Bulelwa Hoala

The bodies of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who were killed in battle with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will be repatriated on Wednesday.
This is according to SANDF Major-General Rudzani Maphwanya who updated the Defence Portfolio Committee in Parliament on Tuesday.
Mphanywa, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa appeared before the committee to account for why the SANDF soldiers were in the DRC.
IOL reports that Motshekga confirmed that the SANDF is part of 16 forces involved in a peacekeeping mission.
Maphwanya on the other hand said the soldiers were resourced and properly trained to protect those in the battlefield.
The committee expressed its dissatisfaction with the reasons given for the deployment and suggested that a further inquiry may be required.
Meanwhile, soldiers remain deployed in the DRC even though the M23 rebels declared a ceasefire yesterday, on Tuesday, 5 February 2025.
Co-chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Phiroane Phala said, “It is important for the morale of the SANDF members and the country in general that the SANDF provides clarity on the wellbeing of its soldiers in the DRC.”
The committee also called for support to the bereaved families of the deceased soldiers.
On Saturday, 1 February SANDF released the full list of the soldiers who died in the DRC.
The SA National Defence Force Media Statement || 01 February 2025 || The SA National Defence Force releases the names of the fallen heroes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
— SA National Defence Force 🇿🇦 (@SANDF_ZA) February 1, 2025
Media Statement by Defence Corporate Communication.#SANDF#RIPSASoldiers#LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/xHo9507fnq
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