Emotions ran high when fallen United Nations peacekeepers were commemorated and honoured at De Brug military headquarters in Bloemfontein on Thursday.
The commemoration ceremony, hosted by the South African National Defence Force, is in line with worldwide observance of the annual International Peacekeepers Day, which takes place on the 29 of May every year.
United Nations peacekeepers play a vital role in maintaining and promoting peace in some of the world’s most challenging environments and the 29 of May is the day on which their dedication, bravery and sacrifice are honoured.
The first United Nations peace-keeping mission was embarked upon in the Middle East in 1948 and since then two million men and women have served in these peace-keeping missions in various parts of the world.
This year’s commemoration theme is “Review and Adapt UN peacekeeping to meet the needs of the 21st Century.”
The theme highlights the evolving role of peacekeepers in fostering sustainable peace and security in conflict-ridden regions.
Family members of soldiers who died in January this year while on duty in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the hands of the M23 rebels layed wreaths next to the names of their kinsmen on the memorial wall.
Families of other soldiers who died a few years ago during skirmishes in other parts of the African continent also layed wreaths next to the names of their departed family members on the memorial wall.
They cried uncontrollably as the pain of losing their loved ones is still fresh to them though some of their relatives passed away some ten years ago or so.
Boniwe Mobe from Botshabelo township in Bloemfontein, whose husband died on January 2025 during a skirmish with M23 rebels, told Tshwane Talks that she was pleased by the commemoration ceremony and literally felt at home as Bloemfontein is the hometown of his late husband.
“It’s very tough for me and our kid but we have all the support we need from the SANDF; there are social workers, chaplains calling and psychologists so emotionally we are sorted,” said Mobe.
She revealed that her husband was a kind, loving person and that he was a great footballer and actually played soccer in his spare time while in the DRC.
She said she is unemployed and her husband was the bread winner, but be that as it may, she is trying to live without her husband.
She revealed that her daughter would like to follow in her father’s footsteps and join the SANDF when she is old enough to do so.
Eddie Geswindt, who also lost his nephew William Cola in the skirmish against M23 in the DRC, said the fallen soldiers did their job well and stood up for the country and that their names deserve to be on the memorial wall.
Geswindt said he will always remember his nephew.
Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga said it is very emotional for her to see young kids who have lost their fathers and expressed sorrow for older women who had expected their kids to bury them in the future but are instead the ones who have buried their kids and today they are laying wreaths next to their names on the memorial wall.
“This is a day which invokes patriotism, we are part of this continent and we are part of this country, I am because you are, we must respect the flag and acknowledge those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and the majority of them were very young,” said Motshekga.
“It is only when there is peace that human development can come into play, and this is the day whereby we need to make a commitment and say if we understand the nexus between peace and development then we must cherish the peace-keeping efforts of the fallen youngsters,” said SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya in his address to the families if the deceased soldiers.
“This day is a reminder to all of us that nations can’t protect their citizens on their own but need collective effort from entities like the United Nations peacekeepers to bring peace and solutions wherever there are challenges,” said General Maphwanya.
He said the aim of the United Nations peacekeepers is to help those who can’t help themselves and the efforts that our people are making is to reach out to those who are in need and take them to a place where it is relatively calm so that sustainable development can be realised.
Copy of a speech by Chief SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya during the commemoration of the United Nations Peacekeepers International Day