Two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have been killed and three others injured during a rebel attack in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The soldiers are part of the 2 900 contingents recently deployed in that part of the country.
“The South African National Defence Force confirms that on 14 February at about 13h30, a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African Contingent military bases inflicting casualties and injuries to the SANDF soldiers.
As a result of this indirect fire, the SANDF suffered two fatalities and three members sustained injuries.
The injured were taken to the nearest Hospital in Goma for medical attention,” said SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini.
Dlamini added that details of the incident are still sketchy now, and further investigations will be conducted to “determine the basis of the incident.”
The contingent is part of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) that is deployed to support and assist the government of DRC in its effort to bring peace, security, and stability in that region.
The deployment was ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa from 15 December 2023 to 15 December 2024, and it was authorised in accordance with the provisions of section 201(2) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
According to the presidency, the budgeted expenditure to be incurred for the employment amounts to just over R2 billion.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thabang Makwetla, the Acting Secretary for Defence, Dr Thobekile Gamede and the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and wish the injured members a speedy recovery.