On This Day

On This Day — 16 January

We remember those who died in service on this day:

1900

45820Burgher Johannes Petrus Godfried Le Roux, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces), aged 15. Killed in action, Bosmansspruit.

1901

43506Burgher Brits, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Fauresmith.

1901

48556Burgher Diederik Johannes Greyling, Prisoner of War (Boer Forces), aged 27. Died of pneumonia while a prisoner of war, Simon's Town.

1901

44621Burgher Alfred Ueckermann, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces). Killed in action, Bosmanspruit, Standerton dist.

1902

44903Burgher Jacob Slabbert, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Tygerkloof,OFS.

1915

28324Captain Cornelius Wilkens, Sutherland Commando (Mounted Commandos, S.A. Forces). Killed in action.

1916

350Second Lieutenant George Awburn Allan, Royal Garrison Artillery, aged 23. Killed in action.

1917

47Labourer Henry Abrahams, 18093, Railway Section (Military Labour Bureau, S.A. Forces). Died of dysentery, at Kilwa.

1917

11684Labourer Or Jwazi Jwazi Jwayijwayi, 13681, attd. South African Service Corps (South African Native Labour Bureau). Dar Es Salaam.

1917

41346Native Constable Bugudu Mangimizeni, 1123, 3rd Regt. (South African Mounted Rifles), aged 34. Died at Helpmekaar.

1917

18277Private Joseph Maruti, 3784, 2nd Coy. (South African Native Labour Corps). Died of pneumonia.

1917

16338Private Christian Gabriel Meiring, 14230, 8th Regt. (South African Infantry). Died of uraemia.

1917

17434Sapper John James Morgan, 2633, 7th Field Coy. (Australian Engineers), aged 22. Killed in action.

1917

20442Major Austin Alfred Pocock, 5th (South African Horse). Died of appendicitis and heart failure.

1917

24445Mule Driver Jan Stuurman, 16728, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.

1918

536Private Montague Alexander Harding Andrews, 688231, 47th Bn. (Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment)), aged 36. Died of broncho pneumonia.

1918

7722Driver Edward Henry Froud, MT/2486, M.t. (South African Service Corps). Died of pneumonia.

1918

12254Private Johannes King, 2575, 1st (Cape Corps). Died of blackwater fever, at Durban.

1918

12470Private William Crawford Knox, 355, 10th (South African Horse), aged 23. Died of cerebral malaria.

1918

29078Labourer Harry Zenzile, 4728, attd. Depots Pietmaritzburg and Durban (South African Native Labour Bureau). Died of dysentery, at Jacobs Camp Durban.

1919

20807Private Christian Punzwayo, 16131, South African Native Labour Corps. Died of tuberculosis of the lungs.

1941

9187Corporal Joseph George Frederick Hardwick, 34493, Q Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 33. Died on active service.

1941

10941Steward Isaac Jaffe, S.S. Oropesa (Liverpool) (Merchant Navy), aged 22. Killed in action. On 16 January 1941 at 0356 hrs Oropesa was southeast of Rockall in the Western Approaches when the German Type VIIC submarine U-96, commanded by Kptlt Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock, hit her in the stern with one G7a torpedo. Oropesa did not sink immediately, so U-96 waited and at 0440 hrs fired another torpedo, but that malfunctioned and went in circles. U-96 fired again at 0503 and 0559 hrs, this time hitting Oropesa beneath her bridge and amidships. The liner capsized and sank at 0616 hrs.

1941

16651Private Harry Miller, 75132, Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles, S.A. Forces, aged 31. Died of cavernous sinus thrombosis.

1941

28866Lance Bombardier Archie E Wright, B/9424, 4 (Rhodesia) Anti-Tank Bty. (Southern Rhodesia Artillery), aged 33. Drowned, in the Tana River.

1942

2564Sapper James Russell Brett, 132501, South African Engineer Corps, aged 35. Died on active service.

