Today, 16 September, we salute and honor 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
16 Sep 1974: Constable Johannes Petrus Breytenbach from the South African Police died from an accidental gunshot wound to the head in the Chizarira Game Reserve situated East of Binga in the Kariba Area while serving in Rhodesia. He was 45.
16 Sep 1978: 77633956BG Rifleman Gregory James Engledoe from the South African Cape Corps was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned in Northern Owamboland. He was 18.
16 Sep 1982: 76442722BG Rifleman Gabriel Johannes Schwartz from Infantry School was killed in a military vehicle accident at Otjiwarongo. He was 21.
16 Sep 1983: Three members from 102 Battalion SWATF were Killed in Action during a contact with a large group of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near the Cut-line. The casualties were:
- 80880917SWH Rifleman K Kavari. He was 19.
- 81955734SWH Rifleman J Tinda. He was 18.
- 81955144SWH Rifleman K Kavari. He was 18.
16 Sep 1985: 73310724BT Lance Corporal Glen Stuart Ruthven from 3 Medical Battalion Group was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Maitland. He was 28.
16 Sep 1985: 83556126BG Gunner Alec Ridgard from 10 Artillery Brigade was critically injured in a private motorcycle accident on 14 June 1985 at Westonaria. He was admitted to the H.F. Verwoerd Hospital in Pretoria where he succumbed to his injuries on 16 September 1985. He was 19.
16 Sep 1987: 80408578BG Rifleman Pieter Andreas Visagie from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 23.
16 Sep 1988: 83435180BG Rifleman Sean Cochrane Ellis from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident between Ogongo and Okalongo. He was 21.
16 Sep 1991: Two members from the SADF Dog Training Centre died from the effects of smoke inhalation at Bourkes Luck while assisting to extinguish a raging veld fire. The casualties were:
- 89280580BG Lance Corporal Adrian Marcel Juskiewicz. He was 18.
- 88472451BG Lance Corporal Michael Swanepoel. He was 19.
16 Sep 1999: A very unsavoury event in the history of 1 South African Infantry Battalion occurred when one of their members, Lieutenant Sibusiso Madubela went on a murder rampage at the Unit and started systematically shooting serving members and civilian employees with his R4 Automatic Assault Rifle. Seven serving SANDF members including one female civilian worker in the employ of the SANDF were murdered and another twelve were wounded, one critically. Lieutenant Madubela’s murder spree came to an abrupt end when he was intercepted and shot dead by Lieutenant Anton Otto and Warrant Officer Class I Aldo Mattheus while he made his way back to the Base Armoury to replenish his ammunition. Warrant Officer Class 1 Mattheus was wounded in this exchange of fire. Those murdered in this incident were:
- 84478957PE Major Jacques Coetzer. He was 31
- 66435959PE Warrant Officer Class I Johannes Frederick Lombard. He was 48
- 77389005PE Warrant Officer Class I Reginald Gregory Sieberhagen. He was 38
- 85286458PE Staff Sergeant Richard Edward Douglas. He was 29.
- 88317177PF Sergeant Willem Adriaan Nell. He was 27
- 89562169PE Sergeant Tertius Gideon Lombard. He was 26
- 91725457CA Civilian Worker (Miss) Marita Marlene Hamilton. She was 57
- 85258129PE Major Zirk Burger Coetzee was critically wounded in this incident and finally succumbed to his wounds in the Pelonomie Hospital on 22 Sep 1999. He was 31
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1973 – Sgt André Paulus RABIE, MLM (Post), died from a gunshot wound from friendly fire through a map reading and shackle error, near Shamva, Op Hurricane. Died at the age of 28. Source: Death Notice, which gives his unit as SAS.
1978 – DSA Herbert CHIKANYAMBIDZE, DSA Finias MUPETI, Cdt James Kendall "Jimmy" ROBERTSHAW, DSA Jona Shadreck ROBOHO, and DSA Ebson TAKANZWA, all of Intaf, died from injuries received in a landmine blast in the Mudzi area, Op Hurricane. They all perished when the blast caused the fuel tank of the Puma to explode.
1978 – DA Pherious Clemence CHIUTARE, Regular Intaf, was murdered by CTs.
1978 - WDW Philipa MUKONORA, ADF, Intaf, was murdered by CTs.
1978 – Pte Frederick NYAMAYARO, 1st Bn RAR, was killed in a CT action.
1978 – Pte Colin GRANGER, 2nd Bn RDR, was killed in a CT action, aged 18 years.
1978 – Pte Henry JONES, 1st Bn RDR, was killed in a CT action.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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