Person Information
[Nel, J., Capt]
Details of the Person
Person
Number		 34843
Surname Nel  (78) Initals J. Views 1390
Date 1998-09-22 (8) Date of Birth 1971-10-13 Corps SAMS
Year 1998 (17) Place Lesotho
Full Names Johan Military
Number		 97724264PR Death Age 26 (26)
Cause Detail
Cemetery Grave
War 43 Operation Boleas
Unit 7Med (2)
7 Medical Battalion Group
Rank
Captain
Rank Capt (393)
Description Captain
Address Captain
Awards

Awards Unknown

I have no information on what awards (if any) this person received.

Please email any information you have on the awards of this person to John Dovey (john@justdone.co.za)

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Dedication
Heroes will never be forgotten and I will love you forever.
Dedicated
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Erika Scholtz escholz@mweb.co.za 2007-09-21 20:47:43 Gravatar Image
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Story
In Operation Boleas, a South African military intervention force invaded Lesotho in September 1998, to restore law and order following an attempted coup. On the morning of 22 September, during the initial invasion, four South African helicopters were sent to Katse, and landed on the ground near the small army garrison which guards the 185 metre high Katse Dam, the most important single component of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Sergeant Jeremy Sax of Cape Town, not a Sesotho speaker, walked to the base unarmed to say that the intervention force was taking over the garrison. The soldiers inside told him that this was their responsibility, and that he should leave. When he did not do so, he was shot by them, and apparently died almost instantly. A medical doctor with the intervention force, Captain Johan Nel, went to the aid of Sergeant Sax, and was also shot dead. There was then an exchange of fire between the two sets of troops in which another South African soldier was wounded. The helicopters then took off, leaving their wounded comrade on the ground, and strafed the Lesotho Defence Force garrison. 16 out of 17 soldiers in the garrison were killed, there being just one survivor who was eventually taken for treatment at the trauma unit of the project at Motebang Hospital, Hlotse. It is said that four other soldiers survived, simply because when the attack took place they had gone out jogging. When they returned nearly all their comrades were dead.
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Peter chappiep@hotmail.com 2008-04-04 06:07:49 Gravatar Image
Story
The real story, I was there. In Operation Boleas, a South African military intervention force invaded Lesotho in September 1998, on request of the Lesotho Government to restore law and order following a Military attempted coup. On the morning of 22 September, during the initial invasion, four South African helicopters were sent to Katse, two of the helicopters were used as Gunships and the other two helicopters were used to carry 20 Pathfinders (10 in each Chopper). When the first Chopper landed the Pilot said: 5 out and 5 Pathfinders must stay. The Pilot took off and landed again near the small Lesotho army base which was guarded by 28 Lesotho soldiers. The other 5 Pathfinder got out of the Chopper and walked to the Military base. A Pathfinder Corporal had pamphlets in his hands saying that they were a peace force and there on request of the Lesotho Government, but before he could give the pamphlet to the Lesotho soldiers one of them shouted something in Sesotho and then 28 Lesotho soldiers started to shoot at the 5 Pathfinders without any warning. The one Chopper went back and picked up the other 5 Pathfinders that were with the Civilian South Africans working on the Katse Dam Project. Then both Choppers landed near the Lesotho base and dropped the entire Pathfinder group. After the firefight Sergeant Jeremy Sax and a Pathfinder went to clear the buildings. Sergeant Jeremy Sax was shot throw a door busy clearing a room. A medical doctor with the Pathfinders, Captain Johan Nel, went to aid Sergeant Sax, he also was shot. Both men died instantly. A Chopper was called and both men were taken to the Command Hospital in Ladybrand. Of the 28 Lesotho Soldiers, 23 were killed and 1 wounded. The other 4 run away.
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Me chappiep@hotmail.com 2009-09-22 10:52:24 Gravatar Image
Story
Hi....
Was also there but at a different base and place...
Please note that Sax's name is not Jeremy but Jerome... He was one of my instructor's as we were in the same unit.
Honour the fallen... 
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Scotty bscottcca@yahoo.com 2011-05-08 18:00:38 Gravatar Image
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Peacekeeping Memorial overlooking the paradeground at De Brug
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Person Number Name
34837 [Mothupi, O.A., L-Cpl]
34839 [Magwazana, L.M., L-Cpl]
34840 [Mangoagape, A.T., Pte]
34841 [Mtengwane, S., L-Cpl]
34842 [Mafuta, S.Z., L-Cpl]
34843 [Nel, J., Capt]
35224 [Mokoena, B.K., Rfn]
35225 [Nyofane, L.D., Rfn]
35227 [Makalela, M.V., Cpl]
Wespark Cemetary, Johannesburg
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34843 [Nel, J., Capt]
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