Major Pieterse gets a hero’s farewell
“I am honoured to be his wife. He taught us principles we will always remember.”
The Heidelberg Army gymnasium was packed with grief when high-ranked South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officials, family, friends, co-workers and the community of Heidelberg came together on July 20 for the official military funeral of Major Johan Christiaan Pieterse.
Pieterse (46), known as Tolla, joined the SANDF in 1997. He chose the military as his full-time career, completed various courses and obtained an Honours degree in military science in 2011. In 2014, he was transferred to the SA Army Infantry Formation HQ and promoted to major. In 2022, he attained his Master‘s in military science and did his thesis on analysing the application of the SA battalions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
With this exceptional knowledge, academic achievements and dedication to his role in SANDF, he was deployed to the DRC on several occasions under the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade, first in 2017 and then in 2023. Pieterse sadly died in the DRC on July 8 after a grenade exploded.
Pieterse and his wife, Marie, are well-known and respected in the Heidelberg community. It was a terrible shock for Marie to get the news of her husband’s death and not something she ever thought of telling their two teenage daughters, Marla (18) and Bianka (16).
“I am not ready to be without him,” Marie told Heraut and said that, as a family, they did everything together.
The couple had been together since 2000 and married in 2004. Both shared a deep connection and love for their family.
“He was a loving husband and father and always put others first. He was a humble yet strict person,” Marie said.
Pastor Kobus Massyn, a friend and former co-worker who met Pieterse 27 years ago, paid tribute to his friend, whom he described as extraordinary.
“Tolla did everything with passion. He made every moment of life special and memorable,” Massyn said and shared memories of them training together for the Midmar Mile, Comrades Marathon and half-Ironman events.
He testified to Pieterse’s devotion to his family, sharing memories about the times next to the netball fields when Pieterse cheered on his daughters during their games, again with much passion and enthusiasm.
“Tolla believed in morals and discipline, and his code of conduct was higher than anyone’s I ever knew,” Massyn said, concluding his message by saying Pieterse was taken too soon. He had much more to give, but his legacy will live on.
When Marie got the news of his death, she was devastated because the happy memories of their holiday together less than a month ago were still fresh in her mind. Pieterse had time off in June and came home to spend it with his wife and daughters.
“I am so grateful for the short period he was here in June. We will treasure every moment, all the giggles when we played tenpin bowling and the card games we played at night. He will forever be my Tolla,” Marie said.
Major General Mulaudzi, the commanding general: SA army support formation, said in his tribute that Pieterse was one of their heroes and emphasised the legacy of a fallen soldier who will never be forgotten and would be honoured for giving his life for his country. He ensured Marie, Marla and Bianka of the SANDF’s ongoing support and quoted words from Isaiah 41:10:
“Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.”
Chaplain F Mnyanda, who conducted the sermon on behalf of the SANDF, started by quoting the song of the late Jim Reeves, This World is not my Home.
She talked about how funerals bring people together to celebrate the life of a loved one. However, after the funeral is over and the family is on their own, they should remember that despite the pain of death, God will never leave them and always hold them in His hands. Pieterse was a respected soldier, a dedicated husband and father and loved in his community.
“I am honoured to be his wife. He taught us principles we will always remember. He was everything to us,” Marie said, adding that she would also remember him for his sense of humour.
“He always made us laugh and enjoy life. He lived to the fullest. When he could help others, he would go out of his way to do so without expecting anything in return. He provided for us as a family in more ways than we could ever have asked for. His daughters adored him and are equally proud of their dad and his achievements,” she said.
In proper military tradition, the SA flag was presented to Marie with memorabilia from Pieterse’s time in the SANDF. Pieterse’s funeral was evidence of the respect he received as a major in the SANDF and the love he had among his family and community.
“We will remember you. We will remember you. We will remember you,” were the words said in one voice while standing to attention in the Heidelberg Army gymnasium before the proceedings ended and the platoons escorted his coffin with a slow march through the army grounds.
Emotions ran high when a trumpeter played The Last Post before his coffin was handed to the Pieterse family for his burial.
