The South African Navy Festival is currently underway at the Navy headquarters in Simons Town, Western Cape, marking the first event since 2017.
More than 14 000 people have attended the festival, which included a memorial parade to honor naval members who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Among those commemorated were three submariners who drowned in September 2023 after being washed off the deck of the submarine Manthatisi. Their names were added to the remembrance wall.
We need to remember those that have passed away in the line of duty, said Commander Leon Steyn, Curator of the Navy Museum. Now that we have the Navy Festival back, we have the ability to, once a year, have an annual service. Last year, we had the passing of the three submariners, and I think it's very important to remember them, not just them but also those that came before them, dating back to World War II.
The festival coincides with a tri-nation naval exercise involving Brazil, India, and South Africa at the Simons Town Naval Base. The exercise aims to strengthen cooperation among the three countries in addressing shared maritime challenges.
