Dead SA peacekeeper named

File picture - A handout picture released by the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur shows one of the UNAMID vehicles caught in a recent ambush.

File picture - A handout picture released by the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur shows one of the UNAMID vehicles caught in a recent ambush.

Published Oct 18, 2012

Share

 A South African peace-keeper killed in an ambush in North Dafur, Sudan, was named as Private Vincent Mthuthuzeli van der Walt on Thursday.

Two others wounded in the attack were Corporal Kabelo Ronald Sebe and Private Thabiso Sydwell, the SA National Defence Force said.

Spokesman Brigadier Xolani Mabanga said in a statement: “The minister of defence and military veterans, chief of the SANDF and chief of joint operations extend their sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased and wish the injured members a speedy recovery.”

The department of international relations condemned the attack and appealed to the Sudanese government to probe the ambush.

“These brave South Africans were serving as part of the African Union/United Nations (Unamid) peacekeeping mission in Sudan,” spokesman Clayson Monyela said in a statement.

He said it was disturbing that the South African peace-keepers had come under fire while on their way to investigate a spate of attacks in Darfur's Hashaba North district.

Monyela said according to the Unamid Force commander a Unamid-integrated assessment mission consisting of 16 vehicles, on route to Hashaba North, was ambushed by unidentified attackers.

On Wednesday, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon demanded an investigation into the killings.

“The secretary-general urges the government of the Sudan to conduct a full investigation and to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he was quoted saying in a statement. - Sapa

Related Topics: