On Sunday Sgt Vusi Mabena, a helicopter Flight Engineer from Pretoria, was tragically killed when his aircraft was hit by in the DRC.
Mabena was a commander in the aviation site of SADF and was in DRC on peace keeping in that country. Who’s interest are SANDF dying for in DRC?
The preliminary assessment suggests that a single bullet reportedly struck both aircrew members from a sniper rifle as they approached a low-altitude ridge.
The Oryx and Rooivalk helicopters have been fired upon while on deployment in the DRC. At least two Oryx have been struck by small weapons fire in the DRC over the past ten years. A Rooivalk once had its tail shot off by one.
Typically, the Oryx helicopters operate with Rooivalk or Mi-24 escorts providing cover, but due to budget cuts and decreased funding, MONUSCO is no longer able to call on attack helicopters to protect them from ground fire.
According to News24, Mabena, who is from Pretoria, did not die instantly but died before they could reach Goma Airport.
Pilot in command, Major Omolemo Matlapeng, was struck in the shoulder by the same bullet and underwent surgery when the chopper landed.
News24 said according to their sources the shot was fired from a from a 7.62 calibre Dragunov sniper rifle.
Eastern DRC is home to multiple armed groups, including the rebel M23 force, that have been fighting a campaign against government troops in recent months.
According to the UN mission known as MONUSCO (UN Stabilization Mission in Congo), the peacekeeping force piloted the Oryx military chopper that was targeted. The attack reportedly occurred after the Oryx helicopter took off from the city of Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to a United Nations incident report, the flight engineer Sergeant Vusi Mabena was wounded in the chest, and the commander Major Omolemo Matlapeng was shot in the shoulder. Mabena died while being transported to the hospital by another Oryx.
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