/ 8 April 2004

South African man killed in Iraq

A South African man was killed during hostilities in Iraq, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the man was killed in Al-Kut in the south of Iraq.

”Circumstances that led to his death are being investigated,” he said.

The Johannesburg newspaper Beeld identified the victim as Gray Branfield of Helderkruin on the West Rand.

Branfield’s son, Gregg (27) was quoted as saying that his family had known he was working in Iraq and that news of his death had come as a shock.

Branfield was also survived by an 18-year-old son and a daughter aged 29. – Sapa