South Africa, DRC ties 'remain strong' despite chopper attack, says presidency

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “remain strong” despite a South African soldier being killed when an Oryx helicopter came under fire in Goma, DRC, on Sunday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa met his counterpart Felix Tshisekedi at the former's official residence in Genadendal in the Western Cape on Tuesday after the pair attended the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed the visit.

“They met over lunch. The relationship between the two countries remains strong and they both remain committed to fighting against illegal incursions by M23 rebels under the banner of Monusco (UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo),” said Magwenya.

TimesLIVE Premium reported that a South African Air Force Oryx helicopter flight engineer was killed and the pilot seriously injured when rebel forces opened fire on them.

The two and the aircraft’s co-pilot were taking part in an operation in the country, where thousands of South African soldiers are deployed as part of a UN peacekeeping mission. The three are believed to be from 15 Squadron in Durban. Their identities are being withheld to ensure their families have been informed.

The UN said the three took off from Beni in eastern DRC before coming under attack.