1942

4567Private Kenneth Wesley Coverly, 116736, Technical Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 27. Died of peritonitis and intestinal obstruction caused by inflammatory reaction.

1942

8806Private John Derrick Lennox Grix, 27585, 2nd Bn. (Transvaal Scottish, S.A. Forces). Died on active service.

1942

11665Private Goliath Jumat, C/168982, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 25. Died on active service.

1942

11860Warrant Officer Class II Kaulungombe, NRA/153, 5th Bn. (Northern Rhodesia Regiment). Died on active service.

1942

12555Private Koning, 1183, Essential Services Protection Corps, S.A. Forces. Died on active service.

1942

13124Staff Sergeant Gert Petrus Le Roux, 45338, South African Army Postal Corps, aged 32. Died of chronic nephritis.

1942

22993Private Jim Puledi Shoba, N/837, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Killed in action.

1942

23181Private John Mercer Simpson, 221696, 2nd Bn. (Transvaal Scottish, S.A. Forces), aged 31. Died on active service.

1942

27034Lieutenant Henry Jack Van Staden, 103441, 45 Air School (South African Air Force), aged 26. Died in Aircraft Accident, unable to pull out of dive and crashed 2 miles SE of Willowmore, in Avro Anson #1166.

1943

7573Pilot Officer Roger Nicholas Franklin, 127956, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 20. Died in Aircraft Accident, Spitfire P8396 "Bermuda II" collided with Spitfire X4067 "Hissar II" piloted by Sergeant G. A. Kemp, while in formation over Cross Farm, St Hilary, Cowbridge, Glamorgan. Pilot of Spitfire P8396 killed; baled out of aircraft over Bristol Channel 1 mile S of St.Athan.

1943

10851Leading Air Mechanic Douglas Thompson Stanley Jacobs, 186653, South African Air Force, aged 38. Died of gastric carcinoma.

1943

14030Air Mechanic William R Lumley, 327279, South African Air Force, aged 18. Died on active service.

1943

16683Sergeant Tom Miller, 777923, 61 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), aged 21. Died on active service.

1943

17093Corporal Samuel Mokgele, N/21592, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died of stab wounds.

1943

23448Sergeant Charles Franklin Smith, 4983816, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), aged 27. Died on active service.

1943

27813Lieutenant Hugh Geoffrey Watkin, X/15964, 1 Coast Security Unit, Kenya Det. (East African Intelligence Corps), aged 51. Died on active service.

1944

263Lieutenant Edward Leriche Aitchison, 206718V, 74 Operational Training Unit RAF (South African Air Force), aged 24. Died in Aircraft Accident, in the Middle East, while transporting a plane to the forward area.

1944

18824Lance Corporal Alexander Nisbet, 1922475, 2 Parachute Sqn. (Royal Engineers), aged 24. Died on active service.

1944

28895Second Lieutenant James Mitchell Wright, 328352V, 1525 Flt (South African Air Force), aged 20. Died in aircraft accident, Airspeed Oxford 1, serial HN469, of 1525 Beam (or Blind) Approach Training Flight, based at RAF Docking, which crashed near Docking railway station at 11.55Hrs. The aircraft was approaching the Airfield in bad weather and struck some trees.

1945

2010Private Johny Bock, C/321200, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 45. Died after discharge.

1945

15143Staff Sergeant Joseph W Marinus, 177671V, South African Corps of Military Police. Died on active service.

1945

27915Pupil Pilot John Wellesley Weaver, 206009, South African Air Force, aged 25. Died on active service.

1946

1092Gunner Joseph Bark, 157698V, South African Artillery, aged 43. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis, after discharge.

1946

4646Air Corporal Arthur Herbert Crankshaw, 18457, South African Air Force, aged 43. Died of angina pectoris.

1946

23115Corporal Frank William Silver-Crooke, 329751, General Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 29. Died on active service.

