Three submarine buildings at the Simon’s Town Naval Base were renamed on Friday, September 20, to mark the first anniversary of the tragic accident that claimed the lives of three submariners who died on board the SAS Manthatisi a year ago.
Executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Gillian Elizabeth Hector, Master Warrant Officer William Masela Mathipa (coxswain), and Warrant Officer Class One Mmokwapa Lucas Mojela (coxswain under training) died after freak waves swept seven crew members overboard during a naval exercise off the coast of Kommetjie on September 20, last year.
The crew had been doing a vertical transfer (Vertrep) using an SA Air Force Maritime Lynx helicopter. (“Three SA Navy officers dead after being swept out to sea,” Echo, September 21, 2023).
The Navy released the outcome of the investigation into the incident in a statement on Friday September 6.
Chief of the South African Navy, Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese, briefed the families of the deceased on Wednesday September 4 (“Navy to improve safety after probe into sub tragedy,” Echo, September 9).
During the ceremony on Friday, led by Vice-Admiral Lobese in the presence of naval personnel, dignitaries, and the submariners families’, he said the Submarine Training School has been renamed the Gillian Malouw Hector Building in recognition of her promising future and unwavering commitment as a submariner.
“She was often called the brightest submariner of her generation, and when the next generation of submariners attend classes here, they will be motivated to follow in her footsteps,” he said.
The Submarine Battery Hall has been renamed the Malesela Mathipa Building, honouring his expertise as an electrician and his role as a mentor to many within the Navy while the Submarine Squadron Headquarters building, affectionately called the Orca Building, was renamed the Lucas Makwapa Mojela Building.
Vice-Admiral Lobese said there had been many tears of sadness and anger during this past year.
“Although the Navy shares your grief, we also acknowledge that our grief cannot compare to yours. We may have lost a friend, but you lost a wife, a husband, a daughter, a son and a son-in-law,” he said, adding that the Navy was still there to help where it could.
In his speech, Vice-Admiral Lobese spoke of the year of mourning, expressing both sorrow and admiration for the submariners who lost their lives.
He said, If I could, I would ask the Good Lord to start this day with soft rain, which will clear up as we end today’s ceremony. This would symbolise how we still cry every day for these three lives taken from us so early, but we also acknowledge they are in a better place, smiling down at us.“
He also referenced the findings of the board of inquiry, which determined that the accident had been caused by natural forces beyond human control.
He praised the bravery of the surviving crew members and announced that Commander Charles Phokane, Lieutenant Melinyani Gobinca, Warrant Officer Class 1 Brendan Daly, Warrant Officer Class 2 Charles Kriel, Warrant Officer Class 2 Ayanda Mahlobo, and Chief Petty Officer Rophiwa Maphari had been nominated for bravery medals recognising their courage during the incident.
