Two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) died on Friday afternoon, 7 February, when the SANDF truck they were traveling in, overturned on the R31 road between Koopmansfontein and Delportshoop.
The Samil truck was traveling with 19 members of the SANDF from the Lohatla Military base to Kimberley, says Lt. Col Sergio Kock, police spokesperson.
In the incident, two SANDF members – a male and female – died on the scene and 17 others were injured. They were transported to hospital for medical treatment.
The identities of the deceased are not yet released as the next of kin must first be informed.
Kock says the truck was traveling in rainy conditions when the accident occurred.
The police are investigating a culpable homicide case, and the cause of the accident forms part of the police investigation.
- In the meantime, the SANDF confirmed in a media statement on Friday afternoon, 7 February, that the repatriation of its deceased members from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is underway, following delays.
The movement is conducted by the United Nations (UN).
It is suspected that the remains of the deceased will arrive on Saturday at the UN Logistics Base in Entebbe, Uganda, said Siphiwe Dlamini, communication head of the department.
From Uganda, the bodies will be prepared for transportation by air to South Africa.
The SANDF earlier stated that 14 SANDF soldiers died during a battle with M23 rebels in the eastern DRC. Three Malawians and one Tanzanian were also killed.
The 18 soldiers were apparently killed in fighting near Goma, the provincial capital, between 23 and 27 January, reports stated.
Of the 14 soldiers, Private Pieter Jacobus Strydom (34) was from Kimberley where he was stationed at the Army Support Base (ASB). He was deployed to the DRC as a chef. He joined the SANDF in 2013.
