Protesters from the DRC have accused President Zuma of complicity in what they allege is electoral fraud in the recent election in the restive country.
Supporters of opposition candidate Etienne Tshisekedi believe South Africa acted at the behest of western interests who seek to keep incumbent President Joseph Kabila in power to protect international investments in the mineral-rich country.
Suspicion of South Africa’s involvement in the DRC is not new, however. It is after all through its peace-brokering efforts that South Africa was able to brand itself as an African peacemaker. South Africa invested heavily in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue held at Sun City in February 2002, but this mediation effort was suspected to have been coloured by self-interest. South Africa has contributed peacekeeping troops, committed to the development of the DRC’s public sector and invested millions of rands and years of diplomacy to bring stability to the DRC.
This particular interest in the DRC has long been suspected of being a guise for securing lucrative opportunities for South African businesses.
