the politicians’ court—will they act, or let the cracks widen?
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