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In criticising those who are questioning South Africa’s military involvement in the Central African Republic, President Jacob Zuma once again demonstrates his failure to appreciate that in our constitutional democracy people have the right both to comment on executive action as well as to demand answers regarding executive decisions. This right can never be abrogated by the President and South Africans are correct in insisting on getting a full explanation.

Had President Zuma, in the first instance, requested unequivocal parliamentary approval to send troops to the Central African Republic, as he was solemnly bound to do by Section 201(3) (a) (b) (c) and (d), he would have acted constitutionally and transparently. As matters now stand he appears to have breached his constitutional obligation.

Congress of the People insists that the President had no right to deploy young South Africans on a mission to disarm and demilitarise citizens of a foreign country who were pursuing an armed conflict to its bitter end. Under the circumstances it was inevitable that our young men would come under fire and precious lives would be needlessly lost.

President Zuma’s broadside against citizen-criticism of our military presence in CAR is totally misguided and intended only to serve as a ruse against being held accountable for his questionable decisions and actions regarding our soldiers in CAR.

Congress of the People insists that constitutionally South Africans have the right to get a full explanation about what our young men in uniform were doing in CAR and why 13 of them had to sacrifice their lives. The President is obliged to give a truthful response to this question or face the consequences of acting in breach of the Constitution.