The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has dispelled claims that its Oryx helicopters were abandoned in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reaffirming that these aircraft are being maintained according to technical and safety requirements.

This after media reports stated that five of the military’s Oryx helicopters were likely to remain permanently stranded in the DRC, owing to an alleged lack of funds to replace the engines of two of the five helicopters.

Furthermore, it was claimed that there were no spare engines available to cannibalise from other helicopters.

The SANDF said such allegations were misleading and did not reflect the actual condition or status of the SANDF aircraft.

It explained that out of the three helicopters reported, only one sustained damage during the United Nations peacekeeping military operations last year, and it would undergo repairs.

The other helicopters were operational and remained under the strict control of the SANDF, it said.

South African soldiers were stationed in the DRC when they formed part of Southern African Development Community and the United Nations peacekeeping deployments, and were unceremoniously evacuated from the country earlier this year.