SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Lieutenant-General Peter Ntshavheni Maphaha has been criticised for comments he made when he spoke during the funeral of Staff Sergeant Ishmael Molahlehi in the Free State.
Maphaha pointed fingers at the nation’s politicians for supposedly not strengthening the army’s capabilities and ability to defend our borders.
“A lot has been said about the SANDF of being not equipped and the fact that South African borders are porous because you, the politicians, have decided you want a Mickey Mouse defence force,” he said.
In response, Dakota Legoete, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, accused Maphaha of speaking recklessly and without thought.
“We can’t have Generals speaking like this. In other countries, Generals can’t speak like this … They have military privileges and can cause instability in the country,” Legoete said in an interview with Newzroom Afrika.
He went on to say that a General espousing such views can cast suspicion and lack of trust between the establishment and its people.
“They should reign in this General. You can’t complain about the safety of borders when you are paid by taxpayers to ensure that you defend the territory, public and people.”
Legoete implied that Maphaha could have handled matters privately by exercising his military privileges to speak to top SANDF officials.
“The General can speak directly to the chief of the SANDF, the minister, the deputy minister or to us,” Legoete said.
“What he is saying is correct but, he did not have a sense of occasion. Where he said it, is wrong, and secondly, he is a person of privilege who can speak to the authorities.”
