Latest news with #SouthAfricanNavy
Eyewitness News
09-07-2025
- Eyewitness News
Board of inquiry wraps up investigation into SAS Manthatisi tragedy
Ntuthuzelo Nene 9 July 2025 | 12:32 From left to right, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Commander Charles Phokane and the late Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector. Picture: Supplied/SA Navy CAPE TOWN - A board of inquiry probing the deadly 2023 incident involving a South African Navy submarine off the Cape coast has wrapped up its investigation. Three sailors were killed and a senior officer critically injured when they were washed off the deck of the submarine SAS Manthatisi. READ: SAS Manthatisi tragedy: Widower of deceased SA Navy commander wants answers At the time, the defence department said the crew conducting a vertical transfer (VERTREP) exercise with a South African Air Force Lynx helicopter off Kommetjie was swept off the deck by high waves. The submarine was on its way to Simons Town in Cape Town to take part in a mini navy festival. An inquiry was launched to determine the cause of the tragic incident. SA Navy spokesperson, Theo Mabina, said the report had now been handed over to the Hawks for further investigation. "This meeting and engagement with the Hawks underscores the Navy's commitment to transparency, cooperation and accountability, as the chief of the SA Navy has always maintained that the organisation will, within the confines of the laws and regulations, communicate the outcomes of the board whenever the need arises."
Eyewitness News
09-07-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
SA Navy to cooperate with Hawks as it investigates SAS Manthatisi tragedy
CAPE TOWN - The South African Navy says it will cooperate with the Hawks as it investigates the cause of a 2023 tragedy involving a navy submarine off the Cape coast. Three sailors died and a senior officer was seriously injured when they were washed off the deck of the submarine, SAS Manthatisi. READ: Board of inquiry wraps up investigation into SAS Manthatisi tragedy It's understood that the crew was conducting a vertical transfer (vertrep) exercise with a South African Air Force Lynx helicopter off Kommetjie at the time of the incident. The South African Navy subsequently convened a board of inquiry to determine the cause of the deadly incident. That investigation has now been concluded. SA Navy spokesperson, Theo Mabina, said that they met with the Hawks on Tuesday to hand over the board of inquiry's report. "The engagements were meant to assist the Hawks with their ongoing investigations into the tragic incident wherein the SA Navy lost three of its submariners following a vertical transfer exercise between SAS Manthatisi and SA Air Force maritime Lynx helicopter in September 2023." At the time of the incident, the submarine was on its way to Simons Town in Cape Town to take part in a mini navy festival.
News24
25-06-2025
- Politics
- News24
Capitec backs Schreiber; Court halts Lungu's funeral: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. Graphic: Sharlene Rood News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo Joburg Mayor Dada Morero survives motion of no confidence - City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero survived a motion of no confidence brought by the DA. - The DA claims Morero failed to address service delivery issues in the metro. - A motion against council Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu was also put forward by Al Jama-ah. Kidnapped Gqeberha woman dropped off by abductors, reunited with family - Lindsay Knowlden, a 65-year-old woman kidnapped in Gqeberha on Saturday, has been reunited with her family unharmed. - She was dropped off on a street in Bethelsdorp around midnight and taken in by a family who contacted her husband and the police. - A ransom was demanded, but the family declined to comment further as the Hawks are still investigating the case. DEFENCELESS | Security sinks, trade routes exposed as frigates, submarines out of action - The South African Navy is severely weakened, with only one operable submarine and one seagoing frigate remaining from a R10-billion arms deal. - Due to funding cuts and negligence, the navy has lost its fighting capability, leaving South Africa's vast maritime area vulnerable to various threats. - The lack of naval patrols also jeopardises South Africa's ability to protect its gas fields and fulfill international obligations for maritime rescue. High Court halts Lungu's funeral in SA after court challenge by Zambian government - The Zambian government sought to prevent former president Edgar Lungu's funeral from taking place in Johannesburg. - The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled in favour of the Zambian government, interdicting the funeral pending an urgent court application. - The legal battle arose from disagreements between the Lungu family and the government regarding the planning of a state funeral in Zambia. Supplied/Capitec Capitec backs Schreiber's 6 500% fee hike for home affairs database checks - Capitec supports the Department of Home Affairs' fee hike for real-time identity checks, citing the need for upgrades to improve the stability of the online verification system. - Capitec will absorb the additional costs for the current financial year, ensuring no fee changes for its clients. - TymeBank criticised the fee increase, arguing it would negatively impact digital inclusion and compliance with anti-money laundering laws, leading to a sharp response from the home affairs minister. Supplied/VW Why the VW half-tonne bakkie doesn't happen for SA - VW will build the Tengo, a compact, front-wheel drive crossover, at its Eastern Cape plant, instead of the Saveiro bakkie. - The compact bakkie market in South Africa has declined due to security concerns and the rise of crossovers offering better features. - VW chose the Tengo because it believes it better responds to current market demand than the Saveiro, despite the latter's appeal. Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images Asenathi Ntlabakanye: How burly Bok newbie shed 20kg training on scrum guru Human's farm - Asenathi Ntlabakanye, a new Springbok prop, lost almost 20kg in weeks through rigorous training on Daan Human's farm. - This weight loss contributed to Ntlabakanye's selection for the match against the Barbarians in Cape Town. - Coach Rassie Erasmus compared Ntlabakanye's situation to Cheslin Kolbe, emphasising that skill and determination matter more than size.
