By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A runaway veld fire that swept through the South African Army’s Combat Training Centre (CTC) at Lohatla claimed the lives of soldiers, and injured several others, on Friday afternoon.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Northern Cape Cooperative Governance spokesperson, Tshenolo Meruti says the raging fire is still dangerous and they have called for intervention from the National Disaster Management Centre.
Meruti says, “Our disaster unit has escalated the matter to the head of the National Disaster Management Centre for their intervention. The South African National Defence Force activated their own choppers to extinguish the fire. The Fire Protection Association will work closely with them. We will monitor the situation and activate NDMC at their request if they require additional support.”
“We have sadly learned of casualties and severely injured. We will provide more information as it comes in.”
The blaze can be seen on social media videos showing multiple military vehicles on fire, as well as tents and other equipment.
This latest incident comes after the SANDF lost seven soldiers last month, after three SA Navy submariners died during a naval exercise off Kommetjie, in the Western Cape.
While four soldiers were killed in Upington in a freak Samil 50 truck accident in the same week.
This brings the death toll to 12 soldiers lost in the past 3 weeks alone.
The latest deadly incidents has put the spotlight on the safety of the SANDF.
SANDF spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini said the fire with a windspeed of 70 kilometres per hour came from a nearby mine spreading to the training centre.
“The incident happened during the preparations of the forth-coming SA Army Vukuhlome Exercise, causing damage to the equipment that had been assembled at the training centre.
“The number of casualties and injured is yet to be determined, as well as the cause of fire. The Chief of the South African Army is on site to personally take charge of the situation.” Dlamini said.
Lohatla is home to the SA Army Combat Training Centre, a facility that hosts wargames and training exercises.
SA Army Media Statement, 07 October 2023 || Incident involving a fire breakout that ripped through the SA Army Combat Training Centre, Northern Cape Province.
Media Statement by SA Army.#SANDF#SAArmy#RIPSASoldiers pic.twitter.com/piHfKFMKDC— SA National Defence Force (@SANDF_ZA) October 7, 2023
The South African National Defence Union (Sandu) spokesperson Pikkie Greef on behalf of the union, expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.
Greef said a board of inquiry will be convened by the SANDF to investigate the incident.
“It will 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)”
Sandu encourages SANDF members partaking in the exercise at Lohatla to stand strong and expresses the union’s support and appreciation for the members’ service to South Africa,” Greef said.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the nation’s armed forces, President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his profound sadness at the the deaths of soldiers who died in a Northern Cape fire.
The troops, according to the Presidency, were part of a military exercise named Vukuhlome.
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.