Quoted from JustDone.co.za
Article 75
In the early hours of Thursday 18 February 1982, SAS President Kruger, oldest of the three Type 12 Frigates of the South African Navy, collided with the replenishment vessel, SAS Tafelberg. Both ships were severely damaged but TAFELBERG returned safely to Simon’s Town. President Kruger sank approximately two hours after the collision when efforts to keep her afloat failed.
14 men from Mess 12, Chief Petty Officers J B Booysen and W M G van Tonder; Petty Officers S A Bothma, G A Brind, R C Bulterman, G W de Villiers, E Koen, H Lotter, R A McMaster, R F Skeates, H W Smit, W R Smith, M B R Whiteley and C J Wium died in the collision and their bodies went down with the ship. A further two men, Chief Petty Officer D Webb and Able Seaman G T Benjamin, lost their lives after the collision and whilst abandoning ship. Of these last named two only CPO Webb?s body was recovered after being sighted by SAS Protea on the morning of 19 February.
See the full story in Three Frigates by Rear Admiral Chris Bennett SAN (Ret)
John Dovey
dovey.john@gmail.com
2006-06-11 01:15:16


To all who have contributed to this forum
We are a Cape Town based production company who have been commissioned by kykNET to at last produce a project that has been very close to our hearts for some years. The theme of the 13 part series is South African disasters and we are beginning the series which goes on air in January with the sinking of the SAS President Kruger. This project is very close to our hearts and we are treating all the disasters with the utmost respect and dignity. We are currently speaking to the Navy as well as any one else with stories from that night. Our aim is not to lay blame, open old wounds or make anyone look bad, but rather to tell the story from the mouths of those who experienced it and were forever affected by it as well as those who are no longer here and cannot tell their story. If anyone on this forum would be interested in talking to us, being interviewed, has any articles, memorabilia, pictures or the like it would be greatly appreciated. I can be contacted on gen@plan-c.co.za
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