IOL News
22-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
SA Navy concludes World Hydrography Day with a commitment to maritime cooperation
Navy chiefs unite for maritime security at World Hydrography Day celebrations Image: SANDF/South African Navy The South African Navy has wrapped up its celebrations for World Hydrography Day in East London, marking a week of public engagements, ship tours, panel discussions, and ceremonial events. Central to these festivities was showcasing hydrography's vital role in maritime safety, environmental protection, and sustainable economic growth, all under the theme 'Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action.' A key highlight was the Declaration of Intent, signed by 15 naval chiefs across Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, and South Africa, outlining 11 shared maritime priorities to bolster security and cooperation. Throughout the week, naval vessels docked at the Port of East London, allowing residents to explore the Navy's technical capabilities firsthand. The programme also included a panel discussion and hydrography lecture at the Premier Hotel ICC, followed by a cocktail event and book launch aboard the SAS Amatola. During the cocktail reception, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the South African Navy, emphasised hydrography's critical importance across various sectors. 'Hydrography plays a foundational role in our maritime security and economic activities. As a nation bordered by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, South Africa depends heavily on its Navy to facilitate trade, defend our sovereignty, monitor maritime borders, and manage ocean resources. 'Hydrography enables safe navigation, supports search and rescue operations, and helps us better understand our vast oceanic territories.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He further explained that accurate hydrographic data is essential for determining secure shipping routes and combating maritime threats such as piracy and illicit fishing, especially as global sea traffic has increased by 74% year-on-year due to instability in the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Highlighting the broader strategic context, Vice Admiral Lobese noted that hydrography is an international obligation and a key driver of the blue economy, Africa's ocean-based economic development. The Navy also used the occasion to share outcomes from the 5th Sea Power for Africa Symposium, a high-level gathering of naval chiefs, academics, and maritime security experts from over 30 countries. As the continent's only Pan-African maritime forum, the symposium addressed pressing issues such as resilience in security strategies and responses to hotspots, including the Red Sea. A significant outcome of the symposium was the signing of the Declaration of Intent, a commitment by 15 African naval chiefs to prioritise 11 shared maritime objectives, fostering greater security and cooperation across the continent. Vice Admiral Lobese described this as a renewed commitment to collaborative progress, with plans to review developments at the next Sea Power symposium. The event also featured the launch of a new publication, which compiles 15 papers from the symposium. 'The publication was inspired by Nelson Mandela's words describing the sea as 'a vital national interest,' said Vice Admiral Lobese.
IOL News
21-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
World Hydrography Day: South African Navy highlights the importance of oceans mapping
Understanding Hydrography: South African Navy's Commitment to Ocean Mapping Image: SANDF/South African Navy The South African Navy commemorated World Hydrography Day, recognising the critical role of hydrography in safe navigation, maritime security, and environmental protection Held in East London from Friday, the event aimed to raise awareness of hydrography's vital role in maritime security, sustainable development, and ocean governance. Vice Admiral Monde Lobeise, the Chief of the South African Navy, opened the event by posing a thought-provoking question: "What has brought us together here today in East London?" He explained that the answer is "World Hydrography Day," dedicated to celebrating the crucial yet often overlooked science of mapping the seas and oceans. He said that the term 'hydrography' remains unfamiliar to many because hydrographic surveyors' work typically occurs in remote offshore areas, away from the public eye. 'If you're not on a survey platform, you don't see the equipment or the processes involved in transforming raw data into valuable maritime information,' he said. While he chose not to delve into the technical details, he highlighted that the event aimed to make hydrography more accessible to the public, especially young people. "Our goal is to inspire the youth to consider careers in the maritime sector, whether in the private or public domain, by showcasing the science and its significance," he said. Attendees had the opportunity to visit the Navy's vessels berthed in the harbor, including the flagship frigate SAS Amatola, and the newest Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels, SAS King Shaka Zulu and SAS Adam Kok III. The Survey Motor Boat (SMB1) was critical. It was a purpose-built vessel essential in conducting hydrographic surveys aligned with national charting needs. The Vice Admiral explained that World Hydrography Day was established in 2005 by the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), a UN-supported body. It is observed annually on June 21st, marking the organisation's founding. The day is a global platform to raise awareness about hydrography's role in understanding the oceans and seas. This year's theme, "Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean Action," underscores the importance of ocean floor mapping in achieving sustainable use of marine resources. He stated that only approximately 26.1% of the ocean floor has been charted with modern precision, revealing vast gaps in our knowledge of the world's oceans. He highlighted that seabed mapping underpins critical industries such as shipping, fisheries, coastal tourism, and renewable energy, adding that it also supports environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate change monitoring. The Vice Admiral discussed international projects like Seabed 2030, a collaborative effort to map the entire ocean floor by 2030, and the strategic importance of hydrographic data in enhancing maritime security. He stressed that investing in a dedicated survey ship for the South African Navy-currently under construction-will bolster the country's ability to monitor and manage its vast maritime domain. 'Having our survey vessel is not just about technology; it's about safeguarding our waters, supporting regional cooperation, and asserting our presence as a maritime nation,' he said. 'It will improve operational safety, facilitate international collaboration, and demonstrate our commitment to a secure and sustainable ocean environment.' In concluding his speech, Vice Admiral Lobeise urged all stakeholders-government, industry, research institutions, and the private sector-to work together.
