189 Wounded SANDF Soldiers Stranded in DRC Amid Evacuation Chaos| Defence Minister Angie Motshekga Speaks
By Lerato Mpembe
Johannesburg – Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has assured South Africans that members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) injured in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during fierce battles with M23 rebels will return home “soon.” Speaking amid growing concerns over the welfare of deployed troops, Motshekga also pledged the government’s unwavering support for the families of the 14 soldiers who lost their lives in the conflict. The announcement comes as the nation mourns the fallen and grapples with the harsh realities faced by its peacekeepers in the volatile eastern DRC.
A Nation Mourns: Rifleman Richard Chokoe Laid to Rest
On a sombre day in Limpopo, Rifleman Richard Chokoe from Mokgokong village was laid to rest at a local cemetery. The young soldier, who sacrificed his life in the DRC, was honoured by the presence of Defence Minister Angie Motshekga at his funeral. Joined by Polokwane’s MMC for Community Safety, Cllr Joosuf Pemma, and MECs Nakedi Kekana and Kgabo Mahoai, Motshekga paid tribute to Chokoe’s bravery. “His courage will never be forgotten,” Pemma said, echoing the sentiments of a grieving community. The ceremony highlighted the personal toll of South Africa’s peacekeeping mission, with families and officials united in remembrance.
The Plight of SANDF Soldiers in the DRC
The SANDF’s deployment in the DRC, part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission (SamiDRC), has been marked by intense hardship. According to media reports, at least 189 South African soldiers are currently wounded or sick in the conflict zone. Among them, five are seriously injured, and two are pregnant, adding urgency to their repatriation. These troops were caught in bloody clashes with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels last month, battles that saw the rebels seize control of Goma, a key city in eastern DRC. The fighting at Sake and Goma claimed 14 SANDF lives, a loss that has shaken morale to an all-time low, sources told Reuters.
Motshekga acknowledged the dire circumstances, stating, “Our soldiers face unimaginable challenges in the field, it’s our duty to provide them with the support they need to succeed and return home safely.” She emphasised the government’s commitment to equipping troops with the resources required to fulfil their mission. However, recent events have raised questions about whether that support is reaching the frontlines in time.
A Failed Evacuation: Hope Turns to Despair
The situation took a grim turn last week when a planned evacuation of the injured soldiers faltered. On Friday morning, the troops were told to pack their bags, expecting to leave the DRC by Saturday. An air ambulance was prepared to fly the five most critically injured from Kigali, Rwanda, to Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria, while the Botswana Air Force stood ready to transport the rest. But by Friday evening, the soldiers received devastating news: the evacuation had been aborted. According to Rapport, a sister publication of City Press, confusion over aircraft landing rights and logistical delays dashed their hopes, leaving morale in tatters.
One soldier, whose left leg was amputated above the knee and right leg below, is among those still stranded. Another, a young captain, lost an eye and has limited vision in the other due to shrapnel wounds. Most of the injured suffer from shrapnel injuries, with infections looming as a threat due to poor hygiene conditions. Several troops are also battling chronic diarrhoea, a result of limited access to clean water and food. “We are suffering as food and water are withheld from us as part of M23’s power play,” a despondent soldier stationed at Goma airport wrote in a message shared with the media. “Tell the people and our families at home exactly what we are subjected to. Tell them the truth without all the lies about our circumstances.”
South Africa’s Role in the DRC: Peace, Not War
Motshekga has been clear about the SANDF’s purpose in the DRC. “Our presence in DRC is not a declaration of war against any country or state,” she said. Instead, it reflects South Africa’s commitment to supporting the DRC government’s efforts to achieve peace in a region plagued by over 100 armed groups. The SamiDRC mission, which includes troops from Tanzania and Malawi alongside South Africa, aims to stabilise eastern DRC, where the M23 has expanded its reach dramatically since resurfacing in 2022.
Yet, the rebels’ recent gains—capturing Goma in late January and Bukavu, the second-largest city in the east, on February 16—have intensified the crisis. The United Nations Security Council, in a resolution adopted on February 21, condemned the M23’s advances and called on Rwanda to withdraw its forces, accused of backing the rebels. This escalation has put additional pressure on South Africa and its SADC partners, who have faced significant losses since the start of 2025.
Negotiations and the Geneva Convention
The failed evacuation followed nearly two weeks of intense negotiations between the M23, the UN mission in the DRC (Monusco), and SamiDRC representatives. Sources within the UN confirmed that doctors in both the DRC and South Africa raised alarms about the wounded soldiers’ urgent need for advanced medical care—treatment unavailable in Goma’s overwhelmed hospitals. The delay in their repatriation has sparked outrage, with experts pointing to the Geneva Convention, which guarantees medical care even for prisoners of war. “Withholding treatment from the wounded soldiers goes against international law,” a humanitarian official noted.
