By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Tuesday that a group of critically injured soldiers has been repatriated from Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to receive medical care in South Africa.
The soldiers were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), which aims to help restore peace, security, and stability in Africa’s second-largest country, and the United Nations mission (Monusco), which has a peace enforcement mandate in the DRC.
On Tuesday, SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the group, who have critical injuries, have been admitted to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria and will receive high level medical care.
The remainder of the soldiers, who are still in the DRC are scheduled to arrive in South Africa during the course of this week, he added.
“The SANDF in coordination with other relevant role-players have worked tirelessly to ensure the safe return of our wounded members,” said Dlamini.
South African troops, including serving with Monusco, are also stationed in Beni, some 350 km from Goma, and they are unaffected by developments around Goma. The SANDF appears to be sending reinforcements to the region, with multiple chartered Il-76 transports flying from Pretoria. Apparently some 800 additional troops have been sent to the region.
South Africa is believed to have more than 2 000 troops deployed in the DR Congo, as part of both Monusco and SAMIDRC.