Six South African soldiers killed in training camp fire

By : AFP

Date: 7 October 2023 2:06pm WAT

South African National Defence Forces (SNADF) soldiers and South Africa Police Services (SAPS) members line up in front of the Phoenix Police Station in Durban, on July 21, 2021 where a delegation of interfaith leaders led by Bishop Bishop Vusi Dube met with police commanders to demand the police to investigate the killing of over 20 Black South African allegedly at the hands of vigilante groups. - Phoenix is flashpoint town between black South Africans and counterparts of Indian origin where at least 20 people died in the recent wave of violence. Like communities across South Africa, residents of the predominantly ethnic Indian town set up their own protection squads in response to pillaging and arson that broke out days after the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma on July 8th -- overwhelming security forces. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

Six South African soldiers were killed after a fire broke out at an army training centre in the northeast of the country, the military said Saturday.

The South African Army said the fire ripped through one of its training bases on Friday afternoon.

The fire is believed to have spread to the camp area from a nearby mine.
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“It was reported that six soldiers of the South African Army lost their lives during this incident,” the army said in a statement.

Three other military personnel were injured with second-degree burns and taken to a nearby hospital.

The soldiers at the camp were preparing for an annual army excercise.

Firefighters were still at work trying to extinguish the fire, which also destroyed military equipment and vehicles, the army said.

An investigation to determine the cause of the fire has been opened.
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