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Two soldiers who were patrolling near the military base in Komatipoort as part of Operation Corona were swept away while crossing a flooded bridge in their vehicle, the SANDF has confirmed.
Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images
Two South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers were swept away by a strong river current on Christmas Day after attempting to cross a flooded bridge while conducting border patrols near the Macadamia military base in Mpumalanga.
According to the SANDF, the soldiers were patrolling near the military base in Komatipoort as part of Operation Corona, whose aim is to protect the country’s borders.
The military vehicle carrying members of the SANDF Military Police attempting to cross a river.
“While conducting routine patrol duties, a military vehicle carrying members of the SANDF Military Police attempted to cross a river that had been heavily flooded due to recent weather conditions. During this operation, two SANDF members were swept away by the strong current of the flooded river,” the SANDF said in a statement.
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“Tragically, the body of one SANDF member has since been recovered. The second member remains missing.”
A search and rescue operation by the police’s diving rescue team, guided by a SANDF Oryx helicopter, is under way for the missing soldier.
“The rescue mission remains ongoing, and all efforts are being made to locate the member as quickly as possible.
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga; her deputies, Bantu Holomisa and Richard Hlophe; Secretary for Defence Thobekile Gamede; and the chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, conveyed their condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased soldiers.
