SABC News has reliably learnt that the repatriation of 14 South African National Defence Forces (SANDF) is underway.
The troops, who were part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the United Nations mission MONUSCO, died in Congo as the M23 movement captured the city of Goma and other areas.
South African authorities have been working with the United Nations to facilitate the process. They are likely to be flown from Uganda to South Africa.
The repatriation process has been delicate and led by the United Nations. They are expected to fly from Uganda to South Africa.
The joint SADC-East African Community Summit kicked off in Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam. The ministers of the two blocs and other prominent leaders are clear that the Eastern parts of Congo deserve long-lasting peace.
The meeting of SADC and EAC leaders is being treated with the sensitivity it deserves, says SABC Correspondent Lukando Issac.
He says to get Rwandan president Paul Kagame to meet up with rival leader Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in one room, proved to be a very difficult task.
Both leaders were involved in a bloody battle that saw many troops including the SANDF, losing their lives and some injured.
The DRC is a member of both the SADC and Eastern African Community while Rwanda is a member of EAC.
Both SADC and EAC have initiated separate mediation efforts.
The Nairobi Peace Process and Luanda Peace Process are some of the peace processes to find everlasting peace in the DRC.
The SADC says that this meeting must lead to positive results for the Congolese people who have been suffering. The East African community body says the blocs are determined to work together to tackle the Congo crisis.
Meanwhile, the heads of state from SADC and the East African community will attend the session on Saturday.
