The recent deaths of the two South Africans killed in Iraq last week brings the number of South Africans killed in Iraq this year to 11.
Foreign Affairs estimates that more than 4 000 South Africans are currently employed in Iraq.
The remains of two South Africans are to arrive at Johannesburg International Airport on Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.
Johan Botha (37) and Louis Campher (43) both employees of Omega Risk Solutions, were killed in an attack on their convey at 6.30am South African time on Tuesday while travelling from one construction sight to another, 11km south of Baghdad.
Omega’s West African and Middle East manager, Cobus de Kock said on Tuesday that Omega protected construction workers rebuilding in war-torn Iraq.
Refusing to say exactly how many South Africans were working for Omega in Iraq, De Kock said it was a ”significant number”.
He said construction workers were regularly attacked by militants and it was their job to protect them. Their specialized vehicles were all unmarked as it was advisable to keep as low a profile in Iraq as possible.
Botha, a former soldier of 121 Battalion in Piet Retief joined Omega on September 15 this year after working for in the security industry in Angola. Campher, a former policeman, joined the company on August 1.
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa could not say at what time they would be arriving. – Sapa