Defence analyst Dean Wingrin says it’s crucial to ensure that the South African soldiers who are still in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are safe.
Political parties have intensified their calls for the withdrawal of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members from the DRC.
Last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa officially handed over the remains of the 14 South African soldiers killed in the DRC to their families at the Air Force Base Swartkop outside Pretoria.
Wingrin has advised political leaders to exercise patience when dealing with the volatile situation in the eastern DRC.
“We’re all rather impatient but we all need our troops home and safe. But I think we have to exercise a little bit of patience. Trying to put some faith into our political leaders and in the foreign affairs and the UN which is also taking the lead in trying to get our troops in their immediate situation and any way to do that is by talk.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa President says government takes seriously the concerns that various MPs have raised over the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), however, the country has an important role to… pic.twitter.com/dKZdnDJ7gb
— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 14, 2025
Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa says, “Government takes seriously the concerns that various MPs have raised over the deployment of SANDF members to the DRC.”
He adds, however, that South Africa has an important role to play in safeguarding peace in Africa.
“We are a trusted country and a reliable country when it comes to peace building. We have succeeded in bringing peace and building peace in a number of countries on our continent. And yes, we have lost heroic soldiers in the course of doing so in many missions that our country and our soldiers have been involved in. This is one of those missions. The achievement of this vision is the most fitting tribute that we can pay to our fallen heroes and the greatest honour to their memories.”
SANDF Repatriation of soldiers who died in the DRC & memorial service
