On 10 November, the Potchefstroom Army Support Base honoured its fallen heroes for their heroism and sacrifice. Forty-five members passed away in the last five years and their widows also laid roses at the cenotaph to pay their respects.
The parade coincided with Armistice Day – the signing of the ceasefire between the allied forces and Germany in 1918. It was also to remember the fallen soldiers of the war. It is commemorated worldwide every year on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Veronica Kgampe, Evodia Tshatsha and Happy Moleko from Ikageng were some of the widows who paid tribute to their brave husbands; Andrew Kgampe, Frans Tshatsha and Kgosi Moleko.
Cpl Kgampe died in 2014 after returning from deployment in the DRC. ‘He was not feeling well, was rushed to the hospital and sadly died during that week. Everything happened unexpectedly,’ said Veronica. She says she will remember him as a responsible father who treated her like a queen even though she was unemployed. He left behind two children.
Cpl Frans Tshatsha also passed away in 2014, after suffering a stroke. He had been a soldier for 21 years. ‘He loved his job so much that he would even show us how he drills at work. Today’s service reminded us of his funeral,’ said Evodia. Cpl Tshatsha is also survived by a 24-year-old son, Thato and another son, 16-year-old, Sandile.
Kgosi Moleko also passed away in 2014. His wife, Happy says he was brutally robbed and murdered outside their house. ‘To this day, we haven’t found his murderers. The magistrate said there is not enough evidence. I pray to God daily to help me find closure and bring to light the people who killed my husband. He was a jolly person and our son, 8-year-old Rearabetswe Basimane misses him a lot,’ she said. She added that she was grateful for the supportive role that the South African National Defence Force continues to play in her family’s lives.
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