SA Weermagvereniging / SA Defence Force Association

03/12/2025

FOR THEM THE LAST POST HAS SOUNDED

On 03 December 2025, let us pause for a minute to remember the following young men from our Generation who answered the Final Roll Call. May they rest in eternal peace.

03 Dec 1980: Two members from 3 SAI were Killed in Action on 03 December 1980 and one was critically wounded (he later Died of Wounds on 20 January 1981) while their Company was based at Ondangwa Town. With only a few days left to serve, two sections were ordered to es**rt one of two school buses from AFB Ondangwa to Oshakati with the Permanent Force and Contractor's children who had arrived from the RSA for the school holidays. The trip to Oshakati unaventful but on the return trip later that evening, both Buffel Troop Carriers were ambushed by a large group of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. A Soviet RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket hit the roll bar of one of the Buffel Troop carriers and exploded, critically wounding Cpl Douglas Brooks and slightly wounding all the other men seated in the rear of the vehicle. The 2nd Buffel Troop Carrier took a RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket through the side of the vehicle. The rocket projectile passed right through the bodies of two of the men inside, killing them instantly before exiting the Buffel armour plate on the opposite side. The drivers, who were never decorated for their bravery, managed to extricate both Buffel Troop Carriers full of wounded troops out the kill zone with their tyres blown out. Corporal Brooks Buffel managed to safely reach Air Force Base Ondangwa while the 2nd Buffel arrived safely at the Army base in Ondangwa town. A full-scale follow-up operation was launched at first light and a number of the SWAPO/PLAN insurgents involved in this incident were captured. The two casualties in this incident were:

76547991BG Rifleman Johannes Erasmus van der Merwe. He was 19.
77323103BG Rifleman Christo van Zyl. He was 18.

03 Dec 1986: 84917814SWK Rifleman J.H. Nanyemba from 202 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 23.

† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †

All posts Credit Lt Col (rt) Graham du Toit

03/12/2025

03/12/2025

Morning.
Môre.

03/12/2025

WOENSDAG WYSHEID

Oscar Wilde, deur baie gereken as die grootste dramaturg van die Viktoriaanse era, het (dalk tong in die kies) gesê: "Sommige mense bring blydskap waarheen hulle ookal gaan, ander wanneer hulle ookal gaan."

Die Psalmdigter beskrywe die bron van die koning se vreugde as volg: "U (God) maak hom altyd voorspoedig, U skenk hom oorvloedige blydskap deur U nabyheid."

God se teenwoordigheid bring ewige blydskap!

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Oscar Wilde, seen by many as the greatest playwright of the Victorian era, said (maybe tongue in cheek): "Some people cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."

The author of Psalm 21 describes the source of the king's happiness as follows: "Your (God's) blessings are with him forever and Your (God's) presence fills him with joy.

God's presence brings eternal joy and happiness!

02/12/2025

1981 - A rare photo taken by a local newspaper of Tiro Vorster, the acclaimed aviation artist, presenting a painting of Harvard 7471 to the OC of Dunnottar Flying School, Faan de Villiers. Along side him is Andy Elgar. CEO of Nigel Ford.
Anyone know where this painting is today? It does not come up in his collections displayed online.

02/12/2025

02/12/2025

FOR THEM THE LAST POST HAS SOUNDED

On 02 December 2025, let us pause for a minute to remember the following young men from our Generation who answered the Final Roll Call.

02 Dec 1965: 61089728N Rifleman Mark Andrew Brown from the Kaffrarian Rifles died as a result of heat exhaustion during a training session at the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn. The heat was reported at over 37 Degrees C during the training session. As a direct result of the findings of Board of Enquiry held into his death, training procedures were modified and amended. He was 21.

02 Dec 1978: 74512328BG Corporal Johannes Havenga from 5 SAI was Killed in Action after being struck in the chest by a Soviet RPG-7 anti-tank rocket during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents at Eenhana. He was 20.

