On 24 June, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
24 Jun 1964: Air Mechanic Petrus Albertus Brits from the School of Technical Training died at his home in Pretoria as a result of self-administered poison. No foul play was suspected. He was 30.
24 Jun 1978: 74316852BG Private Anton Nel from 1 Satellite Radar Station at Mariepskop died from head injuries received in a private motor vehicle accident when the vehicle in which he was a passenger, left the road and overturned just after the last bend at the bottom of the Abel Erasmus Pass. He was returning to his unit after being on a 7-day leave pass. He was 20.
24 Jun 1980: 79200606BG Private Michael Johannes Range from the South African Defence Force Institute (SADFI/SAWI) situated in Pietersburg was killed when the military vehicle in which he was travelling suffered a blow-out in one of the front tyres and overturned 26 km from Messina on the Louis Trichardt to Messina Road. He was 18.
24 Jun 1983: 80214372BG Corporal George Louis Steytler from 1 Parachute Battalion was critically wounded in the head when his Patrol TB was attacked by a combined FAPLA/Cuban force while operating in Southern Angola approximately 40 km South of Cahama in an area called Tshipelongo. He Died of Wounds while in the Casevac Helicopter on the flight back to AFB Ondangwa. He was 19.
24 Jun 1989: 85427839BG Rifleman Timothy James Oliver from 5 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle while traveling as a passenger after the driver lost control and the vehicle overturned at Messina. He was 19.
24 Jun 1994: 89751184PE Rifleman Ntlobi John Mathole from 7 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle while traveling as a passenger after the driver lost control and the vehicle hit a tree near Gravalotte. He was 29.
24 Jun 1998: Two members from the Technical Service Corps died at Whittlesea as a result of smoke inhalation. The casualties were:
94804648 Sergeant Alithenjwa Kofi . He was 31.
94814357 Lance Corporal S M Mbali. He was 25.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.