Latest news with #WallofRemembrance
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Honouring seaman Pooventharan Thangavalu: a tribute on the Wall of Remembrance
Seaman Pooventharan Thangavalu of the South African Marine Corps, who was killed in 1989. Image: Supplied IT was a bitter-sweet moment for the family of the late Seaman Pooventharan Thangavalu of the then-South African Marine Corps, whose name was recently added to the Wall of Remembrance. The wall, which is situated at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, carries the names of those that served in the South African military and died during the Angolan bush war. Thangavalu, who hailed from Merebank, was shot and killed by a fellow marine on January 23 in 1989. He was 19-years-old at the time. Perseelan Thangavalu, his elder brother, said the family were left feeling overwhelmed with his acknowledgement. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Thangavalu's family members, from left, Chance Thangavalu (nephew), Perseelan Thangavalu (brother), Prabashinie Thangavalu (sister-in-law), and Lance Thangavalu (nephew), in front of the Wall of Remembrance where his name was included. Image: Supplied 'We feel a deep sense of pride and honour that my brother has been acknowledged for his service. Although it has been over 30 years since his passing, our family, especially our mother, still feels the pain of our loss. But it has definitely brought us some joy to see his name on the wall, alongside the others who are part of our country's military history,' he said. Vinesh Selvan, public relations officer for the South African Indian Legion (SAIL) of Military Veterans, said he was contacted by a member of the Pro Patria Museum requesting the names of fallen Indian participants during the war. 'The only Indian whose name reflected on the wall was that of Airman P Ramsamy, who was a fireman in the Air Force. The only other member to my knowledge was Thangavalu.' Selvan said Thangavalu was killed instantly in a shooting incident while stationed at Wenela Military Base in Namibia. 'Earlier in the day, a fellow marine had entered the bungalow and removed the magazine from his rifle without carrying out safety checks to ensure the rifle chamber was clear. He put the rifle down on his bed and went off on an exercise run. 'The same marine, together with Thangavalu later returned to the bungalow. The marine picked up the weapon and they both proceeded to joke around and play games with it. Despite calls from fellow marines to desist, the two of them continued to joke and play around with the rifle until a shot went off, hitting Thangavalu in the head and killing him instantly,' he said. Selvan said the addition of Thangavalu's name to the wall signified an acknowledgment of the Indian participation in the Angolan bush war. 'During the Angolan bush war, the marines were tasked to perform patrols with their boats along the rivers, as well as border patrols to prevent enemy fighters from entering South West Africa and attacking the South African forces. His name and sacrifice have not been forgotten.' Selvan added that among the non-profit organisation's projects included erecting a Wall of Remembrance at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town and one in Durban. 'We are still looking for a site in Durban. The Indian military history in South Africa is almost non-existent in military museums, and SAIL is busy writing the story of Indians into history and into have completed the Indian military history in the South African Air Force Museum, which has three locations - Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town. 'We have also erected a Wall of Remembrance and recently completed the 'Role of Indians in the South African Military' exhibition at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg. In October, we will also be hosting our annual commemorative service in Johannesburg and Durban to remember the fallen Indian soldiers of South Africa,' he said. THE POST
The South African
30-04-2025
- The South African
Man found sleeping next to dug-up relatives' bones
Warning: The content contained within this article features imagery which readers may find disturbing Police in Masoyi have arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly exhuming the remains of his father and grandfather at a cemetery in Swalala, near White River. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, a woman arrived at the Masoyi Police Station around 13h30 on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, to report the incident, . The Visible Policing Unit officers responded swiftly and confirmed that two adjacent graves disturbed. The police identified the graves, dating back to 2010, as those of the suspect's father and grandfather. Police tracked the suspect to his home in the RDP section of Swalala. There, they found him asleep with human bones beside him, believed to be from the exhumed graves. Police immediately took him into custody and charged him with violating the graves. Remains believed to be exhumed from graves. Image: Supplied The suspect appeared in the Masoyi Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 30 April, but the case was postponed. He is expected to return on 05 May 2025. Police confiscated the remains for further investigation. Investigators are continuing their work, and they will communicate further developments as they unfold. Similar Incidents of Grave Desecration and Theft of Remains According to The Citizen, suspects involved with narcotics allegedly raided cemeteries for bones and ashes. Which they mixed with their substances in January 2025. These acts of disrespect have sparked outrage in local communities, especially with the destruction of memorials like the Wall of Remembrance at Bredell Cemetery. Although such cases are often linked to drug addiction, some local residents suggest that the causes behind these grave violations might be more complex. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Guardian
26-01-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Minns condemns vandalism of NSW police monument; Victorians brace for searing heat
