McKenzie added that the debate could have been postponed until the soldiers were returned.

“The families of the ones that died must now watch on television hoping to get information. This debate could have been moved until we got our fallen soldiers back and then we can come here and speak about this. Speaker, this is not the time to point fingers,” he said, as some of the members of Parliament clapped hands in agreement.

African National Congress (ANC) member and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni agreed with McKenzie, also clapping hands and saying, “that’s true”.

McKenzie went on to express that the country has been humiliated by the deaths of the soldiers.

“We have been humiliated, and we must teach people that when you kill a South African, there's consequences.”

He suggested that the country’s high unemployment rate could be addressed by conscription, allowing young people to be trained as soldiers.

“Let us use this opportunity and call for conscription, Honorable President (Cyril Ramaphosa), and bring our young people and train them.

“While we train them, let us go and teach M23 a lesson. Let us go and kill those that killed our soldiers,” the minister said.

McKenzie took a sharp turn, attacking the EFF members, accusing them of being all talk, and no action.

“Speaker, these ones are talking a lot here. We need soldiers. You call yourself commissar. You call yourself CIC (Commander in Chief, referring to party leader Julius Malema). We need you there (DRC),” he said, eliciting roars of laughter from other members of Parliament.

McKenzie’s remarks followed an address by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Inkosi Russel Cebekhulu, who spoke after EFF’s Julius Malema’s address.

“There're people that we need you to go fight. We are tired here in Parliament of toy soldiers. This is war,” McKenzie added.