The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) commenced the phased withdrawal of its personnel and equipment from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) this week, but for one South African father, whose son paid the ultimate price, the withdrawal comes too little, too late.
The withdrawal started a little more than three months to the day after the Sadc Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) forces in the region received a bloody nose from M23 rebel forces allegedly combined with some Rwandan soldiers.
This is the second time — after the withdrawal from Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province — that the collective regional Sadc forces had to withdraw without accomplishing their objectives.
The SANDF was originally deployed in December 2023 to lead a Sadc military mission to eastern DRC to replace the UN’s Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (Monusco) whose mandate was ending after a 20-year deployment. The SANDF deployment was expected to work with the DRC national security forces to fight the M23 rebels.
But a lack of planning and air support put the South African contingent squarely in harm’s way, with 14 SANDF soldiers being killed in action. These deaths now seem to have been in vain.
Pieter Strydom jnr, who worked in Sake base as a chef, lost his life in a mortar attack on January 24. He is one of the 14 South African soldiers who were killed as part of a peacekeeping force in the war-torn country.
His father, Pieter Strydom snr, is a brokenhearted man.
“We are deeply disappointed. Our son begged the SANDF to send him home. He went to the psychologist and the social worker, but nothing helped. They forced him to remain on this so-called peacekeeping mission,” Strydom snr said on Friday.
“When we heard that the withdrawal had started I could not help thinking it was too little, too late for my son. It breaks my heart knowing Pieter could have almost been on his way home to us.”
Strydom feels that Pieter jnr and his colleagues were let down by the SANDF.
“They did not have the necessary support. There were problems with ammunition, some days they did not have food and when they did get food, the quality was bad. They sent my son and the sons of others into a brutal situation without the backup they needed.”
According to SANDF spokesperson Rear-Admiral Prince Tshabalala, the “phased withdrawal” started on Wednesday, April 29.
“The withdrawal is informed by the directive issued by the Southern African Development Community — Sadc — Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government , held virtually on March 13 2025,” Tshabalala said.
The summit, along with subsequent meetings of Sadc defence ministers and the chiefs of defence forces of the SAMIDRC troop-contributing countries (TCCs), endorsed the SAMIDRC withdrawal plan via road through Rwanda and Tanzania.
“A reconnaissance mission which included representatives from Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania and the Sadc secretariat was conducted from April 14 to 19 2025 to assess and confirm the withdrawal route from Goma through Rwanda to Chato in the Tanzania, towards the respective TCC home countries.”
“This plan will ensure the safe and efficient return of personnel and assets. The withdrawal will take place in phases, and the SANDF will provide regular updates to the public regarding the safe return of our soldiers to South Africa,” Tshabalala said.
A South African soldier based in Goma in the DRC confirmed the start of withdrawal to TimesLIVE Premium on Wednesday.
“Some equipment from our Sake base is being moved to Tanzania through Rwanda this morning,” the soldier told TimesLIVE Premium.
“There’s a truck arriving now at our base which I believe will leave on Thursday with some of the heavy equipment.”
The soldiers themselves are ready to return to the home of braaivleis and early autumn sunshine.
“Our pax lists are prepared, but they don’t want us to know who’s moving when. They give very little info,” the soldier said.
On Thursday the soldier said the withdrawal has started to pick up speed.
“The heavy equipment has been loaded on the trucks, the 35mm air defence gun is being prepared for loading as we speak. They may leave any time, but I believe it will be tomorrow,” the soldier said.
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