The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has announced that the mission to repatriate the remains of 14 members of the SANDF, has been delayed until further notice.
The soldiers were killed during a gun battle with the M23 rebels two weeks ago in the eastern city of Goma.
“As stated by the Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence and Military Veterans that the remains of our fallen members and those injured in Goma, will be repatriated on Wednesday 05 February 2025.
All administrative processes were completed and handed over to the United Nations.
The United Nations planned movement for the repatriation of the deceased out of the combat zone has been delayed,” said SANDF spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini.
The soldiers are part of the SADC Mission in the DRC and the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
There have been reports that the delay to repatriate the mortal remains, is due to the difficulty to access Goma, which is surrounded by the M23 rebels.
Meanwhile, the joint meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence has implored on the SANDF to ensure that the soldiers mortal remains are repatriated.
The committees earlier this week held a joint meeting in Parliament for a briefing to understand the circumstances that led to the soldier’s death.
“It is important that our gallant soldiers must come home and be given dignified funerals.
This is vital to ensure that families are afforded an opportunity to mourn, and the assurance that repatriation is imminent should be welcomed,” said the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Dakota Legoete.
The committees also called for support to the bereaved families of the deceased soldiers.
