CISA
PRETORIA, FEBRUARY 13, 2025 (CISA) – Rt Rev Masilo John Selemela, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Pretoria has paid tribute to the 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describing them as “martyrs who had given their own lives in ensuring peace on the continent.”
In a heartfelt interview with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) communication office, Bishop Selemela expressed deep condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and assured them of prayers and support. Speaking following the repatriation process of the soldiers’ remains, the bishop emphasized the nation’s duty to remember and honor their sacrifice.
“My message to the country is that we need to continue praying for our soldiers. These are heroes and heroines who have given their lives not only to preventing war but who have put their own lives on the line to ensure that there is peace,” Bishop Masilo said during the interview on February 8.
The repatriation of the remains of the 14 SANDF soldiers, who were killed between January 23 and 27 during an attack allegedly carried out by M23 fighters in the eastern DRC region, is currently underway. Their arrival in South Africa is expected by February 13. President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his ninth State of the Nation Address (SONA), declared that flags would be flown at half-mast nationwide in their honour.
As part of the tribute, Bishop Masilo announced that parishes across the Archdiocese of Pretoria, which also serves as the Military Ordinariate of South Africa, would commemorate “Security Cluster Day” on February 22. He also revealed that a special memorial mass would be held to pray for the souls of the fallen soldiers, who were part of the 16 SANDF troops deployed in the DRC under the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
“We will continue to encourage our parishes to actively support those in the security cluster, including the military, police, correctional services, and traffic officers who work to maintain safety and peace. Their work fosters harmony and provides confidence in our nation’s security. We will certainly remember them, and a special mass will be celebrated in honour of the repose of their souls,” Bishop Masilo affirmed.
In a separate statement, Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa CMM of the Catholic Diocese of Kokstad and the newly elected Chairperson of the SACBC Department for Catholic Social Action, also conveyed his sympathies, extending “deepest condolences to the families, loved ones, and SANDF soldiers.”
“As the Church, we stand in solidarity with the bereaved families, offering our prayers and pastoral support in this time of mourning. We also call upon our nation to remember them with gratitude and to support their families, just as they supported the cause of peace beyond our borders. May their sacrifice inspire us all to work tirelessly for justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace,” said Bishop Mbuyisa.
The fallen SANDF soldiers, hailed as peacekeepers and defenders of stability, have been remembered with reverence and gratitude by both the Church and the nation. Their dedication to the mission of peace in the DRC stands as a testament to South Africa’s commitment to fostering stability in the region. As the country prepares to receive their remains, prayers and tributes continue to pour in, ensuring that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
