SA flag to fly at half-mast in honour of fallen SANDF soldiers

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered that the country’s flag be flown at half-mast for a week starting Friday to honour the South African Defence Force members who lost their lives in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is delivering the first State of the Nation Address under a Government of National Unity (GNU).

Ramaphosa began his speech by reading the names of the fallen soldiers.

“We pay tribute and bow our heads to William Eddie Cola, Molahlehi Ishmael Molahlehi, Shwahlane Theophilus Seepe, Matome Justice Malesa,  Rinae Nemavhulani, Itumeleng Macdonald Moreo, Tseke Moffat Molapo, Metse Stansly Raswiswi, Sebatane Richard Chokoe, Derrick Maluleke, Tshidiso Andries Mabele, Calvin Louis Moagi, Mokete Joseph Mobe, Pieter Jacobus Strydom.”

Ramaphosa says the soldiers of the SANDF did not lose their lives in the pursuit of resources, but to silence the guns on the African continent.

“Alongside soldiers from other Southern African countries. They lost their lives in defense of the fundamental rights of the Congolese people, to live in peace and security. They lost their lives not in the pursuit of resources, or territory, or power. They lost their lives so that the guns on our continent may be forever silenced.”