The South African Navy announced on Friday that the Mini Navy Festival has been cancelled.
The festival gives the public, Capetonians in particular and tourists, a rare opportunity to explore naval ships and submarines.
The festival, which was set to kick off at the V&A Waterfront at the weekend, was cancelled following submarine tragedy in which three officials on board the submarine SAS Manthatisi died.
Lieutenant Gillian Malouw the first female submarine navigator in the South African Navy succumbed to her injuries in the disaster, along with Master Warrant Officer William Masela Mathipa and Warrant Officer Class One Mmokwapa Lucas Mojelatwo.
Malouw was celebrated as being the first female officer on the African continent to navigate a submarine.
The South African National Defence Force stated that high waves swept seven crew members out to sea during a vertical transfer off Kommetjie near Cape Town.
The NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the defence force, navy, military police, Transnet, and several other personnel responded as it was initially believed that seven navy divers were in the water.
“A rescue operation was launched and all seven men were rescued, however, two passed away when CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] efforts were exhausted.”
Lambinon said one female officer was still on board and an SA Air Force helicopter assisted in extricating her from the vessel.
It was reported that inquest dockets were opened for the deceased and the incident will be investigated by the South African Navy and maritime authorities.
Lambinon added that their bodies were taken into the care of the government’s health forensic pathology services.
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