SANDF member who died in DRC last month laid to rest

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Captain Simon Mkhulu Bobe, a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) member who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last month has been laid to rest in his hometown of Kimberley. Bode and his colleague Lance Corporal Irven Thabang Semono died when a mortar landed inside their base in the DRC, three others were wounded.

The soldiers were part of the 2900 troops deployed in the DRC by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to help fight rebel groups in the DRC’s eastern region.

DRC Attack | Two SANDF soldiers killed, three wounded in mortar explosion: 

Mourners described the 35-year-old Captain as a disciplined and compassionate person. His brother, Bonga Bobe says the family has been robbed of someone who was full of life.

“As a family, we feel saddened by his death, as hurtful as it is but each and every day we are trying to keep strong and celebrate his life because at the end of the day, we cannot mourn forever. But what we do rather, let us celebrate having had the opportunity of living with him.”

A Major General of the SANDF, Edward Mulaudzi, who attended the funeral of Bobe, described him as someone who was determined and had a lot to offer to the force.

Major General Mulaudzi says Bobe was an ambitious young man.

“He just joined in 2011 and after joining, you could see how determined he was. Immediately after two years, he was a leader already. Now it was just his 13th year and there is a lot that we were expecting from this young man.”

SANDF member killed in DRC laid to rest: