Iraq: SA man's death confirmed
2004-04-29 15:23
Pretoria - The department of foreign affairs has confirmed that a fifth South African has been killed in Iraq.
"The South African diplomatic mission in Kuwait has confirmed the death of yet another South African in the ongoing conflict in Iraq," the department said in a statement.
"The deceased was killed, today, Thursday 29 April 2004, and thus bringing to five the total number of South Africans killed to date in Iraq.
"The name of the deceased cannot be released to the public at this stage, as the department of foreign affairs must still inform the next of kin. The government extends its heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved family," the department added.
Reports from Basra, in southern Iraq, said a civilian, believed to be South African, was killed in a drive-by shooting in the city earlier in the day.
"We can confirm there was a shooting incident this morning in Basra at approximately 07:15 and a non-Iraqi civilian has been killed," Major Ian Clooney, a spokesperson for the British military said.
"We believe him to be a South African."
South Africa does not have a diplomatic mission in Iraq and earlier this year warned citizens that the troubled country was considered a conflict zone under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act which made it an offence to render security services there.
The first four South Africans killed there were all performing such functions. The circumstances and occupation of the latest casualty is not yet known.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the government was concerned about the rising number of South Africans dying in Iraq, "particularly after the call by deputy foreign minister Aziz Pahad for South Africans not to go to Iraq".
The names of the four South Africans killed in recent months are: Frans Strydom, Gray Branfield, Henry "Vis" Visagie, and Francois de Beer. Another South African, Deon Gouws, was seriously injured in the blast that killed Strydom in January.