Hundreds of mourners including South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members are attending the funeral of one of the 14 soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in Limpopo.

The funeral of Rifleman Derrick Maluleke is the first among the fallen soldiers and is taking place at his homestead in Nhlaniki village outside Giyani. He will be laid to rest at the local cemetery.

Others are expected to be buried next weekend.

Maluleke’s family has expressed relief that he is finally being laid to rest and say they appreciate the support they have been receiving from the nation.

Meanwhile, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) has called on government to assist the families of the 14 soldiers to perform traditional rituals. It says when people die in this manner, their family must ensure that their spirits are brought back home to be buried with them.

Chief Lameck Mokoena, CONTRALESA president, elaborates: “CONTRALESA is worried and concerned that families of those fallen heroes, our soldiers who were brutally killed in the DRC, were not allowed or assisted to perform rituals as it is supposed to be. Our culture dictates that if someone passes on or is killed in a very strange way like our soldiers, there are some rituals that had to be performed where their spirits had to be collected or fetched so that they are brought home before they are buried.

CONTRALESA calls upon our government to assist those families whom might want to conduct those rituals so that the spirits of their family members be brought home and buried as well,” says Mokoena.

SANDF Fallen Soldiers | Community braves the rain to bid farewell to Rifleman Derrick Maluleke