On 03 July, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
03 Jul 1974: 66421371BA Lance Corporal Johannes Petrus van den Berg Fourie from Air Force Base Ysterplaat was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Kuilsrivier. He was 23.
03 Jul 1987: Two members from 1 Special Service Battalion, attached to the 10 Armoured Car Regiment were Killed in Action when they walked into a kraal, unaware that two SWAPO/PLAN insurgents were hiding in one of the huts. The two troopers first identified themselves to the local Headman in his hut at which point, the two insurgents opened fire. Van Heerden was shot in the forehead with a Makarov pistol and died instantly. Cloete also died instantly after suffering multiple AK-47 gunshot wounds to the chest area. The other members of the 10 Armoured Car Regiment Patrol immediately returned fire and completely destroyed the kraal, killing both SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in the process. The casualties were:
84248277BG Trooper Joseph Johannes Cloete. He was 18.
83382218BG Trooper Jac Van Zyl. He was 19.
03 Jul 1992: Three members from 116 Battalion were killed near Punda Maria in the Kruger National Park when their Mamba vehicle collided with a tree during a follow-up operation against MK Operatives that had entered the area from Moçambique. The casualties were:
81561425PP Lance Corporal Nicholas Bizeki. He was 34.
86740552HJ Rifleman Tonki Frans Kekana. He was 18.
88732045HJ Rifleman Magatikele Alpheus Seerane. He was 25.
03 Jul 1993: 89401194PE Lieutenant Hermanus Jacobus De Waal from Group 33 Headquarters was killed after he suffered multiple injuries in a private motor vehicle accident near Marloth Park in the Komatipoort area when he was flung out of the motor vehicle as it overturned. He was 20.
03 Jul 1993: Five civilians were killed and four more wounded when six APLA operatives opened fire with automatic weapons on shoppers at the Sentra Hyperserve Supermarket in Wesselsbron, Orange Free State. All six APLA operatives were later granted amnesty during 1998. The civilian casualties were:
Maria Fatima de Castro
George Christian Frederick Kleynhans
Johannes Arnoldus Lourens
Michael Andries Sparkhams
Herbert Jacobus van Niekerk
03 Jul 1993: 89401194PE Lieutenant Hermanus Jacobus de Waal from the Army Intelligence Corps attached to Group 33 Headquarters was killed after suffering multiple injuries in a private motor vehicle accident near Marloth Park in the Komatipoort area. He was 20.
03 Jul 1994: 91663955PY Lance Bombardier Skorkie Ewas Koloti from the Artillery School was killed after being shot in the face by an unknown person during an argument at Ikageng. He was 26.
03 Jul 1996: 94856739BF Private Lulamile Eric Mhlobo from Group 39 Headquarters was accidentally killed while travelling as a passenger in a Samil 20 vehicle that overturned near Rhodes after the driver lost control of the vehicle. He was 31.
03 Jul 1998: 88721014 Rifleman Nkosingiphile Orden Mwelase from 111 Battalion died of disease in Ermelo. He was 37.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.