The SANDF has confirmed that the remains of the 14 South African soldiers killed in the DRC will be repatriated on Thursday.
Image: SANDF/Se-Anne Rall
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has announced that the handing over of the remains of the 14 troops killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), will be handed in on Thursday.
The troops were killed last month in Goma, in the DRC, during clashes with the M23 rebel group.
The repatriation of their bodies has been delayed, leaving the family members battling to mourn.
During a heated debate at the National Assembly on the SANDF deaths in the DRC on Monday, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga, confirmed the remains would be returned to home soil by Thursday.
Motshekga said seven of the soldiers are from Limpopo, three from Free State and the rest of the men are from the North West, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape.
She stated that all the officers will be laid to rest in full military honour for their sacrifice.
The soldiers' remains were due to be brought to SA last week, however, there were several delays.
At the weekend, the SANDF said the soldiers' bodies were taken from DRC to the United Nations Logistics Base in Entebbe, Uganda.
From there, they would be brought to South Africa.
On Wednesday morning, SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini confirmed the handing over ceremony and memorial service for the soldiers will take place on Thursday, February 13 at the Air Force Base Swartkop.
He said the exact time for both events will be announced later.
The failure to fetch the spirits of the slain SANDF troops back to home soil could lead to the families suffering from a similar fate, dying by gunfire, according to traditional healer Solly Mathebula.
Image: Supplied/Solly Mathebula
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, IOL News reported that a Pretoria-based sangoma, Solly Mathebula, also known as Mkhulu Mahlasela warned that if the spirits of the soldiers are not brought back to South Africa, it could result in family members being killed by gunfire.
“It’s crucial to bring their spirits back to their homeland, because if not, when their bodies are repatriated, only their physical remains will return, while their spirits will remain in the DRC,” said Mkhulu Mahlasela.
He explained that the ritual of “Go lata moya” (Sepedi) or “Ukulanda umoya (Zulu),” is important for those who die violently.
If not retrieved, the spirit may cause disruption to the family, potentially leading to similar violent deaths, he said.
The soldiers' names:
IOL News