South West African/Namibian Border War, this destroyed homestead reminds us again of the sheer sacrifice asked of young men in a war and the devastating loss of it all. Liberty as they say is not “cheap”.

03 Jul 1987: Two members from the South African Defence Force 1 Special Service Battalion, attached to the 10th Armoured Car Regiment were Killed in Action when they walked into a “kraal”, unaware that two PLAN insurgents were hiding in one of the huts. The casualties were:

84248277BG Trooper Joseph Johannes Cloete. He was 18.
83382218BG Trooper Van Zyl Jac van Heerden. He was 19.

The two troopers first identified themselves to the local Headman in his hut when the insurgents opened fire. Van Heerden was shot through the forehead with a Makarov pistol and died instantly. Cloete died instantly from multiple AK-47 gunshot wounds. The other members of Armoured Car Regiment immediately returned fire and completely destroyed the homestead, killing both insurgents in the process. #1SSB