On 20 July, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset calll.
20 Jul 1974: 69513323BB Corporal Daniel Jacobus Vermaak from the Administrative Service Corps attached to 1 Maintenance Unit died in the South Rand Hospital as a result of multiple injuries sustained in a private motor vehicle accident at Lenz. He was 20.
20 Jul 1982: 77492015BT Corporal Michael Daniel Otto from 912 Battalion SWATF was killed when his SAMIL 20 vehicle overturned at Okahandja. He was driving the vehicle on the Bobbejaan Road from Oshiri Base Camp outside Okahandja, down the mountain to the tar road T-Junction when the vehicles brakes failed. The vehicle was picking up speed so he decided to carry straight on over the tar road into the veld instead of turning onto the tar road. Unfortunately there was a ditch on the other side of the tar road and the vehicles nose dug into the ditch and the vehicle flipped over. His actions, at the cost of his own life, were instrumental in saving the lives of all those who were riding on the back of the vehicle as they either jumped off before, or were thrown clear when the vehicle flipped over. He was 21.
20 Jul 1983: Rifleman James Tjuima a SWATF basic trainee, died in hospital from complications after contracting Pneumonia while undergoing basic training. He was 19.
20 Jul 1983: Two members from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) were Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. They were:
Special Constable Frans Hamutewa. He was 27
Special Constable Klemens Mpase. He was 22.
20 Jul 1984: 81142531BG Rifleman Anton Uys Theron from 8 SAI died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head while standing guard duty at the Unit. He was 19.
20 Jul 1987: 79468609PS Captain Barend Jacobus Vorster from 7 Squadron was killed when his Atlas MB326M Impala Mk I, Serial No. 464 crashed into the sea off Durban after completing a joint training exercise with the South African Navy. As the Pilot accelerated after a low and slow fly past, the aircraft appeared to experience an engine flame-out. An engine re-light was unsuccessful and as the aircraft approached the water, his rear-seater, Captain Renier Pienaar ejected successfully and was rescued by the Strikecraft S.A.S. Magnus Malan (P1569) (SAS Makhanda). As the Pilot ejected, the aircraft wing touched the water and the aircraft flipped over and he was ejected directly into the water. His parachute became entangled in the aircraft tail plane and he was dragged underwater as the wreckage sank.
The aircraft wreckage was located the following day off the Coast of Umdloti, 20m from where the incident occurred with the body of the Pilot still attached to his parachute that was entangled in the wreckage. The aircraft was later salvaged by Pentow Marine and brought to Durban. He was 24.
20 Jul 1988: 79346797BT Corporal Johannes David Gerhardus van der Merwe from 3 Parachute Battalion was killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Batavia. He was 25.
20 Jul 1994: 84716026PE Rifleman Joseph Mahandero from 2 SAI was found dead by the side of the road in Marokeng. The exact cause of death could not be determined. He was 29.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten