A heroes welcome was given to the first group of SANDF troops to return home from the DRC when they arrived at the Tempe Military base in Bloemfontein, Free state, in the early hours of Saturday after landing at the Waterkloof military base on Friday night. (Thapelo Morebudi)
“It’s OK, we’re back. I love you. We’re safe. It’s real. We’re here.”
These were some of the words heard the most as colleagues and family welcomed home the returning South Africa troops who had been deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the Sadc Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).
The mission was called off after a disastrous attack by M23 rebels in and around Goma in January, in which 14 South African soldiers were killed.
At about 6am on Saturday, the first batch of South African soldiers returning home arrived by bus at Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein from Pretoria after landing on Friday evening at Waterkloof Air Force Base.
It was an emotional sight as some colleagues and a few family members teared up and hugged their loved ones.
Sgt Motshidisi Mothibeli receives a warm hug from one of her juniors upon returning from the SAMIDRC deployment.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
The moment we landed I cried.
— Sgt Motshidisi Mothibeli
Sgt Motshidisi Mothibeli cried when the plane landed in Pretoria on Friday evening.
“The moment we landed I cried. I'm just glad I'm fine and home. The welcome is so beautiful, and the support is equally beautiful. The fact that we are alive, that's what matters, and we are back with our families. We will never forget what happened to other heroes, but let's celebrate life and be grateful,” she said.
Mothibeli, who has no living family apart from a 24-year-old son, said the moment was overwhelming even for her son, who could not be there.
“My son is not here, he is in Cape Town. He is the only person I am living with right now. I do not have family. My family, all of them, are dead. I wish I could see him, but I know I will see him. I will have to fly to him after all this settles down. He was crying after I landed. It was so sad, but he just told me it's good that I am back because he was stressing about me,” she said.
She plans to surprise him with a visit to Cape Town.
“I am planning not to tell him. At least he knows that I am here, but going to him, I don't want to tell him,” Mothibeli said.
As the returned troops lined up at the base, braving the early morning freezing weather, the chaplain prayed, thanking God for their safe return.
“When the time is right, the Lord will make it happen. Finally, Father God, we are right on your promises, at your own time, at your right time that is appointed by you — here we are, we are receiving the first batch of our heroes, our champions, our soldiers,” the chaplain said.
“I am here, I am real,” another returning soldier said, while hugging a fellow soldier. He added he was happy to be home.
My husband is back!
— Olga Releni
Olga Releni, the wife of one of the returning soldiers, was emotional and excited.
She said she cried when she saw her husband.
“I did cry because it has been so many delays. We have been waiting, trying to find out what was happening,” Releni said.
She had camped at the Tempe military base from Friday midday as she had expected the troops to return then.
She was disappointed at the delay but decided to stay until the soldiers arrived.
“I can't even explain, I don't know what to say,” she said.
“My husband is back. The moment was overwhelming. It did delay, but we had been informed that they would be late. We have been here the whole night waiting for them.”
On what she planned to do with her husband when he got home, she said: “I don't know, I can't say. I am overwhelmed. It's been a long and scary journey, but now he is here, we will take it from there.”
She said the Goma situation was scary for them as a family.
“It was a very scary situation, but we tried being strong and we tried being strong for him because we as a family were together and he was alone. So we tried being strong and holding on for him, “Releni said.
Releni said while her husband was in Goma, they lost communication for about three weeks and “that was very scary”.
She said her children were very anxious.
The fact that her husband returned home alive while other soldiers had returned in body bags meant a lot to her, she said.
“It means very much, I don't have any words, it's overwhelming, we have been waiting.”
She said she was going back to explain to her children about the return of their father.
“I am going back home to explain to them that daddy is here, and after counselling and everything, daddy is coming home,” said Releni.