02 Dec 1979: 72283484PE Lieutenant Johannes Jacobus Du Toit from 3 SAI Died of Wounds while serving in Rhodesia. His Section was attached to a convoy that were responsible for checking the road for land mines and at sunset, set up a Temporary Base (TB) for the night. Just before 08h00 the following morning, the TB was attacked by a numerically superior force of ZANU insurgents and came under heavy small-arms, mortar and RPG-7 rocket fire. He was wounded in the neck by shrapnel and although treated for his wounds, he succumbed through loss of blood before he could be evacuated. He was 23.

02 Dec 1980: 80627912CK Rifleman Nicolaas Christian Izaks from the South African Cape Corps was killed when he was struck by a bullet from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldiers rifle while stationed at M’pacha in the Caprivi Strip. He was 21.

2 Dec 1984: 79300190BG Rifleman Wynand Eckard from 2 Parachute Battalion was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in South West Africa while on leave pass. He was 21.

Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.

02/12/2025

The Fallen: 02 December
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.
1978 – Private Basilio TONGAYI, 1st Battalion, RAR, killed on active service. Died in a vehicle accident. Buried in Lady Stanley Cemetery, Bulawayo.

“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)

02/12/2025

Môre.
Morning.

02/12/2025

2 Desember 2025 se Dagstukkie
Saamgestel deur Kapelaan van Zyl 🙏💜

Tema: Reus in jou Lewe

Skriflesing: 1 Samuel 17:45
“Maar Dawid sê vir die Filistyn: ‘Jy kom na my toe met ’n swaard en ’n spies en ’n werpspies, maar ek kom na jou toe in die Naam van die Here van die leërskare, die God van die slagordes van Israel wat jy uittart.’”

Die Bybel wys nooit dat Dawid vir Goliat ’n “reus” noem nie.
Vir veertig dae lank het Israel net die probleem gesien, die enorme man voor hulle, sy brullende stem, die skrikwekkende bedreiging. Hulle oë was vasgenael op sy grootte, en hul gedagtes vasgevang in vrees. Goliat se stem het hul verbeelding gevul en hul hart verlam.

Maar toe stap Dawid in.
Hy sien dieselfde man, hoor dieselfde uitdagings, maar sy perspektief is anders.
Waar ander praat oor hoe groot die vyand is, praat Dawid oor hoe groot sy God is.
Hy noem Goliat nie ’n “reus” nie, hy noem hom iemand wat die leër van die lewende God tart.
Dawid gee Goliat nie ’n titel van mag nie; hy gee God die eer van oorwinning.

Net so sien ons vandag dikwels ons eie “reuse” in ons lewens.
👉 ’n Berg van probleme, en omstandighede
👉 Depressie, vrees en angs
👉 Onsekerheid oor die toekoms
👉 Finansiële druk, of werkloosheid
👉 Gesondheidskwessies, of siekte
👉 Verhoudings, huweliks probleme

Ons noem dit “reuse”, en ons gee dit mag oor ons lewens.

Maar God sê: verander jou perspektief.
Hou op om van jou probleem ’n reus te maak. Hou op om dit groter te maak as God, se genade.
Wanneer jy jou fokus op die Here plaas, word jou geloof sterker, jou vrees verander in vreugde, en jou gemoed word rustiger, en God verwyder alle onstuimigheid.

God kyk na wat jy in die gesig staar, en sê:
“Dit is gering vir My.”

Daar is geen Goliat in jou lewe wat groter is as die God wat jy ken nie.

Verander jou perspektief, vandag hierdie oomblik en, sien jou God, en nie jou reus nie.

🌿 Gebed
Hemelse Vader,
Dankie dat U groter is as enige “reus” wat ek vandag in die gesig staar.
Help my om my oë van die probleem af weg te draai en dit op U gevestig te hou.
Vul my hart met geloof, moed en sekerheid dat U die oorwinning bring.
Leer my om soos Dawid te praat, met geloof, en nie met vrees nie.
Here, ek vertrou U met elke situasie in my lewe.
U is groter, sterker en getrouer as enigiets wat my bedreig.

In Jesus se Naam.

Amen. 🙏💜

02/12/2025

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉 Alet Enslin, Walter John Van Wyk, Karen Geldenhuys, Frik van Niekerk, Martin Claassens, Sarah Fourie, Richard Gardner, Piet Steyn, Marie De K**k, Linda van der Linde