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has taken a veiled swipe at the federal opposition in statements made from Poland on Sunday. Dreyfus and foreign minister Penny Wong are in Krakow to attend the service marking the liberation of Auschwitz, which will take place early Tuesday morning, Australian time. (That ceremony will also be attended by King Charles.) About 1.1 million people were murdered in the concentration camp before it was emancipated on 27 January 1945. Dreyfus told reporters on Sunday: My great-grandmother, Ida Ransenberg, then aged 60, was murdered at Auschwitz on the 14th of October, 1942. We're at this commemoration to acknowledge the magnificent contribution that's been made by Jews to our own Australian community, including the very many survivors of the Holocaust who found their way to Australia, particularly after the war. Dreyfus said it was important to 'reject attempts to politicise the Holocaust or to politicise anti-Semitism'. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has repeatedly criticised the government for its handling of anti-Semitism and has suggested those who commit terrorism offences or display hate symbols be sentenced to mandatory jail time, despite concerns from legal experts. – With AAP Share NSW police minister says wall of remembrance vandals are 'cowards' The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, has released a strong statement on the damage to the police memorial, saying the people who vandalised the monument are 'cowards': Over the weekend, the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance was significantly damaged with disgusting graffiti etched into it. This is a sacred site, which honours officers killed in the line of duty. For it to be defaced is the lowest of acts. Our police officers sacrifice their personal safety every day for our state – for that they should be celebrated, not subjected to vile attacks. Police are investigating and will leave no stone unturned in order to identify and arrest the cowards responsible. Anyone with any information or video must contact Crime Stoppers. Share More on that vandalism of the police monument in Sydney's Domain NSW police are investigating what they say is significant damage to the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance, which was erected in memory of police officers killed in the line of duty. Police believe the vandalism took place at about 3.15am on Saturday, and was seen by on-duty officers around midday on Sunday. A crime scene has been established and the City of Sydney is assisting with remedial and repair works. The premier, Chris Minns, released a statement on the incident this morning. Here it is in full: I've been made aware that the police monument in the Domain has been significantly vandalised. This is disgusting behaviour. Police put themselves in danger every day in the service of our state. To deface a memorial that commemorates police officers who have served the State, and those who have lost their lives whilst on duty is lower than low. Share Josh Butler Peter Dutton says Holocaust education an important mission In his statement for International Holocaust Day, Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, drew parallels between current antisemitism and the Holocaust. The weight of history will be especially felt by survivors and their families this International Holocaust Remembrance Day with 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. In the magnitude of antisemitism which is plaguing western democracies today – including Australia – many citizens who have read about the history and horrors of the Holocaust have, for the first time, grasped how that catastrophe eventuated. They have seen, with their own eyes, a type of hate that, if left unchecked, unleashes greater evils. Dutton will be in Perth on Monday to confirm a pledge of $2m for the Holocaust Institute of Western Australia. He said of the announcement: Educating Australians about atrocities of the Holocaust and the October 7 attacks is an important mission that deserves support. By gaining awareness of the persecution and atrocities committed against Jews, Australians will have a better understanding of why there is no place for antisemitism in our community. Share Josh Butler Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have both released statements overnight on International Holocaust Day, referencing the recent spate of antisemitism in Australia and globally. The prime minister said the world 'cannot allow the Holocaust to recede into history': It was a pitiless and unrelenting act of cruelty that was long in the planning, cold in its calculation, and carried out on a scale that falls across the decades like a terrible shadow. The devastation felt when witnessing the horror, destruction and brutality inflicted by Hamas on October 7 is reminiscent of the dark and painful stories of the past. For the Australian Jewish community, those are the stories of their families. Albanese said Jewish Australians 'are integral to the story of Australia'. We embraced the Jewish community then, and we embrace you now. Tragically, we are not yet free of antisemitism. It stands in vile opposition to all we are as a nation and all that we have built – together – over generations. We will not tolerate it in any form. It has no place in our nation, and we will combat it with the full force of our laws and with total commitment from every level of government. Share Good morning. Welcome to this public holiday Monday news liveblog. I'm Stephanie Convery and I'll be with you right through until early afternoon. The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has described vandalism to the police monument in Sydney's Domain over the weekend as 'disgusting behaviour'. He said in a statement this morning that the vandals, who appear to have damaged and graffitied the monument, are 'lower than low'. Meanwhile, the NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, has said police are investigating and 'will leave no stone unturned' to find the culprits. We'll bring you more on that shortly. And Victorians are expecting to swelter through the public holiday, with temperatures between 12 and 14C above average and maximum temperatures reaching up to 45C in parts of the state. Melbourne is expecting to hit 41C by late afternoon. There are total fire bans in place in many parts of the state, and thunderstorms developing later in the day. Grab a coffee and let's find out what's happening around the country. Share
