ANA reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) on Wednesday honoured soldiers who had died during worldwide United Nations peacekeeping operations since 2003.  

The event took place at the Department of Defence mobilisation centre in Bloemfontein and was planned to coincide with observance of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.  While family members bowed their heads and cried, the names of the dead soldiers were read aloud.  Following the naming of the fallen, single roses were laid in memory of each soldier.  SANDF military commander, General Solly Shoke, and other dignitaries, laid wreaths of remembrance at the centre's memorial wall.  The wall holds the names of the 55 South African soldiers who died during peacekeeping operations since 2003.  According to the United Nations, SA was the 11th largest contributor to peacekeeping troops in Africa and the 17th largest in the world, with 1,231 troops deployed between the DRC, Sudan and South Sudan.

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