A video posted by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) of a learner being reunited with his mother, who was deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has gone viral on social media.

According to The Witness, comments under the video praised the reunion, calling it heartwarming.

The mother was one of 257 SANDF members who returned to South Africa on Sunday, with another group arriving on Monday afternoon.

The troops were returning from a Southern African Development Community mission in the DRC. They were on the frontline of a conflict between the Congolese army and M23 rebel fighters, which raged for three years in the east of that country until a ceasefire was called in April.

SANDF chief of joint operations Siphiwe Sangweni last week announced that several flights carrying troops will land in South Africa over the next few weeks.

“With bigger aircrafts, it will now be nine trips bringing our soldiers back to South Africa. The frequency of those aircraft moving will be almost every second day.”

Watch the heartwarming reunion:

WATCH || The moment is filled with joy as the school child is unexpectedly reunited with their mother, who has been deployed in the #DRC. The child’s emotional response is a testament to the strong bond between parent and child, and the reunion brings happiness to all.#SANDF pic.twitter.com/lNQwCaplk5

— SA National Defence Force 🇿🇦 (@SANDF_ZA) June 18, 2025

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