The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said an inquest has been opened by the police following the death of four of its members on Saturday (7/6) in Orkney in North West.

In a statement released on Sunday (7/7), the SANDF said the soldiers were on duty as part of Operation Vala Umgodi - an operation that deals with illegal mining activities.

“The members were deployed on a 24-hour shift at Shaft 3, a dormant mining shaft situated near the disused Harry Oppenheimer stadium which has been a hot spot for illegal mining,” says Siphiwe Dlamini, SANDF head of communication. 

“The deceased members were found inside a container structure which was used as a guard house, when the next shift was taking over the following day upon opening the doors of the container.  The police was called in and upon inspection of the scene, all four had died, with their rifles on them and their personal items still with them.”

Carbon monoxide poisoning possibly cause of death

The district surgeon was called to the scene and examined the bodies and confirmed no injuries. 

A team from the Pretoria forensic science laboratory chemistry unit also attended the scene and preliminary findings are that the death of the members could have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, from a possible fire made by the members during the cold night inside the container structure.

The bodies of the deceased were transported to the Klerksdorp state mortuary for further investigation and post-mortem.

OFM News cvdw