Following the death of three SA Navy submariners, the South African Mini-Naval Festival has been cancelled. The festival was set to take place over the long weekend at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Three South African submariners died on Wednesday when seven crew members were swept off the submarine deck by strong waves. SANDF said five other mariners were rescued and rushed to hospital.
THE TRAGEDY
In a statement, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) identified the deceased who lost their lives in submarine SAS Manthatisi in Kommetjie, as Lieutenant Commander Gillian Elizabeth Hector (Executive Officer) who became the first woman to navigate a submarine in South Africa, Master Warrant Officer William Masela Mathipa (Coxswain) and Warrant Officer Class One Mmokwapa Lucas Mojela (Coxswain under training). According to the department, the incident took place on Wednesday when an Air Force Lynx helicopter was attempting to transfer supplies of the SAS Manthatisi submarine.
ALL WAS IN ORDER
In a media briefing Flag Officer Fleet, Rear Admiral Musawenkosi Nkomonde emphasised that all safety measures were taken by crew members and all procedures were followed prior to the incident. In terms of safety, no navy vessel or submarine leaves the harbour without a crew who is trained. This vessel, the crew and the captain are all trained. "All the safety precautions were taken and the vessel was certified to go to sea by our own certification entity, which we call operational sea training," Nkomonde said.
CONDOLENCES
The Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese said he was devastated by the loss and was in a process of catching an early flight back to SA from Newport, Rhode Island. I'm struggling to comprehend the magnitude of this loss, as I spent time with the OC [Officer Commanding], XO [Executive Officer] and Coxswain just last Wednesday. They were so proud to inform me about their readiness to proceed to the Waterfront for the Mini Navy Festival and that they would conduct several evolutions en-route. We laughed and shook hands, and I wished them a safe journey, never thinking that this tragedy would occur." He extended his condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased. "This is so very sad, not only for the families, but also for the Submarine Service, the South African Navy and South Africa in general. I am heartbroken and devastated by what happened. Also allow me to extend my gratitude to the crews of the SAS Manthatisi and the maritime Lynx helicopter, emergency workers, as well as the members of the National Sea Rescue Institute, for their heroic rescue efforts. Without them, this terrible incident would have been much worse," Lobese added.
