President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed that the South African Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations across the country to honour the tragic loss of at least 14 SA soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The flag will be flown for the week starting on Friday. Ramaphosa announced this during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday night in Cape Town.
He paid tribute to the soldiers who tragically lost their lives in a peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
The soldiers lost their lives in a violent clash with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels while attempting to prevent their advance toward Goma, the provincial capital and largest city in the east of the war-torn country, bordering Rwanda.
“We gather here as our country is mourning the tragic and devastating loss of 14 South African soldiers who were part of a mission to bring peace to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Alongside soldiers from other Southern African countries, they lost their lives in defence of the fundamental right of the Congolese people to live in peace and security.
“They lost their lives not in the pursuit of resources or territory or power. They lost their lives so that the guns on our continent may be forever silenced. We salute our gallant soldiers,” he said.
Meanwhile, the return of the troops' bodies has been delayed. This was confirmed by the SANDF on Thursday.
General Rudzani Maphwanya told Parliament earlier this week that the remains would be arriving in Tshwane on Wednesday.
However, the project has encountered a setback due to logistical issues.
It is expected that the remains of the soldiers will be returned to South Africa on Friday.
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