By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The arrival of the first group of South African troops who were deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) was delayed on Friday afternoon due logistical challenges.
The soldiers were expected to touch down at midday, however, by 2pm, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga announced that the department was experiencing technical and logistical challenges.
Motshekga said initially two planes were meant to transport the troops home, but due to a contractual issue, the SADC, which is in charge of the logistics, was forced to use one larger plane.
She said the issue now centres around the staircases that attach to the plane.
“The technicality, Tanzania says they can only resolve it in the next seven hours, which is the arrival of the staircases suitable for the aircraft.”
It was disappointing as they had expected their arrival by midday on Friday, she added.
The delegation of soldiers could re-route to Gauteng, depending on whether the staircases arrive in Bloemfontein in time for their disembarkment.
Chief of Joint Operations of the SANDF Lieutenant General Siphiwe Sangweni explained that there was initially supposed to be two small flights landing from Chato, Tanzania, but now the troop’s return will use a larger aircraft.
Sangweni highlighted the strength and commitment of South African soldiers in peacekeeping.
The SANDF played a central role in SAMIDRC, which was launched in December 2023 to help restore peace in the volatile eastern DRC. Alongside troops from Malawi and Tanzania, SANDF forces were deployed under SADC’s Mutual Defence Pact at the invitation of the DRC government, with a mandate to neutralise illegal armed groups, protect civilians, and support the Congolese armed forces.
The mission faced significant operational hurdles almost from the outset. The resurgence of the M23 rebel group in late 2024 led to a rapid deterioration of the security situation, culminating in the capture of key cities such as Goma and Bukavu by M23 forces earlier this year.
These events resulted in hundreds of thousands of civilians being displaced and a dire humanitarian crisis. The SANDF, as the largest troop-contributing country, suffered the loss of 14 soldiers in the fighting around Goma in late January.
On 13 March 2025, the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government formally terminated the SAMIDRC mandate, citing the deteriorating security situation and the need to explore diplomatic solutions.
The withdrawal of SAMIDRC forces began in April 2025, with South African troops and equipment departing in phases. The withdrawal has proven to be logistically challenging, involving overland movements through Rwanda and Tanzania before troops returning to South Africa by air and equipment by sea.