Identity
Person No.
32296
Old ROH no.
35153
Service No.
80897473PE
Last Name
First Name
Bongani Andries
Initials
B A
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
35
Military Service
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SANDF 828
South African National Defence Force
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
Unknown
Cause of Death
Died fighting veld fire at SAP training centre near Ellisras
Grave Reference
Location
Country
Locality
Notes
Of Babanago, KZN | Graham Last Post 14 Aug 2026: died in hospital 14 Aug from smoke inhalation and burns sustained 13 Aug at Verdrag STF training area (joint 5 SFR / STF exercise for WSSD). That post says Cpl age 24. ROH retains Sgt / age 35 / DateDeath 2002-08-13 pending a better source for the death-in-hospital date.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 13 Aug 2026: 5 Recce, age 35 (was 7 SAI / age 24). Veld fire Verdrag.
-
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 14 Aug 2026: hospital 14 Aug / Cpl / age 24 (ROH keeps 13 Aug / Sgt / 35).
- South African War Graves Project
Stories 1
PRETORIA Fifth SANDF soldier dies after fire Fri, 23 Aug 2002 A fifth SA National Defence Force soldier has died of burn wounds sustained during a veld fire at a police training area in Limpopo, the SANDF said on Friday.
Major GS Zulu (45) died on Thursday night at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, a statement said. He is survived by his wife, Happy Zulu. Five people died after fighting a blaze at the police Special Task Force's Verdrag urban anti-terrorist training area near Lephalale (Ellisras) last Tuesday. Two soldiers died on the day of the fire and a third died in hospital later that night. They were Warrant Officer Elias Viva Vavarirai (46) of Namakgale near Ba-Phalaborwa in Limpopo, Sergeant Nthatheni Makumbane (34) of Thohoyandou, and Sergeant Bongani Andries Nkwanyana (39) of Babanango in KwaZulu-Natal. The fourth man, Corporal B Mathebula (26) of Giyani, died in hospital at the weekend. All were from 5 SF Regiment, based at Ba-Phalaborwa. The soldiers and police were conducting a final training exercise for the World Summit on Sustainable Development that starts on Monday.
Major GS Zulu (45) died on Thursday night at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, a statement said. He is survived by his wife, Happy Zulu. Five people died after fighting a blaze at the police Special Task Force's Verdrag urban anti-terrorist training area near Lephalale (Ellisras) last Tuesday. Two soldiers died on the day of the fire and a third died in hospital later that night. They were Warrant Officer Elias Viva Vavarirai (46) of Namakgale near Ba-Phalaborwa in Limpopo, Sergeant Nthatheni Makumbane (34) of Thohoyandou, and Sergeant Bongani Andries Nkwanyana (39) of Babanango in KwaZulu-Natal. The fourth man, Corporal B Mathebula (26) of Giyani, died in hospital at the weekend. All were from 5 SF Regiment, based at Ba-Phalaborwa. The soldiers and police were conducting a final training exercise for the World Summit on Sustainable Development that starts on Monday.
Dedications
No dedications have been added yet.