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Transcript of Enongqai vol 4 no 6
1
THE e-NONGQAI
Un-official Police Gazette for VETERANS of the former
South African Police Force and for those interested in the
history of our Police, Defence and our National Security
JUNE 2013; Vol 4 no 6
DIE e-NONGQAI
Nie-amptelike Polisiekoerant vir VETERANE van die ou Suid-Afrikaanse
Polisiemag en vir diegene wat belangstel in die geskiedenis van ons polisie,
verdediging en nasionale veiligheid
JUNIE 2013; Vol 4 Nr 6
Your national security magazine
U tydskrif nasiopnale veiligheidstydskrif
2
BELANGRIK
Nominasie: Gideon Serfontein
“Ek is deur die PSA en die Bond [van Oud-polisiebeamptes] genomineer om as
kandidaat vir die verkiesing benoem te word. Nominasievorms word tans aan lede
gepos. U Hoef nie oor die nominasieproses te bekommer nie aangesien ek my
nominasie self by EISA sal inhandig. U Word egter versoek om gedurende die
stemproses van 8 Julie 2013 tot 16 Augustus 2013 u stemme vir my uit te bring.
Stembriewe en die stemprosedure sal na nominasieproses per pos aan u gestuur
word.
Kind Regards
Gideon Serfontein
Wie is ons / Who are we
We are a group of lay police and defence veterans who would like to foster an
interest in South Africa’s police, defence and national security history. We can only
learn from the past.
• Editor: HB “Hennie” Heymans, MA (Brigadier, SAP - Ret)
• Ass-Editor: J Jacobs (CPO SA Navy & Marines. Ret)
• Technical: Bruce Jones (BSc UNP)
Contents / Inhoud
BELANGRIK ....................................................................................................................... 2
Nominasie: Gideon Serfontein ........................................................................................... 2
Wie is ons / Who are we ........................................................................................................ 2
WELCOME / WELKOM ...................................................................................................... 9
Moment of silence/ Bepeinsing ............................................................................................. 9
• Life can throw a curved ball - Rev Bob Timms (Former member SA Sec Forces) ... 9
• As ek jou maar net kon sien……………? Koot Swanepoel (Joubertina) .............. 10
Voorblad / Front Page: ................................................................................................. 12
Editorial .............................................................................................................................. 12
• The Dishonouring of the SAP by Koos Kotze ....................................................... 12
3
Personalia ........................................................................................................................... 17
Personalia SAP vanaf 29 April tot 31 Mei 2013: Johan Jacobs ......................................... 17
• SAP Afsterwes ...................................................................................................... 17
• SAP 26 Siekboek .................................................................................................. 18
• SAP Verjaarsdae ................................................................................................... 20
• Allegaartjie ........................................................................................................... 22
Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweg en Hawens Polisie: Brig Ronnie Beyl ....................................... 23
Twee Strydosse van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie ................................................................. 23
• Brig. Kobus (Mounie) Mouton en genl. J.J.J Van Vuurn (SEE.SMO) .................. 23
Honours & Awards / Eerbewyse & Toekennings ................................................................. 25
Cross of Valour: Cross for Bravery (PCF) - HBH ............................................................ 25
• Cross for Outstanding Bravery Gold (PCFG), Exceptional Bravery Silver (PCFS)
and Bravery (PCF) ...................................................................................................... 25
• First Award of the new South African Police Cross for Bravery Gold: No 0058498-3
Lieutenant-Colonel AL du Toit .................................................................................... 26
Roll of Honour / Ererol ....................................................................................................... 30
“Ons al altyd ons ou kamerade onthou” – “We will remember them!” ............................. 30
• SAP Graves: Jeanette Victor (Cape Town) ............................................................ 30
• CWGC: Damaged Graves: Benghazi War Cemetery Libya: Charles Ross ......... 32
• SARP: KC “Bokkie” Kapp .................................................................................... 34
Friends Missing and Found! / SAP 55 Vermiste persone .................................................... 35
HISTORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION ...................... 35
Die Koevoetgedenkmuur ..................................................................................................... 38
Muur van herrinering:Rede deur Marius Brand ................................................................ 38
Potchefstroom gedekteken ............................................................................................... 41
REUNIONS / REUNIES / EVENTS / GEBEURE .............................................................. 42
5 Mei 2013: Cassingadag: Johannesburg : Paul Els .......................................................... 42
4
26 Mei 2013 Gedenkdiens by die Voortrekkermonument................................................. 44
• Foto-verslag Paul Els ............................................................................................ 45
• Verslag: Genl-maj Gert Opperman ........................................................................ 47
South African Legion: Royal Hospital Chelsea: 6 June 2013 ........................................... 48
PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH Lance-Sergeant Markus Strydom, MC ........................ 53
Ex-Toti soldier honoured ................................................................................................. 53
PERSONALITIES & BIOGRAFICAL DICTIONARY/ PERSOONLIKHEDE &
BIOGRAFIESE WOORDE BOEK ..................................................................................... 56
• Capt Albert Scott (SAP Ret) (former UK Forces, late SAP Band Durban, now Chelsea
Pensioner UK) - Peter Gillatt ........................................................................................... 56
• Sgt Cliff Podmore BSAP (1947 Royal Security) ....................................................... 56
• Capt John Medley Loveband Fulford (SAP): Peter Wood (Benoni) .......................... 56
• The late Capt Dirk Coetzee (Vlakplaas): Martin Welz (Noseweek) ........................... 58
• Jacobus Koos Kotze .................................................................................................. 59
• Constable Reginald Douglas Foy: SAP/Hartigan's Horse .......................................... 59
Foto’s via Martin Myburg: 1932 & 1952 SAP Potchefstroom ............................................. 60
• 1957 SAP Ladybrand ............................................................................................ 61
Over a nice cup of coffee ... or how I see things / Oor ‘n koppie lekker koffie ... of