The SADC arranged the repatriation flights, contracting a private air ambulance for the critically injured and relying on the Botswana Air Force for the rest. The Tanzanian Air Force had already transported the bodies of the 14 fallen South Africans, along with three Malawians and one Tanzanian, back home earlier this month. The SA Air Force, hampered by a lack of serviceable cargo aircraft, has been unable to assist, highlighting logistical challenges within the SANDF.
Women Soldiers Bear the Brunt
A striking detail has emerged: most of the 189 wounded soldiers are women, many of whom were stationed at the Sake camp, now under M23 control. Two pregnant soldiers are among them, adding a layer of complexity to their care and evacuation. Their plight has drawn attention to the significant role women play in South Africa’s military operations abroad, as well as the unique risks they face. “These are our daughters, sisters, and mothers,” said a family member of one injured soldier, speaking anonymously to City Press. “They deserve to come home and heal.”
Trauma and Despair on the Frontlines
Beyond physical injuries, the psychological toll on SANDF troops is immense. Many are young soldiers experiencing their first foreign deployment, unprepared for the horrors they’ve encountered. “Several members of the group urgently needed trauma counselling,” a source revealed. For nearly three weeks, they’ve been confined in dire conditions, with M23 rebels restricting access to basic necessities. One female soldier told the media she’d “preferred a mercy killing” over the uncertainty and suffering she endured, believing death was inevitable.
Letters leaked on social media paint a vivid picture of their struggle. South African officers must negotiate every detail—from weekly rations to water deliveries—with Colonel Augustine, the M23’s military liaison officer. In one shocking instance, a South African officer apologised in writing to Augustine after a UN driver delivering food to the SamiDRC rapid reaction unit reportedly misbehaved, nearly injuring M23 rebels at the airport. “The driver had been told to obey M23 commands,” the letter stated, underscoring the rebels’ iron grip over the situation.
Reinforcements and a Call for Action
In response to the crisis, the SANDF has sent reinforcements of troops and weaponry to the DRC, as reported earlier this month. South Africa deployed additional forces to Lubumbashi, about 1,500 km south of Goma, after the rebels seized the city’s airport, cutting off resupply routes. “With M23 controlling Goma’s airport, our troops there are isolated,” a defence expert told Reuters on February 10. The move signals Pretoria’s determination to bolster its mission, despite the setbacks.
However, voices within South Africa are calling for a broader rethink. In an opinion piece for News24, analyst Theo Neethling argued, “The SANDF is shaken: Now is the time to revisit its mandate and means.” Soldiers and their families echo this sentiment, demanding transparency and accountability. “It is time for our government to realise that we are the pawns in the diplomats’ diplomatic delays,” the Goma airport soldier wrote. “We will not forget this.”
Recent Developments: A Regional Crisis Unfolds
As of February 23, 2025, the situation in the DRC remains fluid. The UN Security Council’s resolution on February 21 demanded that Rwanda halt its support for the M23 and withdraw all troops from Congolese soil “without preconditions.” The council urged diplomatic talks between the DRC and Rwanda, a call echoed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the African Union Summit. “It’s time to silence the guns,” Guterres said, though he cautioned that Monusco’s peacekeeping force “can’t solve the problem because there is no peace to keep.”
Meanwhile, Burundi’s withdrawal of its forces from eastern DRC on February 18, reported by Reuters, dealt a fresh blow to the Congolese army and its allies, including the SANDF. The M23’s capture of Bukavu—confirmed by the Congolese government after rebels met little resistance—marked an unprecedented expansion of their territory. The UN has accused the M23 of executing children during this advance, a claim that has intensified global scrutiny of the conflict.
The Human Cost: Stories from the Ground
The human stories emerging from the DRC are heart-wrenching. A young captain, now partially blind, faces an uncertain future. A soldier with double amputations waits for rescue, his family in South Africa praying for his return. The two pregnant women soldiers, trapped in a war zone, symbolise the vulnerability of those caught in this crisis. “We’re not just numbers,” a soldier’s relative told eNCA. “These are people with lives, dreams, and loved ones waiting for them.”
Families of the 14 fallen soldiers, whose bodies arrived at Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria on February 13, have begun their grieving process. Itumeleng Moreo, another of the deceased, was farewelled by loved ones on February 21, as reported by eNCA. Motshekga’s pledge to support these families offers some comfort, but for those still in the DRC, the wait continues.
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