The South African Air Force (SAAF) memorial on Bays Hill, which honors fallen air force members, has been deemed off-limits for the annual memorial service due to recent acts of vandalism and desecration.

Mike Louw, National President of the SAAF Association (SAAFA), highlighted the "sacredness" of the memorial, noting that it had rarely been targeted by vandals until November when parts of it were desecrated. As a result, both the SAAF and SAAFA have agreed to keep the memorial and its surroundings out of bounds until proper security measures can be implemented.

The May memorial service, traditionally held at the memorial, will now likely take place in one of the hangars at the Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (AF MDW), the oldest SAAF base, with Hangar 5 being the probable venue.

The responsibility for guarding and sentry duty at the memorial, located outside the AF MDW perimeter wall, is currently unclear. Despite attempts to obtain clarification from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Directorate Corporate Communication, no response has been received.

The SAAF memorial, unveiled in 1963, features a design symbolizing flight with three wings crossing over each other. It houses a chapel, a caretaker's office, and a machine room, with a cenotaph in the hall between the wings serving as the centerpiece. A commemorative stone with an eternal flame was added to the main walkway after the transition to democracy in South Africa, listing various military forces.

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