Fifth group of SA soldiers arrive home
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed the arrival of the fifth group of 258 members at Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein.
They arrived in the country on Friday morning.
The soldiers were deployed under Operation Thiba in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC.
“Senior SANDF officials and support personnel welcomed them. The SANDF commends their dedication and service in advancing peace and security in the region,” the army said in a statement.
It added that more groups are expected to return in the coming days.
Calls for South Africa's troops to be pulled out mounted at home after 14 soldiers were killed in the region in January.
Most were from the SADC mission, but at least two were deployed as part of a United Nations force.
Soldiers from Malawi and Tanzania participating in the mission have also been killed.
ALSO READ:
