The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) has clarified that the 14 soldiers who recently lost their lives in the DRC were not killed in active combat, local media reported.
On Tuesday, the government assured parliament that SANDF's presence in the DRC was not to engage in the ongoing conflict between the DRC and Rwanda but to fulfill its role in a multi-country peacekeeping mission. However, except for the ruling African National Congress, MPs across party lines have expressed their opposition to the deployment and urged for the withdrawal of South African troops.
Repatriation and Support for Bereaved Families
The Portfolio Committee on Defense and Military Veterans, along with the Joint Standing Committee on Defense, has emphasized the need for a dignified repatriation of the fallen soldiers.
"It is important that our gallant soldiers must come home and be given dignified funerals," said Dakota Legoete, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee.
The committees have also called for medical care for injured soldiers and support for the families of the deceased. Co-Chairperson Phiroane Phala stressed that clarity on the well-being of SANDF members in the DRC is crucial for both military morale and national confidence.
Although SANDF Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya initially announced that the bodies of the fallen soldiers would return on Wednesday, logistical challenges in Goma, which is controlled by the M23 rebels, have delayed the process, according to local media. The remains have been handed over to the United Nations, which is overseeing the repatriation. The SANDF confirmed that all administrative procedures have been completed, but the planned movement of the deceased has been postponed due to access difficulties.