Fallen Heroes Return: SANDF Soldiers Honoured In Emotional Ceremony

The remains of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have returned home. Their families received them in an emotional ceremony at the Air Force Base in Swartkop on Thursday evening.

A Nation in Mourning

President Cyril Ramaphosa, as Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, led the handover amid calls for South Africa to reconsider its troop deployment in the DRC. The ceremony, delayed by medical processing in Uganda, was marked by heavy rain—regarded in many African cultures as a sign of blessing from ancestors.

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Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, paid tribute to the fallen, emphasising their dedication to peace and stability on the continent. “We welcome you back to the land of your birth—the land you defended and loved,” Mbatha said as a slideshow of the soldiers played.

President Ramaphosa, alongside Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga and senior SANDF officials, lit candles in their memory.

Calls to Avoid the Blame Game

General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the SANDF, urged the public and media to refrain from political debates over the deployment, saying the focus should be on mourning and honouring the soldiers. “This is a time to ease the pain of the nation, not to debate military strategy,” he stated.

Ramaphosa echoed these sentiments, emphasising that the SANDF’s mission in the DRC extends beyond maintaining order—it is about fostering peace and security. “Even if they are far away, they are still Africans,” he said, reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to regional stability.

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The soldiers who perished in the DRC were named and remembered for their sacrifice:

• Staff Sergeants: William Eddie Cola, Molahlehi Ishmael Molahlehi, Shwahlane Theophilus Seepe
• Corporals: Matome Justice Malesa, Rinae Nemavhulani
• Lance Bombardier: Itumeleng Macdonald Moreo
• Lance Corporals: Tseke Moffat Molapo, Metse Stansly Raswiswi
• Riflemen: Sebatane Richard Chokoe, Derrick Maluleke, Tshidiso Andries Mabele, Calvin Louis Moagi, Mokete Joseph Mobe
• Private: Peter Jacobus Strydom

Ramaphosa vowed continued efforts toward peace in the region, highlighting the recent SADC and East African Community summit as a step toward ending the conflict.

“South Africa bows its head in honour of these soldiers,” he said. “We will remember them.”

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