MEDIA RELEASE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE MEMBERS
INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT
Date of release 02 December 2010
The Department of Defence (DOD) confirms that
in the afternoon on Wednesday, 01 December 2010,
twelve (12) members of the South African Air
Force`s 506 Protection Squadron based at Air
Force Base Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein, were
involved in a vehicle accident ten (10)
kilometres outside of Estcourt, KwaZulu Natal.
These members were on official duty from
Bloemfontein to Durban when the accident
occurred. The cause of the accident has not yet
been established and will form part of the
investigation that will look into the sequence
of events that led to the accident.
Of the twelve members who were involved in
the accident, there were three fatalities, four
members are still in a critical condition, two
are stable and three have been discharged. The
other five (05) members have been hospitalised.
Nedcare 911 Emergency Services provided support
at the scene of the accident and transported
patients to various hospitals depending on the
seriousness of the injuries. Names of the
deceased members will be released after their
next of kin have been informed.
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans,
the honourable Lindiwe Sisulu, the acting Chief
of the South African National Defence Force,
Lieutenant General Themba Matanzima and Chief of
the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General
Carlo Gagiano have expressed their heartfelt
condolences to families and friends of the
deceased as well as to families and friends of
those injured in the accident. The DOD wishes
them a full and speedy recovery.
Ends.
Issued by: Defence
Corporate Communication
(Defence Media Liaison Pretoria
Enquiries: Mr Siphiwe
Dlamini
Head of Communication
083 645 4294
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