MK Special Operations Unit Hit Voortrekkerhoogte Military Base
On 12 August 1981, in the evening, at a spot between the Indian areas of Erasmia and Laudium, approximately four kilometres from the apartheid South African Defence Force’s (SADF’s) Voortrekkerhoogte military base in Verwoerdburg (now Centurion), between Pretoria and Johannesburg, members of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Special Operations Unit had a GRAD-P rocket launcher system set-up.
This Special Operations Unit was formed with the mandate of undertaking high profile attacks, and its members consisted of Barney Molokoane (aka “Bhuda”), as the operational commander, Johnny Mashigo (aka “Vuyisile Matroos”), Johannes Mnisi (aka “Victor Molefe”), Vincent Sekete (aka “Sidney Sibepe”) and Velaphi Mbele (aka “Ta Vicks”). Stationed nearby was Philemon Malefo, who was often based in Mamelodi to provide transport and logistics, was waiting in a Ford Ranchero motor vehicle.
Meanwhile, around 22:30, Lieutenant van Dyk was busy writing a situation report at the Voortrekkerhoogte military base, when he heard a large explosion. He then called the guards at the gate to confirm what had happened. A guard responded that there was a great explosion somewhere near the base, and, as he was responding, another explosion occurred on the other side of the street. Ten minutes later three more explosions ensued, which Van Dyk determined were from the west of the base.
Following these five explosions, a larg
