There is an estimated 5,000- plus South Africans working in Iraq “doing Lord knows what,” a South African official said on Tuesday.

South African defense department official Siviwe Njikela said in Cape Town that South Africa had a duty to oversee and regulate the activities of thousands of militarily trained citizens selling their skills abroad.

According to earlier report, South Africans are doing military and security jobs and providing vip protection in Iraq.

“If you keep dangerous animals in your yard, you have responsibility to ensure they don’t get out and harm people,” the official told the parliament’s defense portfolio committee.

“If we have that kind of a population in Iraq, isn’t it rather curious that we have no idea what they are doing there? The South African government should know — that is the principle — without infringing on their right to earn a living and practicing their profession,” he added.

Committee acting chairman Oupa Monareng said a previous submission on the topic had put the number of South Africans providing security or military-type services in Iraq and other countries at about 20,000.
english.people.com.cn

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