Note to editors: Please find attached Afrikaans and English soundbite by Kobus Marais MP.
The Democratic Alliance wishes to convey our sincerest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the mariners who tragically lost their lives on board a South African submarine during the regrettable training/exercise incident that transpired this afternoon while en route to Table Bay harbour for the mini-navy festival.
The Democratic Alliance joins the South African Navy and the entire defence community in expressing our sincere sympathies during this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with the families of the mariners. We wish the injured mariners a speedy recovery
As we mourn the passing, let us also recommit ourselves to ensuring the safety and well-being of all those who serve in our defence forces. We owe it to them to continuously strive for an optimally resourced defence force and the highest standards of safety and security to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.