1946

25122Sapper Hendrik Jacobus Thompson, 592976V, South African Engineer Corps, aged 30. Died on active service.

1946

27752Air Mechanic Alfred Meredith Warner, 572846V, South African Air Force, aged 21. Died in motor accident.

1968

32541Second Lieutenant Brian John Poorter, 65588774R, 5 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 19. Died in Aircraft Accident, AT-6 Harvard #7127, crashed into trees on a plantation, 2 miles east of Eston. Suspected engine failure.

1969

30260Flight Lieutenant Jacobus Francois Erasmus Erasmus, 4016801, RAF Abingdon (Royal Air Force), aged 45. Died on active service.

1971

36731Constable Joseph Ndhlovu, 143705, Kwazulu Natal (South African Police), aged 27. Drowned.

1972

37889Lieutenant John Edward Trollip, W46640R, Free State (South African Police), aged 31. Died of wounds, received in shoot out with farmer in Heidelberg, Transvaal.

1974

38075Constable J Paultjie Van Schalkwyk, W36548F, North West Province (South African Police), aged 32. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

1976

29477Trooper Trevor Donald Bodill, 72285414BA, 53 Battalion (2nd Special Service Battalion), aged 19. Died in a Military Vehicle Accident. While on route along the Chitado road to set up an ambush, he was standing in the turret of the armoured car when it overturned on the dusty road. He was crushed under the vehicle.

1977

37160Constable Roy Malcolm Pieterse, W52300F, Swapol-Tin Rundu (South African Police), aged 26. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

1978

39465District Security Assistant Charles Jameson, 770172, Keep Protection (Internal Affairs), aged 18. Murdered, by terrorists.

1978

39607District Assistant Zefaniya Lotshwa, PR96699, "C" Sqdn. (Internal Affairs), aged 25. Murdered, by terrorists, in the Plumtree area, Op Tangent.

1978

40148District Assistant Thomas Nzumana, 660309, Keep Protection (Internal Affairs), aged 21. Died on active service.

1979

36080Constable Mpinzi Meerholz, W68409W, Mpumalanga (South African Police), aged 45. Killed by exploding mortar bomb - Ovamboland.

1980

33511Sergeant John Christopher Van Graan, 69340255PE, Provost (South African Corps of Military Police), aged 26. Died at Messina while attempting to recover a vehicle. Bedford Recovery vehicle tipped over and crushed him.

1983

41120Signaller Joel Johannes Schutte, 79297271, 11 Commando (South African Corps of Signals), aged 19. Died in private motorcycle accident, at Windhoek.

1988

33310Rifleman Kambala Tomas, 78911203SP, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 24. Died in a Vehicle Accident.

1992

33586Lance Corporal Johannes Petrus Van Rooyen, 87546008, School of Logistical Training (South African Air Force), aged 20. Died in Private Vehicle Accident, near the Carousel when the tyre burst.

1996

32042Private Mmakwena Levy Motshoane, 94663895PV, Eastern Transvaal Command PRO Unit (South African Corps of Military Police), aged 23. Died in Military Vehicle Accident,at Carolina. He was in a Mamba that overturned when a tyre burst.

1996

37049Sergeant Ockert Johannes Odendaal, 0412732-3, 6 Dist (Laingsburg) CW Div (South African Police), aged 20. Died on active service.

1997

36285Sergeant Maisha Phanuel Mohlamme, 631316-7, Gauteng (South African Police), aged 23. Died in bus accident.

1998

29951Corporal Gerhard Erasmus Smith De Beer, 95732053, 1 Maintenance Unit (South African Air Force), aged 18. Died in Private Vehicle Accident, at Philippolis.

1998

34829Sergeant Jimmy Johannes Grobbelaar, 639514-7, District 39 Johannesburg (Band) (South African Police), aged 27. Died on active service.

1998

31104Lance Corporal Jonathan Peter Knight, 95740114, 41 Battalion (South African Air Force), aged 18. Died in Private Vehicle Accident, at Phillippolis.

