GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General
13 June 2025
The GOOD Party welcomes home the over 250 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) returning from deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).
We honour their courage and commend their commitment to regional peace, stability, and the protection of civilians. We once again express our deepest condolences to the families of the South African soldiers who tragically lost their lives in this mission. Their sacrifice must not be forgotten.
This homecoming must also be a moment for critical reflection. The mission revealed both the best of our soldiers and the worst of our preparedness. Repeated reports of under-resourced deployments, insufficient air support, and inadequate logistics exposed the economic dysfunction within the SANDF and placed lives at unnecessary risk. No soldier should be sent into a war zone without the full backing of their state.
The conclusion of our participation must not be seen as the end of our responsibility. The humanitarian crisis in the DRC continues. Armed groups persist. Civilians remain vulnerable. South Africa’s historic role in peacebuilding has always extended beyond the battlefield. Now, more than ever, we must lean into that legacy with integrity, diplomacy, and determination.