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Citizens and politicians likewise in South Africa have expressed their concern over the death toll of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployed on a peace keeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and are calling for the withdrawal of the soldiers.
The SANDF confirmed on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, that four more of its members have died in the DRC, making it a total of 13 soldiers who died. According to the SANDF, the M23 rebels launched several a mortar bomb in the direction of Goma Airport, which landed in the SANDF base, and this resulted in the SANDF losing three (3) members.
The SANDF said it is saddened to announce that one (1) of its members who was injured during the battle with M23 rebels over the past three days later succumbed to injuries. The rest of the injured members continue to receive medical attention at the Level 3 Hospital in Goma.
South Africans became hysteric following a video that went viral on social media showing the SANDF waving a white flag during a clash with the M23 rebels; this was accompanied by a lot of speculations, some suggesting that the SANDF has surrendered to the rebels, while others say the defence force ran out of ammunition.
The SANDF issued a statement to clarify the narrative spreading across social media platform and creating panic amongst citizens.
“The footage in question depicts a white flag raised, which is an outcome of discussions between the opposing fighting forces to agree on a truce to allow M23 to recover their dead and injured in the vicinity of our base. This will also open the route for our troops to access medical facilities. This is common practice in any war.
Let members of the public not be alarmed by a video clip and its meaning.
The SANDF remains fully committed to its peacekeeping responsibilities under the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC). Our troops continue to operate with resolve, courage, and discipline in pursuit of peace and stability in the region,” said the SANDF.
It is reported that the President of South Africa H.E Cyril Ramaphosa is in talks with the President of Rwanda H.E Paul Kagame to find a diplomatic peaceful resolution on a ceasefire in the eastern DRC.
During the African National Congress’ (ANC) media briefing yesterday, the Secretary General of the party Mr Fikile Mbalula told the media that the Minister for Defence Ms Angie Motshega will on Wednesday, 29 January 2025, take the nation into confidence regarding the situation in the DRC; he further said Ramaphosa will also give report on the outcomes of his meeting with Kagame.
