The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that another soldier deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has died from his injuries, bringing the total number of South African fatalities to 14.
SANDF death toll climbs to 14
The soldier was among those wounded in an attack by M23 rebels in the conflict-ridden eastern DRC.
The latest casualty was announced two days after President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the SANDF’s presence in the region, reiterating that the mission remains a peacekeeping effort under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) and United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
However, growing concerns within the defence community have led to mounting calls for the immediate withdrawal of South African troops.
The SANDF also released the names of the 14 fallen soldiers, among them Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola, Lance Bombardier Itumeleng Macdonald Moreo, and Private Peter Jacobus Strydom.
These soldiers, along with their fellow SANDF members, were stationed in Sake, a strategic town near Goma, where they were attacked.
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, along with senior SANDF officials, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and vowed continued support to the remaining troops on the ground.
Despite the casualties, the SANDF remains engaged in operations aimed at stabilising the volatile eastern region of the DRC.
What’s the latest in DRC?
The situation in the eastern DRC continues to deteriorate, with the United Nations confirming at least 700 deaths in recent clashes between M23 rebels and Congolese forces.
Reports indicate that more than 2,800 people have been injured as the rebels strengthen their hold over Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
The M23 group, which claims to be fighting for minority rights, has been accused by the DRC government of receiving backing from Rwanda, a claim Rwanda has repeatedly denied.
As the conflict intensifies, the rebels have begun moving south towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, where Congolese forces have set up defensive positions in an attempt to halt their advance.
Meanwhile, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) recently concluded a summit in Harare, where leaders discussed the future of the regional peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
No decisive resolutions were made regarding the withdrawal of SADC troops, despite rising opposition within South Africa’s defence community over the mission’s viability.
In Bukavu, reports suggest that hundreds of civilian volunteers have joined Congolese forces in anticipation of a direct confrontation with the advancing M23 fighters.
As tensions escalate, calls for diplomatic intervention have grown louder, with the United Nations and African Union urging all parties to engage in peace negotiations to avoid further bloodshed.
However, with no ceasefire in sight, South African troops remain caught in one of the deadliest conflicts on the continent.