The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that two more members have died on their mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.
According to the SANDF, the two died in an apparent murder and suicide incident.
“The Defence Force (SANDF) regrets to announce that two of its members currently deployed as part of United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) have died.
The incident occurred when one of them shot and killed the other with their service weapon before turning the weapon on themselves with fatal consequences.
The SANDF has convened a Board of Inquiry to work with the MONUSCO command to investigate the incident and the circumstances that led to it,” said SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini.
Dlamini said the Minister of Defence and Military Thandi Modise, has expressed her shock at the incident.
“The members remains will be repatriated to South Africa in due course.
All families have been informed of the unfortunate incident,” added Dlamini.
Modise, her deputy Thabang Makwetla, the Acting Secretary for Defence, Dr Thobekile Gamede and the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya express condolences to the families of the deceased.
The latest incident comes two weeks after two SANDF members were killed, and three others wounded in a mortar strike in the eastern city of Goma.
The deceased Captain Simon Bobe and Lance-Corporal Thabang Semono, will be laid to rest on Saturday in Kimberley and Pretoria, respectively.
