Emotional memorial for pilots: Pretoria, South Africa

As hundreds of soldiers sat in hushed silence a lonely sob broke the quiet as the wife of dead South African Air Force pilot Major Tsepo Malia lit a candle in her last goodbye to her husband.

Jeanette Malia rocked herself back and forth in the arms of a South African military medic, as the cries of the families of her husband's fellow pilots, who were killed alongside him last week, echoed through a hanger at Pretoria Air Force base, Waterkloof, yesterday.

Malia and his fellow 41 Squadron pilots, captains Marcelino Wembie and Francois Hugo, were killed when the Cessna Caravan 208 they were flying crashed into the side of a mountain near Lydenburg, Mpumalanga.

The three were killed instantly while two colleagues on board were critically injured.

The five, along with the rest of their squadron, were taking part in a two-week mountain flying training exercise when they were killed.

Shaking visibly at the service yesterday, Hugo's father, wearing his son's various air force badges pinned to his jacket, stood staring at a photograph of the pilot before placing a white rose next to a burning candle, tears streaming down his cheeks as he was helped back to his seat.

Oupa Mogotlane, speaking on behalf of the families, said everyone was devastated.

"It could have happened to anyone. We know it was an accident. There have been many before . some in war and some in accidents. We do not hold any grudges," he said.

Mogotlane said their sons had died doing what they loved, "flying".

Godfrey Kallis, Wembie's brother-in-law, said he [Wembie] was like a brother to him.

"Though he lived and worked in Pretoria he never forgot his roots and his home - Lavender Hill in Cape Town.

"Every time he came home he would always go to his primary school to talk. He was all for getting the youngsters of Lavender Hill out of the world of gangsterism. His death is more than just our loss," he said.

Deputy Defence Minister Kebby Maphatsoe said the three were part of a long history of those who had given their lives for South Africa.

"They died doing what they loved. They died ensuring that South Africa's skies are protected." 

Story and photo:   http://www.timeslive.co.za