By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier stabbed two colleagues to death at the Macadamia Military Base near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga.
Fullview learnt the soldiers had an altercation in the early hours of Saturday morning (21 June) before the fatal attack.
In a statement, the SANDF said it had, in conjunction with the South African Police Service, launched a full investigation into the matter. “The circumstances surrounding the incident remain the subject of ongoing inquiry, and further details will be communicated once officially verified.”
The SANDF expressed its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. “This is a deeply painful moment for the organisation and the military community at large,” the SANDF stated.
The SANDF initially reported that two soldiers were shot by a colleague who then committed suicide, but subsequently issued a revised statement indicating only two soldiers had been stabbed to death.
The SANDF has withheld their identities and genders in respect of their families.
Meanwhile this week’s presentation of the re-tabled Strategic Plan (2025–2030) and Annual Performance Plan (APP) for 2025/26 to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) revealed the extent to which the military’s strategic ambitions have been curtailed by shrinking budgets, unresolved governance failings and declining combat readiness.
The most significant challenge confronting the DoD is an unsustainable and deteriorating funding model. The Department confirmed that it faces a R41.2 billion shortfall, with its estimated baseline requirement of R98.3 billion far exceeding the allocated R57.2 billion for the 2025/26 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.