Today, 3 March, we salute and honour the following men & woman who sacrificed their lives whilst standing in the defence of what they held dear at the time and against evil and tyranny.
SOUTH AFRICAN BORDER WAR
03 Mar 1964: 6107503 Rifleman Brian Ivan Dummer from the Tygerberg Commando was killed in a military vehicle accident in Bethlehem. He was 19.
03 Mar 1972: 69409662 Private Andre Kruger from Services School was killed in a private motor cycle accident in Lynwood, Pretoria. He was 18.
03 Mar 1980: 77338259BG 2/Lieutenant Abel Daniel Kotze from 14 Artillery Regiment was found critically wounded at the Modderfontein Shooting Range in Potchefstroom with a gunshot wound to the head apparently self-inflicted using his R1 Rifle. He was airlifted to 1 Military Hospital where he sadly succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission. He was 19.
03 Mar 1980: 78913183SP Rifleman Manuel Yenga from 32 Battalion was Killed in Action when he triggered a Soviet POMZ-2M Anti-Personnel Picket Mine booby trap inside an enemy bunker near Naulila during Operation Makalani. He was 25.
03 Mar 1983: Special Constable Sam Iyambo from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 26.
03 Mar 1983: Two members from 32 Battalion were killed in a private motor vehicle accident in the Caprivi Strip. The casualties were:
- 76927946SP Corporal D. Estima. He was 33
- 77880383SP Lance Corporal L. Verckys. He was 29.
03 Mar 1983: Two members from 5 SAI were accidentally killed in a Rifle Grenade explosion inside the Ops Room at Itenga Base near Opuwa. The Platoon Commander and Signaler were both injured in the explosion and were evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria. The casualties in this incident were:
- 78482717BG Corporal Frederick Coenraad Greyling. He was 20.
- 77626497BG Lance Corporal Owen Christopher Williams. He was 21.
03 Mar 1988: 84430420BG Rifleman Jean-Pierre Du Preez from 3 SAI died after contracting Meningitis. He was 19.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1972 – Tpr Gerald Smith (aged 19), 1st Bn RLI, KOAS due to an accidental death.
1974 – Pte Langton (not his surname), 1st Bn RAR, KOAS from severe head injuries. Died in in Mpilo Hospital, Bulawayo.
1975 – Sgt Manyangire Rungano (aged 38), 1st Bn RAR, KIA. Died in Wankie Hospital from multiple injuries from a landmine explosion.
1977 – D Cst Patrick Gwenda (aged 29), CID BSAP, KIA.
1978 – Cpl RashikayiChimbidzukayi, C Coy, 1st Bn RAR, KIA.
1978 – Tpr Michael “Mark” Ellis, 1 Cdo, 1st Bn RLI, KIA by "friendly fire" during a sweep in a fire force call-out.
1978 – Spr Jefferson Mapiye (aged 26), 5 Sqn RhE, KIA.