SA soldiers drown in DRC

Two South African soldiers have drowned in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Defence Minister Charles Nqakula announced on Wednesday.

His office said preliminary reports indicated the two were in a Mamba vehicle with five other soldiers when it fell into a river near Kitchanga on Tuesday.

The bridge the vehicle was crossing collapsed.

“Five of the seven soldiers managed to swim to safety, but unfortunately two others were trapped in the vehicle,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The remains of the two soldiers had since been recovered.

Their names would be released once their next-of-kin had been informed.

The ministry said South African National Defence Force chief General Godfrey Ngwenya had ordered the convening of a board of inquiry to investigate the incident.

Nqakula and Ngwenya extended their sympathies and condolences to the soldiers’ families.—Sapa