14 SANDF soldiers who died in DRC hailed as heroes as SA mourns their loss

JOHANNESBURG - The South African peacekeepers who died in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) two weeks ago have been hailed as heroes as the country mourns their loss.

The death toll of SANDF soldiers caught in the crossfire in battles between the DRC armed forces and M23 rebels rose to 14 two weeks ago when their base in Goma came under fire.

The families of the fallen soldiers were joined by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and SANDF top brass in a celebration of their lives at the Swartkop Air Force Base in Tshwane on Thursday.

Their remains were handed over to their loved ones while their praises were sung in a memorial service on Thursday night.
 
They died in a foreign land and it took their remains about a week to arrive back in South Africa after the repatriation process was stalled by security risks and rising tensions in the DRC and its neighbouring states.

Ramaphosa consoled the grieving families, who were visibly emotional as they were reunited with their loved ones.

"You are home now. You have come to your resting place. We are here to receive you with open arms and lay you to rest."

The 14 soldiers, who will be remembered for putting on a brave fight, are expected to be buried in full military honours.

But the exact details of the funeral arrangements remain unclear.