On Friday, 19 July, 23 members of the Gauteng Traffic Warden Training Programme were injured during a drill training session, when a vehicle drove into them. The Incident took place at Dunnottar Military Base, where 485 trainees began their training on 4 February 2024. The person responsible was taken into custody, and remains under medical supervision.

Fourteen of the injured members were discharged with minor injuries, and nine members remained in hospital for further medical attention, Siphiwe Dlamini, Department of Defence Head of Communication said in a statement.

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga visited the scene alongside Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, with the two briefed by the relevant authorities and medical personnel.

A statement by the Department of Defence (DoD) stated an investigation into the incident continues, and a case has been opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS) but gave no further details.

It is not clear if the driver who ploughed into the wardens did so accidentally or deliberately. It has been reported that the driver is a 36-year-old female naval officer. Bystanders said she accelerated into the group of students and tried to flee the scene before being stopped at the gate of the unit.

The DoD has dispatched social workers, psychologists and chaplains to the families of those injured and to the hospitalized trainees. “Interaction with the affected members and their families will continue.”

The Dunnottar base is used to train crime prevention and traffic wardens for Gauteng. In March, Lesufi oversaw the graduation of 3 000 new wardens there to fight crime and create jobs.