Air Force memorial service cancelled

The South African Air Force (SAAF) memorial on Bays Hill is an important landmark that pays tribute to the SAAF members who have lost their lives while serving the country. The memorial is situated on Bays Hill in Swartkop, outside Pretoria, and overlooks Air Force Base Swartkop. It was unveiled on 1 September 1963 by the State President of South Africa, Charles Robberts Swart.

Unfortunately, the memorial has been subjected to vandalism and desecration, leading to it being deemed off-limits for the annual memorial service. Mike Louw, National President of the SAAF Association (SAAFA), expressed his deep concern over the "sacredness" of the memorial that had rarely been targeted by vandals until November when parts of it were desecrated.

The desecration of the memorial is a disgraceful act that disrespects the memory of the fallen SAAF members. It's a sad reminder of the lack of respect for the bravery and sacrifice of the SAAF members who have dedicated their lives to serving the country.

As a result of the desecration, the May memorial service, which is traditionally held at the memorial, will now likely take place in one of the hangars at the Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (AF MDW), the oldest SAAF base. Hangar 5 is the probable venue. The decision to move the memorial service away from the SAAF memorial is a sad one as it takes away from the significance of the memorial and the tribute it represents to the fallen SAAF members.

The responsibility for guarding and sentry duty at the memorial outside the AF MDW perimeter wall is currently unclear, which raises concerns about the safety of the monument. Despite attempts to obtain clarification from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Directorate Corporate Communication, no response has been received.

The SAAF memorial is an important landmark that deserves to be respected and protected. It's a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the SAAF members who have lost their lives while serving the country. The acts of vandalism and desecration at the SAAF memorial are unacceptable, and it's important to ensure that they never happen again.