SANDF soldier from Tubatse killed in battle against M23 rebels near Goma
Molapo had served in the SANDF since 1993.
One of the 13 SANDF soldiers who were killed in the DRC hails from Tubatse. Moffat Molapo (53) died sometime during a two-day battle against M23 rebels near the city of Goma.
Molapo was from Moroke in Burgersfort. He was a member the SANDF troops on a United Nations peacekeeping mission to the DRC.
According to his family, they received the news from SANDF members on Saturday, and are still in shock. They said they knew he had gone to a war-torn country, but they had hoped that he would return home.
The family spokesperson and uncle, Molefe Maboko, said the family demands the swift repatriation of his body. The family said Molapo was their breadwinner. He was trusted, disciplined and dedicated to his family, and his duties in the army.
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“At this point in time, we are yet to be told when his body will be returned home. All that was said to us was that he died during the fights in the DRC. We are even doubtful if it’s him who died in the battle. No one from the SANDF consoled us or offered psychosocial support. We have not received any updates from the SANDF, since we were told about his death.”
Molefe said locals had been visiting the family to offer their condolences.
An SANDF spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini, said the bodies of the fallen soldiers would be returned to the families after the post-mortem processes were completed.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sorrow and condolences to the families.
“On behalf of the government and the people of our country, I express our sincerest condolences to their families, their loved ones and colleagues. We bow our heads in honour of their heroic and gallant fight for peace. We honour and mourn them,” Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.
