ERASMUS-L-D-1956-1974-Kst-M
Genéem vanaf Facebook “SA Police COIN Unit Veterans League”. Erkenning vir die bydrae aan “SA Police COIN Unit Veterans League”: DIPPENAAR-J-P-1928-1974-AO-M---PLESSIS-DU-W-A-1952-1974-Sers-M---ERASMUS-L-D-1956-1974-Kst-M---FRANKEN-L-W-G-1956-1974-Kst-M---MANDANGA-0000-1974-Cst-M
SA Police COIN Unit Veterans League 23 Dec 2021 Special Remembrance Tribute On 23 Dec 1974, during the Rhodesian cease-fire, a ZANLA commander, Herbert SHUNGU and eight terrorists stopped two South African Police vehicles which were carrying six members of the SAP and a BSAP constable. They were all relieved of their firearms, bundled into one of the trucks and driven down to the bridge over the Mazoe River in Rushinga District. They were taken onto the bridge and told to remove their shirts and hats, but sensing real danger, the policemen tried to escape, some by jumping into the river. One of the terrorists opened up with his RPD, killing four of the South African policemen. Cst GROBBELAAR, who was shot and wounded in the river and Cst Louis ELOFF both survived. The body of BSAP constable was never found and it is presumed he had drowned. We not only remember the five who were murdered in cold blood on that, but also pay special tribute the 50 members of the South African Defence Forces and Police who lost their lives on Rhodesian soil during the bush war. Rus in vrede, julle was ook ons helde. We remember on this day:
- W23924W WO Jan DIPPENAAR (46) of the SAP, buried in Cape Town
- W57512N Sgt William DU PLESSIS (22) of the SAP, buried in South Africa
- W64955H Cst Lourens ERASMUS (18) of the SAP, buried in Port Elizabeth
- W61774B Cst Louis FRANKEN (18) of the SAP, buried in the Western Cape
- 21666 Cst Mutasa MANDAZA of the BSAP, his grave known only to God
SA Police COIN Unit Veterans League 23 Dec 2020 Ambushed on COIN duty in Rhodesia ~ T King. Special Remembrance Tribute ~ On 23 Dec 1974, during the Rhodesian cease-fire, a ZANLA commander, Herbert SHUNGU, and eight terrorists stopped two South African Police vehicles which were carrying six members of the SAP and a BSAP constable. They were all relieved of their firearms, bundled into one of the trucks and driven down to the bridge over the Mazoe River in Rushinga District. They were taken onto the bridge and told to remove their shirts and hats, but sensing real danger, the policemen tried to escape, some by jumping into the river. One of the terrorists opened fire with his RPD, killing four of the South African policemen. Cst GROBBELAAR, who was shot and wounded in the river and Cst Louis ELOFF both survived. The body of the BSAP constable was never found and it is presumed he had drowned. We not only remember the five who were murdered in cold blood on that, but also pay special tribute the 50 members of the South African Defence Forces and Police who lost their lives on Rhodesian soil during the bush war. Rus in vrede, julle was ook ons helde. We remember on this day:
- W23924W WO Jan DIPPENAAR (46) of the SAP, buried in Cape Town
- W57512N Sgt William DU PLESSIS (22) of the SAP, buried in South Africa
- W64955H Cst Lourens ERASMUS (18) of the SAP, buried in Port Elizabeth
- W61774B Cst Louis FRANKEN (18) of the SAP, buried in the Western Cape
- 21666 Cst Mutasa MANDAZA of the BSAP, his grave known only to God.
- It is noted that of all the more than 2,500 entries on our Combined Forces Roll of Honour, there are only three listed as Missing in Action. The other two are Cpl V. MUSAVENGANA of HQ 4 Bde and Sgt Head WURANDA of the Selous Scouts
