BODIES OF SA SOLDIERS ARRIVE FROM DRCONGO.
The bodies of the six SA National Defence Force soldiers killed last week in the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria on Tuesday afternoon.
The men were killed when the armoured vehicle they were travelling in plunged into Lake Kifu near Goma last Tuesday. They were Sergeant Mashape Maake, 39, Corporal Sello Pilusa, 36, Rifleman Joseph Bauque, 29, Rifleman David Raphasha, 30, Rifleman Mametja Marakalala, 32, and Rifleman Tirhani Rikhotso, 34.
Bauque was based at General Support Base Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The other soldiers were from 7 SA Infantry Battalion in Phalaborwa, Polokwane.
As the sun set at Waterkloof on Tuesday, six coffins draped in South African flags were offloaded from the plane by fellow soldiers, while a guard of honour moved into place between the coffins and the awaiting hearses.
Once the coffins had been offloaded the order to remove hats was given and the coffins were simultaneously loaded into the back of the awaiting hearses. The hearses then departed leaving the soldiers and grieving family members behind on an empty airfield.
The soldiers had all been serving on a peacekeeping mission in the DRC.
SANDF spokesman Colonel Kwena Mangope said it appeared the driver had lost control of the vehicle. "We are not sure what caused him to lose control," he said. Those who died were apparently trapped under water.
Five soldiers who managed to escape from the vehicle were treated for minor wounds and shock.
The SANDF is to appoint a board of inquiry into the causes and circumstances of the accident.
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13 Avril 2004 à 16:16 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
