08 May, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
08 May 1966: 05197975PE Warrant Officer Class 1 Louis Matthys Jakobus Pienaar from the School of Engineers was attached to the School of Artillery in Potchefstroom when he was killed after his Land Rover was involved in a head-on collision with a civilian vehicle near Heidelberg. He was 45.
08 May 1978: 76695709KK Rifleman Freddy Istain from the South African Cape Corps died from a gunshot wound accidentally sustained in a shooting incident at the Unit. He was 22.
08 May 1979: 78120813PD Rifleman A.R. Daniels from 5 Reconnaissance Commando collapsed and died after suffering a fatal heart attack during a contact with enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 25.
08 May 1980: 79860480HV Rifleman Simon Kanunu from 35 Battalion (Later 101 Battalion SWATF) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 22.
08 May 1980: Two members of 36 Battalion (Later 203 Battalion SWATF) were Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. They were:
78900875SP Rifleman Kumsa Ntamshe. He was 22.
78901378SP Rifleman David Twi. He was 20.
08 May 1981: Two members from 2 Special Service Battalion attached to 2 SAI were Killed in Action in a landmine explosion in Northern Owamboland. They were:
78420015BG Lance Corporal Johannes Petrus Botha.. He was 19.
75556993BG Rifleman Johannes Willem Hanekom. He was 22.
08 May 1985: 74542200BT Rifleman Petrus Johannes Theron from the Germiston Commando was killed in a head-on collision between two Buffel Troop Carriers patrolling in the Kathlehong Township. He was 26.
08 May 1985: Special Constable Linus Abraham from the South West Africa Police Counter Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 24.
08 May 1988: 82360314BG Rifleman Jan Leonard McLeod from Infantry School died from Leukemia in the Johannesburg General Hospital. He was 22.
08 May 1988: 65664575PE Major Colin Ian Randall from Air Force Headquarters suffered a heart attack at his home on 02 May 1988 and was admitted to the 1 Military Hospital intensive care unit in Pretoria in a serious condition. He sadly succumbed on 08 May 1988. He was 38.
08 May 1990: 86202488PE Lance Corporal Matthys Wynand Workel from AFB Bloemspruit was killed in a private motor vehicle accident en route from Bloemfontein to AFB Bloemspruit. He was 20.
08 May 1998: 94789906 Lance Corporal Z I Ndamase from 121 Battalion died of disease in the Cala Hospital. He was 25.
08 May 1998: 77261337PE Flight Sergeant G L Sinclair from Air Force Base Ysterplaat was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Goodwood. He was 37.
08 May 1999: Two members from 5 SAI were accidentally killed while on patrol in the Umsinga/Tugela Ferry area when their Mamba vehicle in which they were passengers, drove off the edge of a cliff. The casualties were:
92685486PV Rifleman Johannes Friday Rubheka. He was 28.
96838529PF Rifleman Wando Edward Selebano. He was 26.
08 May 2001: 82733502PE Warrant Officer Class II Darold Bailey from the SAAF Test Flight and Development Centre Fire Section, collapsed and died after suffering a fatal heart attack while doing a fitness test on the Base. He was 41.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.