soos ek die saak sien ........................................................................................................ 62
WE REMEMBER / ONS ONTHOU ................................................................................... 66
My Ervaring met die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag in die Bosoorlog 1981 – Hugo Hanneman
(SAP Afgetree) ................................................................................................................ 66
Rhodesië: Vroeë koper kruis: Chris van Ginkel, Robbie Green en HBH .......................... 68
Ex-SAP in the UK ............................................................................................................... 70
Stilte in die hof: Galg Humor: Adv Lentulus Els ................................................................. 72
Face Book: Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie – Afgetrede Lede .......................................... 73
South African Police - Hall of Fame ........................................................................ 73
5
NATIONAL SECURITY NEWS / NUUS EN NASIONALE VEILIGHEID ...................... 73
Beeld: Hoofartikel ........................................................................................................... 73
• Gedenk soldate op selfde plek ............................................................................... 73
NAT SECURITY HISTORY / NAS VEILIGHEIDSGESKIEDENIS ................................. 74
Anglo Boer War .............................................................................................................. 74
• Colenso “Until Dismissed by Death” – HBH......................................................... 75
• Armoured Oxwagon (Paul Els) ............................................................................. 75
• Anglo Boer War – Natal: Firing of Star Shells at Night - P.Els. ............................. 77
• Filler: Andre Marinaglia........................................................................................ 77
• The Battle of Talana Hill (also known as the Battle of Dundee) on 20 October 1899:
Anglo-Boer War by Johan Jacobs ................................................................................ 77
1812 Miltary Red Tape Glenn Macaskill (BSAP) ................................................................ 74
The Casspir and his cousin the Sussper – William Marshall ................................................ 84
SA Navy ............................................................................................................................. 85
• Submarine Museum in Simonstown .......................................................................... 85
SAAF .................................................................................................................................. 90
• Kerkstraatbom: Terreur voor SALM Hoof Kwartier: Genl JV van der Merwe ...... 90
SAP / SADF (SAAF) Co-operation ................................................................................. 95
SA Army ............................................................................................................................. 95
• Die storie van skutter Luiters ................................................................................ 95
History: The Hungarian Police .......................................................................................... 103
• History of the Hungarian Police Peter Kovacs ................................................... 103
Mecedes Six by Six - first six-wheeled model since the Nazi era ....................................... 108
Nicolas Trudgian – Aviation, transport and landscape artist .............................................. 111
Police in Australia – Fanie Avenant .................................................................................. 113
Murder: Dr HF Verwoerd: Investigating Officers (M Newham) ........................................ 114
6
John Harris and the Joburg station bomb: The real timeline ............................................... 115
• The Johannesburg station bomb and a BBC TV programme ................................ 115
• Countdown: John Harris's bomb and execution ................................................... 116
HERALDRY, UNIFORMS, COLOURS, FLAGS, MEDALS, MEMORIALS &
BUILDINGS/ HERALDIEK, UNIFORMS, VAANDELS, VLAE, MEDALJES,
GEDENKTEKENS & GEBOUE ...................................................................................... 120
Website: The South African Police Hall of Fame ....................................................... 120
VESTED INTERESTS OF VETERANS /LEDE AANGELEENTHERDE ....................... 120
• Polmed ................................................................................................................ 120
• Injuries on duty / Beserings aandiens .................................................................. 120
• Vry Medies ......................................................................................................... 120
• Die Koevoet Veterane Bond: Pine Pienaar (Kaapstad) ........................................ 120
• Pensioen ............................................................................................................. 120
THE LIBRARY / DIE BOEKRAK ................................................................................... 121
• Gewetenlose Strate - Lewe in die Apartheid Polisie ............................................ 121
• Mean Streets - Life in the Apartheid Police ......................................................... 121
• Tricks of Trade - Forensic Law Principles in Africa ............................................ 122
• Your Worst Enemy ............................................................................................. 123
• The Circle of Life ............................................................................................... 123
• The Egg Breakers - Counter Terrorism in Sub Saharan Africa ............................. 124
Iets oor Gewetenlose Strate ........................................................................................... 125
• Spesifieke betekenis van woorde ......................................................................... 125
• Die SAP het die publieke simpatie dekades voor 1985 al verloor ........................ 133
• The saints came marching ................................................................................... 135
Chris van Ginkel: Oor boeke ......................................................................................... 138
• Bombing Vindicated ........................................................................................... 140
• Advance to Barbarism ......................................................................................... 140
Aquila Muscas Non Capit ................................................................................................. 141
Die SAW in die Grensoorlog: Nag van die lang lesse ....................................................... 143
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• Wie was die beste en suksesvolste bevelvoerder in die Grensoorlog? ...................... 145
Jannie Otto oor twee boeke: .............................................................................................. 145
Ander publikasies .............................................................................................................. 147
• Anglo Boere-Oorlog: Angels of Mercy: Chris Schoeman .................................... 147
