Today, 24 August, we salute and honor the following men 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
24 Aug 1973: 70471495E Private Waldemar Adriaan Nelson from the Technical Service Corps was accidentally killed in a military vehicle accident in Bloemfontein. He was 19.
24 Aug 1980: 79870747ST Lance Corporal Daniel Langman from 41 Battalion was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 26.
24 Aug 1981: 78913084SP Rifleman Adao Joaquim from 32 Battalion was accidentally killed by friendly fire during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 26.
24 Aug 1981: Two members from 1 SAI were Killed in Action during the attack on "Target Yankee" in Southern Angola during Ops Protea. They were part of Bravo Section, Platoon 1 that formed part of the assault group carrying out guard duties. When a Ratel drove past them, a booby trap that had been placed in a tree exploded just above their heads, killing them instantly. It was not known whether the device was remotely detonated or whether it was detonated by the Ratel as it drove past. The casualties in this incident were:
- 80200249BG Rifleman Florence Cornelius Smit. He was 18.
- 78351425BG Rifleman Martinus Godfrey Stapelberg. He was 19
24 Aug 1986: 82580648BG Sapper Leon Bryan Kuyler from 1 Construction Regiment died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained in a shooting incident at the Unit while he was on Guard Duty. He was 20.
24 Aug 1986: 83507460BG Lance Corporal Conrad du Bois Nelson from the Intelligence School in Kimberley succumbed to injuries in the Universitas Hospital after being critically injured on 05 August 1986 when his SAMIL vehicle overturned 5km from the Unit Headquarters. He was 18.
24 Aug 1987: 86726379HH Rifleman Maliphathwe Godfrey Ndela from 21 Battalion was killed in a military vehicle accident in Soweto. He was 21.
24 Aug 1988: 85349744BG Gunner William Faul van Niekerk from the Witwatersrand Command Intelligence Section was killed in a military vehicle accident at Doornkop. He was 19.
24 Aug 1991: Two members from 113 Battalion were killed when the Samil water tanker vehicle driven by Rifleman M.B. Khoza, overturned at Tzaneen. The casualties were:
- 89814156HD Lance Corporal John Sidney Shisari. He was 26.
- 86735784HD Rifleman Milleon Bullus Khoza. He was 31.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
24-Aug-74 DA Recruit Stephen Mufachiya Regular Intaf KIA Died from gunshot wounds in an ambush on the Chironga Mission Road, Kandeya TTL, Mt Darwin, Op Hurricane (US560599). Died aged 25 years.
24-Aug-77 FR James Reid PR BSAP KIA in a contact, Bikita TTL, Op Repulse whilst based at Mashaba, at the age of 37.
24-Aug-77 WO2 James "Jim" Cross NS RIC KIA Jim was killed in a contact near Mashoko Mission whilst attached to a BSAP Special Branch team. He was, together with elements of D Coy RAR, in a sweep line after a contact when he was shot by a wounded CT. An RAR soldier immediately killed the CT.
24-Aug-78 L/Cpl Rungwe Mufaro 1 Sqn RhE KOAS Killed in an accidental explosion, aged 19.
24-Aug-79 WO2 Thomas Clarke Army DOAS
24-Aug-80 L/SO Eric Smith SU BSAP (ZRP) KIA in an ambush in Mtoko, at the age of 20.