Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa has mourned the recent loss of South African soldiers in the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in which two soldiers were left dead and 20 others wounded in a mortar attack on the Sake base in the east of the country.
Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to the families of the fallen troops, their commanders and colleagues.
“As we mourn the deaths and casualties inflicted on our soldiers, we value and are humbled by the sacrifices they have made for the cause of peace and stability in our region, and they shall not be forgotten,” he said.
South African forces are part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s mission in the country which was deployed on 15 December last year to support the Congolese government to restore peace and security in the eastern part of the country.
However, some have named the lack of funding and inadequate logistical support as the main factors contributing to the killing of South African soldiers in the region.
A reduced tax base and high demand for social services has been named as the reason behind the lack of the support for the peace keeping operations.
SANDF announced on Wednesday that the soldiers were killed following an attack on their base in Sake, eastern DRC, where they were bombarded by mortars that some have attributed to the M23 rebel group.
Procedures are currently underway to return the remains of two SANDF soldiers killed in a mortar attack in the DRC.
SANDF spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini said the soldiers formed part of the Southern Africa Regional Force deployed to the DRC since December, along with Tanzania and Malawi to combat the Congo Revolutionary Army.
“Four members who were critically injured have been hospitalised, whilst the rest who suffered minor injuries are expected to be discharged soon,” Dlamini said.
The spokesperson said the families of the two members who died have been informed and all procedures to bring their mortal remains are in process.
On 30 May 2024, Sergeant Mbulelo David Ngubane passed away following contact between the M23 and SADC forces.
Ngubane, who was 39 years old, was the operational medical practitioner in the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS).
In February this year, Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono were also killed and three of their colleagues were injured in the DRC after a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African contingency military bases.
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