News South Africa

Makwetla visits troops wounded in CAR

Defence Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla will visit soldiers wounded in the Central African Republic at 1 Military Hospital, in Pretoria, on Thursday (28 March).
Makwetla visits troops wounded in CAR

He would be accompanied by SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief General Solly Shoke, and Surgeon-General Lt-Gen Aubrey Sedibe, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The delegation would visit the 27 wounded SANDF members at 11am, then go to Air Force Base Waterkloof at 2pm for the military receival of the mortal remains of the 13 soldiers killed in the CAR last weekend.

Earlier, the SANDF said a memorial service for those killed would be held at the Thaba Tshwane Town Hall next Tuesday (2 April).

Spokesman Brig-Gen Xolani Mabanga said it was up to the families of the dead soldiers to decide whether they wanted a full military funeral service for their loved ones.

On Wednesday (27 March) he said there was no indication that more South African soldiers were being held in the CAR.

"There are no SANDF troops that have been held captive or as prisoners of war, according to the reports in our disposal," he said.

Mabanga rejected reports that CAR troops attacked and killed SANDF soldiers.

"The SANDF would like to distance itself from such allegations and reports at this stage," he said.

The Times reported on Wednesday (27 March) that the South African soldiers were not shot dead by rebels, but by mutinous government forces revolting against CAR President Francois Bozize.

It said detailed reports emerged on Tuesday (26 March) about how CAR government soldiers carried out and carefully planned attacks on South African troops, who for the past six years had been training and equipping their counterparts.

During media briefings on Monday (25 March), there were conflicting reports about the exact size of the rebel force.

President Jacob Zuma said there were 1,000, while Shoke put the number at 3,000.

Zuma also said the South African government had not decided to withdraw the army from the CAR. When asked on Wednesday about troop movements or withdrawals, Mabanga said: "Nothing has changed".

"The situation [in the CAR] remains calm," he said.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge

Source: I-Net Bridge

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