Two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployed on a peace mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were tragically killed on Wednesday.
The incident occurred when a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African contingent’s military bases, resulting in the loss of two lives and injuring three others.
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The SANDF contingent is part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the DRC, which aims to support and assist the government of the DRC in its efforts to bring peace, security, and stability to the region.
SANDF spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini, expressed the gravity of the situation, stating that the details of the incident are still unclear, and further investigation is underway.
Earlier this week, the Presidency announced the deployment of 2,900 troops to the DRC. However, this decision has faced criticism due to the significant cost of approximately R2 billion, while domestic military installations are grappling with financial challenges.
Dlamini acknowledged these concerns and assured that plans are being developed to address these issues and mitigate the financial strain.
Despite the criticisms and financial constraints, Dlamini emphasised the SANDF’s confidence in their capabilities.
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He highlighted that the SANDF is already engaged in peacekeeping missions in the DRC under MONUSCO and in Mozambique under SAMIM. These ongoing deployments demonstrate the SANDF’s commitment to fulfilling its duties and responsibilities at the highest level.
The SA National DefenceForce Media Statement || Thursday, 15 February 2024 || The SA National DefenceForce soldiers deployed in the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were injured during an indirect fire.#SANDF#JointOperationsDivision#RIPSASoldiers#DRC pic.twitter.com/cIoxX2E5sw
— SA National Defence Force (@SANDF_ZA) February 15, 2024
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