Today, 13 February, 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
13 Feb 1972: Patrol Officer Michael Fenton Hill, a South African National serving in the British South Africa Police and stationed at Wedza, was killed in a motor vehicle accident while travelling on the Salisbury to Umtali Road. He was 20.
13 Feb 1980: 74335423PE 2/Lieutenant Ignatius Petrus Du Preez from 201 Battalion SWATF Died of Wounds during an operation in Southern Zambia when he accidentally triggered a booby trap while clearing a SWAPO/PLAN base. Despite receiving medical treatment on the spot, he succumbed to his wounds a short while later. He was 21.
13 Feb 1981: Rifleman Jaco Marais from the South African Army was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Pretoria He was 18.
13 Feb 1985: Rifleman B. Paulo from 32 Battalion was Reported Missing after being wounded and captured by enemy forces during a contact in Southern Angola. He has no known grave and remains unaccounted for. He was 33.
13 Feb 1994: 93657732PK Rifleman Mbhonono Johnson Myeni from 111 Infantry Battalion was killed in a military vehicle accident at Alexandra. He was 27.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1972 – PO Michael Fenton HILL, Uniform, BSAP, died in a vehicle accident near Marandellas on the Salisbury/Umtali road. He died aged 20.
1973 – Rfn Cornelius Johannes "Corrie" SCHOULTZ, 5 Pltn, 5th Bn, RR, was killed by a landmine, McLear Farm, Centenary, Op Hurricane, at the age of 36. Another six were injured in the blast.
1974 – Flt Sgt Edward Francis HELLY, Reserve RhAF, died from a heart attack at the Forward Air Field (FAF) Kariba. He was 49 years old.
1979 – D/Cst Thomas TSHUMA, SB, BSAP, died in a vehicle accident in the Op Tangent operational area, aged 30 years.
1980 – FR Kenny Fanyana NGWENYA, PATU, BSAP, was killed in a vehicle accident in the Inyati area, Matabeleland, aged 25.