PICS: Four SANDF members die in road accident in Northern Cape

Four SANDF members die in road accident in Northern Cape. Picture Supplied.

Four SANDF members die in road accident in Northern Cape. Picture Supplied.

Published Sep 21, 2023

Share

Another tragedy has hit the South African Defence Force (SANDF) after four of its members died during an accident in the semi-arid Northern Cape on Thursday afternoon.

The four members were from the 8 Sai (8th South African Infantry) Battalion in Upington and they were on their way to an exercise of the army in the town of Lohatla.

The army accident near Upington. Picture: Supplied

The exercise is called Vukuhlome and it involves several battalions of the SANDF. The accident happened around 1pm.

IOL learnt through sources within the army that two other SANDF personnel were critically injured during the accident.

— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) September 21, 2023

During the same accident, nine other members of the army were also slightly injured and they were transferred to Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington.

According to an internal memo from the army about the accident, one of the military trucks broke down and it had to be towed by another one.

While being towed, the military truck at the back had a tyre bust, causing both trucks to roll. During the rolling, the army officers were ejected and some were crushed by their truck and died on the scene.

One of the two military trucks involved in the accident. Picture: Supplied

The accident comes a day after a marine tragedy off the Western Cape coast claimed the lives of three SA Navy crew members while others were evacuated.

The SANDF confirmed the incident via a statement and said families of the deceased have been notified of the incident.

sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za

IOL Politics