JOHANNESBURG - The bodies of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers are finally back home after weeks of uncertainty and delays.
However, families of the deceased will have to wait until Thursday night for the government's official handover ceremony at Air Force Base Swartkop in Centurion.
Initially, the ceremony, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday morning, is now taking place in the evening.
This is to allow South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend. Earlier he will respond to the Members of Parliament debate on his SONA 2025 speech.
The 14 soldiers died when they were caught in the crossfire during fighting between the DRC army and M23 rebels.
They had been deployed to the region as part of a multinational Southern African Development Community (SADC) force to help stabilise the region amid ongoing clashes.
READ | DRC Conflict | Remains of 14 SA soldiers finally back home
While details surrounding their deaths have not been revealed, SANDF Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala said the soldiers still in the DRC are safe and are well armed.
"The soldiers can defend themselves if they are under attack. They are accounting for their command structures. They remain intact and ready for the next mission if ordered," Tshabalala said.
Tshabalala added that they do not know what the rebels next move is, but they are ready.
"A soldier's job is to fight, to enforce peace. We are on a peaceful mandate, and we do not go and ask for war. We are there with a clear mandate from SADC".
Along with the 14 South Africans soldiers who died in the DRC, three from Malawi, and one from Tanzania also died.
SANDF General Mojo Motau told eNCA that the troops who remain on the ground are traumatised, and that they need to be relieved at some stage.