Cape Town - Local faith leaders and an NPO held a memorial service at the Castle of Good Hope just hours after the bodies of the 14 SANDF soldiers who died in the DRC in January during a peace stabilisation deployment were officially handed over to their families.
Candles were lit and flowers placed next to the photographs of the soldiers in the vigil which took place on Friday. The memorial was arranged by Kimberleigh Alkilani through her NPO Donateum.
“I want our soldiers to know that despite everything they face, we appreciate our soldiers risking their lives to protect our country,” she said.
“The loss of our 14 soldiers in the DRC has shattered the hearts of millions in our nation. To the families who have lost a son, a husband, a father, and a brother – we are so sorry.
“I thank the Good Hope Castle for allowing me to honour our 14 SANDF soldiers with a commemoration on their grounds.”
Pastor Mark Le Fleur led those attending the memorial into prayer and gave a message for the families of the soldiers.
“It is so easy to dissociate yourself from these realities and we can easily see no, it is not someone that we know or your family,” he said.
“But here is a common bond, these are our fallen soldiers, 14 of them with the intention of maintaining peace in a war torn region and paid the ultimate
price with their lives. Beyond all the issues in the newspapers, and television, there are families, there is a mom and a dad, there is a child, a son and a daughter that is missing daddy. And daddy is never going to come home.
The bodies of the 14 soldiers were repatriated following a process with the United Nations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, as Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, handed over the remains of soldiers to the families who were allowed to view their bodies prior to the service at the Air Force Base, Swartkop, Pretoria. He paid respects to the families alongside Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga and Chief of the SANDF General Maphwanya.
The coffins were draped in the national flag and were carried by soldiers. During a previous interview with the Cape Argus, the family of Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola shared the trauma of losing him.
On Sunday, Cola’s family confirmed he would be laid to rest on March 1. In a media statement, the co-chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Malusi Gigaba and Phiroane Phala, who participated in the handing over ceremony, said they were grateful for the dignified deliverance of the remains.
“We appreciate the work done by the department, United Nations, SADC and the SANDF to repatriate our gallant soldiers back home for their final burial,” said Phala. The committee has always believed that while the process is complex, everything should be done to return the remains to the country. We remain grateful that this has finally happened despite the delays,” said Phala.