Stols , Johannes Jacobus Christoffel (J J C)

Dit is al 2012 en nog bly die herinneringe. Dit is September 1982. Ons is pas klaar met TEIN opleiding op Modderfontein buite Potch en is terug by 3 SAI hoofbasis waar ons in tente langs die peradegrond bly en wag om grens toe te vertrek. Dit is half rustig en daar is tye van niksdoen. Dan sit n paar van ons by Stollie in die tent en kaartspeel of le op die kaal matrasse en gesels en wonder oor wat voorle. Na 6 maande op Ondangwa is dit 3 maande op Ogongo. Dan een oggend staan ons in die ry vir brunch en kom die boodskap Stollie het n myn getrap en hy is dood. Die Buffel het bo-op hom geval. n Absolute gevoel van ongeloof oorval ons. Dit kan nie waar wees nie. Dan maak die ongeloof plek vir woede. Hoekom kan ons nie in Angola ingaan en die plek skoonmaak nie en klaarkry met die k@k nie. Min het ons geweet dat nie lank na hom nog een van ons sou sterf nie. Jordaan n mortieris wat op n mynjag operasie was en ook n gedood is deur n myn. Twee vriende wat altyd sal jonk bly in ons gedagtes. As mens so terugdink is daar soms n skuldgevoel dat jy nog lewe en dat hulle nooit die kans gegun was om ook n lewe te bou nie. Altus (Billy) Lotter

Rfn. JJC Stols was a driver in Support Company, 3SAI, January 1982 intake. I do not remember (if I ever knew it) his first name but we knew him by his nickname, "Stollie". There was a tendency for the English and Afrikaans O-Coy drivers to keep to themselves and as he was Afrikaans I never got to know him very well. I remember that he was short and a little on the plump side. His trademark was his apparent wish to wear the smallest bush hat he could get his hands on. He ended up with a tiny hat that didn't provide him any shade as it perched atop his head. During our second border trip we were based at the 52Bn HQ at Ogongo. One of the satellite bases was Okalongo, a roughly platoon-sized base. We were fulfilling the support role while there was a company of campers fulfilling the infantry role at 52Bn. Natal Carbineers if I recall correctly. They had their own Buffel and driver at Okalongo but needed another for some ops they were doing. Stollie was detached with his Buffel and sent off to Okalongo where he stayed for perhaps a week. During this time his Buffel developed some problems with the throttle linkages and not having access to a tiffie, he made a plan and rigged up some wires so he could continue driving the vehicle. When it came time for him to return, the short route, via a shona was used, rather than the longer route by road. It was common knowledge that this shona was heavily mined and although we were quite lax about seat belts we would always use them when driving along the shona. The story we were told by the corporal in command of the vehicle was that the throttle had jammed in the open position and Stollie had to lean out of the cab to adjust his wire setup. Unfortunately he chose not to stop but removed his seat belt, stood up and leant out while moving. It was while he was leaning out that the rear wheel hit a double mine. The Buffel was flipped over and thrown forward 17 metres, coming to rest upside down. Stollie was flung out of the cab and twisted around so that he landed on his back underneath the vehicle. The edge of the troop compartment came down across his chest, killing him instantly. None of the other occupants were injured as they were all wearing their seat belts. Steve Crane