THE South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has said that it was still unclear when the repatriation of the 14 soldiers who lost their lives in Goma, in the DRC will take place.
At the weekend, the SANDF released the names of the soldiers who died in the DRC the previous week.
On Friday, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said it would dispatch a team to North Kivu in the DRC to facilitate the repatriation of deceased and injured SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members, as well as those from Malawian and Tanzanian forces.
South African troops have been in the east of the DRC since December 2023 on a peacekeeping mission.
The deceased are:
*Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola
*Staff Sergeant Molahlehi Molahlehi
*Staff Sergeant Shwahlane Seepe
*Corporal Matome Malesa
*Corporal Rinae Nemavhulani
*Lance-Bombardier Itumeleng Moreo
*Lance-Corporal Tseke Moffat Molapo
*Lance-Corporal Metse Raswiswi
*Rifleman Sebatane Chokoe
*Rifleman Derrick Maluleke
*Rifleman Tshidiso Mabele
*Rifleman Calvin Moagi
*Rifleman Mokete Mobe
*Private Peter Jacobus Strydom.
The soldiers, who hailed from various provinces were honoured on Saturday when their names were released.
They had been part of the SANDF contingent to the region as part of both the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC and the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (Monusco).
Defence force chief General Rudzani Maphwanya paid tribute to the soldiers, praising their courage in the face of danger, saying: “These brave men and women were on a mission to restore stability and protect lives in the eastern DRC.
“They displayed extraordinary courage in their confrontation with the M23 rebels who had attacked their base. The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga sends condolences to the families of the deceased and their entire defence family,” he said.
The operation, which has been slammed by security experts and opposition political parties, has faced growing challenges with many calling for Motshekga to step down.
At the weekend, President Cyril Ramaphosa led the South African delegation to a SADC extraordinary summit in Harare.
The leaders called for the immediate deployment of defence ministers, chiefs of defence and troop contributing countries in ensuring the safety of peacekeeping troops in the DRC.
According to the SABC, the regional body also demanded the immediate 0repatriation of the dead and injured.
Security commentator Professor Hussein Solomon from the Free State University said the troops were set up for failure as they were under-resourced.
“Our troops did not have enough food and the state of the camp was bad,” he said.
“There was no logistical backing and insufficient supply. They were not prepared.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa as commander-in-chief, and the minister of defence have a lot to answer for,” said Solomon.
DAILY NEWS