Soldiers bear the coffin of a colleague, killed in DR Congo, at Air Force Base Waterkloof on Thursday. Image: SA Defence.
(The Post News)– The families of 14 South African soldiers who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are preparing for their final farewell, following the return of their remains on Thursday morning. The bodies, which had been delayed for weeks, were handed over during an official ceremony Thursday night at Air Force Base Swartkop in Centurion.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude for the soldiers’ bravery, calling them heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace. He also acknowledged the international support that helped bring the soldiers home. The UN oversaw the repatriation, with the bodies transported by road to Entebbe, Uganda, despite difficulties in moving the deceased out of the DRC.
The bodies were transported to South Africa on a Tanzanian Air Force Y-8 cargo plane on Wednesday night after autopsies and other procedures. Four Tanzanian and Malawian troops who were also slain during the push on Goma had their remains sent home.
The soldiers were part of a peacekeeping mission when they were ambushed while carrying out their duties. While the details of the attack remain unclear, Garth Benneyworth, a defence observer at Sol Plaatje University, pointed out that South Africa’s involvement in peacekeeping efforts in the DRC has been ongoing for several years, under a range of different mandates.
“The situation in Goma, where the attack occurred, remains uncertain,” Benneyworth commented, highlighting the volatile conditions in the region.
The bodies were officially handed over during a ceremony that was initially scheduled for Thursday morning but postponed to allow President Ramaphosa to attend. The President was addressing the Members of Parliament regarding his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2025.
SANDF Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala confirmed that the soldiers still deployed in the DRC are well-protected and capable of defending themselves. “Our soldiers are well-armed and remain intact with their command structures. They are prepared for any further missions as needed,” Tshabalala said.
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