Identity
Person No.
30767
Old ROH no.
609
Service No.
65383390BT
Last Name
First Name
Andries Petrus
Initials
A P
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
29
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
MIA 785
Missing in action
Cause of Death
Missing in Action, Ops Reindeer, raid on Cassinga, the greatest airborne raid on the continent of Africa in history
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,830
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Coordinates
Panel
On the panel
1978 Army. Continuation at top of photograph (Human A.P.)
Operation
Operation
Dates
1978-05-04 to 1978-05-06
About
Major combined airborne/mechanised cross-border operation against SWAPO/PLAN bases in southern Angola, its central action the Battle of Cassinga (4 May 1978) — a parachute assault on the SWAPO camp at Cassinga (Chetequera was the simultaneous ground target) that killed several hundred, disputed to this day between "military base" (SADF) and "refugee camp" (SWAPO/Namibian government) characterisations.
Unit History
Part of
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
Husband of Rachel Human and father of Eugenie Human. Went missing during the initial assault jump, declared dead on 22 January 1980. It is suspected he landed in the Culonga River and drowned, weighed down by his heavy equipment. ***Update 14 April 2018, the location of his remains may have been found. https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/the-lord-answered-my-prayers-family-of-sa-paratrooper-relieved-that-his-remains-are-coming-home-after-40-years-20180414
Research notes
SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1978 SAA (Hitchens–Human, Wolmarans) to 1979 SAA (Akaando–Djolomien, Maarman–Saal)". 1978 Army. Continuation at top of photograph (Human A.P.). | Willem Steenkamp, Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola 1975–1980, 3rd ed. (Just Done Productions, 2006, ISBN 978-1-920169-00-8): Rifleman Andre Human listed missing after the Cassinga assault jump. Jumpers in his string said the main parachute may not have opened fully; Steenkamp also lists anti-aircraft fire or drowning as possibilities (this record already has drowning in the Culonga — not overwritten).
14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added -- database-wide sweep for SADF Border War operational-area deaths within the medal's gazetted window (25 Jun 1976 - 27 Apr 2003), per the warrant's died-before-qualifying-period provision. See PersonAward.Citation for the gazette references.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Air Force" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Army". 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
-
Borderstrike! (Willem Steenkamp)
open source ↗
Willem Steenkamp, Borderstrike! South Africa into Angola 1975–1980, 3rd ed. (Just Done Productions, 2006, ISBN 978-1-920169-00-8)
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
open source ↗
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), pages 114-116 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): 16488, 17360, 17874, 19627.
Stories 4
One needs to read Col Jan Breytenbach's new book "Eagle Strike". An awsome account of the truth of the Cassinga attack. Not the rubbish written by certain officers who claimed to be in charge on the day and even got names incorrect of members KIA or MIA. Clive Emmerson (Ex 32)
I have just retutrned from a trip to Angola and this included Cassinga. Its a long story and there is not space here for it. I believe I have found the grave of Human. I did GPS the position as well. How do I get hold of the wife of Human to give her the info.
Posted by Gert Minnaar to the FB Group: South African Military Veterans, Statutory Forces 1912-Now Bringing Skillie Home.
All SA Paratroopers know the tragic story of Andries (Skillie) Human (photos below) who in May 1978, with 366 other Paratroopers, took part in the air assault on the military base of SWAPO (PLAN) at Cassinga in Southern Angola. During the battle Eddie Backhouse, JC de Waal and Martin Kaplan were killed, but Skillie was found to be missing in action. It took two years for him to be declared officially dead. His wife, Rachel, with his new-born baby daughter had to survive and for 38 years his family have been desperately hoping for any news of how Skillie died and where his body may be. A party of visitors recently toured the Angolan Battlefields, visited Cassinga and met a local Angolan citizen who was a young boy who lived on the other side of the Culonga River when the battle took place. He remembers that his deceased father had discovered the bodies of two people in or next to the river. The boy helped his father bury the bodies and all the boy could remember was that one of the bodies had many belts on it. We suppose this to mean that one of the bodies was a SWAPO soldier and that the other was Skillie still wearing his parachute harness. The code of Paratroopers worldwide is to always bring our own back and we did not bring Skillie back. At the last Executive Meeting of the PVO it was decided to find Skillie and bring him home. Contact has been made with Rachel Human, Skillie’s widow, in Port Elizabeth and she is very keen on the idea of re-patriating Skillie’s remains for a decent burial in the RSA. We are investigating all the political issues and are planning an initial visit by a small party to make an estimate of the manpower and machinery needed to complete the task. We will then be able to budget for the work to follow.We have registered a non-profit company and the following bank account where money can be safely deposited and audited:Parabat Veterans Organisation NPC
Nedbank
Account number 1131959035
Branch Number 11414500 Donations will be appreciated and please insert your name as sender and mark recipient as Skillie Human. We have received interest from a TV company in broadcasting the first visit to the site and of the final search. Fund raising has begun and our friend in the USA, Dave Barr, has donated he proceeds of his book, Four Flags, that he sold on his recent visit to the RSA.
