05 March, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
05 Mar 1968: 65294555N Rifleman Cornelius Andre Grobler from 6 SAI was killed in a military vehicle accident in Grahamstown. He was 20.
05 Mar 1974: 71210439N Rifleman Gerhardus Johannes Jacobus van Rhyn from 6 SAI died from gunshot wounds accidentally sustained at Bwabwata in the Western Caprivi Strip. He was 18.
05 Mar 1980: 72208721BT Rifleman Johannes Jacobus Maass from Regiment Erongo was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near the Cut-line in Northern Owamboland. He was 24.
05 Mar 1980: 67339689BT Rifleman Eric Norman van Reenen from 52 Battalion was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near the Cut-line in Northern Owamboland. He was 29.
05 Mar 1980: 77232999BG Rifleman Francois Jacobus van Rooyen from Echo Company, 11 Commando Regiment Echo Company was stationed at Jan Kempdorp when he was killed in a private motor vehicle accident approximately 20km outside Kimberley while travelling home on his first weekend pass. He was 18.
05 Mar 1987: 82522178PE Lance Corporal Darron Andrew Barrie-Smith from the State Presidents Guard was killed in a private motor vehicle accident on the N1 Highway while returning to Voortrekkerhoogte from Johannesburg. The car left the road and hit a concrete drain. He was 19.
05 Mar 1989: 88742382HF Rifleman Moses Mhluleki Nghoma from the Kruger National Park Commando was killed when he suffered an accidentally self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest while on patrol. He had stopped and bent down to re-tie his shoelace and as he bent down, he accidentally touched the rifle trigger and a shot went off, fatally wounding him in the chest. He was 22.
05 March 1993: 91099275CK Lance Corporal Sydwell Boer from 3 SAI was killed in a military vehicle accident on the N3 at Keyridge. He was 25.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.