Hlungwane , James Matome (J M)

Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 25 Sep 2026: "88745682PE Rifleman James Matome Hlungwane from 116 Battalion was found dead with a self-inflicted bullet wound to the head after murdering Captain Paul Louw van Wyk from 116 Battalion the previous day. He was 22." NEW ROH record.
- THIS CLOSES A NOTE WRITTEN YESTERDAY. On 24 Sep 2026 this roll reclassified Capt van Wyk (33636) from a shooting incident to MURDER, on Graham naming this man as the soldier who deliberately shot him. The citation written then stated that the named killer was NOT on this roll. He is now, because Graham has supplied his own death the following day. The two records are 33636 and 49836.
- He is carried on this Roll of Honour because he died on service, which is the roll's test; it is not a statement about the manner of either death. Both records say plainly what happened.
Mike Sandham OMISSIONS: 25 SEPTEMBER (25 Sep 2026), quoting the South African War Graves Project: "88745682PE Rifleman James Matome Hlungwane from 116 South African Infantry Battalion, South African Infantry Corps Committed suicide, shot himself after shooting and killing Captain P. L. van Wyk, at Vhembe Military Base, Messina. He was 25." Confirms this record hours after it was created from Graham, and independently confirms that the two deaths are one incident.
- PLACE ADDED: Vhembe Military Base, Messina. It corroborates Capt van Wyk's own record (33636), which already gave Vhembe Base, Messina as the place of the killing, from Graham's post of 24 September. Two sources now put both deaths at the same base.
- AGE CONFLICT, NOT CHANGED: Graham gives 22, Mike gives 25. This record holds 22, from Graham. EstBirthYear, 1972, is derived from that age and is therefore equally unsettled; if 25 is right the year is 1969. Neither source is preferred here.