Mon. Nov 11th, 2024

In a somber development, two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The SANDF revealed that the deceased personnel were part of the deployment associated with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission.

According to SANDF spokesperson Colonel Selinah Rawlins, preliminary information suggests that one of the members utilized a service weapon to fatally shoot the other member before turning the weapon on themselves. The incident is currently under investigation, and a Board of Inquiry has been established in collaboration with the MONUSCO command to probe the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise expressed shock at the incident, and the SANDF has assured that the remains of the members will be repatriated to South Africa. Families of the deceased have been notified, and the SANDF’s leadership has conveyed condolences to the grieving families.

This unfortunate event follows a recent incident in the DRC where two SANDF members, Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono, lost their lives due to a mortar bomb explosion. Both incidents underscore the challenges and risks associated with peacekeeping missions undertaken by the SANDF in collaboration with international organizations like the United Nations.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *