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Vavarirai , Elias Viva (E V)

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No photograph available — remembrance poppy
Identity
Person No.
33667
Old ROH no.
35151
Service No.
Unknown
Last Name
Vavarirai 1
First Name
Elias Viva
Initials
E V
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1956 (±1 yr) 385
Age at Death
46
Death Record
Date of Death
22 August 2002 107
Cause code
Unknown
Cause of Death
Died from injuries 2
Died from injuries, received fighting veld fire at SAP training centre near Ellisras
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Warrant Officer Class II
Regiment
5 Special Forces Regiment 20
Formerly 5 Reconnaissance Regiment (1995)
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,347
Unit
5 Reconnaissance Regiment 9
Later renamed 5 Special Forces Regiment (1995)
Defence Force
SANDF 1,026
South African National Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
Gauteng 9,374
Cemetery
SADF WALL OF REMEMBRANCE, VOORTREKKER MONUMENT, PRETORIA 1,926
Grave Reference
Alternative Commemoration until grave found 1,612
Memorial
Memorial
SADF Wall of Remembrance
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa
Coordinates
-25.77639, 28.17583 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Unit History
Role at time of death
Special Forces (Reconnaissance)
Status
Permanent Force (Regular)
Part of
Special Forces Brigade
Part of
Special Forces Brigade
5 Special Forces Regiment operates as one of the standing/permanent operational regiments of South African Special Forces, established from the same 1972 lineage as 1 Reconnaissance Commando. Special Forces are their own branch within the SANDF, not part of the Army.
Awards
Pro Merito Medal (1975)
Pro Merito Medal (1975) (PMM)
South Africa
Listed with this post-nominal on the SASFA In Memoriam PDF. https://www.recce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/4.1.-Memoriam.pdf
Notes

Of Namakgale near Ba-Phalaborwa

Research notes

SASFA In Memoriam (operators): confirmed Special Forces operator. SASFA: Vavarirai EV PMM KIO 2002. https://www.recce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/4.1.-Memoriam.pdf SN CORRECTION 25 Aug 2026: ServiceNo 76900182SP cleared -- the pantser.cmvo.org.za SADF deaths PDF lists that number under "VASCO, NOE" (RFN, Sterf 23 04 82), matching PersonNumber 33666 (Vasco, DateDeath 1982-04-23) by surname and exact date, not this record. Original value: "76900182SP". Left as an unresolved collision otherwise -- this correction is specific to this one PDF-confirmed case, not a general claim this record's other data is wrong.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Army" was CLEARED as a duplicate. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word repeating what the Branch column already says. Secondary Unit is for sub-units -- a company, a squadron, a commando -- and this record's branch of service is unchanged at "Army".

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 1
on 17 August 2026 · via source
PRETORIA Fifth SANDF soldier dies after fire Fri, 23 Aug 2002 A fifth SA National Defence Force soldier has died of burn wounds sustained during a veld fire at a police training area in Limpopo, the SANDF said on Friday.

Major GS Zulu (45) died on Thursday night at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, a statement said. He is survived by his wife, Happy Zulu. Five people died after fighting a blaze at the police Special Task Force's Verdrag urban anti-terrorist training area near Lephalale (Ellisras) last Tuesday. Two soldiers died on the day of the fire and a third died in hospital later that night. They were Warrant Officer Elias Viva Vavarirai (46) of Namakgale near Ba-Phalaborwa in Limpopo, Sergeant Nthatheni Makumbane (34) of Thohoyandou, and Sergeant Bongani Andries Nkwanyana (39) of Babanango in KwaZulu-Natal. The fourth man, Corporal B Mathebula (26) of Giyani, died in hospital at the weekend. All were from 5 SF Regiment, based at Ba-Phalaborwa. The soldiers and police were conducting a final training exercise for the World Summit on Sustainable Development that starts on Monday.
Dedications 1
on 19 March 2010 · via source
I just want to say that I miss you a lot daddy and that I wish I could have had the chance to know you better.From what I have heard from mom you where a responsible,loving,sharing,conciderete,caring and dedicated soldier who never backed down from a challenge what so ever.I would on behalf of the Vavarirai family ,say that thing's just have not been the same without you, and that we love you and always will love you. From your one and only son Silence Vavarirai.We miss you Mandizha. Silence Vavarirai. stacyvavarirai@gmail.co.za.