Delivered to Safair in June 1976. Leased to a number of operators while with Safair, including Angola Air Charter as D2-TAA, Air Contractors as EI-JVL, Schreiner Airways as PH-RMH, the UN as ZS-JVL. To Lynden Air Cargo as N406LC and P4-LAC, later returned to N406LC. Photographer unknown

First delivered to Martinair as PH-MCD in March 1983, leased to a number of airlines until January 1990 when sold to United Aviation as N80UA, then Air Sur as EC-EYP in October 1990, to Oasis International as EC-FGQ in October 1991, to Continental as N80UA in April 1993, re-registered N14871 November 1994. To 1Time as ZS-TRD December 2004, withdrawn from use at Johannesburg November 2012, later broken up. Photographer unknown

Bulit at Long Beach, CA in October 1966 and first flow 27 October 1966. Delivered to Standard Airways 30 November 1966 as N491SA, to Ozark October 1968 and TWA when Ozark merged into that airline in October 1986 remaining until July 1999. Stored for a while before finally entering service with 1time in April 2004. Withdrawn from use in April 2007 and broken up at Johannesburg. Photographer unknown

Built as a 440-32 and first flown 28 Dec 1956 and delivered to Braniff as N3435 3 Jan 1957. To Allegheny Airlines 16 Apr 1962, then to PacAero Jan 1967 and converted to a 580. Re-registered N5826, 21 June 1967. To Great Lakes Dec 1976, then North Star before sold to Consolidated Diamond Mines of South Africa Oct 1978 and operated by Namib Air. To Kelowna as C-FKFA 10 June 1991 and converted to freighter. To SNAS Worldwide as HX-SN11. To Air Chathams as ZK-CID 20 Sept 2004. Withdrawn from use at Palmerston North Oct 2007 and used for spares. Photographer unknown

Transkei Airways was the national airline of the Republic of Transkei, a homeland set up during the apartheid era in South Africa. It mainly flew services linking Transkei with major South African cities. This 748 first flew from Woodford in June 1979 as G-BGPR and delivered Transkei Airways in September 1979. Remaining in South Africa until 2004, it flew with Care Airlines, Intensive Air, and Branson Air. To Best Aviation as S2-AAT in 2004. Withdrawn from use at Cox's Bazar when the airline ceased operations in 2010. Still there in 2018. Photographer unknown

First registered G-BJDB in 1981 before delivery to the Ciskei Defence Force Air Wing in 1982. Unlike many aircraft from the air wings of other so called homelands, ZS-LFG was not integrated into the South African Air Force. Sold as 9M-LLA in 1996 then to Skydive Arizona as N41LH in 2011.

Delivered to the Soviet Air Force in Aeroflot colours in March 1988, leased to SAA for a period in 1993. Later to UR-78756. 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. Seen here landing at Johannesburg in the last light of the day. Photographer unknown

Delivered to Aviatrans April 1992. To Nikolaev Avia July 1992 and leased to South African Airways September 1992. Re-registered UR-48080 January 1993, later to Khors Air. To the Mexican Air Force as FAM-3102 August 2000, later just 3102. Carries large Aveco titles and a small SAA/SAL sticker and the Aeroflot logo on the nose. Photographer unknown

Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-SPF in 1977. Leased to Air Mauritius as 3B-NAO and returned to South African as ZS-SPF in 1988. Leased to Luxair/UTA as LX-LGY and returned as ZS-SPF in 1989. Leased to Namib Air as V5-SPF in 1990, renambed Air Nambia in 1991. Returned to South African as ZS-SPF in 1998. Damaged beyond repair at Maputo, Mozambique in 1998. Seen here at Johannesburg post lease to Luxair/UTA before lease to Namib Air. Photographer unknown

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