31 March, let us pause to remember these young men and women from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
31 Mar 1960: Air Mechanic Daniel Johannes Deacon Terblanche from 1 Air Depot, was killed after suffering multiple injuries when he was struck by a civilian motor vehicle while standing on the corner of Van Riebeeck and Lyttelton Road in Voortrekkerhoogte, Pretoria. He was 23.
31 Mar 1969: 66013145E Sergeant Theophillus Worst from the Administrative Services Corps attached to 3 Supply and Transport Depot was killed in a private motor vehicle accident. He was 46.
31 Mar 1977: 65576993BA Private Wilhelm Jacobus Johannes van Niewenhuizen from 32 Field Workshop Squadron was killed in a military vehicle accident. He was 28.
31 Mar 1978: 68090471PC Corporal Alfred May Carelse from the Cape Corps attached to 4 Vehicle Reserve Park was critically injured on 18 March 1978 when the South African Police vehicle in which he was travelling as a passenger, was involved in a head-on collision with a civilian vehicle in Bloemfontein. He was admitted to 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein where he sadly succumbed to his injuries on 31 March 1978. He was 30.
31 Mar 1979: 76297118BJ Rifleman Brian Mark Liebenberg from 4 SAI was killed when the military Unimog in which he was traveling overturned at Oshakati. He was 19.
31 Mar 1979: 73386682PE Lance Corporal Petrus Stephanus Marais from 61 Base Workshop was killed when his private motor vehicle was involved in a head-on collision at Beaufort West. He was 21.
31 Mar 1984: 72436942BT Rifleman Grant Edward Brierley from the Congella Regiment died in hospital after being critically injured on 30 March 1984 when his Military Landrover Vehicle was struck and completely crushed by an articulated vehicle loaded with logs that jack-knifed across the road approximately 9 km outside Richmond. Four other members from the Regiment and Group 10 Headquarters were killed instantly in the accident. He was 27.
31 Mar 1993: 81538316HD Rifleman Khayizeni Jackson Nukeri from 7 SAI was killed when his military riot vehicle collided with a tree during operations near Bode. He was 37.
31 Mar 1994: 93759332PK Private Lundi Zali from the South African Intelligence Corps was Killed in Action when he was shot dead by persons unknown during military operations at Crossroads, Nyanga, Cape Town. He was 22.
31 Mar 1995: 76906957PE Corporal Joaó Lopes from 32 Battalion died in the Hospital at Pomfret after suffering a fatal stroke. He was 47.
31 Mar 2001: 95071668PF Rifleman Modisi John Mahaule from 9 SAI was killed when the military vehicle in which he was traveling overturned at Hoedspruit. He was 28.
31 Mar 2001: 93764710PF Rifleman Thandolwakhe Douglas Mkhize from 5 SAI was killed when his private motor vehicle overturned at Eshowe while he was returning to his Unit. He was 30.
31 Mar 2011: Colonel (Mrs) Elsa Magdalena Zimmer (nee’ Brits) from the Bushveld Airspace Control Sector (BACS), died in Hospital in Pretoria after being diagnosed with Cancer. She was 54.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.