SANDF Soldier Killed in 'Friendly Fire' in DRC on Peacekeeping Mission
- A South African National Defence Force (SANDF) solider has been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo while on a peacekeeping mission
- In what has been described as "friendly fire", the soldier was shot by a bullet that came from his very own camp
- Details of the incident are still sketchy and an investigation has been opened to find out what really took place
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In what is believed to have been crossfire from his own camp, a South African soldier serving in a UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was killed.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) stated on Thursday that one of its soldiers serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was killed “in friendly fire” while on patrol in Kilia in the eastern DRC on Thursday morning, according to TimesLIVE.
Source: Getty Images
“Details of this unfortunate incident are still sketchy and a board of inquiry has been convened to investigate. The identity of the deceased will be confirmed once the SANDF has formally informed the family," said SANDF spokesperson Brigadier-General Mafi Mgobozi.
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According to a report by News24, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, her deputy Thabang Makwetla, Secretary for Defence Sonto Kudjoe and SANDF Commander General Rudzani Maphwanya have all expressed their condolences to the deceased soldier's family, friends and loved ones.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced to Parliament in early 2020 that the 1 165 SANDF personnel now stationed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be deployed for another year as part of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
In other mainstream news, Briefly News previously reported that an EC mother was arrested for trying to sell newborn twins to feed her drug addiction. The woman had attempted to sell her five-day-old twin daughters and was subsequently arrested in Kariega. Yolisa Mgolodela, Hawks spokesperson, stated that the babies had been found with the 'buyer' in Kariega.
The arrest happened on Thursday, 3 June. Mgolodela stated that they received information about a possible human trafficking incident after the mother was witnessed looking for a buyer for her twins.
Mgolodela said that they followed up on the information received. By the time they tracked her down, she had already given the babies to a prospective buyer, who had been planning to apply for child grants.
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Source: Briefly News
