Six soldiers killed in military camp fire tragedy

Six South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers perished on Friday, October 6 in a fire tragedy that swept through Lohatla training centre in the Northern Cape.

Three other soldiers were seriously injured in the fire that broke out at about 13.45 from a border of a mine and spread to the training SANDF area.

“It was reported that six soldiers of the South African army lost their lives during this incident, and three [who] were injured with second degree burns [have] been evacuated to the nearest hospital,” Major General René Mercuur reported in a statement.

General René further explained that several security vehicles, foodstuffs and equipment were destroyed during the fire incident.

SANDF has disclosed that it was still working with teams from the firefighting department to extinguish the fire as investigations are launched into the cause of the fire.

Several vehicles were destroyed in a fire that killed six soldiers at Lohatla training centre. Photo: News24

“The fire brigade are doing everything in their power to extinguish the fire which has resulted in the destruction of camping equipment and vehicles,” read part of SANDF statement.

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise extended her condolences to the families of the six soldiers who lost their lives.

The fire tragedy comes weeks after three South Africa Navy military personnel died when a submarine SAS Manthatisi was swept out of the sea.

The Navy officers were in the submarine en route to Cape Town when it was hit by rough waves off Kommetjie.

In a separate incident, four soldiers were killed in a road accident on the outskirts of Upington in the Northern Cape.

According to Mercuur, the army had been deployed in the area in preparation for the annual South Africa army Exercise Vuk’uhlome.

Defence analyst Dean Wingrin explained that the accidents involving military officers in the country should be thoroughly investigated to avoid similar occurrences in future.

“Obviously, the defence force has to train to keep its staff upskilled as they progress to more senior ranks.”

“For all of this, the navy needs time at sea, the air force needs time to fly and the army needs to conduct operations and training exercises. For all of this, you need a budget,” Wingrin told News24.

Wingrin explained that budgetary allocations for the defence forces in South Africa has been declining in the last 10 years.

“For example, with the vehicle deaths, were the SANDF vehicles maintained? We all know that military vehicles operate in harsh conditions. They get abused and require regular servicing,” he added.