By Staff Reporter
KOMATIPOORT – The family of a missing South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier visited the site where a military patrol vehicle was swept away by floodwaters earlier this week, in an emotional moment marked by grief and uncertainty.
The visit followed a meeting between SANDF officials and the family, during which an incident report was presented outlining how and where the tragedy occurred.
The family was then taken to the exact location near Komatipoort where the vehicle was carried away by strong currents. SANDF members who accompanied the family described the visit as deeply heartbreaking for everyone present.
The meeting comes amid ongoing efforts to identify human remains believed to belong to the missing soldier. While body parts have been recovered, official confirmation is still pending as forensic identification processes continue.
The tragic incident dates back to Christmas Day 2025, when a SANDF Military Police patrol vehicle was swept away while attempting to cross a low-lying bridge during heavy rainfall. The vehicle was carried into the Komati/Lower (Nkomazi) River in the Macadamia area near Komatipoort. The soldiers were on duty as part of Operation Corona at the time.
The SANDF has confirmed the death of one soldier and the disappearance of another following the incident. According to the defence force, the vehicle encountered dangerously swollen river conditions, and the powerful current swept two soldiers from the vehicle.
In a media statement, the SANDF said the body of one soldier has since been recovered, while an intensive search and rescue operation continues for the missing member. The operation is being led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Diving Rescue Team, with aerial support from an SANDF Oryx helicopter.
Senior defence officials, including Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga and Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya, have conveyed their condolences to the family of the deceased soldier and expressed solidarity with the family of the missing member.
The SANDF has appealed to the media and the public to allow space for search and rescue operations to continue and for affected families to be properly informed and supported. Officials confirmed that both emotional and professional support are being provided to the family during this extremely difficult time.
