Cape Town — The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed it will repatriate and officially hand over the remains of Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono to their families on Wednesday.
The SANDF recently deployed 2 900 soldiers to combat the M23 Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Bobe and Semono were killed while three other soldiers were injured after a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African contingency military bases in North Kivu last week.
The South African soldiers were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) that were deployed to support and assist government of the second-largest country in Africa to restore peace, security and stability. The SANDF said the remains would be handed over to the families during a military procession ceremony at the Waterkloof Air Base, according to SA Gov News.
The SA National Defence Force Media Statement || 21 February 2024 || SA National Defence Force repatriates and officially hands over the mortal remains of Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono to their bereaved families.#SANDF#RIPSASoldiers pic.twitter.com/hPpS3B1Uqt
— SA National Defence Force (@SANDF_ZA) February 21, 2024
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, is expected to form part of the officials attending the handing over ceremony.
Modise, along with the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thabang Makwetla, the Acting Secretary for Defence, Dr Thobekile Gamede, and the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, have since expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers.
According to IOL, President Cyril Ramaphosa has faced a ton of criticism from opposition parties, namely the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) who called for the deployment of South African soldiers to the DRC to be stopped and to recall the soldiers until they were better equipped and trained. Both parties labelled the decision as “reckless”.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
