14 fallen SANDF soldiers return home

The remains of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have finally returned home after multiple delays. The soldiers lost their lives between January 23-27 during intense fighting with M23 rebels in the Goma region of North Kivu province.

The handover ceremony and memorial service was rescheduled to evening due to parliamentary commitments related to the State of the Nation Address debate. The remains were transported via a Tanzanian Air Force Y-8 aircraft, following medical processing in Uganda.

The fallen soldiers were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission (SAMIDRC) and UN mission (Monusco), aimed at restoring peace in the DRC. The repatriation process faced several delays, including medical procedures in Uganda and complications in moving the deceased from the DRC.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) criticized the SANDF's handling of the situation, particularly condemning the "unrealistic promises" regarding the return date and the last-minute postponement of the handover ceremony. They also highlighted concerns about the SANDF's reliance on Tanzanian aircraft for the repatriation.

The situation has sparked debate in Parliament, with some MPs criticizing the SANDF's deployment as poorly planned and under-equipped, while others defended it as part of the African Union's 2063 Agenda for peace and stability.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to attend the evening ceremony at the Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing in Centurion. The president had previously ordered the national flag to be flown at half-mast for a week in honor of the fallen soldiers.

The M23 rebels continue to control access to Goma, allowing only the deceased soldiers to leave, while South Africa maintains over 2,000 troops in the DRC as part of both Monusco and SAMIDRC missions.