Three South African soldiers have been killed and 18 others injured during clashes with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The soldiers were part of a regional mission under the Southern African Development Community (SADC), according to reports from a political party and a military union.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) party issued a statement Saturday, extending condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers. “At least 18 SANDF (South African National Defence Forces) members were wounded in ongoing battles with M23 rebels,” the party added.
The incident reportedly took place Thursday near Sake, in eastern DRC, during an attack by the M23 rebels. The DA, a member of South Africa’s governing coalition, confirmed that the soldiers were deployed as part of SADC’s efforts to stabilize the region.
While South African military officials have not yet commented, SANDF spokesperson Jaco Theunissen said a statement will be released soon. Meanwhile, a DA parliamentarian, Chris Hattingh, expressed concern over the lack of communication from the SANDF.
“The fact that South Africans have to rely on DRC sources for information about casualties is deeply troubling,” Hattingh told reporters.
The South African National Defence Union also criticized the delayed response, with national secretary Pikkie Greef calling for immediate transparency. “Soldiers’ sacrifices and injuries must be acknowledged without delay. Our leaders need to address this situation urgently,” Greef said.
The SADC mission in the DRC is tasked with supporting peace and stability in a region long plagued by conflict. However, this incident highlights the significant risks faced by soldiers stationed there.
