According to a press statement on the 21 September 2023, an executive officer was killed during a training exercise on Wednesday, 20 September along with Warrant Officer Class one after being swept away by high waves at Coxswain.
A drill exercise hosted by the South African Navy that took place from Friday until Sunday in Cape Town for the heritage celebrations. They were expecting to dock the submarine at the V & A Waterfront where the public would be able to engage and experience how the navy team works. During this exercise 3 people have died, one in critical condition and the others walked away unscathed.
Seven members of the crew were swept off the surfaced submarine by high waves during a vertical replenishment (vertrep) exercise with a Super Lynx helicopter. The vertrep was cancelled immediately, and the navy launched efforts to recover the members. Due to the rough conditions of the sea the operation was affected negatively. It was then that a distress call was made, where the NSRI was dispatched from the Kommetjie.
According to African Defense Review Director Darren Olivier, who has been seen around Cape Town the last couple of days, ‘the present wave conditions are highly unusual and unpredictable.’
Olivier also stated that similar incidents can happen despite the proper precautions being taken to keep sailors safe. He also referred to a similar incident that occurred in 2007 when a United States Navy sailor died after being washed off the deck of a submarine.
The names of the executive officer Lieutenant Commander, Gillian Elizabeth Hector, and the Warrant officer class one, Mmokwapa Lucas Mojela, has been released to the public as of Thursday, 21 September 2023.
“As we mourn those who died, let us also recommit ourselves to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all those who serve in the national defense force. We owe it to them to continuously strive for an optimally resourced force with the highest standards of safety and security to prevent tragedies such as this happening in the future,” the Democratic Alliance shadow defense and military veterans minister Kobus Marais.
The eNCA mentioned that the South African National Defense Union wants an open and transparent inquiry into this tragic incident.
Pikkie Greeff, the National Secretary at the SANDU had the following to say: “I would be quite surprised to hear that protocols weren’t in place, but I think that is something the enquiry would have to look into. Of course, the enquiry would have to determine why the set of circumstances prevailed and what was the cause of it. We would look forward to an open and transparent board of inquiry to set out the facts of what lead to this incident. And, in determining those facts one could determine what factors one needs to take into account to prevent a reoccurrence.” According to Greeff that is the trademark of any good military. It is to learn from your mistakes – if any were made and correct them to keep your forces safe in the future.
People’s responses to this varied on Twitter. Some expressed their condolences to those who have passed while most critiqued the South African Navy, wondering if they were trained properly. Lastly, some stated that the Navy continues to make South Africa proud.
