23 March, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
23 Mar 1965: Two SAAF members, one from 7 Squadron and one from 8 Squadron were killed when their AT-6 Harvard, Serial No. 7473 crashed near Bloemfontein during a night cross-country exercise. It appears that the crew may have become disorientated as the wreck indicated that the aircraft had dived almost vertically into the ground while still under full power. The crew were:
PX/50483 2/Lieutenant (Pilot Instructor) Jacobus Johannes le Roux from 8 Squadron. He was 22.
6001910 Candidate Officer (Pupil Pilot) Robin Leslie Jarmain from 7 Squadron. He was 21.
23 Mar 1965: 6315406 Gunner Leonard Edward Parsons from Eastern Province Command was accidentally electrocuted. He was 18.
23 Mar 1968: Lance Corporal Johannes Jurgens Venter, a Load Master at 28 Squadron was accidentally killed in the Magaliesburg Mountains near Rustenburg. The exact nature of the tragic accident is unknown. He was 19.
23 Mar 1978: 75585067PC Private Desmond Marthinus Piedt from Air Force Base Ysterplaat Fire Section accidentally drowned in the swimming pool at his parent’s house in Oudtshoorn. He was 21.
23 Mar 1979: Two members, one from Infantry School and the other from 1 Maintenance Unit were killed in a private motor vehicle accident on the Potchefstroom to Johannesburg road while on a Weekend Pass. The casualties were:
74241993BG Rifleman Joseph Jacobus Marthinus Wentzel from Infantry School. He was 19.
77432490BG Private Jacobus Frederick Pieter van der Poel from 1 Maintenance Unit. He was 17.
23 Mar 1980: 71260731BT Corporal Renier Stephanus van Zyl from Regiment Namutoni SWATF was Killed in Action when he was hit by a Soviet RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 24.
23 Mar 1980: 77659804 BG Rifleman Robert Frederick McShane from the Army Gymnasium in Heidelberg was critically injured in a hit-and-run accident just outside Hoopstad on 18 November 1979 while hitch-hiking home to Cape Town on a weekend pass. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital on 23 March 1980. He was 19.
23 Mar 1981: 77363232BG Second Lieutenant Niel Bernard Johnson from the Equestrian Centre was critically injured in a private motorcycle accident on 14 March 1981. He was admitted to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he sadly succumbed to his injuries on 23 March 1981. He was 19.
23 Mar 1982: 79820684SP Rifleman Johannes Dimbo from 31 Battalion (Later 201 Battalion SWATF) was Killed in Action after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds from a Soviet 60mm mortar bomb explosion during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near Nkongo. He was 22.
23 Mar 1985: 76433721BG 2/Lieutenant Delarey Matthee from 3 SAI was accidentally shot and killed by own forces in his own ambush at Kamanjab. He was tasked to carry out COMOPS patrols in the Kamanjab area and had clearly instructed his troops to shoot in their weapons as they would be setting up an ambush that night. He also ordered his troops to shoot anyone walking into their ambush position. The platoon set up the ambush position and 2/Lt Matthee, accompanied by Lance Corporal Trollip and an interpreter moved out of the ambush position to do a reconnaissance of a nearby kraal. When they got close to the kraal, he instructed Lance Corporal Trollip to return to the ambush position as his blond hair may have given away their position. Finding nothing suspicious at the kraal, 2/Lt Matthee and the interpreter moved off to another kraal some distance away before returning to their ambush position. In total darkness, they entered the ambush position from the opposite side from where they left thus walking directly into the killing zone. 2/Lt Matthee was walking in front carrying his R4 rifle that was fitted with the 50-round assault magazine. The FN MAG machine-gunner and his No 2 on guard duty mistook the weapon for an AK-47 and immediately opened fire. 2/Lt Matthee was riddled with bullets and died instantly. He was 24. The interpreter, only lightly wounded, managed to take cover and identify himself.
23 Mar 1987: 76905983SP Lance Corporal S.J. Gunza died after suffering a fatal heart attack at Buffalo Base. He was 35.
23 Mar 1988: W410355M Constable Jacobus Ignatius van Zyl from the SWA Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action when his Zulu 4 Sierra (Z4S) Casspir was hit by a Soviet RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 22.
23 March 1990: 65796633PE Commandant Henry Walter Venter from 4 Vehicle Reserve Park was killed in a military vehicle accident on the Old Warmbaths Road near Pretoria. He was 40.
23 Mar 1998: 81539447 Sergeant E M Mphasha from the South African Army died of disease in the Brits Hospital. He was 31.
23 Mar 1999: 97209696PV Lance Corporal Ephraim Vusumuzi Zondi from 1 SAI was killed in a military vehicle at the Army Battle School while towing a Ratel. He was 22.
22 to 24 Mar 2013: Thirteen members from 1 Parachute Battalion were Killed in Action during the Battle of Bangui, Central African Republic when 200 South African Soldiers successfully defended their base against an attacking Michel Djotodia's Seleka Rebel Coalition Force numbering approximately 3 000 troops and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy force in the process. The Battle raged from Friday 22 March 2013 until Sunday 24 March 2013. The casualties were:
Corporal Mokgadi Darius Seakamela.
94750312 Corporal Ntebaleng Andrew Mogorosi. He was 39.
Lance Corporal Daniel Sello Molara.
Lance Corporal Lukas Mohapi Tsheke.
Rifleman Lesego Maxwell Hertzog Labatlang.
01021922 Rifleman Zamani Jim Mxhosana. He was 27.
Rifleman Xolani Dlamini.
Rifleman Vusumzi Joseph Ngaleka.
Rifleman Karabo Edwin Matsheka.
Rifleman Khomotso Paul Msenga.
12312312BG Rifleman Maleisane Samuel Thulo. He was 28.
Rifleman Motsamai William Bojane.
Rifleman Thabiso Anthon Phirimana.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.