Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga has confirmed that the remains of fallen South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops are currently delayed due to medical processing in Uganda.
The Minister stated that the soldiers are now expected to return to South Africa by Thursday, following the necessary procedures.
Motshekga addressed Parliament during an urgent debate to discuss the deployment of South African troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), held in Cape Town on Monday.
The discussion follows the tragic deaths of 14 SANDF soldiers in the DRC, as their families await the return of their loved ones’ remains.
“I must say, from the latest reports, yes, indeed, the delay is disheartening. From the reports we are receiving, they are still in Uganda, undergoing all the medical processes, and we also are pressing very hard to get our deceased.
“We were hoping that we’ll get them by today, but by the latest, we are told that Thursday they will be here,” she said yesterday.
Motshekga informed the Members of Parliament (MPs) that the soldiers were under heavy attack from the M23 as fighting in the Goma region intensified, with the rebel group engaging fiercely against the Congolese armed forces.
The SANDF soldiers are part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), which aims to help restore peace, security, and stability in Africa’s second-largest country.
The Minister announced that the soldiers would be laid to rest with full military honours.
Meanwhile, International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, has dismissed the opposition MPs’ proposal to withdraw South African soldiers from the DRC, stating that this action would be worse than surrender.
“Abrupt withdrawal as called upon by some in the House, is not even a tactical retreat, it is even worse than a surrender as with the number of armed groups in the area, there lies ambush,” he said.
Lamola stated that the South African government welcomes the leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East Africa Community (EAC), who called for a ceasefire and dialogue in the DRC over the weekend.
This follows a SADC – EAC Heads of State and Government Summit on the security situation in the eastern DRC, in which President Cyril Ramaphosa also took part.
He believes that the recent summit of SADC and the EAC, has clarified the way forward regarding the conflict in eastern DRC.
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