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Nel , Johan (J)

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Photo of Nel
Identity
Person No.
32210
Old ROH no.
34843
Service No.
97724264PR
Last Name
Nel 141
First Name
Johan
Initials
J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1972 (±1 yr) 209
Age at Death
26
Death Record
Date of Death
22 September 1998 100
Cause code
KIA 14,779
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,653
Killed in action, in Operation Boleas, to restore stability in Lesotho at Khatsi Dam, going to the aid of Cpl. J. Sax who had been fatally wounded
Military Service
Branch
Medical Health
Rank
Captain
Regiment
South African Medical Health Service 8
Corps
South African Medical Corps 536
Unit
7 Medical Battalion Group 7
Defence Force
SANDF 1,025
South African National Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,874
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
JOHANNESBURG (WEST PARK) CEMETERY 478
Grave Reference
Grave 569 1
Coordinates
-26.15926, 27.9943 OSM
Memorial
Memorial
Operation Boleas Virtual Memorial
Location
Maseru, Lesotho
Address
Maseru, Lesotho
Coordinates
-29.31, 27.48 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Operation
Operation
Operation Boleas
Dates
1998-09
About
SANDF intervention in Lesotho, September 1998, to restore order after a disputed election and mutiny; involved combat against elements of the Lesotho Defence Force in Maseru.
Unit History
Home Unit
7 Medical Battalion Group
Attached To
44 Parachute Brigade
Role at time of death
Medical
Status
Mixed: Permanent Force (majority) + Reserve medical battalion groups
Predecessor South African Medical Service (SAMS) formally established 1 July 1979 (became SAMHS 1994). 2022-era structure shows most of the Mobile Military Health Formation as active/Permanent Force, with specific battalion groups (1, 3, 6 Medical Bn Gp) designated Reserve. Which component applied to a given Border War-era record is not determined by this source alone.
Awards
Army Cross (CM)
South Africa
Notes

Capt. Nel, of Krugersdorp, was wearing a bullet proof vest but a bullet went in through the gap between the plates. Capt. Nel wanted to become a heart surgeon. Parents: Klaas and Alet Nel of Westdene. Alet worked at RAU. Brother: Dirk. His funeral service was at NGK Aasvoelkop. On the morning of 22 September, during the initial invasion, four South African helicopters were sent to Katse, two of the helicopters were used as Gunships and the other two helicopters were used to carry 20 Pathfinders (10 in each Chopper). When the first Chopper landed the Pilot said: 5 out and 5 Pathfinders must stay. The Pilot took off and landed again near the small Lesotho army base which was guarded by 28 Lesotho soldiers. The other 5 Pathfinder got out of the Chopper and walked to the Military base. A Pathfinder Corporal had pamphlets in his hands saying that they were a peace force and there on request of the Lesotho Government, but before he could give the pamphlet to the Lesotho soldiers one of them shouted something in Sesotho and then 28 Lesotho soldiers started to shoot at the 5 Pathfinders without any warning. The one Chopper went back and picked up the other 5 Pathfinders that were with the Civilian South Africans working on the Katse Dam Project. Then both Choppers landed near the Lesotho base and dropped the entire Pathfinder group. After the firefight Sergeant Jeremy Sax and a Pathfinder went to clear the buildings. Sergeant Jeremy Sax was shot throw a door busy clearing a room. A medical doctor with the Pathfinders, Captain Johan Nel, went to aid Sergeant Sax, he also was shot. Both men died instantly. A Chopper was called and both men were taken to the Command Hospital in Ladybrand.

Research notes


Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 22 Sep 2026: "97724264PR Captain (Doctor) Johan Nel CM (P) from 7 Medical Battalion Group, attached to 44 Parachute Brigade was Killed in Action after being shot dead by Lesotho Army Forces during Ops Boleas while going to the aid of Sergeant Jerome Sax who had been fatally wounded. Although he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, a bullet penetrated through the side gap under his armpit and killed him instantly. He was 26." DECORATION ADDED: the post-nominal "CM (P)" is the ARMY CROSS, awarded POSTHUMOUSLY -- a decoration this record did not carry, and the medal itself was not in this roll's catalogue until today. He was killed going to the aid of Sax (32803), whose record this one is now read alongside.
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
Stories 3
by Peter on 04 April 2008 · via source
In Operation Boleas, a South African military intervention force invaded Lesotho in September 1998, to restore law and order following an attempted coup. On the morning of 22 September, during the initial invasion, four South African helicopters were sent to Katse, and landed on the ground near the small army garrison which guards the 185 metre high Katse Dam, the most important single component of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Sergeant Jeremy Sax of Cape Town, not a Sesotho speaker, walked to the base unarmed to say that the intervention force was taking over the garrison. The soldiers inside told him that this was their responsibility, and that he should leave. When he did not do so, he was shot by them, and apparently died almost instantly. A medical doctor with the intervention force, Captain Johan Nel, went to the aid of Sergeant Sax, and was also shot dead. There was then an exchange of fire between the two sets of troops in which another South African soldier was wounded. The helicopters then took off, leaving their wounded comrade on the ground, and strafed the Lesotho Defence Force garrison. 16 out of 17 soldiers in the garrison were killed, there being just one survivor who was eventually taken for treatment at the trauma unit of the project at Motebang Hospital, Hlotse. It is said that four other soldiers survived, simply because when the attack took place they had gone out jogging. When they returned nearly all their comrades were dead.
by Me on 22 September 2009 · via source
The real story, I was there. In Operation Boleas, a South African military intervention force invaded Lesotho in September 1998, on request of the Lesotho Government to restore law and order following a Military attempted coup. On the morning of 22 September, during the initial invasion, four South African helicopters were sent to Katse, two of the helicopters were used as Gunships and the other two helicopters were used to carry 20 Pathfinders (10 in each Chopper). When the first Chopper landed the Pilot said: 5 out and 5 Pathfinders must stay. The Pilot took off and landed again near the small Lesotho army base which was guarded by 28 Lesotho soldiers. The other 5 Pathfinder got out of the Chopper and walked to the Military base. A Pathfinder Corporal had pamphlets in his hands saying that they were a peace force and there on request of the Lesotho Government, but before he could give the pamphlet to the Lesotho soldiers one of them shouted something in Sesotho and then 28 Lesotho soldiers started to shoot at the 5 Pathfinders without any warning. The one Chopper went back and picked up the other 5 Pathfinders that were with the Civilian South Africans working on the Katse Dam Project. Then both Choppers landed near the Lesotho base and dropped the entire Pathfinder group. After the firefight Sergeant Jeremy Sax and a Pathfinder went to clear the buildings. Sergeant Jeremy Sax was shot throw a door busy clearing a room. A medical doctor with the Pathfinders, Captain Johan Nel, went to aid Sergeant Sax, he also was shot. Both men died instantly. A Chopper was called and both men were taken to the Command Hospital in Ladybrand. Of the 28 Lesotho Soldiers, 23 were killed and 1 wounded. The other 4 run away.
by Scotty on 08 May 2011 · via source
Hi.... Was also there but at a different base and place... Please note that Sax's name is not Jeremy but Jerome... He was one of my instructor's as we were in the same unit. Honour the fallen...
Dedications 1
by Erika Scholtz on 21 September 2007 · via source
Heroes will never be forgotten and I will love you forever.