SA woman among dead in suicide attack

2012-09-18 16:18

French soldiers arrive at the scene of a suicide bombing in Kabul, where eight South Africans were killed. (Ahmad Jamshid, AP)

Johannesburg - The international relations and co-operation department said on Tuesday that a woman was among the eight South Africans killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Beeld reported.

Department spokesperson Nelson Kgwete said they worked for a private aviation company where the woman was involved in operations while three of the men were pilots, and four flight engineers, according to Beeld.

"We have received the names of the deceased and are working on establishing contact with families and next-of-kin," said Kgwete.

Kgwete said the department conveyed its condolences to the friends and families of the deceased.

He said the families would be given assistance.

Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party said it was saddened by the attack.

"The IFP condemns the suicide attack that claimed the lives of eight South Africans, among others, in Kabul," the party's international relations spokesperson Ben Skosana said in a statement.

He said the IFP expressed its sincere condolences to the families of those killed in the attack, which took place on Tuesday morning.

Skosana said the IFP believed suicide missions were not the answer to political problems.

He also condemned the attack in Libya which resulted in the death of the United States ambassador and three embassy staff.

- SAPA