Van Heerden, Jac Van Zyl (J V Z)

I (Rfn G S Pretorius, 843243BG) was at this stage the ops clerk in the operations room at Sector 10 HQ Unit (Oshakati). I was ordered to report to the ops room to man the radios by Col. E Viljoen, the second in command of the unit, who informed me that two troopers of 1 SSB (seconded to the 10th Panser Troopers) walked into a "kraal", unaware of two enemy soldiers that was hidding in one of the huts. The two troopers, Cloete and van Heerden, received fatal shots from the enemy within the hut after identifying themselves to the local population of the kraal. Van Heerden was apparently shot through the forehead with a Makarov pistol and died instantly. Cover fire was laid down by the 10th Panser Troopers which killed the enemy soldiers in the subsiquent battle that took place. I wrote the incident report down for the ops officer on duty who forward it to Army HQ (Pta)

I was standing in the chow line that morning, it was hot and muggy, as always, standing in front of me was Van Heerden. Little did I know that later that day, I would be called out to attend the incident, as I was crew commander on 6x6 Muscle, ratel "re-action force" 10 panzer, along with my buddy's from "A" squadron, We arrived at the infamous kraal, where my two brothers in arms were lying dead, having been shot by a TURR, supposedly seated in the darkness of a kraal, holding a pistol at the door, as the two walked in. I will never forget firing my first round at the Kraal, with my turrent mounted five "0" browning, it was unfortunately my last as well, as the second round jammed in the breach-block, and that was the end of that, I grabbed my R5, and continued firing at the kraal, as the remaining 4 noddy's fired with all they had, flattening the trees around the kraal, and enveloping the entire kraal area, and its structures in huge leaping flames, as everyone cried, tears streaming down their faces, firing away. The heat emminating from the kraal was so intense, and we where all soo close, we had to retreat slightly, as the flames lept higher and higher. The only thing that survived from the kraal, was a stray cat, I saw it running away, from my elevated position from the ratel. I return the next day, with the CMDNT, and the story that was going to be spun to their parents, was that they died having discovered a munitions cache under the pig stye pit, thereby presenting thier folks with a credible fabrication, that would ease the reasons from their son's death. We drove back to Oshakati, were assembled by the ranking CPT, and had an "Op-Fok" session for 3 hours, we were forced to crawl through the KAK GAT, but many refused. The CPT offered water in jerry cans, and promptly kicked the precious liquid onto the ground in front of us, ..only to be met with laughter and clapping, from the squadron..well done CPT !! We apperently had to learn our lesson for being too relaxed in the operational area, somehow I doubt that the CAPT's methods were the correct way of achieving this. To Cloete and Van Heerden, I didn't know you well, but will never froget you guys, "Hamba Gathle", god bless, and thanks for watching our backs. Wayne Sardinha L/CPL - 1SSB (1987-1988) 2005-04-17 00:08:07 <td clas

I first met Z.J. Van Heerden when we did our basic training at 1 SS B. I have never forgon my fallen friend. Even to this day, 07 September 2012. I still remember you. Rest in peace my friend. D.J.