The South African National Defence Force has announced that the remains of Tebogo Edwin Radebe, who died after an attack by insurgents in Mozambique, would arrive home through the Air Force Base in Waterkloof in Pretoria on Thursday.
Leading the sombre welcoming ceremony would be Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise, who would be joined by defence ministry officials to formally hand over the remains of the soldier to the family at the military procession ceremony, the SANDF said.
Radebe, aged 21, was part of “Operation Vikela” when the soldiers came under attack from the insurgents during an ambush east of Chai village on Monday. He died from his injuries, the SANDF said in a statement.
The SANDF’s Operation Vikela in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province was deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) to help that country control an Islamic insurgent.
The insurgency has killed 3,000 people and displaced over 270,000 since it started four years ago, according to reports.
Radebe, from Paul Roux in Free State province, served as a member of SANDF in Limpopo province, according to the statement.
NM/jn/APA