STATEMENT BY SA NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE (SANDF) HEADQUARTERS PRETORIA: SHOOTING INCIDENT AT TEMPE MILITARY BASE BLOEMFONTEIN

Date of Release: 05 October 2006
Embargo : None

The South African National Defence Force regrets to announce that two soldiers and the wife of a soldier were today killed in a shooting incident at Tempe Military Base, Bloemfontein. A third soldier involved in the incident has been admitted to the Medi City clinic in Bloemfontein and is undergoing emergency surgery, his condition is critical.

The circumstances that lead to this incident are not known. The Chief of the SA Army Lieutenant General Solly Shoke has launched an urgent investigation, which will run concurrently with the SA Police Service investigation into the shooting incident.

The names of the deceased will be released once their next of kin have been informed.

The Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, the Chief of the SANDF, General Godfrey Ngwenya and the Secretary for Defence, Mr January Masilela regret the incident and extend their sincerest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

ENDS
Issued by : SANDF Headquarters
Private Bag X161
Pretoria
0001

Telephone : (012) 355 6302 or 072 538 6888
Inquiries : Brigadier General Kwena Mangope