SANDU: Returning soldiers need long-term psychological care
The South African National Defence Union says soldiers returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo will need long-term psychological support.
The first group of South African National Defence Force troops arrived in Pretoria on Friday night.
They were due to land at the AirForce base in Bloemfontein at noon, but Defence Minister Angie Motshekga said logisticalissues had delayed their flight home.
The soldiers were deployed to eastern DRC as part of a SADC peacekeeping mission.
The bloc earlier this year took a decision to withdraw its troops after a number of soldiers, including 14 SANDF members, were killed during clashes with M23 rebels in January.
"The union is going to push very hard for it, that this psychological help that these soldiers are getting, it's not just a one or two-day thing. It's going to have to be in intense, it’s going to have to be continuous, and we are going to monitor that," said the defence union’s secretary Pikkie Greeff.
READ: Phased approach to SA troops return from DRC peace mission
"Typically, there would be some psychologists and working with the troops for a day or two, assessing every individual.
"They will be then sent on leave after deployment so that they can be with their families who we believe also need psychological help for the trauma that they've been through as families," Greeff added.
He said the troops are also not happy about the treatment they received while in the DRC.
"Where a problem was pointed out, they were told to keep quiet, even if the problem was solved in the end. It took months, for instance, to just get them proper accommodation.
"Some of those troops had to pay for their own tents. It's completely ridiculous. It's unacceptable," said Greeff
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