First flown 2 December 1981 and delivered to SAA 14 December remaining with the airline until 23 October 2006 when taken over by Zambian Airways as 9J-JOY. Withdrawn from use December 2008 and later broken up at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

First flown 23 October 1983 and delivered to South African Airways 2 November 1981. Converted to cargo in April 1995. To African Charter Airline in October 2013. Withdrawn from use and stored at Johannesburg 30 July 2017. Like all SAA 737s, ZS-SID was named after a river - in this case the Orange River, one of Africa's longest rivers. Photographer unknown

First flown at Boeing's Renton facility 3 September 1981, delivered to South African 18 September and remaining with SAA until 2005. It was leased to Air Comores as D6-CAJ between November 1984 and October 1985, and also spent a period with Safair. To TANS Peru as OB-1806-P in June 2005, to Aero Gal as HC-CFR June 2006, to Rutaca Airlines in 2011 and used for spares. Seen here at Cape Town with the then new flag on the tail and with titles in Afrikaans on the port side, English on the starboard. Limpopo is named for the Limpopo River which form South Africa's northern border and drains to the Indian Ocean. Photographer unknown

First flown at Renton, WA 10 October 2000 as N1787B and delivered to South African on 25 October. Transferred to Mango in April 2018 and returned to lessor Macquarie AirFinance in April 2021. It was briefly painted as 9H-AJX and re-registered 2-SSJF 16 January 2023. To TC-MGO with Mavi Gök Airlines 16t February 2024. Photographer unknown

Delivered to the South African Police in August 1993, ZS-NIT continued to serve with the South African Police Service which was established in 1995 after the fall of apartheid when the police services of the so called bantustans were incorporated into one police force. Photographer unknown

Delivered to SA Airlink 8 May 2001, ZS-SJW was written off at George, Western Cape when the aircraft overran the runway on landing in wet weather. The runway was found to be non-compliant with ICAO regulations and the airport authority held responsible for the accident. Photographer unknown

First flown 5 October 1981 and delivered to South African 19 October. To Safair in October 2004 and TANS Peru June 2005. Returned to Safair when TANS folded in January 2006. To Interlink September 2007, withdrawn from use December 2009 and later scrapped at Wonderboom. Photographer unknown

ZS-SIJ is here seen at the then Durban-Louis Botha Airport with the distinctive SAPREF refinery in the background. Note the Afrikaans titles. ZS-SIJ is, like all SAA/SAL 737s named after a river. The Caledon River is a major source of water in South Africa and Lesotho. ZS-SIJ joined the SAA fleet in March 1982 having made its first flight in February. Leased to LATAM Chile as CC-CHK December 1985-May 1987, returned to SAA and was sold to Avianca Ecuador as HC-CFM May 2006. To Mission Air Support as N589MS January 2015 and eventually scrapped at Ardmore, OK. Photographer unknown

First flown at Renton, WA 4 August 1988 and delivered to South African Airways ten days later. Leased to VASP as PP-SNW November 1985 to March 1988 and to Namib Air/Air Namibia November 1989 to May 1991. Sold to TANS Peru June 2005. Written off on approach to Pucallpa, Peru 23 August 2005. Here seen at Harare with the SAA South African Airways titles on the starboard side. Photographer unknown

First flown from Boeing Field 22 May 1970 and delivered to South African Airways five days later, this 737 spent its entire service life in the southern hemisphere. It remained with South African until July 1993 when it was sold to LAPA as LV-WBO. Retired in January 2000 and later scrapped at Buneos Aires - Ezeiza. Photographer unknown

This 737 spent its entire career in Southern Africa. First flown at Boeing Field 24 June 1970, it was delivered to South African Airways five days later, remaining with the airline until sold to Comair in August 1992. Duiring its tenure with Comair, it carried both Comair and British Airways titles. Seen here in the short-lived Animals and Trees World Tails livery. Withdrawn from use in July 2004 and parted out at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

First flown at Renton, WA 4 August 1988 and delivered to South African Airways ten days later. Leased to VASP as PP-SNW November 1985 to March 1988 and to Namib Air/Air Namibia November 1989 to May 1991. Sold to TANS Peru June 2005. Written off on approach to Pucallpa, Peru 23 August 2005. Here seen at Harare with the SAL Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens titles on the port side. Photographer unknown

This 737 spent its entire career in Southern Africa. First flown at Boeing Field 24 June 1970, it was delivered to South African Airways five days later, remaining with the airline until sold to Comair in August 1992. Duiring its tenure with Comair, it carried both Comair and British Airways titles. Withdrawn from use in July 2004 and parted out at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

First flown at Renton, WA 4 August 1988 and delivered to South African Airways ten days later. Leased to VASP as PP-SNW November 1985 to March 1988 and to Namib Air/Air Namibia November 1989 to May 1991. Sold to TANS Peru June 2005. Written off on approach to Pucallpa, Peru 23 August 2005. Here seen at Johannesburg in Namib Air colours. The airline was rebranded Air Namibia in October 1991. Photographer unknown

First flown from Boeing Field 22 May 1970 and delivered to South African Airways five days later, this 737 spent its entire service life in the southern hemisphere. It remained with South African until July 1993 when it was sold to LAPA as LV-WBO. Retired in January 2000 and later scrapped at Buneos Aires - Ezeiza. Here seen at Johannesburg immediately prior to delivery still carrying South African registration. Photographer unknown

This 737 spent its entire career in Southern Africa. First flown at Boeing Field 24 June 1970, it was delivered to South African Airways five days later, remaining with the airline until sold to Comair in August 1992. Duiring its tenure with Comair, it carried both Comair and British Airways titles. Seen here at then Cape Town in Citijet livery which was Comair's inter-city operation during the early nineties. Withdrawn from use in July 2004 and parted out at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

This 737 spent its entire career in Southern Africa. First flown at Boeing Field 24 June 1970, it was delivered to South African Airways five days later, remaining with the airline until sold to Comair in August 1992. Duiring its tenure with Comair, it carried both Comair and British Airways titles. Seen here in Comair's standard livery of the 1990s. Withdrawn from use in July 2004 and parted out at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

This 737 spent its entire career in Southern Africa. First flown at Boeing Field 7 April 1970, it was delivered to South African Airways 15 April, remaining with the airline until sold to Comair 1 August 1992. Duiring its tenure with Comair, it carried both Comair and British Airways titles. Withdrawn from use in July 2004 and parted out at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

Delivered to the USAAF as C-54 42-72201 in May 1944, this Skymaster was transferred to the US Navy as R5D-1 39162. Civilianised and sold to Pennsylvania Central Airlines in 1946 as N53487 and Capital Airlines in 1948, then World Wide Aviation as G-ARIC in 1961 who immediately sold it on to the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville, later Kinsasha, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) as 9Q-RIC. It was destroyed at Kinsasha-N'Dolo in June 1964. Photographer unknown