Two South African soldiers were killed and 20 were injured yesterday when M23 rebels attacked the town of Sake in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), four members who were critically injured were hospitalised. The rest, who suffered minor injuries, are expected to be discharged soon.

The SANDF says the families of the two people who lost their lives have been informed and all procedures to bring home their remains are in process.

“The names of the deceased will be communicated in due course.”

Other SANDF members have also been killed this year.

On May 20, Sergeant Mbulelo David Ngubane (39) died following contact between the M23 and Southern African Development Community forces. Ngubane was the operational medical practitioner in the South African Military Health Service.

In February, Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono were killed and three of their colleagues were injured in the DRC after a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African contingency military bases. – SAnews.gov.za