DRC mission a ‘gold mine’ for private firms

The SA National Defence Force peace mission in the DRC is a gold mine for a select group of private companies, it has been alleged. 'Operational urgency’ is often cited as the reason these companies must perform tasks at great expense, although the SANDF should be able to carry them out, according to sources. City Press reports that the cost of the cargo flights undertaken by a single supplier since the SA army’s intervention in the DRC is already more than $13.9m. Sources say that if the army had used these millions more wisely, the SA Air Force could have long acquired two second-hand cargo planes. A complaint about the alleged favouritism towards the aviation company, Cobra Aviation, was filed with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in March last year. However, nothing had come of that complaint, said a source. Kaizer Kganyago, the SIU’s spokesperson, said the matter was not currently being investigated by the unit.

Full City Press report