SA soldiers missing at sea after training

Exercise Welwitchia, a month-long training of southern African military special forces in desert warfare and anti-piracy operations, went wrong on Sunday night (6 October). Disaster struck when troops were practising beaching high-powered speed boats in rough sea conditions at Sandwich Harbour in Walvis Bay.

At least two special forces operators are believed to have been injured.

SA Navy spokesman Captain Zamo Sithole said one of the boats transporting troops towards the beach was swamped by a wave and capsized as it performed a power turn.

"Another boat capsized as its crew and the soldiers on board tried to rescue their compatriots who had been flung into the water.

"Eleven of the 16 soldiers managed to swim to shore, and two others were rescued by Angolan boat crew. The dead Malawian soldier washed ashore, and two South African soldiers are still missing.

"A rescue operation, involving sea, air and land units, is under way and will continue, depending on the state of the sea," Sithole said.

Source: The Times via I-Net Bridge