SANDF working tirelessly to repatriate troops who perished in DRC conflict

CAPE TOWN - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF)’s top brass says it’s working around the clock to repatriate the bodies of South African soldiers who died in combat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and her Deputy Bantu Holomisa – are briefing a joint meeting of Parliament’s Defence committees on Tuesday afternoon on the peacekeeping mission.

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The SANDF’s chief – Rudzwani Maphwanya - has stressed that the deployment of South African troops is part of a Southern African Development Community agreement and not a bilateral arrangement with the DRC.

Motshekga says the destruction of the runway in Goma is complicating the return of the remains of the 14 soldiers who died after three days of intense fighting that began on 29 January 2025.