SA Weermagvereniging / SA Defence Force Association

02/01/2026

1984 - CFS Dunnottar. Visitors inside the hanger having a closer look at one of the Harvard trainers.

02/01/2026

Die Nasionale Uitvoerende Raad van die SA Weemagvereniging en lede, het met hartseer verneem van die afsterwe van Jaap Rossouw (SAAFA) 02 Januarie 2026.

Aan die Familie Mag goeie herinneringe julle dra in hierdie moeilike tyd en op die pad vorentoe.

𝕺𝖓𝖘 𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖊𝖙 𝖏𝖔𝖚 𝖊𝖓 𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖗 𝖏𝖔𝖚.

02/01/2026

2 January 1985.
Cst R. Richards:-

No information available on the death of the member. He died on active service detached to the SA Police COIN (Counter Insurgency) Unit.
We will remember him.

02/01/2026

FOR THEM THE LAST POST HAS SOUNDED

On 02 January 2026, let us pause for a minute to remember the following young men from our Generation who answered the Final Roll Call.

02 Jan 1977: Sergeant A.D.B. Bernardo from 31 Battalion SWATF was killed after being struck by a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge from a fellow soldiers rifle. He was 32.

02 Jan 1981: 76919075SP Rifleman Jose Joao from 32 Battalion was Killed in Action in a landmine explosion during counter-insurgency operations in Southern Angola. He was 21.

02 Jan 1984: 81961336HV Rifleman Petrus Daniel from 101 Battalion SWATF accidentally drowned during a river crossing in the Operational Area. He was 22.

† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †

All posts Credit Lt Col (rt) Graham du Toit

02/01/2026

02/01/2026

Morning.
Môre.

02/01/2026

Johannes 1:12 “Dié wat in Hom glo, het Hy die reg gegee om kinders van God te word.”

Ons almal voel soms onseker oor wie ons is en/of wie ons in ’n sekere situasie behoort te wees. Dit gebeur soms dat ons ’n identiteitskrisis beleef. Veral as dinge in jou huwelik of in die werk of op skool verkeerd loop.

Maak nie saak op watter plek jy jouself op die oomblik bevind nie, jy kan die wêreld vierkantig in die oë kyk. Of jy ryk of arm, bekend of onbekend, of dalk in die een of ander krisis vasgevang is, jy hoef nie jou identiteit te verloor nie. ’n Man wat sy werk verloor hou mos nie op om sy kinders se pa te wees nie. Wat saak maak is wie jy in God se oë is. Wat jou identiteit vir God is. En my en jou identiteit word deur Jesus Christus bepaal.
Gebed:
Dankie Here Jesus dat ons ’n nuwe identiteit gekry het. Dankie dat ons die lewe en almal vierkantig in die oë kan kyk, omdat ons God se kinders is. Amen

01/01/2026

Researchers studying South Africa’s military past face serious barriers when trying to access post-1970 Department of Defence (DoD) records — a situation

01/01/2026

Die Nasionale Uitvoerende Raad van die SA Weemagvereniging en lede, het met hartseer verneem van die afsterwe van Jan Daniel (JD) Smit (SAWV) 01 Januarie 2026.

Aan die Familie Mag goeie herinneringe julle dra in hierdie moeilike tyd en op die pad vorentoe.

𝕺𝖓𝖘 𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖊𝖙 𝖏𝖔𝖚 𝖊𝖓 𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖗 𝖏𝖔𝖚.

01/01/2026

The Fallen: 01 January
On this day, we remember with honour and pride members of the Rhodesian forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice. May they rest in eternal peace.
1977 – District Security Assistant James MPALA, Keep Protection, Intaf, KIA. Killed at Wankie, Op Tangent.

1978 – Private Wilfred MAIGURIRA, Battalion, Rhodesia Defence Regiment, died on active service.​
1978 – Private M. MAKORE, 3 MU, Rhodesian Army Service Corps, died on active service.

1979 – Guard Stephen CHAMUNYONGA, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, murdered. Killed by terrorists.
1979 – District Security Assistant E. CHEMAMBO, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1979 – Guard M. GARIKAYI, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, died on active service.
1979 – Trooper Andrew Lindsey "Chunky" MCIVER, Support Commando, 1st Battalion, RLI, killed on active service. ​Died in a vehicle accident in the Ft Victoria area, Op Repulse.
1979 – Guard M. MFITSHANE, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, died on active service.
1979 – Guard C. NDEKE, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, died on active service.
1979 – District Security Assistant Jairos NYAMAZANA, Keep Protection, Intaf, died on active service.
1979 – Guard Godfrey SANDI (not his surname, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, KIA. Killed on Ops.
1979 – Guard S. TACHIONA, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, died on active service.
1979 – District Security Assistant Mugove TAVENGEGWEYI, Protected Village Protection Group, Guard Force, died on active service.

1980 – Flight Commander​Vernon Anthony D. BROWNE, PRAW, BSAP, died on active service. Died in the Midlands area.
1980 – Corporal FARAI, Regular, Intaf, KIA. Killed at Mudzi, Op Hurricane. He was returning fire from the side of his married quarters when an RPG rocket hit and exploded inside his home. His wife and children were safe inside the bunker in the front of his house. Several witnesses report that Farai invited fire to his house by loading only tracer rounds in his magazines. He was warned several times during the attack not to do so and on inspection it was found that the remaining mags contained only tracer rounds.
​

“So for those who fell in battle, let us stand,
Remember just for what they died,
Of those shall be our boast and pride”.

Gerry van Tonder

(Images: Dudley Wall)

Please remember that the 1st day of each month the number of entries seem high, because those for whom I don’t have a specific day in a given month, the data base defaults to the 1st.

01/01/2026

FOR THEM THE LAST POST HAS SOUNDED

On this day 01 January 2026 let us remember with honor and pride members from our Generation who made the ultimate sacrifice. May they rest in eternal peace.

01 Jan 1977: Rifleman Joao Joaquim from 32 Battalion was Killed in Action in a landmine explosion during operations against enemy forces in Southern Angola. He was 31.

01 Jan 1977: 69360642PE Lance Corporal Geoffrey Allan Lawrie from 1 Reconnaissance Regiment was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces north of Beacon 28, near Omunduangilo. He was 24.

01 Jan 1977: Two members from 101 Battalion were Killed in Action during a contact with PLAN insurgents. They were:

Rifleman Thomas Amalati. He was 26.
Rifleman Joao Mathais. He was 25.

01 Jan 1984: 79352985BG Airman Johannes Hendrik Kok from Air Logistics Command was killed in a military vehicle accident at Ondangwa. He was 20.

01 Jan 1988: 68214261BG Lieutenant (Doctor) Herman Jan Roelof Gerding from the South African Medical Corps was killed while travelling as a passenger in a military ambulance. The ambulance collided with the rear of a broken down truck standing next to the road while their vehicle was travelling from Rundu Town to the Military Base. He was flung out of the vehicle and the ambulance landed on top of him. He died on the scene. He was 35.

01 Jan 1994: 93660173PK Rifleman Bernard Maditsi Lekalakala from 115 Battalion was shot dead by persons unknown while he was manning a road block at Vosloorus. He was 20.

† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †

All posts Credit Lt Col (rt) Graham du Toit

01/01/2026

Môre.
Morning.