• Servamus ............................................................................................................ 147
• Marlantes, Karl: What is is like to go to War ....................................................... 147
• Van Heyningen, E: Concentration Camps ........................................................... 147
From The Military Bookshop: Johan van den Berg (Kaapstad) .......................................... 147
• Eye of the Firestorm ............................................................................................ 147
• Die SAW in die Grensoorlog 1966-1989 ............................................................. 148
• The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989 ............................................................ 148
BSAP: Special Branch War ........................................................................................... 149
• Slaughter in the Rhodesian Bush, Southern Matabeleland, 1976–1980 ................ 149
The Rhodesia Regiment ................................................................................................. 149
• From Boer War to Bush War 1899-1980 ............................................................. 149
SAAF's Border War ....................................................................................................... 150
• The South African Air Force in Combat, 1966–1989 Africa@War Volume 8 ..... 150
Other War Books ........................................................................................................... 151
• The Hot Cold War: The USSR In Southern Africa .............................................. 151
• ONS WAS DAAR / WE WERE THERE* .......................................................... 151
• Four Ball One Tracer .......................................................................................... 154
• Congo Unravelled ............................................................................................... 154
• Mad Dog Killers: The Story of a Congo Mercenary ........................................... 155
• ISLAND AT WAR: ROBBEN ISLAND 1939-45 ............................................... 156
• Tumult in The Clouds ......................................................................................... 156
• From Addis to the Aosta Valley .......................................................................... 156
• The Great Trek .................................................................................................... 157
Cassinga-slag in fokus ....................................................................................................... 160
8
Kommentaar en ontleding .............................................................................................. 160
HUMOUR IN UNIFORM ................................................................................................. 163
Uit “Pretoria Brief” Rosa Swanepoel ............................................................................. 163
• Niks nuut onder die son ....................................................................................... 163
ANECDOTES, A POINT TO PONDER, ETC .................................................................. 164
• "Too old to fight, too slow to run but I can still shoot pretty damn good!" ............... 164
• Interesting History of September 1752 .................................................................... 165
• Road Traffic Ordinance, c/s what section? .............................................................. 166
Road rage - African style - Patience is a virtue........................................................... 166
Christian Stickers on Car & the Law ................................................................................. 168
• Love This (via Dieks) ............................................................................................ 168
OOR DIE NONGQAI SE DRUMPEL EN KUIERS ......................................................... 169
“Uit Japie van Warmbad se Possak." ......................................................................... 169
NEWS FROM ALL OVER - THE POLICE POST BAG / NUUS POS VAN HEINDE EN
VERRE - POLISIE-POSSAK ........................................................................................... 170
Graves of Victoria Cross Recipients in South Africa Charles Ross ............................ 172
Oom Pieter Swanepoel ................................................................................................. 172
• Mev Hester Zietsman .......................................................................................... 172
• Bejaardesorgfonds .............................................................................................. 172
• Mevrou McDuling .............................................................................................. 173
• TV Bulpin ........................................................................................................... 173
Genl Hennie Westraat .................................................................................................... 174
• Robbie Green ......................................................................................................... 174
• Andrew Sinclair ...................................................................................................... 174
• Uittreksel uit: WEL EN WEE VAN DIE MILITêRE VETERANE : BERIG 14/2013.
AANTUIGINGS OOR DIE SA LEëR SE WAPENTUIG EN OPTREDE TYDENS DIE
OPSTANDE .................................................................................................................. 175
9
• Koot van Schalkwyk (Wes-Kaap) ....................................................................... 176
• Alexanderbaai: Kreef: Jan van Wyk .................................................................... 176
NETWORKING & “LET’S SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND OUR OWN”/ NETWERK &
“KOM ONS ONDERSTEUN MEKAAR EN ONS EIE” .................................................. 177
Annemari Jansen – Koorsboom Kothuis .................................................................. 177
Jannie Otto ................................................................................................................... 177
Karate: Kol (adv) Len Els ........................................................................................... 177
Kunswerk: Japie Erasmus .............................................................................................. 178
Antikwiteite en boeke: Leon “Div” de Villiers ......................................................... 178
Piet “Kierie” Fourie ....................................................................................................... 178
Trappers Witbank .............................................................................................................. 179
STOP PRESS / LAAT BERIGTE ..................................................................................... 180
INDEMITY / VRYWARING ........................................................................................... 180
NEXT EDITION / VOLGENDE UITGAWE .................................................................... 180
CONCLUSION / SLOT .................................................................................................... 180
52,722 woorde
WELCOME / WELKOM
To our readers, where ever they may be a hearty word of welcome. We hope you
will enjoy this edition. We try to be as objective as possible and we try to present
both sides of the coin.
Moment of silence/ Bepeinsing
• Life can throw a curved ball - Rev Bob Timms (Former member SA Sec
Forces)
Greetings to all,
10
Wow but can life throw us a "curved ball" every so often, oh yes. We really need to
keep our eyes fixed on God all the time. In our own strength we will not cope or
survive, but in Him we must trust and know that the plan He has for us is to prosper
us, not harm us and to give us hope for the future.
Here is our thought for the month: "You (God) will keep in perfect peace all who
trust in You,Whose thoughts are fixed on You!” Isaiah 26:3
God is our source of peace.
We can only know real peace as we trust in God.
Looking to wordly things to bring us peace will result in disappointment.
Focus and be determined to trust only God!
Prayer: Lord, I place my complete trust in You. I will not look to other things for my
peace, BUT I will keep my eyes on YOU. Amen
Be Blessed.
Rev. Bob Timms
Ermelo Methodist Church
Tel 017 811 2561
• As ek jou maar net kon sien……………? Koot Swanepoel (Joubertina)
Hoekom lees ons ons Bybel, maar doen ons nie wat dit sê nie? Die Evangelie van
Christus Jesus is 'n "hoor en doen" Evangelie.
Jesus Homself het by verskeie geleenthede gesê; "Wat Ek by my Vader gesien het,
het Ek julle gewys." of "Wat Ek by my Vader gehoor het, het Ek julle vertel."
Ons lees in Filippense
2:4 - Julle moet nie elkeen na sy eie belange omsien nie, maar elkeen ook na die ander s’n.
2:5 Want hierdie gesindheid moet in julle wees wat ook in Christus Jesus was.
2:6 Hy, wat in die gestalte van God was, het dit geen roof geag om aan God gelyk te wees
nie,
2:7 maar het Homself ontledig deur die gestalte van ‘n dienskneg aan te neem en aan die
mense gelyk geword;
2:8 en in gedaante gevind as ‘n mens, het Hy Homself verneder deur gehoorsaam te word tot
die dood toe, ja, die dood van die kruis.
2:9 Daarom het God Hom ook uitermate verhoog en Hom ‘n naam gegee wat bo elke naam is.
11
Sodra mense se omstandighede verander, verander hulle gesindheid of gedrag ook.
Hulle liggame is nog steeds dieselfde, maar hulle het of "grootkop" gekry, soos ons
in die vloertaal sou sê, of hulle "hou hulle hoër as wat hulle geteel is".
Hierdie verhaaltjie het my 'n slag weer laat hand in eie boesem steek. Ek deel dit met
julle.
Daar was ‘n jong meisie wat haarself vreeslik gehaat het omdat sy blind was. Haar
verbitterdheid het so van haar lewe besit geneem dat sy almal om haar so gehaat het,
behalwe haar liefdevolle kêrel. Hy was altyd daar vir haar gewees.
Hy het haar by verskeie geleenthede gevra om met hom te trou en elke keer het sy
geweier. Die laaste keer wat hy haar gevra het om te trou het sy geantwoord; “As ek
maar net die wêreld kon sien, sou ek enige tyd met jou getrou het.”
Eendag is sy in kennis gestel dat daar donateur oë vir haar beskikbaar geraak het. Sy
is inderhaas voorberei vir die oorplanting en die operasie was ‘n geweldige sukses.
Toe die verbande afkom, kon sy alles sien, insluitende haar kêrel.
Hy vra toe vir haar; “Noudat jy die wêreld kan sien, sal jy met my trou?”
Die meisie kyk na haar kêrel en merk dat hy blind is. Die aansien van sy geslote
ooglede het haar geskok. Sy het dit glad nie verwag nie. Die gedagte om die res van
haar lewe vas te kyk teen die geslote ooglede, was een te veel vir haar en sy het die
huweliksaanbod van die hand gewys.
Haar kêrel is daar weg met ‘n groot verdriet in sy hart, en ‘n paar dae later stuur hy
die nota met die volgende boodskap aan haar; “Pas jou oë baie goed op my liefste,
want voordat hulle joune geword het, was hulle myne.”
Dit is hoe gesteld die mens deesdae is, wanneer ons status verander of as dit baie
goed met ons gaan. Slegs ‘n klein handjie vol onthou hoe dit voorheen was, en wie
was die hele tyd aan hul sy, te midde van die mees pynlikste situasies.
‘n Suksesvolle vriendskap of verhouding gaan nie daaroor om die regte persoon te
vind nie, maar om die regte persoon te wees, want die lewe is ‘n geskenk en
dankbaarheid is ons manier om vir God dankie te sê vir die voorreg om deel te wees
daarvan.
Mag Johannes 3 vers 30 'n realiteit word in jou en my lewe, wat sê: "Hy moet meer
word, en ek minder."
12
Seën en sterkte vir jou.
