8 South Africa expat aircrew were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul. They were all employees of Balmoral Aviation based at Rand Airport (my home base). A suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into their crew bus on the way to the airport, probably in the belief that they were Americans.
You can read more here…
RIP 🙁
JOHANNESBURG — Eight South Africans were among those killed Tuesday in a suicide blast in Afghanistan’s capital. An Afghan insurgent group says the attack on a mini-bus carrying foreigners was in response to an anti-Islam on-line video that has sparked worldwide protests. But South African officials and a Muslim analyst say the attacks were probably not aimed at South Africans.
The bomb ripped through the van near Kabul’s airport on Tuesday morning, killing at least 12 people including the eight South Africans.
By: nJayM - 19th September 2012 at 22:28
Ralph you dont have to tell me – I have recently been a victim of assault
Jay, I dislike saying this but it is true. The west is far too soft on its criminal element (under which these extremists fall). The criminal now has more rights than the man on the street. I certainly don’t believe in miscarriages of justice, but where it is clear cut, anyone who wilfully infringes on the human rights of any other person immediately gives up his own.
Ralph you dont have to tell me – I have recently been a victim of assault in broad daylight while in a cafe, minding my own business and on my way to work. The difficulties the Police have had in obtaining evidence is primarily because the ‘political correctness’ instituted by loonier than left political nutters leaves the UK in a very helpless situation, and has tied the hands of the law enforcement agencies.
Sadly we ‘Joe Public’ vote these political lefties into power and then wonder why the rights of the law abiding citizen have vanished just because the rights of the criminal take priority.:diablo:
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th September 2012 at 21:58
People go to work in Afghanstan/Iraq on the basis of lots of flying and being well rewarded for the flying they do. Unfortunately whether your in uniform or a private contractor/worker the risks are there.
Sadly in this war there have been a number of civilian aircraft shot down -whether your carrying military equipement or civilian aid your fair game.
Thinking hard about your statement, you are not quite correct. I may go a little off topic but money is not the only reason these folk were where they were. Go to Facebook and look at the following page : https://www.facebook.com/donotflysaa
The South African Government has instituted job reservation, and, being the only shareholder in South African Airways, has decided that people of European descent should be excluded from the cadet program at SAA. Most young pilots of European descent are finding it very hard to find work within the country and that is the reason why they look for work abroad. I can assure you that the salaries that the deceased were earning are not any better than what a BA or Air France pilot might earn.
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th September 2012 at 21:43
Jay, I dislike saying this but it is true. The west is far too soft on its criminal element (under which these extremists fall). The criminal now has more rights than the man on the street. I certainly don’t believe in miscarriages of justice, but where it is clear cut, anyone who wilfully infringes on the human rights of any other person immediately gives up his own.
By: nJayM - 19th September 2012 at 21:36
It is indescribable in words most times when it comes these sorts of tyrannies
Ralph
If the worlds’ terrorist organisations spent the money they are wasting on terror strikes to improve the lot of their own people it would probably alleviate some of the problems/causes they are supposedly terrorising the world about.
Yes these innocent souls were on their way to work, as were people in London on 7/7 and as were people in twin towers 9/11.
The world is almost becoming helpless against tyrants/terrorists with respect to indiscriminate acts of terror.:(
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th September 2012 at 20:50
True. I flew in Angola under similar risks. However the risks were from ground fire and SAMs, not suicide bombers. I don’t want to digress too much though.
By: David Burke - 19th September 2012 at 20:41
People go to work in Afghanstan/Iraq on the basis of lots of flying and being well rewarded for the flying they do. Unfortunately whether your in uniform or a private contractor/worker the risks are there.
Sadly in this war there have been a number of civilian aircraft shot down -whether your carrying military equipement or civilian aid your fair game.
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th September 2012 at 20:27
Look at their ages. Mostly younger than 40. Forced to work abroad to get experience mainly because of the political/economical situation in South Africa. I am sure that none of them harbored any kind of grudge to any other ethnic group or religion on earth, they were just on their way to work.
By: ThreeSpool - 19th September 2012 at 19:54
I just can’t see how they think this is acceptable. It is not how you endear people to your cause. Eight people who are not going home to their families, for what, to make a point. 🙁
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th September 2012 at 19:08
The victims were:
– Christian Johannes Justus Pretorius, 30, from Pretoria, Gauteng
– Fraser Angus Carey, 31, from Johannesburg, Gauteng
– Brandon Quinn Booth, 47, from Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal
– Johan Abraham van Huyssteen, 31, from Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
– Johan Frederick Bouchaud, 30, from Johannesburg, Gauteng
– Johannes Judenis Humphries, 65, from Centurion, Gauteng
– Steven Leong, 31, from Johannesburg, Gauteng
– Jenny Margaret Ayris, 46, from Scotland in the United Kingdom
By: nJayM - 19th September 2012 at 17:59
Extremely distressing news report
Ralph
An extremely distressing news report.:(
RIP to souls murdered and condolences to those bereaved.
Jay
By: AlanR - 19th September 2012 at 14:53
Awful thing to happen.
Nothing will ever change in the God forsaken country.
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September 19, 2012 at 12:08 pm