25 April, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
25 April 1978: 74562521BG Private Alan David Dixon from 16 Maintenance Unit at Grootfontein was killed just outside Rundu town when his Magirus Deutz truck that was loaded with supplies for the 32 Battalion Element stationed at Nkurenkuru, overturned after the vehicles one front tyre suffered a blow-out causing him to lose control of the vehicle. He was crushed inside the drivers cab. He was 19.
25 April 1980: 70394770PE Lieutenant Peter Henry Hollis from 8 Squadron was Reported Missing over Southern Angola while flying Atlas MB326KM Impala Mk II, Serial Number 1029. He was one of a pair of Impala aircraft carrying out an armed reconnaissance mission in Southern Angola when they located and attacked an enemy target. While pulling off the target, his aircraft was struck by enemy ground fire and burst into flames. Peter was seen to successfully eject from the aircraft before it hit the ground but no further news was received from him and no visual reference could be obtained on him on the ground. An intensive air search was conducted over the area but nothing was found. Later that same evening just before sunset, a Paratrooper Fire-Force Element aboard Puma Helicopters were en-route to a designated Drop Zone at tree top level when a Paratrooper on board one of the helicopters, noticed what appeared to be a parachute entangled in some trees and threw out a smoke grenade to mark the spot and informed his Lieutenant who in turn, informed the Helicopter Crew. The Helicopter broke away from the formation and landed in the vicinity of the sighting. The stick of Paratroopers on board immediately searched the area and located his body, partially hidden under trees, still attached to his parachute. The body was removed from the parachute and successfully recovered. A White Phosphorus Grenade was thrown onto the spot by the Lieutenant to destroy and parachute and the Helicopter returned to AFB Ondangwa. It appeared that Peter had not lowered his ejector seat prior to ejecting and his neck had been broken when his head impacted with the cockpit canopy at the moment of ejection, killing him instantly. He was 25.
25 April 1980: 78443991BG Sapper Adeo Marais from the School of Engineers was killed instantly in an accidental explosion at the Units ammunition store. He was 17.
25 April 1981: 76389154BG Corporal Barend Frederick Burger from the South African Catering Corps was killed in a military vehicle Accident at Elandsfontein. He was 20.
25 April 1987: Able Seaman Leon Viljoen Drotsky from 111 Harbour Protection Unit, South African Marine Corps was killed in a private motor cycle accident. He was 24.
25 April 1994: Three civilians were killed and four others seriously injured when a pipe bomb exploded at 08h20 in a restaurant on the corner of Bloed Street and 7th Avenue in Pretoria. The three casualties in this incident were:
Joyce Baloyi
Samuel Masemola
One unknown adult Male who’s remains could not be positively identified
25 April 1994: Ten civilians were killed and more than 100 injured when a trailer bomb, that had been towed to Germiston, exploded at 08h35 in Odendaal Street near the Taxi Rank. The casualties in this attack were:
Paul Etere Ontory
Piet Mashinini
Phillip Nelaphi Nkosi
Mbulawa Jonathan Skosana
Lucas Shemane Bokaba
Gloris Khoza
Fickson Mlala
Mbereyeni Maracus Siminza
Thulani Buthelezi
Thoko Rose Sithole
25 April 2002: Captain Brett Burmeister from 85 Combat Flying School was killed when his Atlas MB326K Impala Mk II, Serial No. 1091 flew into rising ground and disintegrated on impact approximately 5km East of the Albasini Dam, located between Louis Trichardt and Messina. He was conducting an officially authorised low-level tactical navigation exercise at the time of the accident. He was 25.
Their names and sacrifices Willem Grobler not be forgotten.