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| SA soldiers die during training | SA soldiers die during training |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Nine South African soldiers have been killed during a training exercise in the central region of Bloemfontein. | Nine South African soldiers have been killed during a training exercise in the central region of Bloemfontein. |
| Fifteen others were injured in the accident involving a 35mm MK5 anti-aircraft gun, army spokesman Brig Gen Kwena Mangope said. | Fifteen others were injured in the accident involving a 35mm MK5 anti-aircraft gun, army spokesman Brig Gen Kwena Mangope said. |
| A probe has been launched into the accident which occurred during Exercise Sekoba, an annual training event. | A probe has been launched into the accident which occurred during Exercise Sekoba, an annual training event. |
| The South African Press Association said close to 5,000 soldiers take part in the joint military exercise. | The South African Press Association said close to 5,000 soldiers take part in the joint military exercise. |
| "I can confirm that nine of our people have died and another 15 were injured and taken to various hospitals around Bloemfontein," Brig Gen Mangope told the BBC. | |
| The defence minister and army chief of staff have extended their condolences to the soldiers' families, he said. | The defence minister and army chief of staff have extended their condolences to the soldiers' families, he said. |
| "It appears that the gun malfunctioned," Brig Gen Mangope told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. | |
| But he stressed it would be up to the inquiry to find out exactly what went wrong. | |
| Another defence ministry spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi told AFP: "I can't remember when last an accident of this magnitude happened." | |
| Witnesses told South Africa's Talk Radio 702 that the aircraft gun had malfunctioned. | Witnesses told South Africa's Talk Radio 702 that the aircraft gun had malfunctioned. |
| But Mr Mkhwanazi said it was not yet clear whether the accident had been because of human error, or whether something had gone wrong with the weapons being tested. | But Mr Mkhwanazi said it was not yet clear whether the accident had been because of human error, or whether something had gone wrong with the weapons being tested. |