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12 October 2007

On Friday, 12 October, the usual hustle and bustle of our national life was shattered by the shocking news of the tragic loss of the lives of our youthful troops while on exercise Seboka at Lohatla Combat Training Centre, in the Northern Cape. It is, therefore, with a deep sense of loss that I share the circumstances of this tragedy with House.

1. Background

1.1. Corps training is conducted at different corps training schools. On completion of corps training companies, batteries and squadrons are allocated to operational units.
1.2. Operational units conduct training at their units and at the Combat Training Centre (CTC).
1.3. On 10 September 2007, 10 Air Defence Artillery (ADA) Regiment arrived at the Combat Training Centre (CTC) Lohatla and commenced corps training (using dry firing only).
1.4. On 27 September 2007 the Regiment joined other corps for integrated training.
1.5. On 11 October Battery 101 (the unit which was affected) prepared for firing exercise the following day. The equipment to be used was 35 millimetres Mark V (Five) Guns. The Mark V Gun has two barrels that fire high explosives and practice ammunition. Each magazine can be loaded with 137 rounds each. The exercise was to be conducted using eight guns in all.
1.6. On 10 October, two days before the accident, Battery 102 had done the same exercise and all eight guns had successfully fired between 500 and 800 rounds each.

2. What happened?

2.1. At 7h00 Friday, 12 October 2007, 101 Battery commenced with their firing exercise with Captain Mpele as the Safety Officer. Captain Mpele is an experienced officer in these matters.
2.2. All the eight guns were facing in the same direction and were positioned 20 metres apart for instructional purposes. The gun that caused the incident was on the far right.
2.3. On this day it was the first time live ammunition was to be used.
2.4. Only ground targets of between 1 500 and 2 000 metres away were to be hit.
2.5. The gun can be set on "manual" or "electric" firing mode. On this day they were set on manual.
2.6. When on manual the guns are sighted on target and thereafter the barrel clamped into position.
2.7. When firing in electric mode, safety boundaries are computerised and the barrels are not clamped but move within the boundaries set in advance.
2.8. A gun crew consists of four members.

2.9 Commencement of firing

2.9.1. As all guns commenced firing, the gun on the far right-hand side had a stoppage. Technicians repaired this gun while other guns continued firing. This is a normal drill.
2.9.2. When the gunners continued firing (after the gun was fixed) it swung completely to the left and one barrel fired off a burst of between 15 and 20 shots in under a second.
2.9.3. The first gun immediately to the left was hit. This fatal burst then killed or injured members of all gunners to the left.
2.9.4. The total number of fatalities is nine.
2.9.5. The total number of injured people is 15 bringing the total number of people affected to twenty-four (24).

3. Sequence of events

3.1. Casevac drills (evacuation of the injured) commenced after the incident.
3.2. Incident reports were forwarded to the Defence Headquarters.
3.3. Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) Air Defence Artillery (ADA) formation immediately left Army Planning Session at 08h00 for Lohatla.
3.4. Chaplains from Pretoria were sent to visit injured in hospitals in Bloemfontein.
3.5. Chief of Army sent Major Geneneral Nkabinde to Combat Training Centre (CTC) and Bloemfontein to get first-hand information.
3.6. Combat Training Centre (CTC) established a nodal point with Chaplains and Chief of Services and Army Head Quarters placed Brigadier General in the Operations room in addition to duty officer.
3.7. Air Defence Artillery (ADA) formation Chaplain in conjunction with Combat Training Centre (CTC) Chaplain arranged for next of kin to be informed. This was completed by Saturday evening.

4. Condolences

4.1. On behalf of the Ministry and the Department of Defence I would like to express our sincere shock at what happened. We do, accept, however, that soldiering is a highly dangerous vocation and that care is taken at all times to avoid such incidents.
4.2. We sincerely regret the loss of life and the injuries and we wish to pass our deepest condolences to the affected families.
4.3. I can confirm that all the affected families have been informed and that the department is doing everything possible to assist the families to go through this trauma.
4.4. A memorial service will be held in Kimberley next Wednesday, 24 October 2007, in the morning.
4.5. High-ranking officials from the Department of Defence will attend. Next-of-kin will be taken to Lohatla to visit the site of the incident after which they will depart.
4.6. Separate full military funerals for the nine deceased soldiers will take place from this Saturday. However most of the deceased will be buried next Saturday.

5. Conclusion

5.1. The SANDF has also dispatched Chaplains to the areas so that they can assist to help the affected members.
5.2. Training is continuing at the Combat Training Centre (CTC).
5.3. Investigations as to the cause of the accident are being conducted by the South African Police Services assisted by forensic experts.
5.4. Over and above this, the SANDF will carry out a Board of Inquiry (BOI) into the matter. The Chief Army has already appointed a retired general to head the Board of Inquiry (BOI).
5.5. The ADA Formation has commenced with its own investigation that will be used to supplement the board of inquiry instituted by C Army.
5.6. The results of the investigation will be made public, as soon as is possible after the investigation has been completed.
5.7. We have observed that some persons have been pronouncing on the cause of the accident as early as now. I would appeal, firstly to the media to avoid speculative reports on the causes of the accident. Secondly, I appeal to the public, especially those whose loved ones were deceased or injured in the incident to ignore these speculations.
5.8. There has been an outpouring public sympathy and support from people of all walks of life. This fervour of patriotism is very highly appreciated by the Government, the National Defence Force (NDF) and the people of South Africa.
5.9. Chief of the Defence Reserve Forces, Major Geneneral Roy Anderson, in his capacity as the Patron of the Gunners, has set up a fund already that is aimed at assisting with the necessary logistics

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Defence
12 October 2007