24 December, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
24 Dec 1976: 73570574BC Private Philip Lindsay Backhouse from 16 Maintenance Unit was killed when the civilian motorcycle he had borrowed, was involved in an accident at the corner of Bosman & Church Street in Pretoria. He was 19.
24 Dec 1976: 74252131BN Private Hermanus Jakobus van der Westhuizen from 13 Maintenance Unit was killed in a military vehicle accident at the Letaba Training Area. He was 18.
24 Dec 1976: Sergeant Stephen Graham van Biljon from Central Flying School Dunnottar died after suffering a fatal heart attack while on the Base. He was 38.
24 Dec 1978: 78010618PR Corporal Carl Frederick Pieter Willem Johannes Ströh from 1 Construction Regiment collapsed and died at Marievale after suffering a fatal heart attack. He was 55.
24 Dec 1978: 74324062PF Sergeant Abrie Pieter De Man from 2 SAI was killed in a military vehicle accident in Kavangoland. He was 20.
24 Dec 1979: 67429159KT Rifleman Phillipus Arnoldus Schenk from the Moot Commando was accidentally shot dead by a fellow soldier during a contact with insurgents on the Rhodesian Border. He was 28.
24 Dec 1980: 75351973BT Signaler Thomas Arnold Du Toit from the Orange Free State Command Signal Unit Died of Wounds after being accidentally shot in a friendly fire incident near Oshakati. A SWAPO/PLAN hideout was identified and surrounded by armoured vehicles. In the darkness, a Lieutenant, together with Signaler Du Toit who was carrying the radio, accidentally entered No-Man’s Land between the insurgent location and the armoured vehicles which then opened fire, wounding the officer in the leg. Du Toit received what was first thought to be a flesh wound on the rib cage but on closer inspection, it was discovered that a small-arms projectile had in fact penetrated his body and he later succumbed to his wounds as a result of internal bleeding. He was 21.
24 Dec 1980: 80201841BG Rifleman Barend Petrus Gert Visser from 8 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Klerksdorp. He was 19.
24 Dec 1981: 80586233CK Rifleman Karel Theunissen from the South African Cape Corps was Killed in Action when his Buffel Troop Carrier detonated a Landmine while on patrol in Northern Owamboland. He was 19.
24 Dec 1983: 80540933BG Trooper Johan van Tonder from 10 Armoured Car Squadron was critically injured approximately 35km from Grootfontein on the Tsumeb road after his Eland 90 Armoured Car broke down. He was part of a convoy that had collected ammunition in Grootfontein and while he was busy carrying out repair, he was struck by a civilian vehicle. He sadly succumbed to his injuries later in the Grootfontein Hospital. He was 19.
24 Dec 1987: 81309981BT Rifleman Pieter Breytenbach from 44 Parachute Regiment Echo Company was Reported Missing during a parachuting training exercise at Witrivier. He was seen to land in the Crocodile River and despite an intensive search, his body was never located. He has no known grave and remains unaccounted for. He was 22.
24 Dec 1994: 94735412AD Lance Corporal Tebogo David Maduo from the South African Infantry Corps attached to the Bophuthatswana Defence Force Headquarters died of lung and cardiac failure in the Boipalong Hospital. He was 28.
24 Dec 1994: Two members from 121 Battalion where killed by a fellow soldier in a shooting incident at Margate. The casualties were:
88718549PE Rifleman Mthandeni Mthethwa. He was 29.
93748797PY Rifleman Sibusiso Patrick Ndlovu. He was 24.
24 Dec 1994: 89751242PE Lance Corporal Leshata Petros Phala from 116 Battalion was found murdered at Makgane Stand in Groblersdal while on official vacation leave. He had been shot in the head by persons unknown. He was 24.
24 Dec 1998: 94097409 Staff Sergeant M. Dilimeni from the 1 SAI died of disease in 3 Military Hospital. He was 37.
24 Dec 1998: 96092341 Rifleman E.Z. Mabaso from 121 Battalion was accidentally shot dead by his friend at Stanger. He was 23.
24 Dec 1998: 94999752 Private B. Nhlozi from the Natal Command Maintenance Unit was shot dead by persons unknown in Kwa Mashu while on vacation leave. He was 26.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.