Two South African soldiers were killed and 20 others injured in a mortar attack in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Tuesday, the army said Wednesday.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said the casualties and injuries occurred during a “mortar attack on one of our bases in Sake in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on 25 June.”
“Four members who were critically injured have been hospitalised, whilst the rest who suffered minor injuries are expected to be discharged soon,” the SANDF said in a statement.
Sake is located about 25 kilometres west of Goma in DRC’s restive North Kivu province where troops from the Southern African Development Community are assisting the Kinshasa authorities to fight M23 rebels.
Families of the deceased soldiers have been informed and the repatriation of their remains is in process, SANDF said.
The latest casualties bring to five the number of South African troops killed in DRC since February.
JN/APA