A soldier was killed after rollover accident of the Ratel ZT3 wheeled combat vehicle between Bloemfontein and Edenburg.
The South African Defense Force (SANDF) spokesperson Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi confirms that at about 07:30 am on Wednesday 06 February, a Ratel ZT3 wheeled combat vehicle from 1 Special Service Battalion at Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein lost control and overturned with 5 crew members on board.
The Ratel ZT3 was part of a military convoy heading to Cape Town in preparation for Armed Forces Day parade to be held on 21 February 2019.
Healthcare practitioners who were part of the convoy stabilised the injured members on the scene and evacuated them to 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein.
Unfortunately, one crew member succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and SANDF chief, General Solly Shoke, conveyed their condolences to the family, loved ones and colleagues of the deceased and wished the injured soldiers a speedy recovery.
The name of the deceased will be released once the next of kin has been informed.
The other four crew members are in a stable condition at 3 Military Hospital.
Ratel ZT3 is an advanced variant of basis Ratel combat vehicle while equipped with ZT3 Ingwe anti-tank guided missiles.
Free State – N1 Route (Update): SANDF Vehicle #CRASH between Bloemfontein and Edenburg – one lane open, contra-flow in operation pic.twitter.com/w1hxnhqgQ7
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) 6 February 2019