Johannesburg – The repatriation of the bodies of 14 South African soldiers killed in fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has begun.
In a terse statement, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said: “Following delays that were encountered for the movement of the remains of the deceased from the DRC to the UN Logistics Base in Entebbe, Uganda, the SANDF can confirm that the movement is now underway”.
Initially, the Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya briefed the parliament that the bodies would be arriving back in SA on Wednesday.
The SANDF has since revealed that the United Nations was carrying out the “movement” of the deceased soldiers.
“It is expected that by tomorrow afternoon (Saturday) East African Time (EAT), they will arrive in Entebbe and the bodies will be prepared for transportation by air to South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania,” said the SANF in its statement released late Friday, (7 February 2025).
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Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa heads to Tanzania on Saturday morning, (8 February 2025), where he will meet with other Heads of State and Government at the Joint SADC-EAC Summit to find a sustainable solution to the security challenges in the eastern DRC.
