On Wednesday 14 May 2014, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will hold a parade for SANDF members who will be deploying to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a Republic of South African Contingent to the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB). A parade of this gravity will take place at the Department of Defence Mobilisation Centre in Bloemfontein, at 10h00.
Five South African Infantry Battalion will commence with its deployment to DRC on Friday 16 May 2014 to relieve the currently deployed 6 South African Infantry Battalion (6 SAI), in Goma. This deployment is also for a twelve-month period. The SANDF is confident that this Battalion will achieve the same results as the current deployment in the DRC. 6 SAIBn was one of the most successful deployments of the SANDF in Africa under the UNFlag. The FIB managed, in conjunction and in support of the Armed Forces of the DRC, to stop the M23 Armed Group advancing to Goma and in the process defeated them to force not worthy of being called a threat to the population or to United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO).
The FIB, which is composed of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Malawi and Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF), supports the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo to quell any offensive onslaught against innocent citizens in the eastern DRC. The SANDF has since heeded a call to ensure that a peaceful and secure environment conducive for socio-economic development prevails in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as a better Africa and a better world as a result of South Africa’s contributions to global relations is realised.
You are cordially invited to send a journalist and a photographer/cameraperson to attend the parade as depicted above.
RSVP: Lieutenant Romeo Mabote
012 355 6388/89
Enquiries:
Lieutenant Colonel Piet Paxton
Cell: 083 3999 225
