07 June, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
07 Jun 1975: 67283861BA Corporal Nicolaas Phillipus Johannes Wasserman from the Air Force Gymnasium was killed in a private motor vehicle accident when his vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle on the Ogies to Witbank Road. He was 23.
07 Jun 1977: 66291022BT Lieutenant Alwyn Merwe van Zyl from Regiment Oranje Rivier died in the Grootfontein Hospital after contracting malaria while serving in the Northern Operational Area. He was 26.
07 June 1978: 71214126BG Leading Seaman Walter Francois Buitendach from Naval Base Walvis Bay was killed in a private motor vehicle accident when his vehicle overturned approximately 55 km from Keetmanshoop on the Mariental Road. He was 23.
07 Jun 1979: 01127414PR Commandant Nicholaas Johannes Claasen from 1 Construction Regiment suffered fatal heart attack at his home. He was 56.
07 Jun 1979: 75316802BG Rifleman Warren Kenneth van Rensburg from the Army Battle School was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Karrasburg. He was 20.
07 Jun 1981: Two members of the South African Medical Corps were killed after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds in an accidental hand grenade explosion at Walvis Bay. They were:
77216893BG Private Henry John Pieterse. He was 20
78248440BG Private Kevin Henry Stanley. He was 19.
07 Jun 1982: 81565384SP Rifleman Carlos Everisto from 32 Battalion was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 21.
07 Jun 1983: Two members of 5 Reconnaissance Regiment were Reported Missing during a Contact with Enemy Forces in Southern Angola. Sergeant Mbele was captured by SWAPO/PLAN insurgents and subsequently executed. He has no known Grave and remains unaccounted for. The body of Lance Corporal Shilongo was later located and recovered. The casualties were:
77120483 Sergeant Lloyd Mziwandile Mbele. He was 37.
Lance Corporal Oivo Shilongo. He was 22.
07 Jun 1983: Two members from 201 Battalion SWATF attached to Battle Group Alpha were killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. The casualties were:
2/Lieutenant Johannes Gerhardus le Roux. He was 20
Rifleman Jan Samosaka. He was 27
07 Jun 1985: 83821769SC Trooper Johannes Ludwig Basson from 701 Battalion SWATF was killed at M’pacha after being struck by a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldiers rifle. He was 19.
07 Jun 1991: 85424331BG Private Petrus Louwrens Nel from 61 Base Workshop, Technical Service Corps was killed in a private motor vehicle accident near Springs while on a weekend pass. He was 22.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.