Durban – The South African National Defence Force have confirmed that the member who was shot and killed by her boyfriend in Eastern Democratic of the Congo will receive a full military funeral on Saturday.

SANDF spokesperson Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi, said Private Nomathemba Ngeleka, 27, would be buried at KwaNzimakwe Village, KwaWhoza Community District on the South Coast in KwaZulu-Natal.

Ngeleka, who had joined the SA army in 2011 and was based at 5 South African Infantry Battalion (5 SAI) in Ladysmith, was killed on the 27th of October in the DRC by a man she had been in a relationship with for five years.

Her boyfriend then allegedly turned the firearm on himself in an attempt to commit suicide, but survived. He is fighting for his life in a DRC hospital.

Mgobozi said the funeral service would be held at Xhunywa Primary School at 9am.

“Pte Ngeleka will be accorded a full military funeral which will take place at her family grave site at KwaNzimakwe Village directly after the service,” said Mgobozi.

Mgobozi said the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Hon Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the Secretary for Defence, Dr Sam Gulube and the Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Solly Shoke had all expressed their heartfelt condolences to the Ngeleka family, friends and loved ones.