President Cyril Ramaphosa also honored the fallen soldiers while delivering the first State of the Nation Address under the Government of National Unity.

In a solemn gesture, President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered that the South African national flag be flown at half-mast for seven days in honor of the South African Defence Force members who lost their lives in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement on X, the President announced that the directive, which takes effect on Friday, February 7, 2025, comes as the nation mourns the “tragic and devastating loss of 14 South African soldiers who were part of a mission to bring peace to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

A statement from the presidency on X reiterated the directive, stating, “President @CyrilRamaphosa has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations around the country for a period of seven days from today, Friday 7 February 2025.”

President Ramaphosa also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers while delivering the first State of the Nation Address under the Government of National Unity in Pretoria on Thursday evening in Cape Town.