The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has announced the return of all wounded soldiers who were repatriated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The soldiers, who were deployed to the DRC as part of SADC and UN peacekeeping missions, sustained injuries during clashes with the M23 rebels in the eastern city of Goma last month.
Fourteen other SANDF soldiers were killed during the clashes.
According to the SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini, the soldiers will receive the necessary medical support.
“Upon arrival, the members were categorised in the following three priority areas of care, critical, non-critical and those who require psychological and social intervention.
The SANDF remains committed to the welfare of our soldiers.
We therefore urge the public to respect and afford privacy to our members and their families during the healing process,” said Dlamini.
Meanwhile, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, expressed relief following the return of the soldiers, and urged the public to give them privacy during their healing process.
“We therefore call on media personnel to respect boundaries and allow the injured to heal without the hustle and the glare of the media.
These are people who sacrificed all and suffered so much for their sacrifice.
Not many people can sacrifice as these heroes have in defence of a stable and secure Africa and a stable Congo,” remarked Committee Chairperson, Dakota Legoete.