1998

38063Sergeant John Van Rensburg, 460213-7, 40 Dist (Krugersdorp) Tvl Div (South African Police), aged 24. Died in Freak Accident, drowned while on Counter-insurgency duty in Caprivi Strip, South West Africa.

1998

38066Inspector Oktober Hendrik Van Rensburg, 611415-6, 1a Dist (Cape Town) CW Div (South African Police), aged 57. Died on active service.

1998

38319Sergeant Sdumo Jacob Zondo, 918555-1, Western Province Division (South African Police), aged 25. Died as a result of injuries received after being stabbed.

1999

34968Sergeant Sipakanyiswa Hobyane, 605525-7, Head Office (South African Police), aged 41. Died in a Motor Vehicle Accident.

2002

35663Sergeant Eric B Makume, 451906-0, Eastern Transvaal Division (South African Police Service), aged 41. Stabbed to death.

2025

43333Lieutenant Colonel Pieter Pretorius, 0077168-6, SAPS Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) (South African Police Service), aged 59. Killed in the line of duty on 16 January 2025 in a targeted ambush while driving his private vehicle returning from lunch; fatally shot; rushed to Ermelo Medical Clinic but succumbed to injuries. Investigations linked the attack to a sensitive case involving a former police officer; ten suspects arrested.

We will remember them.

On This Day — 16 January

We remember those who died in service on this day:

- 1900 45820 — Burgher Johannes Petrus Godfried Le Roux, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces), aged 15. Killed in action, Bosmansspruit.

- 1901 43506 — Burgher Brits, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Fauresmith.

- 1901 48556 — Burgher Diederik Johannes Greyling, Prisoner of War (Boer Forces), aged 27. Died of pneumonia while a prisoner of war, Simon's Town.

- 1901 44621 — Burgher Alfred Ueckermann, Heidelberg Commando (Boer Forces). Killed in action, Bosmanspruit, Standerton dist.

- 1902 44903 — Burgher Jacob Slabbert, Boer Forces. Killed in action, Tygerkloof,OFS.

- 1915 28324 — Captain Cornelius Wilkens, Sutherland Commando (Mounted Commandos, S.A. Forces). Killed in action.

- 1916 350 — Second Lieutenant George Awburn Allan, Royal Garrison Artillery, aged 23. Killed in action.

- 1917 47 — Labourer Henry Abrahams, 18093, Railway Section (Military Labour Bureau, S.A. Forces). Died of dysentery, at Kilwa.

- 1917 11684 — Labourer Or Jwazi Jwazi Jwayijwayi, 13681, attd. South African Service Corps (South African Native Labour Bureau). Dar Es Salaam.

- 1917 41346 — Native Constable Bugudu Mangimizeni, 1123, 3rd Regt. (South African Mounted Rifles), aged 34. Died at Helpmekaar.

- 1917 18277 — Private Joseph Maruti, 3784, 2nd Coy. (South African Native Labour Corps). Died of pneumonia.

- 1917 16338 — Private Christian Gabriel Meiring, 14230, 8th Regt. (South African Infantry). Died of uraemia.

- 1917 17434 — Sapper John James Morgan, 2633, 7th Field Coy. (Australian Engineers), aged 22. Killed in action.

- 1917 20442 — Major Austin Alfred Pocock, 5th (South African Horse). Died of appendicitis and heart failure.

- 1917 24445 — Mule Driver Jan Stuurman, 16728, South African Native Labour Bureau. Kilwa.

- 1918 536 — Private Montague Alexander Harding Andrews, 688231, 47th Bn. (Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment)), aged 36. Died of broncho pneumonia.

- 1918 7722 — Driver Edward Henry Froud, MT/2486, M.t. (South African Service Corps). Died of pneumonia.

- 1918 12254 — Private Johannes King, 2575, 1st (Cape Corps). Died of blackwater fever, at Durban.

