Minister Angie Motshekga ‘safe’ but SA troops ‘surrounded’ with no ammo or place to store dead
The South African National Defence Force confirmed the death of seven member as well as two UN peacekeepers.
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen
This article was updated on 26 January with details on the reported condition of SA troops in DRC.
As South African defence minister Angie Motshekga prepares to jet home from a four-day to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), fighting in that country has intensified, and SA soldiers have reportedly run out of provisions.
The Congolese army, backed by troops from South Africa as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission, has been fighting M23 rebel fighters in the East of the country for close to three years now.
But the battle intensified on Thursday and Friday as the armies clashed outside the prominent cities of Sake and Goma.
According to City Press, SA soldiers were surrounded and left with no ammunition, essential supplies, or even access to a locked mobile mortuary.
A voice note from a soldier reportedly explained the situation as “very bad”.
“We are surrounded by M23. They started shooting at us from the mountains,” another message from the battlefield read.
WATCH: A video of the alleged conditions SANDF soldiers live in while on mission in the DRC
VIDEO: Allegedly, this is the poor state of some of the army bases used by the SANDF in its suicidal peacekeeping mission in the Congo DR.
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) January 25, 2025
There have been growing calls for the South African government to withdraw the troops after a number of personnel were killed and injured… pic.twitter.com/dv4KPFr2By
At least six SA soldiers died in armed conflict in the DRC last year. 2,900 SANDF members have been deployed to
Nine fatalities
The Department of Defence and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed multiple South African casualties from the fighting.
The SANDF confirmed on Saturday that seven members were among nine killed in two days of fighting. The other two deaths were from the United Nations peacekeeping force, MONUSCO.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the SANDF members who tragically lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on January 23, 2025.
“Their sacrifice, along with the injuries sustained by at least 14 other SANDF members during ongoing battles in the region, is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those working to uphold peace and stability,” it said on Saturday.
At least six SA soldiers died in armed conflict in the DRC last year.
2,900 SANDF members have been deployed to that country.
“The reports of casualties and injuries are deeply troubling. Our soldiers are operating in extremely dangerous conditions, and the lack of adequate support is a contributing element to endangering their lives and the mission itself,” SA National Defence Union (Sandu)’s national secretary Pikkie Greeff said in an earlier statement.
Among the issues was that South African anti-aircraft guns, which could have been used against rebel drone attacks, reportedly had the wrong ammunition.
SA forces were also reportedly left to fight alongside Tanzanian and Malawian soldiers when their DRC counterparts allegedly ran away.
ALSO READ: South Africa sends 2900 troops to the DRC
Calls for evacuation in DRC city
The escalation has seen the UK, US, and France urge their citizens to leave the city amid fears the situation could deteriorate quickly. According to AFP, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the conflict.
South Africa has yet to issue any evacuation notices in Goma, but its defence minister was in the country this week.
ALSO READ: 400 000 displaced this year as conflict rages in DRC’s volatile east
Minister ‘safe’
The minister’s spokesperson, Onicca Kwakwa, told The Citizen on Saturday that Motshekga was safe and would be home soon.
“She is safe. She was part of a larger delegation to the country, and they are all safe,” Kwakwa said.
Motshekga is in the country until Saturday to “strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and the DRC, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defence Cooperation”.
“The Minister’s engagement will contribute to the ongoing efforts to promote peace, stability and security in the DRC,” the department said prior to her visit.
Motshekga also used her visit to assess the operational conditions and welfare of SA soldiers in the DRC.
Kwakwa said a full briefing on Motshekga’s visit and any success or resolutions made would be shared on her return.
But insiders told City Press it was unthinkable that such a high-risk visit was allowed under such conditions. They also lamented that any troops deployed to protect the minister and her delegation could have been used on the battlefield.
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