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Kloosterziel , Johan (J)

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Photo of Kloosterziel
Identity
Person No.
31098
Old ROH no.
709
Service No.
73288375PE
Last Name
Kloosterziel 1
First Name
Johan
Initials
J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1957 (±1 yr) 432
Age at Death
22
Death Record
Date of Death
23 May 1979 102
Cause code
KIA 14,779
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,653
Killed in action, at Shona Mutamanjamba in Southern Angola while carrying out reconnaissance mission to locate a suspected SWAPO/PLAN Base in the area. The three-man Team was tracked and ambushed by a numerically superior force of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents and in the ensuing fire-fight, two Team members were killed and the third member, although wounded, successfully evaded capture until the helicopter arrived to extract the Team. Upon hearing the approaching helicopter, the SWAPO/PLAN force broke contact and withdrew from the area
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
5 Reconnaissance Regiment 72
Later renamed 5 Special Forces Regiment (1995)
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
"B" Coy.
Defence Force
SADF 3,832
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,874
Locality
North West 534
Cemetery
POTCHEFSTROOM CEMETERY 89
Grave Reference
Block AGS Grave No A169 1
Coordinates
-26.71486, 27.075 OSM
Unit History
Role at time of death
Special Forces (Reconnaissance)
Status
Permanent Force (Regular)
5 Special Forces Regiment operates as one of the standing/permanent operational regiments of South African Special Forces, established from the same 1972 lineage as 1 Reconnaissance Commando. Special Forces are their own branch within the SANDF, not part of the Army.
Awards
Pro Patria Medal
Pro Patria Medal
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 Mr. J. Kloosterziel, of Potchefstroom

Research notes

Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 23 May 2024: 73288375PE Corporal Johan Kloosterziel, 5 Reconnaissance Regiment, Killed in Action at Shona Mutamanjamba in Southern Angola with Capt van Wyk J.C. PN 33629. Three-man recce team tracked and ambushed by SWAPO/PLAN; two killed, third wounded and extracted by helicopter. Age 22. Unit was 1 SAI — corrected to 5 Reconnaissance Regiment (regiment was already 5th Recce). Cause already matched this Last Post.
SASFA In Memoriam (operators): confirmed Special Forces operator. SASFA: Kloosterziel J KIA 1979. https://www.recce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/4.1.-Memoriam.pdf 26 Aug 2026: Regiment was "5th Reconnaissance Regiment". SAWGP Regiment 5 Reconnaissance Regiment with no separate unit. | Diedericks, André. Journey Without Boundaries: The operational life and experiences of a SA Special Forces Small Team Operator. Just Done Productions, Durban, 2007 (ISBN 978-1-920169-58-9): three-man recce into southern Angola (freefall); compromised on descent. Ambush at the pickup: Cpl Kloosterziel and Connie van Wyk killed; Sgt Nick du Toit wounded and escaped. Matches the Shona Mutamanjamba account already on this record.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories

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Dedications 2
by Peter Deyzel on 30 May 2001 · via source
Kloos Sorry that we can not meet to have a few beers and compare notes. I am sure that wherever you are, you are raising hell! Have a good one buddy - fear naught but God!
by undefined:undefined on 16 May 2017 · via War in Angola
Kloos dit voel soos gister