Second group of SA troops returning home from DRC to arrive on Sunday
The second group of South African soldiers returning home after being deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the Sadc peacekeeping mission is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed.
They are scheduled to land at Air Force Base Waterkloof between 3pm and 5pm while a third group is expected to return on Monday afternoon.
The SANDF said, the returning troops would undergo the standard demobilisation programme, which includes health screenings, psychological support and reunification services.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
'Bark stripping' for traditional medicine: SANParks fights back
Environmental authorities are stepping up measures to halt the damaging practice of illegal bark stripping – an activity that has been threatening centuries-old indigenous trees within the Table Mountain National Park. The unsustainable practice of bark stripping involves removing bark from around the entire trunk (also called ring barking ), which ends up killing the tree. The bark is used in traditional healing practices, and can fetch up to R200 per piece. 'Bark stripping' not only destroys ancient, seed-bearing trees but also disrupts the forest's natural ability to regenerate. To help prevent further destruction, South African National Parks (SANParks) has begun applying grey water-based PVA paint to the trunks of at-risk trees. This non-toxic coating discourages bark collectors by making the bark undesirable for traditional use. At the same time, over 50 indigenous saplings – including species such as Cape Beech, Cape Holly, and Wild Almond – are being planted along the Woodcutters Trail at Newlands Forest. In July 2024, SANParks, in partnership with the Cape Research Centre and Biodiversity Special Project, launched a seedling programme funded by the French Government and Agence Francaise de Developpement. Seeds were carefully collected and grown to seedling and sapling stage. 'The rehabilitation initiative is necessary due to the effects of illegal and unsustainable bark stripping that has occurred in the forest,' SANParks said in a statement. 'The strategy includes intelligence gathering, law enforcement actions, and proactive solutions such as painting of mature trees, seed collection and planting of trees in affected areas.' SANParks are also working with traditional healers to create awareness and find a sustainable solution. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
SA Navy concludes World Hydrography Day with a commitment to maritime cooperation
Navy chiefs unite for maritime security at World Hydrography Day celebrations Image: SANDF/South African Navy The South African Navy has wrapped up its celebrations for World Hydrography Day in East London, marking a week of public engagements, ship tours, panel discussions, and ceremonial events. Central to these festivities was showcasing hydrography's vital role in maritime safety, environmental protection, and sustainable economic growth, all under the theme 'Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action.' A key highlight was the Declaration of Intent, signed by 15 naval chiefs across Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, and South Africa, outlining 11 shared maritime priorities to bolster security and cooperation. Throughout the week, naval vessels docked at the Port of East London, allowing residents to explore the Navy's technical capabilities firsthand. The programme also included a panel discussion and hydrography lecture at the Premier Hotel ICC, followed by a cocktail event and book launch aboard the SAS Amatola. During the cocktail reception, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the South African Navy, emphasised hydrography's critical importance across various sectors. 'Hydrography plays a foundational role in our maritime security and economic activities. As a nation bordered by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, South Africa depends heavily on its Navy to facilitate trade, defend our sovereignty, monitor maritime borders, and manage ocean resources. 'Hydrography enables safe navigation, supports search and rescue operations, and helps us better understand our vast oceanic territories.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He further explained that accurate hydrographic data is essential for determining secure shipping routes and combating maritime threats such as piracy and illicit fishing, especially as global sea traffic has increased by 74% year-on-year due to instability in the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Highlighting the broader strategic context, Vice Admiral Lobese noted that hydrography is an international obligation and a key driver of the blue economy, Africa's ocean-based economic development. The Navy also used the occasion to share outcomes from the 5th Sea Power for Africa Symposium, a high-level gathering of naval chiefs, academics, and maritime security experts from over 30 countries. As the continent's only Pan-African maritime forum, the symposium addressed pressing issues such as resilience in security strategies and responses to hotspots, including the Red Sea. A significant outcome of the symposium was the signing of the Declaration of Intent, a commitment by 15 African naval chiefs to prioritise 11 shared maritime objectives, fostering greater security and cooperation across the continent. Vice Admiral Lobese described this as a renewed commitment to collaborative progress, with plans to review developments at the next Sea Power symposium. The event also featured the launch of a new publication, which compiles 15 papers from the symposium. 'The publication was inspired by Nelson Mandela's words describing the sea as 'a vital national interest,' said Vice Admiral Lobese.
The South African
12 hours ago
- The South African
12-hour power outage to impact this part of Cape Town on Thursday
The City of Cape Town electricity and generation teams will implement a 12-hour power outage to maintain essential electricity infrastructure in Lwandle, Strand. The maintenance work will be carried out from 6:00 to 18:00 on Thursday, 26 June, if all goes to plan, resulting in electricity supply interruptions. The City of Cape Town said it is important to note that interruptions to the electricity supply will only impact the highlighted area on the maps and only on the relevant date. To view the area outage map, you can visit: Similarly, Eskom will also implement a seven-hour power outage to maintain essential electricity infrastructure in Atlantis on Thursday, 26 June from 8:30 to 16:00. To view the area outage map, you can visit: Moreover, the City of Cape Town has warned that electricity supply could be restored at any time and urged customers to treat all electrical installations as live for the full duration of the planned maintenance work. 'Residents are encouraged to switch off appliances as a precaution and to avoid damage caused by power surges when the power comes back on. 'The City of Cape Town apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks residents for their cooperation and understanding,' the metro municipality said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