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Buses carrying the first group of SANDF troops from the SAMIDRC deployment arrived at Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein. (Thapelo Morebudi)
After landing at Waterkloof Air Force Base late on Friday night, the first group of SANDF troops from the SAMIDRC deployment were transported by buses to Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein, arriving in the early hours of the morning. (Thapelo Morebudi)
In the early morning hours, buses loaded with the initial group of SANDF troops from the SAMIDRC deployment arrived at Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein, following their late-night arrival at Waterkloof Air Force Base.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
Buses transporting the first batch of SANDF troops from the SAMIDRC deployment pulled into Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein early Saturday morning, shortly after their late-night arrival at Waterkloof Air Force Base. (Thapelo Morebudi)
Under the cover of darkness, buses filled with SANDF troops from the SAMIDRC mission rolled into Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein, hours after their aircraft touched down at Waterkloof Air Force Base late Friday night. (Thapelo Morebudi)
In the icy early hours of Saturday morning, the first group of SANDF troops returning from the SAMIDRC deployment arrived at Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein. Despite the biting winter chill, fellow soldiers and loved ones stood waiting—some overcome with emotion—to welcome the troops home after their late-night landing at Waterkloof Air Force Base.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
An emotional embrace between Sgt. Motshidisi Mothibeli and her junior marks her return from the SAMIDRC deployment. The SANDF troops arrived at Tempe Military Base, Free State, in the early morning hours following a late-night landing at Waterkloof Military Base.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
Despite the biting cold, emotions ran high at Tempe Military Base as buses carrying SANDF troops from the SAMIDRC deployment rolled in during the early hours of the morning. Fellow soldiers stood with open arms—and tear-filled eyes—welcoming their comrades who landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base late last night.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
Sgt Motshidisi Mothibeli receives a warm hug from one of her juniors upon returning from the SAMIDRC deployment.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
An emotional Olga Releni embraces her husband, one of the SANDF soldiers returning from the SAMIDRC deployment. The troops arrived at Tempe Military Base, Free State, in the early hours following a late-night landing at Waterkloof Air Force Base. (Thapelo Morebudi)
Olga Releni is overjoyed to reunite with her husband after a long wait and months of procedures. Her husband is among the SANDF troops returning from the SAMIDRC deployment, who arrived at Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein during the early hours of the morning after landing at Waterkloof Military Base late last night.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
In the early morning cold of Bloemfontein, the first group of SANDF troops returned from their SAMIDRC deployment to an emotional reception at Tempe Military Base. Having landed at Waterkloof late Friday, the soldiers were met with tears, cheers, and warm embraces from friends who couldn’t hold back their emotions.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
As winter gripped the Free State, buses carrying the first SANDF troops from SAMIDRC pulled into Tempe Military Base in the early hours. Despite the chill, friends and colleagues stood waiting—some in tears—to welcome them home after their Friday night landing at Waterkloof Air Force Base.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
The icy early morning air of Bloemfontein didn’t stop fellow soldiers from showing up in numbers to welcome back the first SANDF group from the SAMIDRC mission. Buses arrived at Tempe Military Base after the troops touched down at Waterkloof late on Friday—marking a proud and emotional return.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
Soldiers returning from the SAMIDRC deployment received a hero’s welcome at Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein early this morning. After landing at Waterkloof Air Force Base on Friday night, they were greeted by friends in uniform who shed tears and stood bravely in the bitter cold to embrace their comrades.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
In the dark, wintry hours of early morning, the first SANDF troops from SAMIDRC arrived at Tempe Military Base. Their arrival—following a late Friday night landing at Waterkloof—sparked tears and emotional reunions as friends in service stood in the cold to give them a hero’s welcome.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
Buses carrying the first wave of SANDF troops from the SAMIDRC deployment arrived at Tempe Military Base before dawn. Despite the piercing winter cold, fellow soldiers waited with tearful eyes and open arms—offering a heartfelt welcome after the group landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base late Friday night.
(Thapelo Morebudi)
SANDF troops are returning home in separate groups from the SAMIDRC deployment. (Thapelo Morebudi)
A soldier who did not want to be named shed tears as she hugged her colleagues, expressing her gratitude for their return.
“We know the feeling of being away from family for a very long time and not even being sure if you are going to come back alive. These people are our heroes, they fought.
She said she was proud of her colleagues who were heroes.
“Now that they are back as much as they are soldiers, they are still human beings, we must nurture them through what they went through. We are overwhelmed that they came back, we are happy,” she said.
Another soldier who was emotional and cried as she embraced her one of her seniors said she was overwhelmed with joy.
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