Lerato Mbhiza
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his profound sadness at the deaths of six soldiers who died in a Northern Cape fire that torched the SA Army Combat Training Centre at the Lohatla Military base on Friday.
Ramaphosa has offered his deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased SANDF members.
The President spokespersonVincent Magwenya, said: “The President wishes the injured SANDF members a speedy and comfortable recovery”.
SA Army’s Major General Rene Mecuur said the soldiers were in the area preparing for a forthcoming army exercise when the tragedy struck. And the troops who died were part of the SANDF members engaged in a military exercise named Vukuhlome. Three other soldiers sustained serious injuries in the runaway veld fire that gutted the military base.
The SANDF confirmed on Saturday that a wildfire that had originated in Khathu in the Gamagara Local Municipality had almost destroyed the military base including equipment and motor vehicles.
The blaze comes weeks after crew members of the SA Navy submarine SAS Manthatisi were swept out to sea and three lives were lost. The submarine had been en route to Cape Town when it was hit by rough waves off Kommetjie.
At around the same time, four soldiers were killed in a vehicle accident on the outskirts of Upington in the Northern Cape.
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