- 1918 12470 — Private William Crawford Knox, 355, 10th (South African Horse), aged 23. Died of cerebral malaria.

- 1918 29078 — Labourer Harry Zenzile, 4728, attd. Depots Pietmaritzburg and Durban (South African Native Labour Bureau). Died of dysentery, at Jacobs Camp Durban.

- 1919 20807 — Private Christian Punzwayo, 16131, South African Native Labour Corps. Died of tuberculosis of the lungs.

- 1941 9187 — Corporal Joseph George Frederick Hardwick, 34493, Q Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 33. Died on active service.

- 1941 10941 — Steward Isaac Jaffe, S.S. Oropesa (Liverpool) (Merchant Navy), aged 22. Killed in action. On 16 January 1941 at 0356 hrs Oropesa was southeast of Rockall in the Western Approaches when the German Type VIIC submarine U-96, commanded by Kptlt Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock, hit her in the stern with one G7a torpedo. Oropesa did not sink immediately, so U-96 waited and at 0440 hrs fired another torpedo, but that malfunctioned and went in circles. U-96 fired again at 0503 and 0559 hrs, this time hitting Oropesa beneath her bridge and amidships. The liner capsized and sank at 0616 hrs.

- 1941 16651 — Private Harry Miller, 75132, Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles, S.A. Forces, aged 31. Died of cavernous sinus thrombosis.

- 1941 28866 — Lance Bombardier Archie E Wright, B/9424, 4 (Rhodesia) Anti-Tank Bty. (Southern Rhodesia Artillery), aged 33. Drowned, in the Tana River.

- 1942 2564 — Sapper James Russell Brett, 132501, South African Engineer Corps, aged 35. Died on active service.

- 1942 4567 — Private Kenneth Wesley Coverly, 116736, Technical Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 27. Died of peritonitis and intestinal obstruction caused by inflammatory reaction.

- 1942 8806 — Private John Derrick Lennox Grix, 27585, 2nd Bn. (Transvaal Scottish, S.A. Forces). Died on active service.

- 1942 11665 — Private Goliath Jumat, C/168982, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 25. Died on active service.

- 1942 11860 — Warrant Officer Class II Kaulungombe, NRA/153, 5th Bn. (Northern Rhodesia Regiment). Died on active service.

- 1942 12555 — Private Koning, 1183, Essential Services Protection Corps, S.A. Forces. Died on active service.

- 1942 13124 — Staff Sergeant Gert Petrus Le Roux, 45338, South African Army Postal Corps, aged 32. Died of chronic nephritis.

- 1942 22993 — Private Jim Puledi Shoba, N/837, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Killed in action.

- 1942 23181 — Private John Mercer Simpson, 221696, 2nd Bn. (Transvaal Scottish, S.A. Forces), aged 31. Died on active service.

- 1942 27034 — Lieutenant Henry Jack Van Staden, 103441, 45 Air School (South African Air Force), aged 26. Died in Aircraft Accident, unable to pull out of dive and crashed 2 miles SE of Willowmore, in Avro Anson #1166.

- 1943 7573 — Pilot Officer Roger Nicholas Franklin, 127956, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 20. Died in Aircraft Accident, Spitfire P8396 "Bermuda II" collided with Spitfire X4067 "Hissar II" piloted by Sergeant G. A. Kemp, while in formation over Cross Farm, St Hilary, Cowbridge, Glamorgan. Pilot of Spitfire P8396 killed; baled out of aircraft over Bristol Channel 1 mile S of St.Athan.

- 1943 10851 — Leading Air Mechanic Douglas Thompson Stanley Jacobs, 186653, South African Air Force, aged 38. Died of gastric carcinoma.

- 1943 14030 — Air Mechanic William R Lumley, 327279, South African Air Force, aged 18. Died on active service.

- 1943 16683 — Sergeant Tom Miller, 777923, 61 Sqdn. (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve), aged 21. Died on active service.

- 1943 17093 — Corporal Samuel Mokgele, N/21592, Native Military Corps, S.A. Forces. Died of stab wounds.

- 1943 23448 — Sergeant Charles Franklin Smith, 4983816, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), aged 27. Died on active service.

- 1943 27813 — Lieutenant Hugh Geoffrey Watkin, X/15964, 1 Coast Security Unit, Kenya Det. (East African Intelligence Corps), aged 51. Died on active service.

- 1944 263 — Lieutenant Edward Leriche Aitchison, 206718V, 74 Operational Training Unit RAF (South African Air Force), aged 24. Died in Aircraft Accident, in the Middle East, while transporting a plane to the forward area.

- 1944 18824 — Lance Corporal Alexander Nisbet, 1922475, 2 Parachute Sqn. (Royal Engineers), aged 24. Died on active service.

- 1944 28895 — Second Lieutenant James Mitchell Wright, 328352V, 1525 Flt (South African Air Force), aged 20. Died in aircraft accident, Airspeed Oxford 1, serial HN469, of 1525 Beam (or Blind) Approach Training Flight, based at RAF Docking, which crashed near Docking railway station at 11.55Hrs. The aircraft was approaching the Airfield in bad weather and struck some trees.

- 1945 2010 — Private Johny Bock, C/321200, Cape Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 45. Died after discharge.

- 1945 15143 — Staff Sergeant Joseph W Marinus, 177671V, South African Corps of Military Police. Died on active service.

- 1945 27915 — Pupil Pilot John Wellesley Weaver, 206009, South African Air Force, aged 25. Died on active service.

- 1946 1092 — Gunner Joseph Bark, 157698V, South African Artillery, aged 43. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis, after discharge.

- 1946 4646 — Air Corporal Arthur Herbert Crankshaw, 18457, South African Air Force, aged 43. Died of angina pectoris.

- 1946 23115 — Corporal Frank William Silver-Crooke, 329751, General Service Corps, S.A. Forces, aged 29. Died on active service.

- 1946 25122 — Sapper Hendrik Jacobus Thompson, 592976V, South African Engineer Corps, aged 30. Died on active service.

- 1946 27752 — Air Mechanic Alfred Meredith Warner, 572846V, South African Air Force, aged 21. Died in motor accident.

- 1968 32541 — Second Lieutenant Brian John Poorter, 65588774R, 5 Sqdn. (South African Air Force), aged 19. Died in Aircraft Accident, AT-6 Harvard #7127, crashed into trees on a plantation, 2 miles east of Eston. Suspected engine failure.

- 1969 30260 — Flight Lieutenant Jacobus Francois Erasmus Erasmus, 4016801, RAF Abingdon (Royal Air Force), aged 45. Died on active service.

- 1971 36731 — Constable Joseph Ndhlovu, 143705, Kwazulu Natal (South African Police), aged 27. Drowned.

- 1972 37889 — Lieutenant John Edward Trollip, W46640R, Free State (South African Police), aged 31. Died of wounds, received in shoot out with farmer in Heidelberg, Transvaal.

- 1974 38075 — Constable J Paultjie Van Schalkwyk, W36548F, North West Province (South African Police), aged 32. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

- 1976 29477 — Trooper Trevor Donald Bodill, 72285414BA, 53 Battalion (2nd Special Service Battalion), aged 19. Died in a Military Vehicle Accident. While on route along the Chitado road to set up an ambush, he was standing in the turret of the armoured car when it overturned on the dusty road. He was crushed under the vehicle.

- 1977 37160 — Constable Roy Malcolm Pieterse, W52300F, Swapol-Tin Rundu (South African Police), aged 26. Died in the execution of his duty as a member of the South African Police.

- 1978 39465 — District Security Assistant Charles Jameson, 770172, Keep Protection (Internal Affairs), aged 18. Murdered, by terrorists.

