Ref SANDF 1998 RoH
Mike Sandham 20 Aug 2026 omissions: SANDF 1998 RoH DateDeath 1991-01-01 / Died on active service; Mike Date of Death 2 = 1991-12-31. DateDeath set to 1991-08-20 from Daily Dispatch 21 August 1991 (eight Ciskei Defence Force paratroopers drowned in the Fish River; sixteen jumped carrying 60 kg of equipment, ten landed in the water; official version a strong wind near the ground). Daily Dispatch 26 September 1991: conservation officer (ex-SADF Para) warned against dropping on a 150–200 m wetland strip; ignored; no safety precautions. Mail names seven; newspaper says eight — eighth not named, not invented. Gqozo, Autobiography of Oupa Joshua Gqozo (Europa Edizioni, 2022), ISBN 979-1220116589. Booksellers list a chapter: My Speech at the funeral of death of Seven Paratroopers who tragically died on Exercise training at Fish River. Speech text not retrieved. Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9791220116589 FirstName Diedre, AddInfo Son of Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Luitingh, of Krugersdorp, and ServiceNo 79697900 cleared (belong to Lt Diedre Luitingh PN 31250, 1980-11-01). Initials M C left. Did not invent a replacement first name.
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Mike Sandham
OMISSIONS 20 Aug 2026: L/Cpl M C Layita, Ciskei Para Bn, Fish River drowning 20 Aug 1991. FirstName Diedre / Luitingh AddInfo / SN 79697900 cleared. SANDF 1998 had 1991-01-01.
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Other web source
open source ↗
Oupa Joshua Gqozo, Autobiography of Oupa Joshua Gqozo (Europa Edizioni, 2022), ISBN 979-1220116589. Contents list his funeral speech for seven CDF paratroopers who died on Fish River training; full speech not online. Separate contents line: Dr Mdlalose conveys condolences of the CDF paratroopers to the Ciskei nation on behalf of the IFP. Christian Liberty Books stock 17818 TLS-fails (curl 60). Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Oupa-Joshua-Gqozo/dp/B09M4NZL5Q
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
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