By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA National Defence Force (SANDF) have confirmed that two of its soldiers have been killed and 20 were injured, four critically, in a mortar attack in a base at Sake, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The attack followed the same pattern as the first attack on the South Africans at the same base at Sake in February 2024, which left two soldiers dead.
Department of Defence Head of Communication Siphiwe Dlamini said families of the two members who lost their lives have been informed and all procedures to bring their mortal remains are in process. The names of the deceased will be communicated in due course.
The two soldiers were part of the Tactical Intelligence Unit. One is from 24 SA Brigade in Johannesburg and the other from the Air Defence Artillery Formation.
Unverified sources indicate at least two M23 attacks on Sake, with one in the morning and another in the evening, with rebels making use of mortars to attack SANDF and Congolese Army (FARDC) positions.
Located some 20 km from the capital city of North Kivu Province Goma, Sake has been largely deserted for months following previous attacks.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed up to 2 900 SANDF soldiers to SAMIDRC until mid-December. SAMIDRC will fill much of the gap left by the departure this year of the United Nations mission (MONUSCO) in the DRC. Apart from confirmation of 2 900 South African military personnel being contributed under Operation Thiba at a cost of R2.37 billion, there is no information from the SADC on Malawian and Tanzanian troop numbers that will make up the rest of the 5 000-strong SAMIDRC force.
The SANDF’s deployment with SAMIDRC got off to a shaky start when two soldiers were killed and three injured in an M23 mortar attack on a base on 14 February.
Experts are deeply concerned about the latest SANDF deployment, cautioning that troops are under-equipped for the task and at unnecessary risk as they are facing a well-organised and well-armed rebel group.