SANDU says there’ll be coordinated efforts to repatriate SA soldiers killed in DRC
Fourteen South African soldiers have been killed in the DRC, and their families want answers about repatriation and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- South African National Defence Union (SANDU)
- South African National Defence Force (SANDF)
Armored vehicles belonging to the South Africa National Defence Forces (SANDF) contingent of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) drive towards deploy along the road leading to the entrance of the town of Sake, 25km north-west of Goma, on 23 January 2025. Picture: Michael Lunanga/AFP
CAPE TOWN - The South African National Defence Union (SANDU) said there would be coordinated efforts this week to repatriate the country's soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Fourteen South African soldiers have been killed in the DRC, and their families want answers about repatriation and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
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"SANDU would like to extend our condolences to the families of our gallant fallen heroes. What we know so far is that during this week, there will be efforts to have our fallen heroes come back home," said the union’s national negotiator, Jeff Dubazana.
M23 fighters, who the UN and several nations say are backed by Rwanda, have made substantial gains in eastern DRC, taking the major city of Goma last week and displacing over 100,000 people.
The M23 offensive in the mineral-rich eastern DRC is the latest to scar a region that’s seen six million people killed over three decades.