12 April, let us pause to remember these young men from our generation who answered the Sunset call.
12 April 1972: Two members, one from the Army service Corps and one from North West Command attached to 4 Field Regiment Headquarters were killed when they were knocked down by a civilian vehicle while standing by the roadside after their convoy had stopped for a rest break on the road between Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom. The casualties were:
66014234E Sergeant Martin Christoffel Kleu from the Army Service Corps. He was 46.
68202035N Private Willem Ockert van den Heever from North West Command Headquarters. He was 19.
12 April 1978: 75557355BG Gunner William Arthur Wienand from 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment was killed when his Unimog overturned about 17 km South of Beacon 43. He was 18.
12 April 1979: 75234328BG Corporal Willem Johannes de Beer from 3 SAI attached to 2 Special Service Battalion, was accidentally killed in Zeerust after being knocked down by a civilian bus while on a weekend pass. He was 19.
12 Apr 1979: 77526713BG Private Nicholaas Johannes de Bruyn from 16 Maintenance Unit Died of Wounds at Grootfontein after being stabbed during an altercation at Grootfontein. He was 19.
12 Apr 1986: 76929140SP Corporal Carlos José from 32 Battalion was accidentally killed when he was run over by a military vehicle at Buffalo Base. He was 35.
12 April 1986: 82713876SP Rifleman Kefas Kalenga Dala from 32 Battalion contracted Meningitis and unfortunately succumbed to the disease while in the Base Hospital at Buffalo. He was 24.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.