According to several military observers, Joseph Kabila was based in South Africa officially for his studies, but as a former president, he was also interacting with South African political and military circles, as well as SADC member states. It is worth noting that South Africa had deployed troops in Goma under the SADC framework to halt the advance of the M23. The operation ended in a South African defeat at the hands of a rebel group backed by a small army, Rwanda. How did a small army like Rwanda humiliate South Africa? Many military analysts attributed the defeat to a lack of air support and insufficient funding allocated to South African forces.
The defeat on the battlefield triggered a sharp diplomatic altercation between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Ramaphosa accused Rwanda of directly killing South African soldiers serving in the peacekeeping force, warning that any further attacks would be considered a “declaration of war.” Kagame fiercely retaliated, brushing off these warnings and describing South African forces as an aggressive “belligerent party” with no legitimacy to interfere at Rwanda’s borders. Recognizing that the mission had become untenable—due to a lack of air support, inadequate funding, and unsuitable equipment—SADC officially terminated the SAMIDRC mandate.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was prompted to release the names of the 14 South African soldiers who lost their lives following intense fighting against M23 rebels near Sake. Below are their names:
- Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola
- Staff Sergeant Molahlehi Ishmael Molahlehi
- Staff Sergeant Shwahlane Theophilus Seepe
- Corporal Matome Justice Malesa
- Corporal Rinae Nemavhulani
- Lance Bombardier Itumeleng Macdonald Moreo
- Lance Corporal Tseke Moffat Molapo
- Lance Corporal Metse Stansly Raswiswi
- Rifleman Sebatane Richard Chokoe
- Rifleman Derrick Maluleke
- Rifleman Tshidiso Andries Mabele
- Rifleman Calvin Louis Moagi
- Rifleman Mokete Joseph Mobe
- Rifleman Peter Jacobus Strydom
Following Joseph Kabila’s surprise emergence as head of the FNR, regional military analysts are questioning whether Joseph Kabila shared sensitive South African military secrets with the Rwandans. It should be recalled that it was South Africa that helped Kabila defeat the M23 in 2011. In 2025, was there not sabotage that caused the deaths of 14 South African soldiers? Even as he allegedly leaked operational secrets that led to the deaths of South African soldiers, Kabila simultaneously enjoyed safe haven and free movement within South Africa and Eswatini.
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