Some More on the 10 A/A Accident in SA

[sabadgeman]

Soldier's dreams die as battle goes wrong
15 October 2007, 11:16

A desire to escape a life of dire poverty led Thapelo Nkwana, 21, to join the army in January. On Friday, he was one of nine soldiers who died in the horror anti-aircraft gun accident in the Northern Cape.

Nkwana, of Atteridgeville here, joined the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) so he could support his mother and help his family, his brother, Vincent, said.

The family were devastated by his death.

"Thapelo was religious and loved going to church. He didn't want to join the army, but did so because of poverty and because he could not find a job."

Nkwana had dreamed of becoming an engineer and would have turned 22 in two weeks. The last time his family heard from him was when he sent an SMS saying he was well and was going to be taking part in the exercise.

He was one of the eight soldiers who died on the scene at the combat training centre at Lohatla when a twin-barrelled anti-aircraft gun malfunctioned and began firing wildly as the annual Exercise Seboka, involving close to 5 000 defence force members, got under way.

A ninth soldier, a woman, died in hospital and 15 others were wounded.

The nine were among 25 members of 10 Air Defence Artillery Regiment in Kimberley taking part in the military's annual battle-readiness training exercise. This year, it involved 5 000 members of the air force, military health services, navy and army.

It is believed that a computer glitch caused the 35mm MK5 anti-aircraft cannon to go awry, firing hundreds of 500g high-explosive shells.

Nkwana and Mabopane-born gunners Samuel Nyembe, 22, and Botse Seipato, 21, were among the first to be cut down as they tried to seek cover.

It is understood that gunner Rhulani Mtilenim, 23, tried to shut down the gun, but a shell struck her in the chest.

As the gun emptied its twin 250-round auto-loader magazines, it killed John Bezuidenhout, 30, from Upington and a staff sergeant, bombardier Khangeziwe Malaza, 24, of Tembisa, and gunners Emmah Mthimunye, 20, of Mpumalanga, Sebenzile Nhlabathi, 20, of Ladysmith, and Rudzani Siphuma, 21, of Soweto.

The wounded were flown to three Military and Pelonomi hospitals in Bloemfontein. Spokesperson Nico Allie said their conditions were satisfactory.

A board of inquiry had been appointed, he said.

Star

[Hannibal]

My prayers are with the families. Unbelieveable.

[Woodmonkey]

Prayers out for them and their families. How tragic.