14 June, let us pause to remember these young men and women from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
14 Jun 1953: 641236 Auxiliary Petrus Mqwati from the Bantu Labour Service (B.L.S.) and who was a World War Two Veteran (N/69333 Private Petrus Mqwati Native Military Corps) died from meningitis in 1 Military Hospital at Voortrekkerhoogte. He was 38.
14 Jun 1959: Major William Ross van Blerk from the South African Artillery was killed in a private motor vehicle accident while on vacation leave. He was 42.
14 Jun 1962: Sergeant Barend Jacobus Liebenberg from 1 Air Depot died in 1 Military Hospital as a result of spinal injuries sustained after he lost control of his private motor vehicle which overturned in Pretoria. He was 38.
14 Jun 1979: 76694694PE Rifleman Lloyd Matthew Marthinus Kastoor from the South African Cape Corps was killed in a military vehicle accident at Grootfontein. He was 20.
14 June 1980: Rifleman Donald Philip Romans from 1 Parachute Battalion was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in East London while on a Weekend Pass. He was 18.
14 Jun 1982: 78373917BG Private Martinus de Korte, an Air Force Dog Handler based at Air Force Base Potchefstroom died from injuries sustained in a private motorcycle accident on the Welkom to Klerksdorp road while on a weekend pass. He was 19.
14 Jun 1982: 80830078SP Rifleman F. Tjihinga from 32 Battalion died in the Medical Facility at Buffalo Base after suffering multiple organ failure. He was 34.
14 Jun 1986: Three civilian women were killed and 71 other civilians injured when a car bomb planted by MK operatives, exploded outside Magoo's Bar and the "Why Not" Restaurant in Durban. The casualties in this terror incident were:
Killed:
Angelique Pattenden
Julie van der Linde
Marchelle Gerand
Wounded / Injured:
Helen Kearney
Lorraine de la Rosa
Jonathan Jeffers
Rajesh Durlcharm
Paula Harvey
Kevin Byrne
B. Giddy
G. Tonetti
A. van Wyk
T. Vilonel
L. Valentine
L. Waterworth
I. Walton
A. De Chalain
M. Plaatjies
Victor Mchunu
S. Mintz
E. Maker
Gavin Maxwell
B.Newby-Fraser
L. Oliver
C. Olds
D. Pavillon
W. Puttock
M. Rathbone
M. Roe
F. Robits
K. Robert
P. Swart
J. Saich
R. Ferreira
L. Friar
Carl Hadden
T. Hempstead
Keith Hulse
R. Ferreira
S. Jefferies
J. Kerlen
I. Joao
C. Kenning
L. Koenig
E. Langridge
L. Livingston
H. Merval
John McKenna
P. Mulholland
Mr Fiddler
Mrs Fiddler
A. Strydom
P. Byrom
E. Booth
D. Bret
Michael Blair
J. Blair
Christopher Clarkson
M. Coeks
Jenny Cubbit
A. Duncan
F. Drummel
L. Donaghue
C. Edgar
K. English
Dennis Eaby
E. Ethell
B. Erasmus
James Ferguson
David Fletcher
Roger Shillaw
M. Cyrnow
14 Jun 1994: 85342848PY Trooper Reinier Jacobus Kruger from 2 Special Service Battalion died as a result of multiple injuries sustained while on leave when he accidentally fell from the 8th floor verandah at Gaylene Flats in Sunnyside, Pretoria. Witnesses state that he lost his balance after leaning out too far over the railings. He was 25.
14 Jun 1994: 93655637PY Lance Corporal Obert Ntshangase from 5 SAI was killed in a military vehicle accident near Eshowe. He was 24.
14 Jun 1999: 95092854PV Trooper Sandile Gwala from the School of Armour was killed in a military vehicle accident at the unit when his vehicle burst a tyre and overturned. He was 23.
14 Jun 2021: Two K-9’s from the Pietermaritzburg Police K-9 Unit were Killed in Action and Died of Wounds received during a shoot-out in broad daylight with heavily armed suspects in the Bishopstowe policing area on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg. K-9 Shaka was Killed in Action during the take-down and K-9 Simba and K-9 Duke were critically wounded with gunshot wounds to the head. Both were Casevaced by Chopper to the Hilton Veterinary Hospital where K-9 Simba subsequently Died of Wounds. K-9 Duke, although critically wounded, survived and was later discharged. Three of the armed suspects were shot dead by Police at the scene during the fire-fight and one managed to escape. The suspects were wanted in connection with the killing of the Acting Station Commander of the Ndwedwe Police Station, Lieutenant Colonel Jubulani Ndawonde, 55, who was gunned down in Bhamshela in May 2021.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.