05 May, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
05 May 1935: 20124 Gunner Daniel Jacobus Botha from the South African Artillery was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Potchefstroom. He was 27.
05 May 1963: P2/24975 Air Corporal Gerrit Johann Wilhelm Du Toit from the School of Technical Training died after sustaining critical head injuries in a private motor vehicle accident at Brooklyn in Pretoria. He was 31.
05 May 1971: Sergeant Gordon Seymore Ticknet Brett from 83 Technical Stores Depot was critically injured in a private vehicle accident between Harrismith and Warden. He was airlifted to 1 Military Hospital in a coma from the Vrede Hospital suffering from severe spinal injuries but he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries in hospital without ever regaining consciousness. He was 25.
05 May 1977: 71527865BT Rifleman Hendrik Johannes Jordaan from Regiment Westelike Provinsie was Killed in Action when he stepped on an Anti-Personnel mine while on patrol in the Jati Strip. He was 21.
05 May 1977: 72512734KT Willem Johannes Pietersen from the Boksburg Commando was part of a four-man squad on Observation Post duties on the Kavango River. The observation post was situated on a small piece of land that formed a peninsula and during the night, the river rose and cut the peninsula off from the river bank. The river started flowing very strongly and during the squad’s attempt to reach the mainland, Pietersen lost his footing and fell into the swollen river where he unfortunately drowned. He was 20.
05 May 1979: 78912672SP Rifleman Pedro Soanga from 32 Battalion died from Cancer in 1 Military Hospital. He was 32.
05 May 1980: Rifleman Simon Kapuna from 101 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Southern Angola. He was 24.
05 May 1980: Two members of 8 SAI were Killed in Action after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds when their TB came under attack from a group of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents using mortars and RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rockets. The casualties were:
74310210BG Rifleman Derek van den Bergh. He was 22.
75342055BG Rifleman Andre Johannes Redelinghuys. He was 20.
05 May 1982: 78369295BG Private Bradley George Self from the South African Medical Corps attached to 1 Military Hospital, was Killed after being knocked down by a civilian motor vehicle on the Ben Schoeman Highway near Halfway House while hitching home to Johannesburg on a weekend pass. He was 20.
05 May 1987: 8406311430 Lance Corporal Rodney Abraham Scott from Group 39 was killed in a motor vehicle accident at Barkley East. He was 21.
05 May 1987: 79346623BG Corporal Frederick Coenraad Prinsloo from the Soutpansberg Military Area was critically injured in a private motor vehicle accident at Messina on 21 March 1987. He was airlifted to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he sadly succumbed to his injuries on 05 May 1987. He was 23.
05 May 1988: 76901388SP Sergeant J.D. Dias from 32 Battalion died after suffering a fatal heart attack while at Buffalo Base. He was 36.
05 May 1992: 84530211PE Lance Corporal Stephanus Petrus Steenekamp from 1 Military Printing Unit was killed in a private motor vehicle accident when his vehicle crashed into a bridge pillar at Fountains in Pretoria. He was 23.
05 May 1994: Corporal Michael John Kelly from Air Force Headquarters was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Pretoria. He was the personal driver for Major General Julius Kriel at the time of his death. He was 23.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.