Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

The nine artillery soldiers killed by a haywire gun at Lohatla were on Wednesday hailed as heroes and heroines by South Africa's Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.

Lekota told a memorial service in their honour in Kimberley the five men and four women had fallen in defence of South Africa's hard-won democracy and for those democracies outside its borders.

"We have lost a part of ourselves in the department of defence," Lekota said.

The minister said the department honoured the contribution the nine had made to ensure the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was combat-ready to defend democratic freedom in Africa.

The families of eight of the victims were flown in from Waterkloof air base in Pretoria with various senior military staff from SANDF headquarters.

SANDF spokeswoman Major Lize Jansen van Rensburg said the families were financially helped to travel to Pretoria.

"Some came from Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng."

She said the families were helped with accommodation on Tuesday night and were flown by the South African Air Force to Kimberley on Wednesday morning.

The memorial service was led by Chaplain-General Werner Cornelissen of the SANDF at the Alexanderfontein Church.

Addressing members of 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, who packed the church, Lekota said he was humbled by young men and women who joined the force voluntarily to create better conditions for all in South Africa and its neighbours.

"They will defend this in any way possible... "

Lekota said South African soldiers had been busy with peace and stability tasks in many African countries the past 13 years. This was dangerous and hard work.

"Our members are conscious they might not come back alive."

He said mistakes could happen in their line of work and lead to the death of others.

Lekota told the victims' families the reasons for the accident were still unknown, adding that he was sorry.

The minister again expressed the Department of Defence's condolences with the families and said they would be assisted to work through the trauma.

"You are not alone in your grief. When you join the army you belong not only to your family but to the country."

Lekota also assured the injured that their futures in the government were secure.

Fifteen soldiers were injured in the accident during the country's annual conventional military exercise, Exercise Seboka, on October 12.

A 35mm MK35 anti-aircraft gun started shooting wildly and out of control.

South Africa's first lady Zanele Mbeki, who comforted family members after the memorial service, arrived with Lekota.

Also in attendance were SA National Defence Force chief General Godfrey Ngwenya, army chief General Solly Chauke and other senior military staff. Members of the parliamentary portfolio committee on defence were also present.

Messages of condolences from Northern Cape Premier Dipuo Peters and Sol Plaatjie municipality mayor Patrick Lenyebi were read out.