By Anita Dangazele
• The bodies of 14 SANDF soldiers killed in the DRC were returned to South Africa, with families receiving them at Swartkops Air Force Base.
• They died in clashes with M23 rebels while on a peacekeeping mission. After delays, the UN oversaw their repatriation for burial with military honours.
The bodies of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were received by their families at Swartkops Air Force Base in Centurion, Gauteng.
The soldiers were killed during clashes in the eastern DRC city of Goma. Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga told Parliament last week that seven of them were from Limpopo, three from the Free State, and the rest from the North West, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape. She confirmed that they would be buried with full military honours.
The fallen soldiers were: Staff Sergeant Shwahlane Theophilus Seepe, Corporal Rinae Nemavhulani, Rifleman Mokete Joseph Mobe, Rifleman Derrick Maluleke, Rifleman Sebatane Richard Chokoe, Corporal Matome Justice Malesa, Lance Bombardier Itumeleng Macdonald Moreo, Lance Corporal Tseke Moffat Molapo, Lance Corporal Metse Stansly Raswiswi, Private Peter Jacobus Strydom, Staff Sergeant Molahlehi Ishmael Molahlehi, Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola, Rifleman Tshidiso Andries Mabele, and Rifleman Calvin Louis Moagi.
They were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the United Nations mission (Monusco), both tasked with restoring peace in the war-torn country. They were killed by M23 rebels as the fighting escalated in North Kivu province, leading to the capture of Goma and Sake.
Families waited anxiously for their loved ones after multiple delays in repatriation, including medical processing in Uganda. The SANDF initially said the remains would be returned on 5 February.
The United Nations oversaw the repatriation, moving the bodies by road to Entebbe, Uganda, before flying them to South Africa aboard a Tanzanian Air Force Y-8 transport plane. The remains of four Malawian and Tanzanian soldiers who also died in the Goma battle were repatriated alongside them.
Pictured above: Distraught family members arriving at the Swartkops Air Force Base in Centurion, Gauteng.
Image source: SANDF Facebook
