JOHANNESBURG, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A South African policeman when a military helicopter patrolling the border crashed on Wednesday, an air force spokesman said.

Eight police officers were seriously injured in the incident in the Free State province on the border with Lesotho, and seven other people suffered minor injuries, Major Ronald Maseko said.

"A policeman died, unfortunately. The accident happened about 1140 (0940 GMT) this afternoon," he said.

The Oryx helicopter had 14 police officers, two army members and three air force personnel on board, and the cause of the crash was still unknown, Maseko added. (Reporting by Gershwin Wanneburg; editing by Sami Aboudi)

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