SANDF Contain and Investigate Waterkloof Air Force Base Fire: “Babylon Is Falling”

SANDF Contain and Investigate Waterkloof Air Force Base Fire: “Babylon Is Falling”

  • The South African National Defence Force reported that last night the Air Force Base in Waterkloof, Pretoria, caught alight
  • Brigadier-General Andries Mahapa said that the fire began at the base's bulk fuel depot but there was no structural damage
  • The blaze started around 7pm and by 8pm, firefighters had contained and extinguished the fire, Mahapa said

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PRETORIA - Last night (23 January), the Air Force Base in Waterkloof, Pretoria caught alight around 7pm, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) reported.

Brigadier-General Andries Mahapa, a spokesperson for SANDF, said that the fire began at the base's bulk fuel depot. Mahapa confirmed that there was no structural damage to any part of the base.

According to TimesLIVE, the SANDF has launched an investigation into the fire to ascertain what caused it and the total cost of repairs.

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SANDF, Waterkloof, Air Force, Air Force base, South African National Defence Force, fire, arson, Pretoria
The SANDF confirmed that a fire took place at the Waterkloof Air Force Base. Image: Twitter/ @Abramjee
Source: Twitter

Investigation into the incident

News24 reports that the investigation into the fire is being overseen by Lieutenant-General Wiseman Mbambo, the Chief of the South African Air Force. Mbambo is investigating the extent of the damage caused by the blaze and no foul play is suspected at this stage.

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The SANDF is waiting for Mbambo's investigation to be completed before releasing details to the public. However, Mahapa applauded firefighters for extinguishing the blaze within an hour.

Reactions to the Waterkloof Air Force Base fire

@ThuliMadonsela3, the former Public Protector, asked:

@Nevilletruthun1 believes:

"You don't need foul play as ANC incompetence is sufficient to destroy anything."

@NathanErasmus3 remarked:

"Trying to divert the attention away from State Capture."

@DennisCruywagen said:

@Izwelomkhulu shared:

"Babylon is falling."

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SANDF soldiers will not return home after the violent death of Tebogo Radebe

In other news about the SANDF, Briefly News previously reported that the Defence Force would not be pulling back soldiers who have been deployed to Mozambique despite the death of Corporal Tebogo Radebe, who was, unfortunately, a victim of an ambush on Monday, 19 December.

The soldiers were in the east of the Chai Village in the northern province of Mozambique when rebels launched an unanticipated attack.

Radebe was transported back to South Africa on Thursday, 23 December, landing at the Waterkloof Air Force base in Tshwane.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Claudia Gross avatar

Claudia Gross (Editor) Claudia Gross holds an MA in Journalism from Stellenbosch University. She joined Briefly's Current Affairs desk in 2021. Claudia enjoys blending storytelling and journalism to bring unique angles to hard news. She looks forward to a storied journalistic career.