Five soldiers killed in runaway fire at SANDF centre

The fire broke out on Friday killing four men and one woman.

Several personnel were also injured in the fire.

The blaze can be seen on social media videos showing multiple military vehicles on fire, as well as tents and other equipment.

This latest incident comes after the SANDF lost seven soldiers last month, after three SA Navy submariners died during a naval exercise off Kommetjie, in the Western Cape.

While four soldiers were killed in Upington in a freak Samil 50 truck accident in the same week.

This brings the death toll to 12 soldiers lost in the past 3 weeks alone.

The latest deadly incidents has put the spotlight on the safety of the SANDF.

"A Board of Inquiry will be convened by the SANDF to determine among other things, the circumstances leading to the loss

of personnel & equipment as well as the value of the equipment losses." said SANDU National Secretary, Pikkie Greeff

"SANDU encourages SANDF members partaking in the exercise at Lohatla to stand strong and expresses the union’s

support and appreciation for the members’ service to South Africa."

SANDF spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini said the fire with a windspeed of 70 kilometres per hour came from a nearby

mine spreading to the training centre.

"The incident happened during the preparations of the forth-coming SA Army Vukuhlome Exercise, causing damage to the equipment that had been assembled at the training centre.

"The number of casualties and injured is yet to be determined, as well as the cause of fire. The Chief of the South African Army is on site to personally take charge of the situation." Dlamini said.

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