By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Four more South African soldiers have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bringing the total number to 13 of SA soldiers who have died in fierce fighting with M23 rebels backed by Rwanda.
The Department of Defence on Tuesday said a mortar bomb launched by the M23 rebels landed in the SANDF base on Monday, killing three soldiers.
The bomb was fired in the direction of the Goma Airport, near where the SANDF set up base. This was during a mortar exchange between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the M23 militia.
According to SANDF, a fourth soldier, who was injured in the battles over the past three days, succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
The department said they would not release the names of the 13 until all family members were notified.
According to Tuesday’s statement, the injured members continue receiving medical attention at the Level 3 Hospital in Goma.
“The SANDF remains fully committed to its peacekeeping responsibilities under the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” it said.
The Defence Force added that its troops “continue to operate with resolve, courage, and discipline in pursuit of peace and stability in the region”.
Angie Motshekga, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, the Deputy Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans, Major General Bantu Holomisa and Richard Hlophe, the acting secretary for Defence, Thobekile Gamede, and the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya sent condolences to the families of the dead.
Meanwhile, the SANDF addressed a viral video which purports to show SANDF soldiers surrendering to M23 rebels by raising a white flag.
The Defence Force said this is not the case.
“The footage in question depicts a white flag raised, which is an outcome of discussions between the opposing fighting forces to agree on a truce to allow M23 to recover their dead and injured in the vicinity of our base,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, this allowed a route to open for SANDF troops to access medical facilities.
“This is common practice in any war. Let members of the public not be alarmed by a video clip and its meaning,” it stated.