Kontak Koot: “J.C. Swanepoel” <[email protected]>
Voorblad / Front Page
Helde kan in enige gedaante, kleur of selfs geslag in ons RSA se
veiligheidsmagte voorkom. Van wagte, klerke, bestuurders van
militêre voertuie, medics, vlieeniers, matrose, berede soldate en
gunners! Hierdie man op die voorblad is ‘n held – hy was lid van
die SAP se veiligheidstak. Een word: BOMB SQAUD! Sy koelkop
optrede sonder in agneming van sy eie veiligheid het mense
lewens gespaar. Lees gerus sy storie! Generaal, wel gedaan!
Editorial
Koos Kotze a fromer tough police sergeant of a younger generation. I asked him to
write an Editorial for our readers. Although a former a sergeant he has advanced
and moved on in life and is also a legal expert and author.
• The Dishonouring of the SAP by Koos Kotze
It is always thought-provoking to me that the South African Police Force (SAP) is
condemned as an "instrument of oppression if not terror" today and will probably
carry that shroud of shame forever. Countless times when overseas and even in
South Africa the opinion is seriously expressed that the SAP was a rogue killer
organisation. It is seen very much like the German SS and could kill at will without
any consequences for the killers or that is how the myth goes for it is a myth. We
who served in the SAP know this is a complete and utter nonsense and something
which I tried to debunk in my book "Mean Streets - Life in the Apartheid Police"
which is also published in Afrikaans as "Gewetenlose Strate - Lewe in die
Apartheid Polisie." No policeman was ever allowed to shoot or kill as he pleased
without dire consequences including murder charges afterwards. In fact we held fire
13
in many instances where we could have pulled the trigger legally. It is all in the
book.
Nevertheless it cannot be denied that murders and other horrible deeds did take
place and specifically political ones though obviously murder is murder - does not
matter whether the motive is political or not and it should never have happened.
Nor can we deny that at one stage even policemen were assassinated by their own
colleagues to keep them quiet. You only have to read the TRC reports / confessions
and other books to understand that some members of the Special Branch or Security
Branch did become rogue meaning acting outside the law.
It stands to reason that any order to commit murder is illegal and should have been
refused. Also that almost all covert operations are illegal in some way as is all
terrorism which makes it a police problem and not a military one. But the fact is it
though the orders (if there were any) were not refused and I wonder why? How is it
possible that the cream of the force (Security Branch) turned to illegal acts and
against everything they stood and trained for? How is it possible that an honourable
and proud organisation full of decent and highly trained men becomes something
which struck fear in the hearts of the majority or the population? It was not always
like that you know - at one stage the SAP was "just" an effective police force feared
only by criminals and trusted by most citizens to act fairly. So what changed? These
are not easy questions to answer and I am not sure I found the answers though I
explain my theories much more thoroughly in the said books. I also want to say that
we are speaking the language of the time and no offence is meant by calling a
freedom fighter a terrorist etc. It should be read from this viewpoint though none of
my books are politically correct. I deal with facts or what I perceive as facts. When I
say men I also mean women for the role of female members should never be
discounted.
As background I was never part of the Security Branch and viewed them as
something apart from the SAP and with downright misgivings at times for the
Security Branch was an elite group and they treated the rest of us with disdain and a
distinct lack of respect between colleagues. I remember not being allowed in their
offices but the cleaners (probably more sympathetic to the liberation struggle than
me) knew all the security codes for the fancy electronic gates and had free access.
From time to time they refused to speak to us normal members in the pub and they
always flatly refused to discuss their work with anyone except themselves which is
understandable. I think to deny the arrogance is simply to deny the obvious for it
happened and is to be praised for we in the Flying Squad certainly thought of
ourselves as an elite group also. So I ask again what went wrong. How is it possible
that they committed these murders and stained the good name and reputation of the
SAP forever and two days? And can we really deny we did not know even if we
lacked the hard evidence? Of course we knew or we should have known.
14
It is a subject worthy of a book itself and I wish someone would write it who knows
more than it than I do but my theory is that they became intelligence officers instead
of policemen. As such other rules existed and with the cloak of secrecy someone
decided to take matters in his own hands instead of leaving it for the courts as is the
traditional way designed to protect both sides. It is also very possible that we started
to believe our own propaganda and that fear played a subconscious role for the war
was very real by that time and on-going for decades. No doubt a lot of winking took
place from the political masters also which was cowardly denied afterwards. Thus it
spilled out of control and the sad part is they probably felt at that stage they were
doing good and that it was very necessary to do so protect the country. Well we
know this for we saw the high decorations awarded for such acts. We all know the
argument of protecting an asset (informer) and thus not being able to bring the
suspects to court. Besides that every street policeman knows the courts were never
on the SAP side anyway and reasonably independent. The terrorist (as called in
those days) had good legal representation even if they were powerless against the
laws which also made you wonder if matters should not be taken care off in a more
direct way. Then you add the inhumanness of war and the undeniable acts of terror
from the other side and you start thinking the unthinkable. You may even raise the
legal principle of "pre-emptive strike" during the explanations but of course in law
there is no excuse for such behaviour. None of the above will stay a conviction for
murder and thus it must be done covertly but you know that the good Book says all
done in the dark will be shouted from the roof tops and so it was. Covert actions are
inherently dangerous to society at large because of the lack of oversight and should
be banned in a police organisation. Those policemen deserve more sympathy for
they became part of an evil system and acted accordingly to the best of their beliefs
and capabilities and standards of the day. Though it is hugely fascinating as a study
on human behaviour it still does not answer the question for it only explains what
they did and not what caused it for remember, they were not inherently evil and
were the cream of the crop. The evil story is a liberal politically correct myth in my
eyes. The real question should be "why was there a need for the Security Branch in
the first place" because that is where the answer lies.
