Dippenaar, Jan Paulus (J P)

During the Rhodesian cease-fire, a ZANLA commander, Herbert Shungu, and 8 CTs stopped two South African Police vehicles which were carrying 6 members of the SAP and a BSAP constable. They were all relieved of the firearms, bundled into one of the trucks and driven down to the bridge over the Mazoe River in Rushinga District (Op Hurricane). They were taken onto the bridge and told to remove their shirts and hats, but sensing real danger, the policemen tried to escape, some by jumping into the river. One of the CTs opened up with his RPD. Jan Dippenaar, William du Plessis, Lourens Erasmus and Louis Franken of the SAP were all killed. Cst Grobbelaar, who was shot and wounded in the river, and Cst Eloff both survived. The body of Cst Mutasa Mandaza of the BSAP was never found and it is presumed he had drowned