Johannesburg – Two South African soldiers have been killed in a bomb blast in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and three others were injured.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said in a statement on Thursday that on “14 February 2024 at about 13h30, a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African Contingent military bases inflicting casualties and injuries to SANDF soldiers”.
The RSA contingent is part of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) that is deployed to support and assist the DRC’s government in bringing peace, security, and stability to that region.
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“As a result of this indirect fire, the SANDF suffered two fatalities and three members sustained injuries,” the SANDF statement said.
“The injured were taken to the nearest hospital in Goma for medical attention.
“Details of the incident are still sketchy at the moment, further investigation will be conducted to determine the basis of the incident.”
The statement added that the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms. Thandi Modise, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Mr. Thabang Makwetla, the Acting Secretary of Defence Thobekile Gamede, and the Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya all, “express their heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and wish the injured a speedy recovery”.
