Comments on: The Helderberg air crash: 22 years on and it’s still murky

By: Michelle Hogg

Michelle Hogg — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:13:08 +0000

To all the families who lost loved ones on this tragic flight. My prays & thoughts are with you. I cannot imagine the pain & loss you feel. I hope that one day the truth will prevail & the S.A government will come forward with an explanation / apology.

By: Paul Ash

Paul Ash — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:57:20 +0000

Maureen,
All we can hope for is that someone involved will one day come forward and tell the truth about what happened on that awful night.

By: Maureen Morton

Maureen Morton — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:27:18 +0000

Sorry, it was Sam van der Walt’s comment and not Chris van Schalkwyk – I am even crying and making mistakes as I wrote the comment.

By: Sam van der Walt

Sam van der Walt — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:54:34 +0000

This was an internal SAA email, which was forwarded to me. No mention of the passengers??
http://i129.photobucket.com/al.....-Email.jpg

By: Sam van der Walt

Sam van der Walt — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:41:34 +0000

Both my parents were on that plane, SAA’s treatment of the families was disgusting! We were told that we should consider ourselves lucky that SAA were going to pay us out (which was a pittance) as SAA was not obliged to do so!

They also promised to erect a monument in South Africa for the Helderberg victims, 22 years on, we are still waiting!

By: Paul Ash

Paul Ash — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:34:40 +0000

Chris,
I was sad to read your comment. I truly hope that one day you and the other families will know the truth about what happened on Flight 295.

By: Chris van Schalkwyk

Chris van Schalkwyk — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:21:55 +0000

My father was a crew member on that flight and after it happened the whole thing was swept under the rug so quickly that SAA doesnt want to drag it up again because they fear the truth may come out. In response to the previous post: the rumour I heard was that there was unstable rocket fuel transported and what the experts say thats why everything was burned beyond recognition, also only a few bodies were found. I am sure there is someone who knows what happens but they are too scared to talk about the attrocities commited by SAA and the apartheid government. The families were also never compensated for they’re loss!!
I write this in memory of my father:
NM van Schalkwyk

By: SK

SK — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:12:01 +0000

Being South African, I can say that SAA really doesn’t care about their past. This year was their 75th anniversary and the only celebrations that took place was a 75 logo next to their current one and some online specials. It is just typical of SAA not to remember or commemorate anything!

What I heard about that flight is that it contained some dangerous weapons in favour of apartheid and someone set the aircraft alight. Whether it is the truth, I don’t know