The SANDF soldiers' remains killed in a violent clash with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, will be handed over to their families on Thursday in Centurion Pretoria.
Image: Simon Majadibodu/IOL News
Sadness filled the faces of the families as the hearses carrying the bodies of their 14 fallen SANDF members arrived at Swartkop Air Base.
This is where the handover ceremony to the family will be done.
The soldiers' remains killed in a violent clash with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, will be handed over to their families on Thursday in Centurion Pretoria.
Families from Limpopo, Free State, North West, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape arrived at the event to receive their loved ones.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to attend the ceremony, alongside Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, and Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya to pay their respects to the families of the departed soldiers.
This is two weeks after the soldiers' deaths. The ceremony is scheduled for 6pm.
According to reports, the troops lost their lives while attempting to prevent their advance toward Goma, the provincial capital and largest city in the east of the war-torn country, bordering Rwanda.
The handover will be followed by a memorial service to honour the fallen troops, who were deployed to stabilise the region amid ongoing conflict.
As seen by IOL News, their faces reflected deep sorrow as they made a solemn entrance.
The families had anxiously awaited the return of their loved ones' remains, which were initially expected last week.
Some relatives had not seen their soldiers since January 2024.
Tributes from across the country continue to pour for the soldiers. Parliament has also conveyed its condolences.
IOL News