JOHANNESBURG (CHATNEWSTV) — President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday ordered the national flag flown at half-mast for seven days to mourn 14 South African soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“These soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
The troops, part of South Africa’s deployment under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the United Nations’ MONUSCO peacekeeping force, were killed in clashes with M23 rebels in Sake.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) identified the fallen soldiers, including Staff Sergeants William Eddie Cola and Molahlehi Ishmael Molahlehi, as well as several riflemen and a private.
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and SANDF Chief Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya extended condolences to the soldiers’ families.
