A soldier drowned on duty during a flooded border patrol. Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga visited the family of the deceased Corporal T.J. Motsamai after his military vehicle was swept away on Christmas Day in Mpumalanga near Mozambique. The incident, part of Operation Corona, also left a second soldier missing until remains were later found in the Komati River.
The minister offered personal condolences and assured ongoing support, touring the accident site with senior military officials like Lieutenant General Peter Maphaha. Search efforts involved police divers and an air force helicopter, highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by border troops during heavy rains. Psychosocial services have been mobilized for the grieving families and fellow personnel.
This tragedy underscores the severe risks of operating in flood-prone terrain, prompting calls for improved safety protocols during extreme weather. The recovery of the second soldier's body, pending DNA confirmation, brings a grim resolution to the search operation while emphasizing the constant perils of national border security duties.
The minister offered personal condolences and assured ongoing support, touring the accident site with senior military officials like Lieutenant General Peter Maphaha. Search efforts involved police divers and an air force helicopter, highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by border troops during heavy rains. Psychosocial services have been mobilized for the grieving families and fellow personnel.
This tragedy underscores the severe risks of operating in flood-prone terrain, prompting calls for improved safety protocols during extreme weather. The recovery of the second soldier's body, pending DNA confirmation, brings a grim resolution to the search operation while emphasizing the constant perils of national border security duties.
