Fallen soldiers: Families want to fetch spirits in DRC

CALLS mount for government to help families of soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The 14 South African Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers were killed following a confrontation with the M23 rebel group and their remains were handed over to their families at Air Force Base Swartkop in Tshwane on Thursday, 13 February.

The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) and Funeral Industry Reformed Association (Fira) called on government to help the soldiers' families who are interested in fetching the spirits of their loved ones from the DRC.

Contralesa president Chief Lameck Mokena said they're concerned that the families were not allowed and helped to fetch the spirits of their loved ones.

Mokoena expressed this while one of the killed soldiers, Rifleman Derrick Maluleke (36) was being laid to rest at his homestead in Nhlanike Village in Giyani, Limpopo on Sunday, 16 February.

"Our culture dictates that if some is killed or dies in a strange way like our soldiers, there are some rituals that need to be performed where their spirits should be fetched so that they're brought home before their remains are buried.

"We call on government to help the families who might want to conduct these rituals so that the spirits of their family members are brought home and also buried," said Mokoena.

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Fira expressed concern that government has overlooked the cultural and traditional needs of the soldiers' families.

Fira chairman Johan Rousseau pointed out that delays in the process, especially with possible decomposition, have robbed families of the chance to perform essential rituals.

"It's crucial to understand that there are different customs for natural and unnatural deaths," he said.

Rousseau also highlighted that neither funeral associations nor Contralesa were consulted about the funeral procedures.

He questioned whether government has provided the families with sufficient trauma support or helped with funeral arrangements such as providing tombstones to help ease their grief.

"I don't know if they've done anything to address the cultural and religious needs of the families," he said.

Responding to the calls, SANDF head of communications Simphiwe Dlamini said they haven't received any formal requests from the soldiers' families.

"We have not had families of the soldiers come forward to formally request government in this regard. We just heard comment from the public. We do appreciate the traditions of the individuals and how they want their loved ones to be buried, but it's going to be difficult to engage in that regard because there's a war going on in the DRC.

"We would not want to take the families to the DRC when a war is going on. There's a lot of fighting going on in that region," said Dlamini.