The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has noted media reports with reference to the injured members of the SANDF and would like to state that there is no member of the SANDF that is killed or seriously injured in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as reported.
The SANDF wants to state it on record that on Saturday 24 August 2013 there were clashes between the M23 rebels and FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo).
During these clashes it happened that a mortar bomb fell close to the base where the SANDF members and Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF) members, as part of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) is located. The FIB members suffered minor injuries from shrapnel or splinters from the bombs causing minor injuries to one SANDF member and two TPDF members.
The reports of four or ten SANDF members injured or killed are dismissed with the contempt that they deserve. This is just mere propaganda and psychological warfare from the rebel forces who want to portray their so called success against the DRC government troops and the FIB and the contrary is true.
According to our latest reports the combined force that is the South African National Defence Force and the Tanzanian Peoples Defence Force attacked M23 positions and one South African National Defence Force member suffered minor injuries. The South African National Defence Force intends holding a media briefing to update the public about the SANDF participation as Force Intervention Brigade.
