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Bloemfontein – Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Friday joined the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to pay tribute to fallen women soldiers during a military parade in Bloemfontein.
"We must recognise all our fallen members by ensuring that their legacy and the role they played in our defence force is an everlasting one. We will remember them," Mapisa-Nqakula said.
Friday’s parade also commemorated the 11 soldiers who were killed in a bus crash on the R712 near Golden Gate in the Free State in August.
The families of the 11 soldiers were also in attendance.
Several other soldiers were injured when the military bus transporting 40 people to the Basotho Cultural Village for an event overturned on the winding road in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park nature reserve.
Nine soldiers died at the scene. Several sustained injuries, ranging from serious to critical. They were treated at the scene and taken to local hospitals. Two more people died after arriving at hospital.
"This was a blow in that the incident occurred on the same day we were commemorating our Women’s Day military parade on Friday [August 19]. They were prepared to lay down their lives in pursuit of peace and security and development for humanity globally.
"There is no doubt that these members died in the line of duty and must be celebrated and acknowledged together with the rest," Mapisa-Nqakula said.
