27 September, let us pause for a minute to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
27 Sep 1981: 76901255SP Rifleman America Jose from 32 Battalion was shot dead by a fellow soldier during an argument at Buffalo Base. He was 26.
27 Sep 1982: 75297598BT Private Renier Nicolaas Johannes Grobler from 3 Satellite Radar Station at Mafeking was killed in a private motor vehicle accident hear Ottoshoop while doing a compulsory 30 day camp. He was 22.
27 Sep 1982: 69011575BV Staff Sergeant Willem Petrus Burger from South African Army Headquarters died at 1 Military Hospital after suffering a fatal heart attack. He was serving in a Reserve Force capacity at the time, having reached retirement age. He was 62.
27 Sep 1984: Two members from 2 Special Service Battalion were accidentally killed when their SAMIL 20 overturned at Groot Marico after the front tyre burst and the driver to lost control of the vehicle. The casualties were:
80403264BG Trooper Jeams Andries Solomon Theodorus Randall. He was 20.
81327694BG Trooper Frans Hendrik Jansen van Vuuren. He was 19.
27 Sep 1985: 79218160BG Rifleman Coenraad Johannes Jacobus Bel from 4 SAI was killed in a private motor vehicle accident while on a weekend pass. He was 22.
27 Sep 1990: 85083319BW Corporal Freek Johannes Palmer from the Cape Regiment Died of Wounds after being shot by an unknown gunman using a home-made weapon while he was on a foot patrol in Kwamashu Township. He succumbed to his wounds in the Addington Hospital later that day. He was 26.
27 Sep 1994: 93663904PY Rifleman Matsobane Jacob Langa from 7 SAI was accidentally killed when struck by a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.