In Memory Of

VAN WYK, MARIO

Service Details
Age:
 20
Date of Birth:
 1960-03-23
Service No:
 76305879BG
Rank:
 Corporal
Unit:
 32 (Buffalo) Battalion
Regiment:
 South West African Territory Force
Date of Death:
 1980-06-04
Date of Death 2:
 1980-06-06
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, north of Mulemba (approximately 80km inside Angola) during first phase of Operation Sceptic, specifically area clearing and domination as well as establishment of tactical HQ.
Commemoration
Cemetery:
 BOKSBURG CEMETERY
Localitly:
 Gauteng
Country:
 South Africa
Additional Information
Van Wyk was part of the same deployment as Joao, Braz and Van Der Walt who had been killed the previous day at Mutuanjamba. A group of SWAPO had clashed briefly with SADF units at Mulemba, and were withdrawing northwards. A rough impromptu stopper group was set-up and they were rewarded when SWAPO walked into them and a number were killed. Random SWAPO mortar fire killed Van Wyk moments later.