21/02/2026
The 44th annual memorial service of the sinking of the Naval frigate SAS President Kuger were hoisted today at Hermanus Cenotaph. The Officer Commanding of the TS Birkenhead ( LT Noel Dreyer) had the following to say during the service:
Ladies and gentleman, Distinguish Guest, Veterans, members of the South African Sea Cadets, Families and Friends.
We gather here today at Hermanus Cenotaph to commemorate the 44th anniversary of theSA Naval Frigate SAS President Kruger - affectionately known to all of us as the PK.
On the morning os the18 February 1982 at 04h10, during a naval exercise off the SA coast, tragedy struck. In conditions of darkness and limited visibility, the SAS President Kruger collided with the replenishment ship SAS Tafelberg. What began as a routine naval operation quickly turned into a fight for survival.
The damage sustained by the President Kruger was severe. Despite the discipline, courage and training of her crew, the ship began taking on water. Within minutes, , the order was given to abandon ship. President Kruger sunk at 05h29. In the chaos of the morning, the cold sea and the uncertainty that followed, sixteen sailors lost their lives in service of their country.
They were sons, brothers, husbands and friends. Sailors who answers the call of duty and paid the ultimate price.
I stand before you today not only as the Officer Commanding of TS Birkenhead, but also as one of the fortunate survivors of that morning. I remember the fear, the confusion and the bravery displayed by ordinary sailors in extraordinary circumstances. I remember shipmates helping one another, following orders and maintaining discipline even as their ship slipped beneath the waves. Survival was not a matter of rank or strength alone - it was often a matter of faith. And for those of us who survived, the memory of that morning has never faded. We carry it with us, not as a burden, but as a responsibility: To remember, to Honour and to ensure that those who were lost are never forgotten. To ensure that this story is carried forward to the next generation, leadership now invite one of our Sea Cadets to share why this remembrance remains important today.
Seaman N. Arendse:
Ladies and Gentlemen.
As Sea Cadets, we were not alive when the SAS President Kuger sank. But today, we stand here because their story is now part of our history and our responsibility. The sixteen sailors who lost their lives on that morning were serving their country with pride. They were trained, disciplined and committed - values that we, as cadets are taught to live by every day. By remembering what happened on the morning of 18 February 1982, we learn that service is not only about uniforms and parades, but about sacrifice, teamwork and loyalty. For the past five years, TS Birkenhead has had the Honour of hosting this memorial service here at the Hermanus Cenotaph. Standing here today reminds us that the freedom and traditions we inherit were paid for by others before us. We Remember the fallen not just to look back, but to guide us forward - to become better Cadets, better leaders and better citizens.
OC continue:
Today is not only about loss, it is also about Remembrance, respect, and Legacy. The legacy of the SAS President Kuger lives on through ceremonies such as this, through the families who remember and through the young Cadets who stand in formation today, learning what it truly means to serve. As we proceed with this memorial service, let us pause to reflect on the courage of those sixteen sailors, the brotherhood of the Sea and the enduring bond shared by all who have worn uniform.
May they rest in peace.
May their sacrifice never be forgotten.
Thank you.
