28 August, let us pause for a minute to remember these young men and women from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
28 Aug 1954: P8985 Sergeant Matthys Andries De Beer from the South African Marine Corps died after suffering a fatal heart attack while in the Single Quarters at Defence Headquarters. He was 36.
28 Aug 1974: 72592280N Rifleman Albino Moreira Christello from 11 Commando Regiment was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident 140 km East of Rundu. He was 18.
28 Aug 1980: Two members from 41 Battalion (Later 911 Battalion SWATF) were Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. They were:
79877221SN Rifleman Jacob Fredericks. He was 18.
79876256SC Rifleman Joseph van Rensburg. He was 19.
28 Aug 1981: A member from 6 SAI and a member from the South African Medical Corps were both Killed in Action while on patrol in Southern Angola. The Patrol had formed into a defensive circle when an enemy 82mm High Explosive mortar bomb landed and exploded near their position. Both members suffered multiple shrapnel wounds and were killed instantly. The casualties were:
76360833BG Lance Corporal Petrus Kruger from 6 SAI. He was 20.
78419827BG Lance Corporal Mark Anthony Plateel, the Ops Medic from the South African Medical Corps. He was 19.
28 Aug 1981: 76909274SP Rifleman Domingos Paulo from 32 Battalion died from a gunshot wound sustained in a shooting accident at Fort Doppies in the Caprivi Strip. He was 32.
28 Aug 1983: 78919400SP Rifleman Jorge Nambi from 32 Battalion was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident while in pursuit of an enemy patrol in Southern Angola. He was 28.
28 Aug 1990: 87107736HD Rifleman Laurens Stef Mdaka from the Kruger National Park Commando was critically injured in a military vehicle accident at Letaba Bridge on 17 August 1990. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on 28 August 1990. He was 25.
28 Aug 1994: 83737130PE Staff Sergeant (Mrs) Mary Francis Anne van Heerden from Natal Command was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Durban. She was 38.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.