SA military team returns from DRC

A South African military reconnaissance team returned this week from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to present its recommendations on South African logistical support for a planned UN peacekeeping operation. A spokesman for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) told IRIN on Wednesday the team would present their report to the government's Defence Council and to Parliament. "Only once they have presented their findings and recommendations to parliament will a decision be taken on our (SANDF) role in the DRC," he said. The eight-member tactical team was made up of senior logisticians, technical, air force and personnel officers. President Thabo Mbeki said in parliament last month that South Africa's role in a UN mission to the DRC would be limited to logistics and headquarters functions, and would not include ground troops. Recently the Director General of Foreign Affairs, Sipho Pityana, said that South Africa had been requested to prepare for the "speedy" deployment of SANDF technical staff. Meanwhile, news reports said on Wednesday that Swaziland was preparing to send an estimated 800 soldiers to the DRC. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Shabangu was quoted as saying that Swaziland would go the DRC as part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative.