Today, 1 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
01 Mar 1974: W56166K Constable Wynand Calitz from the South African Police was Killed in Action in a contact with insurgents 2km West of the Chironga Mission at Mount Darwin, Rhodesia, during Operation Hurricane. He was 22.
01 Mar 1988: Special Constable Thomas Kanitus 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 23.
01 Mar 1990: Four members of the SADF were killed while traveling as passengers in a military minibus when the vehicle collided with a stationary truck at Muldersdrift while they were travelling from Pretoria to Potchefstroom. The casualties were:
- 83416552BG Private Gerhardus Stephanus De Bruin from Danie Theron Combat School. He was 22.
- 85561322BG Rifleman Louis Frederick Putter from the Equestrian Centre. He was 20.
- 86461050BG Gunner Jaques Terblanche from 10 Artillery Brigade. He was 19.
- 87422853BG Private Edward George Kruger from Military Medical Command. He was 19
01 Mar 1997: 94764669PE Rifleman Mbulelo Timakwe from 5 SAI was Killed in action after being shot dead by persons unknown while he was on foot patrol at Esikodini. He was 21.
01 Mar 1998: 71207351KV Warrant Officer Class II Casper Stander from the Bethal Commando was shot dead by a fellow soldier while he was on duty at the Bethal Commando Headquarters. He was 33.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1968 – L/Cpl Victor Simons, 1st Bn RLI, KOAS. Died of a spinal compression in an accident.
1977 – Pte Stanford Dube, 2nd Bn RAR, KIA.
1977 – DA Wilson Mubayiwa, Regular Intaf, Murdered by Cts near Mrewa.
1977 – FA Anthony Temple-Miller (aged 30), ADF Intaf, KIA in Shamva, Op Hurricane.
1978 – Cst Robert Chawatama (aged 23), Uniform BSAP, KIA.
1978 – FR Patrick Gandawa (aged 23 ), PR BSAP, KIA.
(Both policemen above were KIA in the Triangle area, Op Repulse.)
1978 – Gd M. Chimtasha, PV Prtn Group, DOAS.
1978 – Gd B. Chinyadze, PV Prtn Group, DOAS.
1978 – Rfn Phillip Grigoratos, 2nd Bn RDR, DOAS of malaria.
1978 – Pte Gordon Jackson, 1st Bn RDR, KIA.
1978 – Pte E. Jones, unit unknown, KOAS in a vehicle accident.
1978 – Gd A. Mapita, PV Prtn Group, DOAS.
1978 – Pte Langton Matambo, D Coy, 1st Bn RR, DOAS.
1978 – Gd J. Ndlovu, PV Prtn Group, DOAS.
1978 – Spr Victor Nkomo, 1 Sqn RhE, KIA.
1978 – Pte Allen Truter, unit unknown, DOAS.
1979 – Maj Robert Davies, Army, DOAS.
1979 – DSA N. Kesari, Kp Prtn Intaf, DOAS.
1979 – DSA Freddie Makomechi, Kp Prtn Intaf, DOAS.
1979 – Gd N. Masarakufa, PV Prtn Group, DOAS.
1979 – Gd F. Matare, PV Prtn Group, DOAS.
1979 – Gd J. Muramboduro, PV Prtn Group, DOAS.
1979 – DSA Livingstone Ngwenya, Kp Prtn Intaf, KIA.
1979 – Pte Charles Siziba, C Coy, 4th Bn RR, KIA.
1980 – Flt Lt Kenneth Sampson, RhAF, DOAS.