- WEL EN WEE VAN DIE MILITêRE VETERANE : BERIG 03/2017
All SA Paratroopers know the tragic story of Andries (Skillie) Human (photos below) who in May 1978, with 366 other Paratroopers, took part in the air assault on the military base of SWAPO (PLAN) at Cassinga in Southern Angola. During the battle Eddie Backhouse, JC de Waal and Martin Kaplan were killed, but Skillie was found to be missing in action. It took two years for him to be declared officially dead. His wife, Rachel, with his new-born baby daughter had to survive and for 38 years his family have been desperately hoping for any news of how Skillie died and where his body may be. A party of visitors recently toured the Angolan Battlefields, visited Cassinga and met a local Angolan citizen who was a young boy who lived on the other side of the Culonga River when the battle took place. He remembers that his deceased father had discovered the bodies of two people in or next to the river. The boy helped his father bury the bodies and all the boy could remember was that one of the bodies had many belts on it. We suppose this to mean that one of the bodies was a SWAPO soldier and that the other was Skillie still wearing his parachute harness. The code of Paratroopers worldwide is to always bring our own back and we did not bring Skillie back. At the last Executive Meeting of the PVO it was decided to find Skillie and bring him home. Contact has been made with Rachel Human, Skillie’s widow, in Port Elizabeth and she is very keen on the idea of re-patriating Skillie’s remains for a decent burial in the RSA. We are investigating all the political issues and are planning an initial visit by a small party to make an estimate of the manpower and machinery needed to complete the task. We will then be able to budget for the work to follow.We have registered a non-profit company and the following bank account where money can be safely deposited and audited:Parabat Veterans Organisation NPC
Nedbank
Account number 1131959035
Branch Number 11414500 Donations will be appreciated and please insert your name as sender and mark recipient as Skillie Human. We have received interest from a TV company in broadcasting the first visit to the site and of the final search. Fund raising has begun and our friend in the USA, Dave Barr, has donated he proceeds of his book, Four Flags, that he sold on his recent visit to the RSA.
- WEL EN WEE VAN DIE MILITêRE VETERANE : BERIG 03/2017
Jacques Joubert A further report back on the Bring Skillie Home project.
The PVO has continued collecting money for the Bring Skillie Home Fund which is an audited account lodged with the Parabat Veteran Organisation's Not for Profit Company.
The total amount collected so far is R 90 503,56. From this is subtracted some expenses for the St. Michel Dinner last year, lawyers fees, medical fees for DNA sampling and courier costs between Mrs. Human in PE and Johannesburg.
This leaves us with a total of R 79 840,59.
As you can see, we are far short of our target of R350 000 which was estimated by Gen. Opperman based on the Ebo Project he conducted.
To be able to accomplish our objective with Skillie, we have tried to minimise the amount needed and the best way to do this , is to try and get more assistance from the Angolan authorities as this was the area where the Ebo project ran into most of their unnecessary expenses.
From our side , the PVO has found it a little difficult as Gen. Opperman has asked that we make no direct contact with either the SA government, nor the Angolan government as this should be left to the Ebo Trust as they have some experience in this regard.
A lucky break came when Eeben Barlow, who needs no introduction to all of you, contacted me and offered his help.
He introduced me to an ex-MK man who had done this kind of thing before for ANC people who had died in Zambia and Angola during the Troubles.
This man is well connected with the Angolan Ambassador to SA and offered to act as go between in easing the Skillie repatriation. He has offered to do this at no charge and his help is greatly appreciated.
The Angolan ambassador was duly contacted and made aware of our project and she said she was willing to help.
She asked in return, that we try to establish what had happened to a FAPLA Captain who she believed the SADF had captured near Xangongo in 1981. He was not sent back to Angola with the other POWs and the family was still in the dark as to his fate.
You will have noticed that we at the PVO have made a big effort to find out what happened to Capt. Jeronimo.
All enquiries have drawn a blank so far and it seems now that he was in the first T34 tank taken out during Protea.
We have found the man who took the tank out with his 90mm Ratel and we have tracked the tank to Voortrekkerhoogde where it is now on display. We are still not sure of what happened to the crew, apart from the driver who was decapitated by the blast of the HEAT round which penetrated the tank.
We do have some avenues of investigation to follow up which is happening right now.
This rather long story is to explain that it seems that we may not need as much money as what was initially forecast. But we still need at least another R100 000 to cover all the undertaker costs both sides of the borders, transport and special container costs. Forensic and DNA costs as well as the huge amount of paper work needed to transport the remains across three countries.
In closing. Thank you all for your support, both financial and moral.
There are some among us who have made it their business to try to sabotage our best efforts, but the vast majority have been hugely supportive. You know who you are and if anyone feels the need to check on the Skillie Fund, please contact me and I will refer you to the auditors who will be happy to assist.
The PVO has continued collecting money for the Bring Skillie Home Fund which is an audited account lodged with the Parabat Veteran Organisation's Not for Profit Company.
The total amount collected so far is R 90 503,56. From this is subtracted some expenses for the St. Michel Dinner last year, lawyers fees, medical fees for DNA sampling and courier costs between Mrs. Human in PE and Johannesburg.
This leaves us with a total of R 79 840,59.
As you can see, we are far short of our target of R350 000 which was estimated by Gen. Opperman based on the Ebo Project he conducted.
To be able to accomplish our objective with Skillie, we have tried to minimise the amount needed and the best way to do this , is to try and get more assistance from the Angolan authorities as this was the area where the Ebo project ran into most of their unnecessary expenses.
From our side , the PVO has found it a little difficult as Gen. Opperman has asked that we make no direct contact with either the SA government, nor the Angolan government as this should be left to the Ebo Trust as they have some experience in this regard.
A lucky break came when Eeben Barlow, who needs no introduction to all of you, contacted me and offered his help.
He introduced me to an ex-MK man who had done this kind of thing before for ANC people who had died in Zambia and Angola during the Troubles.
This man is well connected with the Angolan Ambassador to SA and offered to act as go between in easing the Skillie repatriation. He has offered to do this at no charge and his help is greatly appreciated.
The Angolan ambassador was duly contacted and made aware of our project and she said she was willing to help.
She asked in return, that we try to establish what had happened to a FAPLA Captain who she believed the SADF had captured near Xangongo in 1981. He was not sent back to Angola with the other POWs and the family was still in the dark as to his fate.
You will have noticed that we at the PVO have made a big effort to find out what happened to Capt. Jeronimo.
All enquiries have drawn a blank so far and it seems now that he was in the first T34 tank taken out during Protea.
We have found the man who took the tank out with his 90mm Ratel and we have tracked the tank to Voortrekkerhoogde where it is now on display. We are still not sure of what happened to the crew, apart from the driver who was decapitated by the blast of the HEAT round which penetrated the tank.
We do have some avenues of investigation to follow up which is happening right now.
This rather long story is to explain that it seems that we may not need as much money as what was initially forecast. But we still need at least another R100 000 to cover all the undertaker costs both sides of the borders, transport and special container costs. Forensic and DNA costs as well as the huge amount of paper work needed to transport the remains across three countries.
In closing. Thank you all for your support, both financial and moral.
There are some among us who have made it their business to try to sabotage our best efforts, but the vast majority have been hugely supportive. You know who you are and if anyone feels the need to check on the Skillie Fund, please contact me and I will refer you to the auditors who will be happy to assist.
Dedications 4
Its 24 years to the day when the SADF launched the raid on Cassinga, the greatest airborne raid on the continent of Africa in history. Swapo suffered an humiliating defeat losing more than a 1000 KIA, the Cubans losing more than 30 when they blundered into an ambush of the 'Bat Anti-tank element We lost 3 men KIA and 1 MIA. Let us drink a toast to the 'Bats today, and join those who will be remembering RFN E J Backhouse 3 Parachute Battalion RFN M Kaplan 2 Parachute Batallion RFN J C De Waal 2 Parachute Battalion RFN A P Human 3 Parachute Battalion Mooi loop,
Paratrooper's Prayer Heavenly Father, King of the world I know that all things are in your hands, whatever happens to me. As a paratrooper I am prepared to suffer hardship. I am ready to endure danger and unrest, pain and hurt. I am willing to be hungry end thirsty. I am prepared to face the enemy fearlessly. Lord I am weak. I cannot depend on my own strength. I do not want to trust in my own abilities. Lord my God; Let me trust in you alone. Give me courage and strength, and, above all, faith to do my work
YOUTUBE VIDEO FROM Mike McWilliams:
Andries "Skillie" Human was MIA in 1978 during an airborne raid on an enemy base camp 250 km into Angolan enemy territory. His unmarked grave has recently been located and a movement has been made to repatriate his remains to his family in South Africa. This is a Remembrance Day appeal for funds to enable an expedition to retrieve Skillie's remains.
Andries "Skillie" Human was MIA in 1978 during an airborne raid on an enemy base camp 250 km into Angolan enemy territory. His unmarked grave has recently been located and a movement has been made to repatriate his remains to his family in South Africa. This is a Remembrance Day appeal for funds to enable an expedition to retrieve Skillie's remains.
Newspaper clipping from Johan Fouché: