‘Why was ammunition refused?’

Started by iolsa, Apr 06, 2013, 11:31 AM

iolsa

Johannesburg - Government must explain why it did not provide ammunition to South African troops in the Central African Republic when they had asked for it, the Workers International Vanguard Party said on Friday.

“Why, when our troops in CAR requested more ammunition and supplies in the weeks before the attack, was this refused?” spokesman Shaheed Mahomed asked in a statement on Friday.

The Mail & Guardian reported on Friday that SA National Defence Force soldiers in the CAR had asked for more ammunition for over a month because they knew Seleka rebels were advancing on them near Bangui.

Thirteen South African troops were killed in an ambush on March 23. Another 27 were wounded. A survivor told the newspaper no ammunition was sent to them.

Mahomed demanded the names of South African soldiers reportedly missing in the CAR, and that their colleagues deployed to other countries be withdrawn.

The party said it had no confidence in the heads of the defence force and wanted justice for those who had died. - Sapa



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