As the famous English Judge, Lord Coke, once said "I may be wrong. In fact I am
frequently wrong but I am never in doubt" I beg your indulgence with my views
which is entirely my own and not an attack on the Security Branch in any way or
shape or form. Your comments and critique is expected and requested for this is a
topic which needs an explanation. Not so much for us who moved on but for the
sake of history and let me explain why for it has nothing to do with reputation but
the future. In the said book I wrote "The problem with history is that it is extremely
important in your life and affects you every day whether you dislike history or not.
Most people do not understand but let me explain in practical terms without
becoming academic. When tomorrow morning you prepare breakfast it is based on
15
the experience that you have in preparing breakfast for your family. You know from
the past that your husband (or wife) likes his eggs sunny side up and thus that is
how you prepare it today. Now what would happen if you did not have the
knowledge because the past is rewritten (falsely) in which your husband (or wife)
likes his eggs both sides fried in peanut butter (how horrible)? You will be
blindsided because that's what you know and what you believe. It is your
perception. Exactly the same when the recorded history wrong and our children
cannot learn from our mistakes. How can the same mistakes be avoided if we don't
know what they are since we recorded them wrongly? That's why my books get
boring sometimes to expand on things that in truth belong to the historian and not
so much with me. Once again I ask your patience. It is important for future
generations. It is cardinal that the truth is somewhere written on paper in a book
without being political correct. We already saw that Hitler and Nazi Germany came
into being on distorted history. Sixty six million died."
After I left the SAP I qualified as an attorney and worked at the best known human
rights law firm in Africa. As such I met many of the liberation heroes who treated
me well considering by background in the SAP. One made the comment that the
Special Branch was reasonably respected by them up to 1965 when they became
"Boers". Exactly what that means I don't know for he was a polite fellow and
declined to give details but I suppose he meant the Afrikaner's fatherly attitude of
violence and that idiotic notion that a grey haired "oom" is always right. We know
better now and I frequently warn my clients against the grey haired fellows.
In many ways we Afrikaners are charmingly direct in our ways. Let me clarify for I
was quite upset when someone said that to me the first time. In my own time in the
SAP we held the view that if a suspect is fatherly sorted out long enough he will be
able to speak Afrikaans fluently and thus we never bothered to learn a native
language (a fatal mistake in my eyes). Secondly we never kept anyone for years on
death row for the sentence had to be carried out to avoid suffering (if not so sad it
would be funny) and to make place for the next lot so to speak for our detectives
were world class and usually got their murderer. Thirdly we always carried out
police floggings immediately (hours) after the sentence also to avoid mental
suffering which is likewise funny if not so sad for how do you launch appeal
procedures after the fact? You know what I mean with the above - it is almost a
religious believe in our own capabilities sometimes to the detriment of ourselves.
Who else would create the Apartheid Laws and then tell the world to take a hike
making no effort (as the Americans did with "separate but equal" laws) to hide it? Or
attack Angola with an unprepared Army (why unprepared I ask since SAP COIN
had abundance experience already) when asked to do so by foreign leaders who
obviously hoped we would be castigated by the international press (as we were). It
also caused the Soweto Riots of 1976 (they thought wrongly the Army was defeated
and kicked out of Angola). Or before that take on the world's mightiest empire in
16
two wars fully expecting to win and when we lost by the standards of war of the day
start a guerrilla campaign to prove a point. And before that decide to move north
and conquer what we needed since we knew what is right and wrong and whom we
like and whom we disliked. These are not bad attributes in itself of course but it can
be abused.
It is also the African way to be respectful to elders (leaders) and this was thoroughly
abused by nationalist politicians in my view. With the Westminster system of
parliamentary sovereignty they knew they could enable any Act and the highly
disciplined SAP will enforce it for the SAP did not turn away from criminal acts but
faced it head on. You simply did not commit crime in its presence and expected
nothing to happen - the SAP would always be faithful to its traditions and react to
such behaviour to keep law and order. What other choice does a policeman have in
law when a crime is committed in his presence? None whatsoever! What does the
public expect? Action sir and law and order! It is as simple as that and that is exactly
what happened.
