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:
 1980-06-06
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, north of Mulemba (approximately 80 kms 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.