Ramaphosa, Lamola under fire as delegates attend peace talks undetected

THE South African government finds itself embroiled in a fresh diplomatic storm following revelations that representatives of the sanctioned M23 rebel group recently attended a high-level African peace dialogue in Magaliesburg, Gauteng, without proper vetting or detection.

- THABO MAKWAKWA

This, after reports emerged last week that just months after deadly clashes in Goma between M23 rebels and peacekeepers resulting in the deaths of 14 South African soldiers, an M23 delegation made its way to South Africa for peace talks.

However, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Ronald Lamola, swiftly denied this move, claiming the government was unaware of their presence.

However, former Dirco deputy minister Marius Fransman has sharply criticised the government's handling of the matter. In a pointed statement issued on Sunday, Fransman called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Lamola to issue a public apology, warning that South Africa's credibility on the continent is at stake.

"South Africa now finds itself at the center of an avoidable diplomatic crisis following revelations that representatives of the M23 rebel movement attended the recently concluded African Peace and Security Dialogue in Magaliesburg, Gauteng," Fransman declared.