South Africans send condolences as fallen SANDF soldiers return home

South African soldiers captured during a parade .

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Members of the public have sent their words of encouragement and condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some have called for all the soldiers to come back to South Africa.

The mortal remains of the soldiers are expected to be handed over to families at the Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria later on Thursday.

A memorial service for the fallen heroes will also be held at the Air Force base. Eight of the 14 fallen soldiers are from Limpopo.

The soldiers are expected to be laid to rest during the course of the upcoming weekend.

VIDEO | One of the Soweto residents has thanked the soldiers for their service:

Call for unity

Some residents in Limpopo have called for the country to unite as the nation mourns the killing of the soldiers.

On the streets of Polokwane, a resident says the arrival of the remains will enable the bereaved families to have closure.

“We are glad that they are back home from DRC, so let’s not blame each other. In this case, our soldiers were there to fight for peace. When you are a soldier, you either come back alive or dead, that’s all we should expect. We don’t have to blame each other.”

Remembering SANDF fallen soldiers:

Gauteng residents have also honoured the fallen soldiers. One of the Soweto residents says her heart is broken.

“They were serving us and now they are coming back as mortal remains. We are one with their families, their parents. We are really heartbroken. May they come back to be buried and may they rest in peace.”

Some of the residents from North West are calling for all the South African troops to come back home.

” I think that they were there to make peace and failed in their efforts, looking at the way they died. So, let all of them come back home so that we don’t lose any more of them as these 14 soldiers died. They need to come back so that the government re-strategises on other ways to attain peace in DRC.”