We cannot afford a South Africa-Rwanda conflict, says veteran diplomat Lindiwe Zulu

Veteran diplomat and former minister of social development Lindiwe Zulu said the bilateral relations between South Africa and Rwanda should be preserved to avoid a further escalation of tensions.

Last week, IOL reported that in an unprecedented escalation of tensions between South Africa and Rwanda, President Paul Kagame had publicly responded to President Cyril Ramaphosa, with Kagame accusing his Pretoria counterpart of distorting facts.

However, what was chilling about Kagame’s 11pm reaction to Ramaphosa on X, was his last paragraph. Kagame responded: “If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator.

Kagame added: “And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day”.

The message from Kagame was in reaction to a lengthy message shared on X by Ramaphosa. In his message, Ramaphosa had mourned the killing of 13 “brave” South African soldiers who were dedicated to their mission and committed to peace.

Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, Zulu who previously served as ambassador of South Africa to Brazil, insisted that the relations with Kigali must be preserved.

“That tension we cannot afford, quite frankly, if we look at the bigger picture of what SADC’s responsibility is, what the government of the DRC’s responsibility is, and what Rwanda’s responsibility is. So, any tension, any words that might be thrown left, right and center by one or the other, it is not going to help the situation," she said.

“The situation is going to be helped by South Africa and Rwanda, that is the two presidents as they actually have been engaging with each other … we have to go back to the drawing board and have the presidents speaking to each other, the ministers of foreign affairs speaking to each other.”

Zulu emphasised that a “war of words” is not going to assist the people, especially women and children who live in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo who has for years been ravaged by war.

On Sunday, IOL reported that the South African National Defence Force has released the names of the 14 soldiers who were killed in fierce fight in the DRC.

The fallen soldiers’ names are: Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola, Staff Sergeant Molahlehi Ishmael Molahlehi, Staff Sergeant Shwahlane Theophilus Seepe, Corporal Matome Justice Malesa, Corporal Rinae Nemavhulani, Lance Bombardier Itumeleng Macdonald Moreo, Lance Corporal Tseke Moffat Molapo, Lance Corporal Metse Stansly Raswiswi, Rifleman Sebatane Richard Chokoe, Rifleman Derrick Maluleke, Rifleman Tshidiso Andries Mabele, Rifleman Calvin Louis Moagi, Rifleman Mokete Joseph Mobe, Private Peter Jacobus Strydom.

Zulu however disputed widespread allegations doing rounds on social media claiming that the bodies of the deceased SANDF have become held up in the DRC, amid a blockade by M23 rebels.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL