Identity
Person No.
30174
Old ROH no.
400
Service No.
84379122BG
Last Name
First Name
Pieter Gerhardus Viljoen
Initials
P G V
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,779
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, at Xangongo, in contact with the enemy. Trained as Ops Medics at SAMS Training College. Viljoen was later to be attached to the Bushmen unit of 201 Bn SWATF at Omega in South West Africa. On the 18th of April 1988 he was attached as Ops Medic to one of the 201 Battalion Reaction Force units. By this time he was an experienced combat medic. They were following up on a SWAPO spoor when a combined Cuban / Fapla force of approximately 200 intervened and a fierce fire fight took place. Rifleman Petrus Wama was killed by either an RPG rocket or a heatstrim in the initial attack and Viljoen was seriously wounded. He could not be found after the contact and about a month later his body was recovered by a Recce element buried in a shallow grave. Whilst still alive he was taken by SWAPO to a nearby kraal where he was murdered
Military Service
Branch
Medical Health
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Unknown
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,828
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Unit History
Awards
South Africa
Pro Patria Medal warrant, Government Gazette No. 5171 (25 Jun 1976), Rule 5, as amended by GG No. 5575 (3 Jun 1977); discontinued by GG No. 25213 (25 Jul 2003, Schedule corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 Sep 2004) for service on/after 27 Apr 2003. Gazette extracts: https://rohsa.co.za/award.php?id=24
Notes
Son of Col. M. S. du Toit
Research notes
DATE DISCREPANCY 25 Aug 2026: pantser.cmvo.org.za's SADF deaths PDF gives this person's Sterf (date of death) as "02 06 88" (DD MM YY) against the same ServiceNo (84379122BG) and name -- differs from this record's DateDeath (1988-04-18). Not overwritten, flagged for reference. 26 Aug 2026: Unit leftover "10 Anti Aircraft Regiment" → South African Medical Service (SAWGP Regiment, no Unit); Regiment "South African Medical Health Service" → South African Medical Service (SAWGP Regiment); attachment attd. 201 Battalion.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Army" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Medical Health". Across the roll 787 records carried such a contradiction; judged against Corps and Regiment -- independent of both columns -- the evidence backed Branch 744 times and Unit2 not once. Branch is therefore kept and the contradicting word removed. Nothing is guessed: this man's branch of service is already recorded, and his sub-unit, if any, is simply not known.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
Lys van Weermaglede wat aan diens gesterf het (SADF deaths, pantser.cmvo.org.za)
open source ↗
SADF deaths PDF cross-check, 25 Aug 2026 -- date discrepancy noted
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), pages 66-76 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War in Angola Member Dedications forum (www.warinangola.com), Excel export supplied by Johan Schoeman, 1 Sep 2026. Forum post(s): 22097, 36359, 36360.
Stories 5
Killed in a Contact John Dovey
Viljoen du Toit, O/Kpl Medic, 201 Bn, Golf Kompanie, Pel 3. Sterf in kontak Oos van Kunene rivier wes van Cuamato Angola April 1988. Die kontak het plaas gevind tussen SWA Gebiedsmag Romeo Mike (reaksie mag) (wat die gebied gedomineer en skoon gehou het van SWAPO terroriste) en Angolese/Kubaanse magte. 'n Paar Boesmans sterf ook in die kontak en baie ander lede is gewond en "ge-casevac". Viljoen kon nie na die kontak opgespoor word nie (asook ander lede van die pelaton). Sommige het eers na dag drie in SWA aangekom. Viljoen se liggaam is later deur verkennings elemente in 'n "vlakgraf" weg van die kontak toneel gevind. Hy was definatief in die kontak gewond en is deur die terroriste weg gevoer. 'n Baie netjiese en deeglikke jongman het sy lewe verloor wat ek sien as die draaipunt van die "bosoorlog" na 'n "semi-konvensionele" oorlog teen die Kubaans/Russies/Oos Duitse/Angolese beskermhere van die Swapo terroris bendes. Viljoen en almal wat hul lewe gelaat het word gesallueer. "Die stryd is nie teen die vlees nie maar teen die gees wat nie vernietig kan word nie". Ek was sy Kompanie Bevelvoerder Johan Duvenage
Some more details on my Son, Pieter Gerhardus Viljoen Du Toit. Surname: Du Toit Initials: P. G. V. Rank: L/Cpl Date: 18 Apr 1988 Corps: SAMS, (not SA Army) Awards: Pro Patria and Southern African Medal (Posthumous) Year: 1988 Place: Near Chipeque, 30 km SE from Xangongo, Angola. Date of Birth: 29 Dec 1968 Full names: Pieter Gerhardus Viljoen Military number: 84379122 BG Death age: 19 Yrs Unit: Sector 20, 31 Bn, Omega Sickbay, Ops Medic War: Border SWA / Angola Buried on 8 June 1988 at Centurion Cemetery, Hero Acre.
Fires(Johan) v Vuren
Ops Medic L/Cpl Viljoen du Toit, KIA 18 April 1988
PGV Viljoen Du Toit and I reported for duty at SAMS Training Centre, Klipdrift in February 1987 for National Service. We progressed on to SAMS College and successfully completed the OPS Medic (Operational Medical Orderly) Course. I went on to join 7 Medical Battalion Group and Viljoen flew to Rundu and then to Omega Base on attachment at 201 Battalion. He was affectionately known as 'Toit’jie' whilst there.
In April 1988, he was on his second operational deployment inside Angola; this one was with Echo Company also known as the ‘Tswe Tswe’ or children’s company. This is what Echo Company was referred to as it comprised mostly of the sons of the Bushmen who had been with Alpha since 1974, which later became 31 Battalion and in turn became 201 Bn.
He was tragically Killed in Action on the 18th of April 1988 when the three Buffel APC’s they were travelling in were ambushed by a superior force. Rifleman Petrus Wama was also killed in the contact. Viljoen was initially Missing in Action and his body was later retrieved and returned to South Africa where he was buried in the Heroes Acre in Centurion Cemetery.
In 2018, on the 30th anniversary of his death, I made a concerted effort to do something more for him as I live in Centurion.
Group photo of four: Cpl Mark Ashley Adams, Tannie Marienne Du Toit (Mother), Oom MS Du Toit (Gen, retired; Father), Cpl Valentyn Buchner (SAMS Ops Coy COIN Instructor and PTI).
In 2018, those who wanted to but could not attend the gathering were, Lt Johan Duvenage [known as Duvies] and Cpl Simon Duvenage, who were both there on that tragic day in 1988. Johan was Viljoens Company Commander. Nils De Vries (SAMS Ops Coy COIN Instructor and PTI) who currently resides in Australia.
Note: In the words I spoke at the ceremony, I also mentioned the 4 other Ops Medics that were KIA in 1987 / 1988. RIP AUDACES SERVAMUS, serving the Brave
Emil Tamsen, 8 January 1987 (attached to 101 Battalion) Johann Redelinghuys 16 November 1987 (attached to 4 SAI) Jannie Holder 27 June 1988 (8 SAI) Raymond Jagga 19 August 1988 (attached to 61 Meg)
My annual write up on Facebook, which accompanies a memorial slide:
Viljoen (PGV) Du Toit was in the same SAMS intake as Johann Redelinghuys and I. We reported for national service in February 1987. We trained as Ops Medics at SAMS Training College. Viljoen was later to be attached to the Bushmen unit of 201 Bn SWATF at Omega in South West Africa. On the 18th of April 1988 he was attached as Ops Medic to one of the 201 Battalion Reaction Force units. By this time he was an experienced combat medic. They were following up on a SWAPO spoor when a combined Cuban / Fapla force of approximately 200 intervened and a fierce fire fight took place. Rifleman Petrus Wama was killed by either an RPG rocket or a heatstrim in the initial attack and Viljoen was seriously wounded. He could not be found after the contact and about a month later his body was recovered by a Recce element buried in a shallow grave. Whilst still alive he was taken by the enemy to a nearby kraal where he was executed. He was buried in the Heroes Acre in Centurion on the 8th of June 1988.
His father General (ret) MS du Toit passed away on the 17th of November 2019.
RIP L/Cpl Viljoen PGV du Toit 18 April 1988
PGV Viljoen Du Toit and I reported for duty at SAMS Training Centre, Klipdrift in February 1987 for National Service. We progressed on to SAMS College and successfully completed the OPS Medic (Operational Medical Orderly) Course. I went on to join 7 Medical Battalion Group and Viljoen flew to Rundu and then to Omega Base on attachment at 201 Battalion. He was affectionately known as 'Toit’jie' whilst there.
In April 1988, he was on his second operational deployment inside Angola; this one was with Echo Company also known as the ‘Tswe Tswe’ or children’s company. This is what Echo Company was referred to as it comprised mostly of the sons of the Bushmen who had been with Alpha since 1974, which later became 31 Battalion and in turn became 201 Bn.
He was tragically Killed in Action on the 18th of April 1988 when the three Buffel APC’s they were travelling in were ambushed by a superior force. Rifleman Petrus Wama was also killed in the contact. Viljoen was initially Missing in Action and his body was later retrieved and returned to South Africa where he was buried in the Heroes Acre in Centurion Cemetery.
