17 February, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
17 Feb 1978: 71530927PE Rifleman Louis Lodewyk Bester from Infantry School was killed in a private motor vehicle accident between Richmond and Beaufort-West. He was 22.
17 Feb 1979: 77339984BG Private Jeremiah van der Merwe from South African Medical Service Training Centre was killed in a private motor vehicle accident on Van Reenen’s Pass. He was on a weekend pass and hitch-hiked a lift on the back of a truck that overturned. He was 18.
17 Feb 1980: 05234968PE Staff Sergeant Michael Johannes van der Linde from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 39.
17 Feb 1980: Private Colin Charles van Winkel from the Central Phototechnical Establishment (CPE) at Air Force Base Waterkloof was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Pretoria. He was 19.
17 Feb 1981: 77372753BG Signaler Walter James Griffin from 2 Signal Regiment attached to 237 Troop (BRUSH) in Grootfontein was accidentally killed while returning to Grootfontein when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Otjovasandu in Sector 30. He was pinned under the vehicle and died immediately as the Buffel was lifted off him. He was 19.
17 Feb 1984: 79429882BG Rifleman Hendrik Jacobus Smith from 1 Parachute Battalion was Reported Missing near the Epupa Falls in Kaokoland. The Cunene River was flowing strongly and making whirlpools between the rocks. One of his boots fell into the river and he jumped in to retrieve it. He never re-surfaced and despite an intensive search of the area by the members of the patrol, he was never located. He has no known grave and remains unaccounted for. He was 20.
17 Feb 1985: 80489552BG Corporal Leon van Buisbergen from 6 SAI was accidentally killed in Southern Angola by friendly fire from another South African Infantry Unit. The other Units vehicle had detonated a mine with a Kwevoel and a 6 SAI platoon that was also in the area, went to their assistance. The patrol guarding the vehicle mistook the incoming 6 SAI patrol for SWAPO/PLAN insurgents who were in the area at the time and immediately opened fire. During the fire-fight that developed between the two groups, Corporal van Buisbergen was fatally wounded. He was 20.
17 Feb 1987: Two members from 202 Battalion SWATF were Killed in Action when their Buffel Troop Carrier detonated a landmine in Southern Angola. The casualties were:
84836600SCD Lance Corporal L. Aukhumeb. He was 22.
84817329SCN Rifleman George Henry Edwards. He was 19.
17 Feb 1987: 86855913SWH Rifleman K.S. Kambonde from 102 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Southern Angola. He was 23.
17 Feb 1987 83342097BG Trooper Johann Labuschagne from 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was accidentally killed after being struck by a bullet in a shooting incident that occurred during morning inspection at Oshivello. He was 19.
17 Feb 1988: 55327003PE Staff Sergeant Aubrey Nelson Borcher from 101 Battalion SWATF died in 1 Military Hospital after suffering a fatal heart attack. He was 49.
17 Feb 1988: 84564715BG Lance Corporal William Arthur Frederick Price from 1 SAI, attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group was Killed in Action in Southern Angola during Operation Hooper. UNITA soldiers were attached to the Battalion and it was not uncommon for them to periodically enter the laager area and request food and water. On this occasion, it appears that a FAPLA Special Forces member dressed as a UNITA soldier, infiltrated into the laager and requested Corporal Price to fill up two water bottles for him. As Price unscrewed the cap on one of the bottles, the booby-trapped water bottle exploded, killing him instantly. In the confusion that followed, the FAPLA infiltrator made good his escape. He was 19.
17 Feb 2001: 94683257PE Warrant Officer Class II Charles Nelisiwe Madikizela from 101 Field Workshop was killed in a military vehicle accident when the vehicle he was driving overturned at Postmasburg. He was 61.
17 Feb 2017: Three members from the South African Navy died while trying to rescue two members from the Department of Public Works who were working in a sewage pit repairing the valve. Toxic gas started escaping into the pit that affected their breathing and one PWD member managed to exit the pit and call for assistance. A black employee from another Contractor working on the Island arrived on the scene and went into the pit to assist but also got into difficulties. The PWD worker flagged down a SANDF Maritime Reaction Squadron Bus that was passing by and three Navy members on the bus unselfishly reacted immediately and entered the pit to rescue the workers. Unfortunately, they were also overcome by the toxic gases and as more assistance arrived, members with breathing apparatus descended into the pit and recovered all six bodies. All resuscitation attempts failed to revive the three Sailors or the three workers and Paramedics pronounced all six members dead at the scene. The Military casualties were:
Leading Seaman Amrithlall Tothara Ramdin from Naval Base Durban. He was 41.
Able Seaman Francois William Mundell from SAS Makhanda. He was 26.
Seaman Henro Ter Borg from the Maritime Reaction Squadron. He was 21.
NOTE: All Three Members were Posthumously Awarded the Nkwe Ya Gauta (Gold Leopard) Decoration for Bravery on 21 February 2023
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.