- 1978 39607 — District Assistant Zefaniya Lotshwa, PR96699, "C" Sqdn. (Internal Affairs), aged 25. Murdered, by terrorists, in the Plumtree area, Op Tangent.

- 1978 40148 — District Assistant Thomas Nzumana, 660309, Keep Protection (Internal Affairs), aged 21. Died on active service.

- 1979 36080 — Constable Mpinzi Meerholz, W68409W, Mpumalanga (South African Police), aged 45. Killed by exploding mortar bomb - Ovamboland.

- 1980 33511 — Sergeant John Christopher Van Graan, 69340255PE, Provost (South African Corps of Military Police), aged 26. Died at Messina while attempting to recover a vehicle. Bedford Recovery vehicle tipped over and crushed him.

- 1983 41120 — Signaller Joel Johannes Schutte, 79297271, 11 Commando (South African Corps of Signals), aged 19. Died in private motorcycle accident, at Windhoek.

- 1988 33310 — Rifleman Kambala Tomas, 78911203SP, 32 (Buffalo) Battalion (South West African Territory Force), aged 24. Died in a Vehicle Accident.

- 1992 33586 — Lance Corporal Johannes Petrus Van Rooyen, 87546008, School of Logistical Training (South African Air Force), aged 20. Died in Private Vehicle Accident, near the Carousel when the tyre burst.

- 1996 32042 — Private Mmakwena Levy Motshoane, 94663895PV, Eastern Transvaal Command PRO Unit (South African Corps of Military Police), aged 23. Died in Military Vehicle Accident,at Carolina. He was in a Mamba that overturned when a tyre burst.

- 1996 37049 — Sergeant Ockert Johannes Odendaal, 0412732-3, 6 Dist (Laingsburg) CW Div (South African Police), aged 20. Died on active service.

- 1997 36285 — Sergeant Maisha Phanuel Mohlamme, 631316-7, Gauteng (South African Police), aged 23. Died in bus accident.

- 1998 29951 — Corporal Gerhard Erasmus Smith De Beer, 95732053, 1 Maintenance Unit (South African Air Force), aged 18. Died in Private Vehicle Accident, at Philippolis.

- 1998 34829 — Sergeant Jimmy Johannes Grobbelaar, 639514-7, District 39  Johannesburg (Band) (South African Police), aged 27. Died on active service.

- 1998 31104 — Lance Corporal Jonathan Peter Knight, 95740114, 41 Battalion (South African Air Force), aged 18. Died in Private Vehicle Accident, at Phillippolis.

- 1998 38063 — Sergeant John Van Rensburg, 460213-7, 40 Dist (Krugersdorp) Tvl Div (South African Police), aged 24. Died in Freak Accident, drowned while on Counter-insurgency duty in Caprivi Strip, South West Africa.

- 1998 38066 — Inspector Oktober Hendrik Van Rensburg, 611415-6, 1a Dist (Cape Town) CW Div (South African Police), aged 57. Died on active service.

- 1998 38319 — Sergeant Sdumo Jacob Zondo, 918555-1, Western Province Division (South African Police), aged 25. Died as a result of injuries received after being stabbed.

- 1999 34968 — Sergeant Sipakanyiswa Hobyane, 605525-7, Head Office (South African Police), aged 41. Died in a Motor Vehicle Accident.

- 2002 35663 — Sergeant Eric B Makume, 451906-0, Eastern Transvaal Division (South African Police Service), aged 41. Stabbed to death.

- 2025 43333 — Lieutenant Colonel Pieter Pretorius, 0077168-6, SAPS Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) (South African Police Service), aged 59. Killed in the line of duty on 16 January 2025 in a targeted ambush while driving his private vehicle returning from lunch; fatally shot; rushed to Ermelo Medical Clinic but succumbed to injuries. Investigations linked the attack to a sensitive case involving a former police officer; ten suspects arrested.

We will remember them.

ON THIS DAY

16 January

On This Day — 16 January

Deaths on 16 January by Year