Identity
Person No.
33667
Old ROH no.
35151
Service No.
76900182SP
Last Name
First Name
Elias Viva
Initials
E V
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
46
Military Service
Rank
Warrant Officer Class II
Regiment
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SANDF 828
South African National Defence Force
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
Unknown
Cause of Death
Died from injuries, received fighting veld fire at SAP training centre near Ellisras
Grave Reference
Location
Country
Locality
Notes
Of Namakgale near Ba-Phalaborwa
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post
Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 13 Aug 2026: 5 Recce veld fire Verdrag (died 22 Aug). Cleared 32 Bn unit.
- South African War Graves Project
Stories 1
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.
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
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.