08 June, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
08 Jun 1949: 642002 Private Martinus Sekati from the Essential Services Protection Corps, (ESPC) died after contracting meningitis. He was 63.
08 Jun 1965: P/8732 Flight Sergeant Ignatius William Ferreira from Air Force Base Swartkop was found critically wounded as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head using a .38 service pistol. He was admitted to 1 Military Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. He was 41.
08 Jun 1965: Lieutenant Johan George Jacobs from 10 Air Depot, South African Air Force died in 1 Military Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was 41.
08 Jun 1966: 01221001R Commandant Johan Adam Swanepoel from Air Force Station Voortrekkerhoogte died in 1 Military Hospital after suffering a cerebral thrombosis. He was 59.
08 Jun 1976: 73448136BA Corporal Hendrik Josias Stephanus Coetzee from 4 Maintenance Unit was killed in a military vehicle accident at Wenela Base in the East Caprivi. He was 19.
08 June 1979: 75440727BG Rifleman Frederick Jacobus Weitsz from 8 SAI was the Duty Driver for the day and while en-route to pick up a passenger, he lost control of his Land Rover while travelling on a gravel road, causing the vehicle to overturn approximately 4 km from Upington. He died at the scene of the accident. He was 20.
08 Jun 1979: 74412909BA Rifleman Johannes Leonardus Truter from 8 SAI was attached to the 35 Battalion Mortar Section. He was critically wounded in the head when his Temporary Base near Beacon 6 was attacked by a large group of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents at first light on 04 February 1979. A single 7,62 x 39mm bullet from a Soviet RPD light machine-gun, penetrated through a sandbag and struck him just above the left eye, leaving him completely paralysed. He was evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria where he sadly succumbed to his wounds on 08 June 1979 while still in the intensive care unit without ever regaining consciousness. He was 21. A Memorial Plaque in his Honour was later unveiled at the Drostdy Technical High School in Worcester.
08 Jun 1981: 75405548BG 2/Lieutenant Duncan Frederick Lahner from 32 Battalion was accidentally killed when his Buffel Troop Carrier overturned at Buffalo Base. He was 21.
08 Jun 1984: Two members from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment were Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. The casualties were:
Corporal D. Shiningivali. He was 24
Lance Corporal K. Awino. He was 22.
08 Jun 1985: 83895311SWH Rifleman Izaskar Kariko from 911 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents near the Cut-line. He was 22.
08 Jun 1987: 83241737BG Corporal Jacques Barend Zaayman from 1 SAI was killed on the Maselspoort to Glen Road outside Bloemfontein when his Ratel overturned while he was instructing a pupil in driving skills. He was 19.
08.Jun 1987: Two members from 7 Squadron, based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg, were killed in a private motor vehicle accident when their vehicle rammed into the rear of a stationary truck at the crossing of the Ysterfontein and Westcoast Roads in conditions of dense fog and poor visibility. The car immediately burst into flames and burnt out. The casualties were:
Lieutenant Leonard Marias Du Plessis. He was 22.
(A Lieutenant whose name is currently unknown)
08 Jun 1988: 01488386PE Colonel Andre Bekker from the South African Air Force was killed when his civilian aircraft, a Christen Husky, Registration ZS-LXM crashed at Wonderboom Airport during a routine training flight. He was 46.
08 Jun 1993: 69546331PE Sergeant Wilhelm Johannes Britz from the South African Ordnance Corps attached to Western Province Command Maintenance Unit was killed when he accidentally fell out of a SAMIL vehicle while travelling on the road between Barrydale and Ladismith. He was 39.
08 Jun 1993: 89248629PK Corporal Michael Perold from 2 Field Engineer Regiment died after he collapsed and choked to death while dining in a restaurant in Pretoria. He was 20.
08 Jun 1998: 94655578 Lance Corporal M B Mofokeng from 121 Battalion was killed in Sebokeng after suffering gunshot wounds inflicted by persons unknown. He was 28.
08 Jun 1999: 92673268PV Rifleman Sello Raymond Donald Martins from 21 Battalion was critically injured when he was accidentally hit on the head by a wheel spanner while pumping a military vehicle tyre. He was admitted to the Baragwaneth Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. He was 26.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.