Remains of SANDF soldiers repatriated on Wednesday

Remains of SANDF soldiers repatriated on Wednesday

The South African National Defence Force confirmed that the remains of the 14 soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be repatriated on Wednesday.

SANDF DRC MISSION
SANDF Media

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa and SANDF generals appeared before the parliament's portfolio committee on defence and joint standing committee on defence on Tuesday.


This was their first appearance in Parliament following the attack in the restive eastern DRC.


The SANDF soldiers were killed in eastern DRC in January amid the conflict with Rwandan-backed M23 rebels.


The slain soldiers were serving in the region as part of the SAMIDRC and the United Nations peacekeeping deployment (MONUSCO), working to promote peace and stability.


The troops were killed in eastern DRC last month after being attacked by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels.


"When are we going to get the remains of our members back? In one sentence, tomorrow. I think at this moment, when our country is mourning maybe we should have a session that now addresses the challenges that the SANDF is facing,” SANDF Chief Rudzani Maphwanya told MPs. 


Maphwanya has denied reports that the soldiers in the DRC are not properly trained.


"This grouping that went there, they went through combat readiness training, they went through mission readiness training, and it was not for lack of training that we suffered casualties.


"Most of our casualties did not come as a result of close combat, it came as a result of indirect fire.”


Motshekga denied accusations that SANDF is in the DRC to protect business interest of certain individuals.


"It really took me to the core that heads of state of 15 countries took a decision for the summit SAMIDRC mission.


“So, all of them, 15, agreed to go and protect the Interests of South African business?. It really shocks me to think in my view, taking the entire SADC for nothing, that they could meet as heads of state on behalf of individuals in South Africa," she said.


Meanwhile, EFF members of parliament called on Minister Motshekga and Maphwanya to resign, while the ACDP and Action SA said twould support an inquiry into the incident.

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