President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his profound sadness at the the deaths of six soldiers who died in a Northern Cape fire.
This comes after a blaze that struck the SA Army Combat Training Centre at the Lohatla military base on Friday.
Strong winds fanned the flames which led to the entire camp, vehicles, shelter and personal belongings being destroyed.
The troops were part of a military exercise named Vukuhlome.
The names of the perished soldiers are: Staff Sergeant Abraham Morajane, Staff Sergeant Sipho Cele, Corporal Sithembiso Ndwalane, Corporal Noxolo Ngubane, Lance Corporal Prince Mthethwa and Lance Corporal Londiwe Zulu.
Three soldiers who remain in hospital suffered severe burns.
The SA Army Media Statement || Sunday, 08 October 2023 || The SA Army releases the names of the departed warriors who were victims of the fire that ripped across the Combat Training Centre on Friday, 06 October 2023.
Media Statement by SA Army.#SANDF#SAArmy#RIPSASoldiers pic.twitter.com/4PvL5TWQzI
— SA National Defence Force (@SANDF_ZA) October 8, 2023
“The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) announced on Saturday that a wildfire that had originated in Khathu in the Gamagara Local Municipality had reached the military base where six soldiers died in the blaze while three were injured and the army lost equipment including vehicles,” said the Presidency on Sunday.
President Ramaphosa has since offered his deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased SANDF members.
“The President wishes the injured SANDF members a speedy and comfortable recovery and his thoughts are with survivors who witnessed this tragedy,” said the Presidency.
Defence Union, SANDU, has also expressed its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.
The Union says a Board of Inquiry will be convened by the SANDF to determine among other things, the circumstances leading to the loss of personnel & equipment as well as the value of the equipment losses (which by social media footage seem substantial).
Meanwhile, Gift of the Givers teams are preparing an aid package in response to requests from the SANDF to assist their members who lost “everything” in the devastating fire.
Gift of the Givers Founder Imtiaz Sooliman:
“Gift of the Givers received an urgent call yesterday afternoon for urgent assistance for 13 000 who lost all their personal belonging in the devasting fire at the Lohatla Combat Training Centre in Postmasburg. The request for clothing includes underwear, hygiene packs, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, facecloths, hand towels, sanitary pads, energy drinks and blankets. Gift of the Givers team is loading our truck in Johannesburg with the items requested whilst team members are sourcing additional supplies from wholesalers this morning and will be en route to Kuruman today.”
Six members of the South African National Defence Force die in a veld fire at Lohatla SA Army Combat Training Centre https://t.co/9Qt7skq387…… #ArriveAlive #VeldFire pic.twitter.com/sammCKqp1u
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 7, 2023
