A special sort of force

Jonny Steinberg’s most recent column was alarming, especially as our president and police and defence ministers have remained silent on the assassination of Lt Col Frans Mathipa (“SA on the brink of being a state-approved killer country”, September 29).

The Lady R supposedly delivered Russian weapons and presumably ammunition to the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) special forces. With the Ukrainian war on it’s strange that Russia should be exporting much-needed munitions. Why should the special forces get Russian weapons when the rest of the SANDF doesn’t?

As Vladimir Putin expands Russia’s activities in Africa, the special forces would be a useful instrument, especially in light of the Wagner Group’s recent setbacks, including in northern Mozambique. With the rest of the SANDF in disarray, Russia could even use the special forces to pressurise government ministers.

If our special forces were Russian controlled, one could justifiably ask who is actually running the country. Maybe — I sincerely hope I’m wrong — this is why our president and his ministers have been so quiet and the special forces appear to be above the law.

James Cunningham Camps Bay