In 2018, on the 30th anniversary of his death, I made a concerted effort to do something more for him as I live in Centurion.
Group photo of four: Cpl Mark Ashley Adams, Tannie Marienne Du Toit (Mother), Oom MS Du Toit (Gen, retired; Father), Cpl Valentyn Buchner (SAMS Ops Coy COIN Instructor and PTI).
In 2018, those who wanted to but could not attend the gathering were, Lt Johan Duvenage [known as Duvies] and Cpl Simon Duvenage, who were both there on that tragic day in 1988. Johan was Viljoens Company Commander. Nils De Vries (SAMS Ops Coy COIN Instructor and PTI) who currently resides in Australia.
Note: In the words I spoke at the ceremony, I also mentioned the 4 other Ops Medics that were KIA in 1987 / 1988. RIP AUDACES SERVAMUS, serving the Brave
Emil Tamsen, 8 January 1987 (attached to 101 Battalion) Johann Redelinghuys 16 November 1987 (attached to 4 SAI) Jannie Holder 27 June 1988 (8 SAI) Raymond Jagga 19 August 1988 (attached to 61 Meg)
My annual write up on Facebook, which accompanies a memorial slide:
Viljoen (PGV) Du Toit was in the same SAMS intake as Johann Redelinghuys and I. We reported for national service in February 1987. We trained as Ops Medics at SAMS Training College. Viljoen was later to be attached to the Bushmen unit of 201 Bn SWATF at Omega in South West Africa. On the 18th of April 1988 he was attached as Ops Medic to one of the 201 Battalion Reaction Force units. By this time he was an experienced combat medic. They were following up on a SWAPO spoor when a combined Cuban / Fapla force of approximately 200 intervened and a fierce fire fight took place. Rifleman Petrus Wama was killed by either an RPG rocket or a heatstrim in the initial attack and Viljoen was seriously wounded. He could not be found after the contact and about a month later his body was recovered by a Recce element buried in a shallow grave. Whilst still alive he was taken by the enemy to a nearby kraal where he was executed. He was buried in the Heroes Acre in Centurion on the 8th of June 1988.
His father General (ret) MS du Toit passed away on the 17th of November 2019.
RIP L/Cpl Viljoen PGV du Toit 18 April 1988
Dedications 4
Aan my beste broer en beste friend Ek sal jou altyd mis vir die pragtige manier hoe jy ons altyd behandel het Jy was sekerlik die beste onder ons Ek is lief vir jou en hoop om jou gou weer te sien Rudolf
Viljoen My trane vloei na 18 jaar vir jou, vir die eerste keer. Ek wens ek het die voorreg gehad om jou te ken. Jy leef in almal se harte wat jou kon ken voort. Ek sal so ver ek kan hul trane afvee, en hul liefhe. Kan nie wag tot ons ontmoet nie.
Viljoen, jou dood is nog so vars in my geheue soos gister. Ek dink vanaand aan jou en wonder nogsteeds hoekom jy en soveel ander jong mense so sinneloos moes sterf? Die land waarvoor julle so hard geveg het, en jou jong lewe voor moes gee, is in chaos vandag! Rus in vrede my vriend, ek sal jou nooit vergeet nie, en dankie wat jy vir ons en ons vaderland gedoen het. Tot ons weer ontmoet!
From Carlos Veloso: 84379122BGLance Corporal Pieter Gerhardus Viljoen Du Toit (SAMC Attached). He was 19.
Rifleman Petrus Wama (201 Battalion SWATF). He was 24.It appears that Du Toit was subsequently captured
by SWAPO/PLAN and removed from the Battle Zone
and taken to a nearby Kraal. Because of the
seriousness of his wounds, the SWAPO/PLAN
insurgents were unable to transfer him further North
to their rear area so he was executed.
Approximately one month later, after an intensive
search by a Special Forces Recovery Team that was
inserted into the battle area, his shallow grave was
located and his body successfully recovered. On 8
June 1988, he was laid to rest in the Heroes Acre
in the Centurion Cemetery, Grave HA2.
Rifleman Petrus Wama (201 Battalion SWATF). He was 24.It appears that Du Toit was subsequently captured
by SWAPO/PLAN and removed from the Battle Zone
and taken to a nearby Kraal. Because of the
seriousness of his wounds, the SWAPO/PLAN
insurgents were unable to transfer him further North
to their rear area so he was executed.
Approximately one month later, after an intensive
search by a Special Forces Recovery Team that was
inserted into the battle area, his shallow grave was
located and his body successfully recovered. On 8
June 1988, he was laid to rest in the Heroes Acre
in the Centurion Cemetery, Grave HA2.