A betrayal of our soldiers at Sona

By Mayibuye Melisizwe Mandela

THE 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on February 6, was yet another exercise in rhetoric rather than action.

While the President spoke at length about various national issues, his words rang hollow in the face of a deeply troubling reality—the treatment of our soldiers, particularly those deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

South Africa recently suffered a tragic loss when 14 of our soldiers were brutally killed by the M23 rebel group, backed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame. It is important to remember that these soldiers did not go to the DRC of their own accord. They were deployed by the South African state, under the direct orders of President Cyril Ramaphosa, as part of a peacekeeping mission. The very government that sent them into harm’s way has failed to show them the respect they deserve.

Even in death, these soldiers have not been given the dignity owed to them. Their bodies have not yet been returned home, and the troops who remain in the DRC are still stranded, with no urgency from the government to ensure their safe return. A responsible government honours its fallen heroes. A nation that values its military does not treat its soldiers as disposable assets.

A country in mourning would have lowered its flags, held moments of silence, declared a national day of mourning, and ensured full state recognition of their sacrifice. Instead, we witnessed a spectacle in Parliament—ceremonial military parades, a 21-gun salute, and business as usual—while our troops remain stuck in a war zone, and grieving families continue to wait in agony.

How does a country mourn its soldiers when their bodies have not even been brought home? How does a President speak of their deaths, yet fail to take extraordinary measures to show the gravity of this loss? The truth is, the government has disrespected these soldiers, their families, and the values of our nation. President Ramaphosa had the power to postpone SONA in recognition of this tragedy. He had the power to declare a national day of mourning. He had the power to ensure that the bodies of the fallen were returned to South African soil with the dignity they deserve. Instead, he chose business as usual.

The families of these soldiers are not only grieving—they are left without answers, without the remains of their loved ones, and without a clear commitment from the government to bring their children, fathers, and mothers home. South Africa owes these soldiers more than just words. We owe them national mourning, state recognition, and immediate action to bring our troops—both the fallen and the living—back home where they belong.

We demand the truth. We demand action. We demand respect for our soldiers and their sacrifice.

(Mandela writes in his personal capacity. The views expressed here don't reflect those of the newspaper and Independent Media)