Deceased soldiers named

2009-12-03 13:54

Johannesburg - The defence ministry on Thursday released the names of the members who were killed in an accident on the N3 in the Free State last week.

The eight soldiers killed were members of 1 Medical Battalion Group of the SA Military Health Service and were travelling from Pretoria to their unit in Durban when the accident happened.

Those killed are Staff Sergeant Moferefere Maseme, 46, from Newlands East, Sergeant Thulisiwe Sitshele, 31, from Lamontville, Sergeant Cynthia Nsele, 31, from Kranskop and Corporal Zinhle Mbhele, 28, from Isipingo.

The others are Private Gladness Msomi, 33, from Chesterville, Private Mziwenkosi Wellington Nxele, 26, from Donnybrook, Private Sindiswa Cytronella Mkhize, 35, from Clayfied Phoenix and Private Noncebo Angel Ngcobo, 30.

Funeral arrangements

The department also announced funeral arrangements for the members. Non-military funerals would be held at different places on Saturday, December 5.

This would include funerals for Sergeant Sitshele at Harding Cemetery, Sergeant Nsele at the Inkandla Cemetery and Corporal Mbhelengo at the Adams Mission Cemetery.

Private Msomi would be buried at the Chesterville Cemetery and Private Nxele at the Ixopo Cemetery.

Funerals with full military honours would be held for Private Mkhize, Staff-sergeant Maseme and Private Ngcobo on Sunday, December 6, at the Chesterville Cemetery.

It would follow a church service at the Durban Light Infantry Hall in Greyville.

The department also announced that a memorial service for all the deceased SA National Defence Force members would be held at St Anne's Catholic Church, Sydenham in Durban on Thursday.

The memorial service would be attended by Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thabang Makwetla.

- SAPA