Lohatlha (B10)

Name: Lohatlha


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Historic fact:
The SANDF on Sunday named all the victims of the accident at the Lohatlha battle school, in which nine soldiers died when an anti-aircraft gun went "haywire" during a training exercise.

Four of the soldiers were women.

They were named as Bombardier Khangeziwe Lephunah Malaza, 24; Gunner Emmah Thembekile Mthimunye, 20; Gunner Rhulani Mihloti Mtileni, 23 and Gunner Sebenzile Veronica Nhlabathi, 20.

The other soldiers killed were Staff Sergeant John Bezuidenhoudt, 30; Gunner Thapelo James Nkwana, 21; Gunner Sammuel Sphiwe Nyembe, 22; Gunner Botse Seipato, 21 and Gunner Rudzani Christopher Siphuma, 21.

All of the soldiers were members of 10 Air Defence Artillery Regiment, in Kimberly.

SANDF spokesperson Brigadier-General Kwena Mangope said the Department of Defence was to begin with the process of liaising with the families of the deceased to discuss funeral arrangements.

Meanwhile, five soldiers injured in the accident were in a "satisfactory" condition at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

SANDF headquarters said another two soldiers seriously hurt in the incident were also in a satisfactory condition at 3 Military Hospital, in Bloemfontein.

Seven troops, who were slightly injured, had been treated at the sickbay at the SA Army Combat Training Centre in Lohatlha, said Mangope.


Other interesting info:

Where to stay:Situated at Lohatlha in the Northern Cape, this military training institution was founded on 15 January 1978. Initially known as the South African Army Battle School, it was later renamed and became known as the South African Army Combat Training Centre. Lt Gen G.L. Ramano officially unveiled the new name on October 24, 2000.

The development of the SA Army Combat Training Centre originated due to a need by the Department of Defence for a military training facility where conventional and integrated training on divisional level could be executed. Combined practical training is a requisite to all armies worldwide. The development of such a training facility presented the South African Government with the ability to ensure a well-trained South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

The SA Army Combat Training Centre is unique in the sense that it is one of ten similar institutions in the world that provide exclusive and permanent facilities for landward warfare training. Only two of these institutions are located in the Southern hemisphere, of which the SA Army Combat Training Centre is the largest, 158 000 hectares in comparison to other training facilities in the Southern hemisphere. Other similar institutions are situated in the Mojave Desert in the United States of America, the Negev Desert in Israel, as well as Canada, France, India, Australia and Pakistan.

The training terrain were developed and adapted, to accommodate specific requirements of different army units to achieve training aims in the execution of modern mobile combat exercises. The key to these successes lies in our facilities, technology and quality of training.

"SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM" remains the motto of the SA Army Combat Training Centre. Translated it means "If you want peace - prepare for war", a very befitting description that captures the essence of this military training institution situated in the middle of the Kalahari region in the Northern Cape.

http://www.actc.army.mil.za/

Whether the SA military needs R 51 Billion Rand (2010 budget) only Pravin can answer.