Army unions demand an investigation

[sabadgeman]

Further to my Virtual Arlington thread on this tragedy

Army unions demand an investigation
13 October 2007, 15:36

The Defence Ministry must probe the Lohatla accident which left 9 soldiers dead and 15 critically injured, the country's two defence unions said on Saturday.

"There are a number of questions that must be answered," said SA Security Forces' Union deputy president Charles Jacobs.

He said "fully transparent" ministerial inquiry was needed to establish not only the cause, but how so many soldiers could have been killed and injured.

"By nature of their job soldiers can be exposed to these incidents, but now a reality check is needed," added SA National Defence Union general secretary Pikkie Greeff.

"We are demanding a thorough investigation that should be broadened to issues of negligence, manufacturer, age and maintenance of the weapon."

It was premature to suggest that what had happened was an accident, said Greeff.

The investigation needed to look at not only the cause of the incident, but deficiencies in the military, he said.

Nine SA National Defence Force soldiers died on Friday when an 35mm MK5 Anti-Aircraft Gun went "haywire" while being operated by a female troop during a routine exercise at the Lohatla training ground in the Northern Cape.

The incident coincided with an SANDU march to parliament to demand among others, that Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota recognise the union, salary increments and improved working conditions.

SABC radio news reported on Saturday that the injured troops were operated on overnight and remained in critical conditions in Pelonomi Hospital, in Bloemfontein.

Hospital staff refused to speak about anything related to the soldiers and referred all queries to the SANDF.

It was understood that the SANDF intended releasing the names of the soldiers who died sometime on Saturday afternoon, once their next-of-kin had been informed. -

Mercury