Latest news with #PrinceTshabalala
SowetanLIVE
4 days ago
- SowetanLIVE
Demobilisation programme instituted as second SANDF group returns from DRC
A second batch of 257 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers arrived at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria on Sunday after the termination of the Sadc Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). A third flight is expected on Monday. A chartered Air Tanzania Boeing 787 landed in Pretoria late on Sunday afternoon after flying from the SAMIDRC staging ground in Tanzania. The troops on board were due to make their way to Bloemfontein for demobilisation, either by bus or on the SA Air Force's single airworthy C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The SANDF in a statement said the phased return is part of the SANDF's planned withdrawal from the mission area. 'Upon their return, the troops will undergo the standard demobilisation programme, which includes health screenings, psychological support, and reunification services.' The first 249 troops arrived on Friday evening. They were supposed to fly to Bloemfontein but as ground handling support was not in place, they were flown to Waterkloof and bussed overnight to Bloemfontein. The SANDF said it expected the return of remaining troops to be better co-ordinated. Director of defence corporate communication Rear Adm (JG) Prince Tshabalala, acknowledged concerns over Friday's delayed flight, saying its six-hour-plus delay was due to a last-minute aircraft change by Air Tanzania, which was beyond the control of the SANDF. The airline 'only notified the SANDF at a very late stage that they were experiencing challenges with passenger stairways, therefore opted to land in a bigger airport. To compound this, the SANDF was only informed shortly when the soldiers were en route about the aircraft that it could not land at Bram Fischer International Airport due to its size.' The Sadc is organising logistics around the return of SAMIDRC troops, including those from the other two troop contributing countries (Malawi and Tanzania). 'We remain committed to ensuring that all returning soldiers are welcomed home with dignity and that all future logistical arrangements are as seamless as possible,' Tshabalala said.
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Demobilisation programme instituted as second SANDF group returns from DRC
A second batch of 257 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers arrived at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria on Sunday after the termination of the Sadc Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). A third flight is expected on Monday. A chartered Air Tanzania Boeing 787 landed in Pretoria late on Sunday afternoon after flying from the SAMIDRC staging ground in Tanzania. The troops on board were due to make their way to Bloemfontein for demobilisation, either by bus or on the SA Air Force's single airworthy C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The SANDF in a statement said the phased return is part of the SANDF's planned withdrawal from the mission area. 'Upon their return, the troops will undergo the standard demobilisation programme, which includes health screenings, psychological support, and reunification services.' The first 249 troops arrived on Friday evening. They were supposed to fly to Bloemfontein but as ground handling support was not in place, they were flown to Waterkloof and bussed overnight to Bloemfontein. The SANDF said it expected the return of remaining troops to be better co-ordinated. Director of defence corporate communication Rear Adm (JG) Prince Tshabalala, acknowledged concerns over Friday's delayed flight, saying its six-hour-plus delay was due to a last-minute aircraft change by Air Tanzania, which was beyond the control of the SANDF. The airline 'only notified the SANDF at a very late stage that they were experiencing challenges with passenger stairways, therefore opted to land in a bigger airport. To compound this, the SANDF was only informed shortly when the soldiers were en route about the aircraft that it could not land at Bram Fischer International Airport due to its size.' The Sadc is organising logistics around the return of SAMIDRC troops, including those from the other two troop contributing countries (Malawi and Tanzania). 'We remain committed to ensuring that all returning soldiers are welcomed home with dignity and that all future logistical arrangements are as seamless as possible,' Tshabalala said.
Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
SANDF top brass welcome home second group of soldiers from DRC deployment
PRETORIA - Scenes of jubilation played out at the Waterkloof air force base in Pretoria on Sunday evening as SANDF troops touched down on home soil for the first time since their 2023 deployment in the war-torn eastern DRC. This is the second group to return home in as many days. They were part of a peacekeeping mission commissioned by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2023. Earlier this year, a decision was taken to withdraw all SAMIDRC troops after a ceasefire was brokered between the Congolese government and M23 rebels. Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, was among officials at the national key point welcoming the troops back. SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala said that the soldiers would now make their way to Bloemfontein for a demobilisation process. "This is a military command counsel, this is the leadership of the SANDF illustrating their commitment to supporting soldiers. In fact, I had one solider tell me he is looking forward a warm South African meal, so that's the true spirit we are seeing today."
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Hundreds of SANDF troops returning from DRC set to land at Air Force Base Waterkloof
A second contingent of 257 South African troops are set to land at the Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria on Sunday. Image: Phando Jikelo / Independent Newspapers A second contingent of 257 South African troops coming from a mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is set to arrive at the Air Force Base Waterkloof in Tshwane on Sunday. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) announced the upcoming arrival of the second group of soldiers returning from the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC). 'This group is scheduled to land at Air Force Base Waterkloof on Sunday, 15 June 2025, between 3pm and 5pm,' said SANDF spokesperson, Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. A third group is also expected to return to South Africa on Monday afternoon. 'This phased return is part of the SANDF's planned withdrawal from the mission area. Upon their return, the troops will undergo the standard demobilisation programme, which includes health screenings, psychological support, and reunification services,' said Tshabalala. On Friday night, IOL reported that videos shared by the defence ministry showed soldiers in uniform dancing and chanting on arrival at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, welcomed by airbase staff with cheers and fist-bumps. 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 ✕ The troops were deployed under a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission sent to the war-torn country in December 2023 to help restore peace and security in the region. But the SADC said in March it would end its military mission in the mineral-rich area after 17 of its soldiers were killed. AFP reported that earlier this year, fighting in the region erupted once more when the Rwandan-backed M23 force seized large swathes of DRC's north and south Kivu provinces -- both of which border Rwanda. Last month, Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya provided clarity on the phased withdrawal. Maphwanya explained that the movement of personnel and logistics started on April 29, 2025, with the departure of the first group from eastern DRC via road through Rwanda to Tanzania. He reassured the nation that most logistical equipment will be transported by sea from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, to South Africa. IOL News
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
SANDF says troops returning from DRC to undergo demobilisation process
JOHANNESBURG - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said troops returning from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would undergo a four-day demobilisation process to help them reintegrate into society. The first group of 249 personnel landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base outside Pretoria on Friday, following a six-hour delay. ALSO READ: - Officials confident all SANDF troops deployed to DRC will be back home by end of June - First flight carrying 249 SANDF troops from DRC arrives in SA - SA blames SADC for the delayed return of 249 SANDF troops from Tanzania They had been deployed to Goma since December 2023 as part of a regional peacekeeping mission in the conflict-ridden North Kivu province. As the troops disembarked from the Tanzanian aircraft, they broke out in song, a moment of emotion and relief following months of battle with M23 rebels in eastern DRC. Their return follows a ceasefire agreement reached between the M23 and the DRC military during a summit in Tanzania in March. Fourteen South African soldiers lost their lives during the deployment. "The South African National Defence Force troops that have just come back from southeast DRC. They are in a very, very good, high spirit," said SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala. "We have seen them on visual search, having enjoyment and singing songs of enjoyment. It's an atmosphere of jubilation, if I can put it that way, in a nutshell." The remainder of the deployed army personnel are expected to return home by the end of June.
