Today, 18 December, 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
18 Dec 1983: During Ops Askari, ten members that were part of an Anti-Aircraft team deployed near Caiundu in Southern Angola were Killed in Action during a fierce fire-fight when their position was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force of more than 200 FAPLA troops. Sergeant Hendrik Albertus Oosthuyse volunteered to remain behind armed with a MAG machine-gun and due to his heroic actions, he delayed the enemy advance sufficiently to allow the remainder of the team to successfully evade capture. The casualties during this desperate action were:
- 79526935BT Lieutenant Keith Claassen from the Pretoria University Regiment attached 202 Battalion SWATF. He was 20.
- 74217076PE Sergeant Hendrik Albertus Oosthuyse from 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He was 25.
- 79364600BG Rifleman Lourens Johannes Jansen van Rensburg from 7 SAI. He was 20.
- 76147743HK Rifleman Thomas Kakuru from 202 Battalion SWATF. He was 20.
- 78931524HK Rifleman Ndara Diyerenge from 202 Battalion SWATF. He was 20.
- 83890970SWK Rifleman Alfred Kamunga from 202 Battalion SWATF. He was 18
- 83890418SWK Rifleman Esau Mashika from 202 Battalion SWATF. He was 20.
- 83890616SWK Rifleman Hamat Hamutenya from 202 Battalion SWATF. He was 22.
- 83891861SWK Rifleman Aron Dikuwa from 202 Battalion SWATF. He was 20.
- 83891556SWK Rifleman Edward Moyo from 202 Battalion SWATF. He was 20.
18 Dec 1985: 82906033SH Rifleman Albert Hapera from 911 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents. He was 19.
18 Dec 1988: 73508889PE Commandant Ernestes Johannes Jacobus Brummer from the Northern Cape Command Headquarters died in the Kimberley Hospital after being critically injured in a private motor vehicle accident in Kimberley. He was 31.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1977 – Cst Lot KUPINKOMO, Uniform – Traffic, BSAP, was murdered by CTs whilst on leave at his home in the Inyati area, Op Tangent.
1977 – Sgt Aaron MARUFU, ARU, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – Jnr Cpl Daniel MWANAGUMBI, PV Prtn Group, GF, died on active service.
1977 – DSA Paroh Tshotsha SIBANDA, Kp Prtn, Intaf, died on active service.
1977 – Cpl Ronald John "Ronnie" TRAVERS, 2 Cdo, 1st Bn, RLI, was killed in a contact, Mangwende TTL, Lomagundi district, Op Hurricane. They were clearing caves, assisted by airstrikes, when Ronnie sustained fatal gunshot wounds from an RPD. A total of 14 CTs were killed in the engagement.
1978 – Tpr Hamilton John BARRY, B Sqn, SAS, was killed by "friendly fire", sadly by a close friend.
1978 – Cst Ivan KAPITO, Uniform, BSAP, was killed in a contact in the Sipolilo area, Op Hurricane. He was 22 years old.
1978 – WO2 Clyde Robert ROBINSON, 10th Bn, RR, died on active service.
1979 – Pte Patrick Charles KNIGHT, 1st Bn, RDR, died from gunshot wounds received in a CT action.
1979 – Cst Alois MACHOKOTO, Uniform, BSAP, was killed in a CT action in the Marandellas area, Op Hurricane, at the age of 31.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
2
Lt. Keith Claassen I will always remember you as a true friend and a hero! RIP my friend.
Lt. Keith Claassen I will always remember you as a true friend and a hero! RIP my friend.