Mr Hoffman's remains back home
The body of Mr Johannes Hoffman, the deceased member of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) over-wintering team on Gough Island (Gough 58), is set to arrive in Cape Town in the morning, Thursday, 6 March 2014, at Quay 500.
The body, recovered from the Island last week, will be received by officials from DEA, the provincial Department of Health and South African Police Services’ Forensic Pathology Unit. An autopsy will be undertaken before the remains are released to the Hoffman family for final rites.
The SA Agulhas, which left Cape Town for Gough Island on the 21st of February, arrived on the island last Thursday and sailed back to Cape Town on Friday, 28 February.
Mr Hoffman, who passed away last month while on a research expedition on the Island, worked as an electronic technician in the development and maintenance of electronic and communication systems with the Gough Island research base. The deceased had experience spanning over 15 years, and had undertaken similar expeditions for the department in the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP), the Marion Island and Antarctic base. It was his second expedition on Gough Island as a radio technician.
The vessel is expected to arrive as per details below:
Date: 6 March 2014
Time: 04h00
Place: Quay 500, Cape Town Harbour
For media queries, contact:
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 082 898 6483
