Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the families of four members of the South African Defence Forces’ Operation Vala Umgodi who passed away over the weekend.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Tuesday the President’s thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragedy.
“As Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to the families of the victims as well as to their commanders and colleagues,” Magwenya said.
Four soldiers were found dead on Saturday, following a 24-hour shift at a dormant mine shaft in Orkney, outside Klerksdorp in the North West province.
SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said investigations were still ongoing, and the police had been notified about the incident.
“Upon inspection of the scene, all four had died with their rifles on them and their items still with them. The district surgeon was called to the scene and examined the bodies, and confirmed no injuries,” Dlamini said.
Preliminary reports suggest possible carbon-dioxide poisoning as the cause of death, caused by the fire made by the soldiers to keep themselves warm.
Operation Vala Umgodi has cracked down on illegal mining activity in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni; arresting 29 suspects and seizing mining paraphernalia including spades, gas cylinders, crush pots, gold-bearing material and liquor.
Police spokesperson Neldah Sekgobela said police in Ekurhuleni remained steadfast in disrupting the levels of illegal mining in the district.
The recently launched national multidisciplinary operation was formed as part of the government’s efforts to destabilise the scourge of illicit mining across the country, and has led to hundreds of arrests and the seizure of dozens of mining equipment and weapons.
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