Two SA soldiers die in apparent murder-suicide incident in DRC
The bodies of two South African soldiers will be repatriated to the country as soon as possible. This comes after two more soldiers died in a separate incident on February 14.
Two more South African soldiers have died on Thursday during their deployment to the DRC, this time in an alleged murder-suicide incident.
The SANDF released a media statement yesterday, stating that one of the soldiers shot and killed another with their service weapon, before turning the weapon on themselves with fatal consequences.
According to the statement, the SANDF has convened a board of inquiry to investigate the incident and the circumstances surrounding it.
This comes after two other South African soldiers were killed in a mortar incident on February 14.
According to the SANDF, a mortar bomb landed inside a base where the soldiers were stationed, killing some and injuring others.
The two soldiers killed on Valentine’s Day were laid to rest yesterday in Tshwane and Kimberley respectively.
READ || The funeral services of fallen members of the South African National Defence Force commence today at Kimberley and Thaba Tshwane in Pretoria.https://t.co/lhzha2fjjU#SANDF#SASoldierMagazine#JointOperationsDivision#SAArmy#PrideOfLions#RIPSASoldiers pic.twitter.com/aqGz2HTnV1
— SA National Defence Force (@SANDF_ZA) March 2, 2024
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise has expressed her shock at the latest incident.
“The members’ remains will be repatriated to South Africa in due course. All families have been informed of the unfortunate incident,” the SANDF’s media statement read.
The Citizen reported at least 2 900 SANDF soldiers were deployed in February provide support in combating illicit armed factions in the eastern region of the DRC.
The deployment was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to fulfil the country’s obligation towards the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to the DRC.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