The politicians took the discipline of the SAP to do what is right (enforce the law) for
granted and destroyed the SAP by doing so. Let me explain and to do so let me
quote again from the book. "The SAP stepped up to enforce parliaments’ laws as it is
compelled to do by law. The very reason for its existence was to enforce the laws of
the country for it was the country’s police. Where an army in the field can protest
against silly orders a Police Force cannot do so. It is limited to the enforcing the law
for its operations whilst the Army is only limited to the laws of war on how they
conduct their campaigns. They can plan their operations any which way they want.
The Police are told by the laws what to do or enforce. Do you see the difference?
Practically a Police Force cannot decide which laws to uphold. All laws are upheld
until such time that parliament or the courts scrap it as a law. The nationalists in
effect forced the SAP to self-destruct by either refusing to enforce the laws from his
political masters (legally impossible) or to enforce the shameful laws and lose the
respect of the vulnerable which it should be protecting. A noble organisation is now
dishonoured because of unscrupulous politicians."
Yes it was a disaster for the SAP to enforce Apartheid and lead to all sorts of human
rights abuses never mind a blackened name. What do we learn from this? Simply
that a police force is a seriously dangerous concept if abused by politicians enabling
silly acts. There is nothing new in this statement which our Roman forefathers
realised 2000 years ago when they asked "who will protect us from our protectors?" I
ask in the book "who will protect the SAP from the nationalists?" No one did and
legally could not for we had no human rights culture (or Bill of Human Rights in the
Constitution outranking the parliament) nor our courts the jurisdiction to override
parliament (except in special cases which had to do with administrative procedure).
Combine this with a culture of supreme arrogance from the nationalists who had no
17
inherent sense of decency (the same system was used in 47 other countries without
Apartheid coming to being) and you had the recipe for disaster. Yes I accuse the
nationalist government of dishonouring the SAP by compelling it to enforce acts
designed to be against the rules of natural justice. It really could only end the way it
did and is surprising that it took so many decades before the police assassinations /
murders started.
What did the politicians think would happen when people protests against laws
which no decent man can live with? A spiral of extreme violence was inevitable even
though the SAP reduced its killing capacity in later years which is a startling view for
most but look at the difference between a SAP COIN border section armed with
assault rifles versus a SAP COIN riot section1 with 80% of its members armed with
non-deadly shotguns & stoppers. What does that imply? That one section can only
kill or use deadly force and the other cannot which shows how the SAP evolved
from earlier years where the riot units were more ad hoc. So even in these desperate
times some decency remained.
All were not lost though for the other undeniable fact which is conveniently
forgotten today is that the SAP kept law and order after 1990 so well that it enabled
Mr Mandela to take control in a peaceful manner. It is its saving grace and did a lot
to recoup its lost honour.
Thank you K!
I think K has put his case clearly, decently and very objectively thought provoking. It
is how K has perceived events from the past, he was a Sergeant and you may have
been a Colonel seeing the same events from a different angle.
Any person who wishes to comment on this editorial is free to do so. The whole
purpose of the exercise is to try and understand the past and to do it in a civil way.
Personalia
Personalia SAP vanaf 29 April tot 31 Mei 2013: Johan Jacobs
• SAP Afsterwes
1 Later Internal Stability Units
18
Woensdag 1 Mei: Allon Pretorius berig; Oud Adj Rina Jacobs is
blykbaar gister oorlede.
Donderdag 16 Mei: Henry Beling report; It was sad to learn of the
sudden passing of Ross Meyer this afternoon at his home in Gonubie, East London.
Ross was a legendary figure in the Border area especially in sports. He represented
Border in both rugby and darts. May he rest in peace! I salute you Ross.
Dinsdag 21 Mei: Frik Bruwer berig; Ek het sopas n boodskap
ontvang dar oud Brig. Theuns du Plessis gister oorlede is hy was vroeër jare DK te
Durban-Noord Dist. 75. Saluut RIV!
Donderdag 23 Mei: Johan Spook Jacobs berig; Lede: Wil julle net
meedeel met n seer hart dat Kapt Kronkie Cronje van Taak Mag oorlede is aan n
hartaanval. Vir die wat hom geken het sal weet hy was en sal altyd ‘n ware Man en
Polisie beampte wees!
Vrydag 24 Mei: Hein Kinghorn berig; Wollie van die lykshuis
Pretoria is vanmiddag oorlede na n motorfietsongeluk...RIV
Sondag 26 Mei: Gerald Kroukamp berig; Laas Dinsdag het ons nog 'n
oud lid verloor. Giovanni Vannucci wat voorheen saam met my by Bedrog was, het
sy stryd met kanker verloor. Rus in vrede my vriend.
Woensdag 28 Mei: Dana Kruger berig; Sterfte: oud Supt. Gideon
Botha, die voormalige provinsiale bevelvoerder in Gauteng, is vanoggend in sy
slaap oorlede. Ons wil net sy familie, vriende en oud kollegas meedeel dat ons aan
julle dink in hierdie tye en bid julle voorspoed toe....saluut Gideon!
• SAP 26 Siekboek
Maandag 29 April: Frik Bruwer berig; Bulletin: Tubby Myburg. Ek
het sopas per telefoon met hom gesels hy is reeds Saterdag ontslaan en dit gaan goed
met hom hy wil graag almal bedank vir hul seenwense en hoop om binnekort weer
19
met ons op die blad te wees.
