29 January, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
29 Jan 1956: Air Mechanic Petrus Gerhardus Taljaard from 1 Air Depot died in the Pretoria Hospital after sustaining multiple injuries when he accidentally fell off the back of a private motor cycle while travelling at high speed. He was 20.
29 Jan 1958: Captain Alewyn Petrus Barnard from 1 Locating Battery South African Artillery was also a lecturer at Stellenbosch University. He was killed in a private motor vehicle accident between Johannesburg and Potchefstroom. He had been officially authorised to travel to Potchefstroom using own private transport in order to attend a training course at the School of Artillery. He was 38.
29 Jan 1979: 74300575BG Rifleman Gary James Rautenbach from 6 SAI was critically wounded in a landmine explosion at Endobe on the 20 Jan 1979. He was evacuated by air to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he sadly Died of Wounds on 29 January 1979. He was 20.
29 Jan 1979: 75427427BG Bombardier Peter William Oosthuizen from the School of Artillery was found dead at the Unit with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head administered with a private pistol. He was 19.
29 Jan 1982: 76607282BT Rifleman George Edmond Jacobson from the Kimberley Regiment was killed at Katima Mulilo when he was run over by a private civilian vehicle while manning a control check point. He was 22.
29 Jan 1987: 80521537BG Private Charel Andries Fourie from 5 Maintenance Unit was killed in a military vehicle accident at Ogongo. He was 22.
29 Jan 1987: Four members of the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K (Koevoet) were killed when their Casspir overturned in Northern Owamboland. They were:
W86897F Detective Sergeant Pieter Johannes Collen. He was 30.
Special Sergeant Tulengepo Lungameni. He was 36.
Special Sergeant Petrus Pius. He was 35.
W/405963P Constable Willem Christiaan Scheepers. He was 24.
29 Jan 1991: 63307755PE Staff Sergeant Johannes Siebert Esterhuizen from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment died in the Phalaborwa Hospital after suffering an acute asthma attack which resulted in him choking to death. He was 44.
29 Jan 1995: Two members from Northern Transvaal Command were shot dead by persons unknown while standing guard duty at Swartkoppark. The casualties were:
92679893PY Rifleman Lesibana Johan Lebelo. He was 31.
92679869PY Rifleman Nditsheni Francis Nemarivhoni. He was 28
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.