Ricardo TeixeiraMinister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga’s responses to recent parliamentary questions on the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have raised doubts about government’s understanding of defence realities. The minister’s response leaned heavily on anecdotal indicators, such as displaced communities returning to homesteads, and reports from the UN mission, MONUSCO. While valid, this refrain offered little insight into how the SANDF is adapting doctrine, training, or planning to meet current challenges. Ricardo Teixeira, who has joined the Daily Friend as Associate Editor, is a journalist, defence analyst, and national security advocate. He champions integrity, competence, and long-term reform in South Africa’s security and defence architecture.