Identity
Person No.
31381
Old ROH no.
827
Service No.
84530575BG
Last Name
First Name
Johan Adam
Initials
J A
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
19
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
SHOT 546
Shot
Cause of Death
Died in Shooting Incident, in Ops 001, accidentally shot
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,832
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Notes
Son of Izak Gerhardus and Magdalena Wilhelmina Lotriet, of Harrismith. ***8 SAI on headstone
Research notes
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
-
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 132-133 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 3
He died in the vicinity north of Oshakati Magda Daffue
My name is Gunther Mynhardt. I was stationed at Makalani base in Oshakati during this time. I was a platoon sergeant for the storm pioneers and was asked to do a final kit inspection before these men moved out on patrol. Cpl Lotriet asked me for a cigarette. I handed him one and we stood smoking together and just talking in general. Later that night the signal came through that Cpl Lotriet had been killed by friendly fire. I was sent to collect his personal belongings from the hospital in Oshakati. There was a sealed letter in the side pocket of his trousers. I sent this letter off in the post. I hope his last written words reached it's rightful owner. This was a very sad and unfortunate accident. He was a friendly and likable lad.
I trained in 8SAI with Lotriet and was also promoted to L.Cpl after what was a very tough and demanding section leader course. Soon after that we were sent up to join the Border War in Northern Namibia; our role being as base protection in Oshakati; also based at that time at Makalani. L.Cpl Lotriet was a genuinely nice guy. Being english speaking and from a rather privileged up-bringing in Durban I was sensitive to some of the prejudice experienced from some of the other guys; but never from Lotriet. Always a contagious laugh and a bit of fun, fair and very likeable. I was shocked and saddened to the point of being one of my life defining moments to hear that he had been killed out on patrol. From what I had heard; first hand soon after the accident from the ops medic that tried to save him; the section was in protective circular formation at night when he had ventured out to a friend for a cigarette but had got disorientated and approached from the front. His friend fearing that he was the enemy approaching followed instinct and following orders shot without warning. What a shock and terribly tragic. Rest in Peace and after all these years may I take this opportunity to finally offer my sincerest condolences to your family. Brendan Shillington (L.Cpl)
Dedications 1
To a loving brother who will live in our hearts forever.