News24 reports that in a bid to prevent more deaths at sea, the Chief of the SA Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, has called on the government to stop cutting the navy budget.

In a moving memorial service for the three mariners who lost their lives after being swept off the SAS Manthatisi in Kommetjie while carrying out a routine training exercise last week, Lobese said the government had to intervene. Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Wynberg Military Indoor Sports Centre to pay their respects to the fallen sailors. Lobese said the tragedy must be a wake-up call to the SA Navy, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), and to the government. "The SANDF and the SA Navy have for too long suffered with constant reductions in our budget. Although our budget is cut every year, our constitutional mandate is not reduced in any way. We are still expected to make miracles with the little money that we have," Lobese lamented. “We have these vessels that we are doing our best to look after, but we need the money to maintain them effectively," he pointed out. The SA Navy said if there were continued budget cuts, it feared tragedies would become more common. "And that is a toll on human life and sacrifice that will be very costly to bear, not only for the navy but for the SANDF and the country as a whole," Lobese said. His pleas were greeted by applause and a loud "yes" from the many at the memorial.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24
• Read too, Submariners’ last moments relived, at Cape Times

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