Dinsdag 30 April: Hennie Heymans berig; NUWE BULLETIN
OOR Tiny Nortje (30 April 2013)
Hi Terry,
Hy was toe nie in die Gen Ward nie maar nog steeds in Highcare. Hy het my nou net laat
weet hulle gaan hom weer ICU toe vat want hulle moet hom weer op 'n drip sit en 'n scan
doen want daar is 'n moontlikheid van nog infeksie, ek kan ongelukkig nie 1st hands se nie
want ek het 'n terrible verkoue en wil nie gaan kuier nie maar hy sal my op hoogte hou of as
jy wil bel, hy het sy cell by hom.
Dankie vir al die bystand.
Groete.
Este
Woensdag 08 Mei: Tiny Nortje berig; Hallo vriende net om te se ek`s
nog daar. Gister uitgekom na 2 weke in ICU en High Care. Ek was verkeerd
gediagnoseer met hipoteties. Ek het van my dr afgekom en het steeds soveel pyn
gehad dat ek nie kon asem kry nie en ek in toe Bedfordview toe waar lewer
versaking gediagnoseer was en is dadelik icu toe. Daar het ek 22 uur gele voor `n
dr my gesien het. Ewe ongeskik gesê ek het nie hipoteties nie. 24 uur later daag hy
weer op brom bietjie en is weg. Intussen stap `n swart dr daar rond en se hy is die
chirurg druk so bietjie en weg is hy. Die derde oggend snel my hart oor die 186 maar
al wat kom is my dr. `n Ander dr tree tussen by en bring dit af. Ek word oorgeplaas
na die Malcolm Gordon in Parktown en 7 drs. sien my onmiddelik. Dit blyk gal stene
het vasgesit in die pankreas en lewer en begin skade aan rig. Die volgende aand in
die teater. Behandeling Fantasties. Nou by die huis, voel bietjie bewerig maar dank
die Vader ek`s OK. Ek het julle klomp gemis! Sal net nooit weer my voet in
Bedfordview kliniek sit nie
Donderdag 09 Mei: Gerry Adendorff berig; Dag aan almal wat
reeds op en wakker is. Hoop julle geniet die dag. Nog steeds in die hospitaal,word
weer more geopereer. Hoop dit is die laaste keer!
Maandag 13 Mei: Sarie van Niekerk berig; Die burgemeester van
Boksburg-Noord ao. Johan (Mossie) Mosterd, wat baie jare by die Oos-Randse
moord-en-roofeenheid gewerk het, is in die hospitaal. Niks ernstigs nie, hy behoort
later vanmiddag weer by die huis te wees, hoop jy voel gou beter. Sterkte my ou
vriend!
20
Maandag 20 Mei: Gerry Adendorff berig; Goeiedag aan almal, terug
op die plaas. Nog loop ek gestremd maar dit sal regkom. Baie dankie aan almal se
goeie wense en gebede dit word opreg waardeer.
Maandag 20 Mei: Pieter Oberholzer berig; Goeie nag almal en
lekker slaap. Moreoggend moet ek vroeg rapporteer by Linmed Hosp vir ‘n
prosedure. Chat weer more, as dit Sy wil is, vanuit die hospitaal se bed met julle.
Cheers.
Maandag 20 Mei: Meraai Dewet berig; Een van ons
vriendinne Loraine Terblans se enigste broer is ernstig siek met kanker. Hy is reeds
in fase 4. Die kanker het al deur sy hele liggaam versprei, selfs in sy rugmurg.
Loraine en haar familie is tans by haar broer. Loraine, ons dink aan julle in hierdie
moeilike tyd. Weet verseker dat ons Vader julle nie sal verlaat in hierdie tyd van
hartseer nie.
Woensdag 22 Mei: Patrick Coetzee berig; Ek is gister opgeneem in
die hospitaal met borspyn en bloeddruk van 200/110. Darm nie hartaanval nie. Ek
het egter nou eers opgestaan. Ek kry more n lamberpunch.
• SAP Verjaarsdae
Maandag 29 April: Sarie van Niekerk berig; Geluk aan Maryke
Erasmus en Wilma Nortje Olivier wat altwee vandag verjaar. Maak die beste van
die dag en die jaar wat voorlê. Geniet julle dag!
Donderdag 2 Mei: Johan Jacobs berig; Is Loraine Terblans se
verjaarsdag vandag: Veels geluk met jou spesiale dag,geniet die dag en bederf wat
daarmee gepaard gaan.
Saterdag 4 Mei: Johan Jacobs berig; Verjaarsadag wense vir Pieter
Oberholzer, Eduan Liebenberg Naude en Andre Theron; Veels geluk aan die drie
manne – geniet die dag!
21
Sondag 5 Mei: Johan Jacobs berig; Verjaarsdag Wense: Lynette
Spies verjaar vandag. Veels geluk Lynette,geniet die dag en die bederf.
Donderdag 9 Mei: Johan Jacobs berig; Verjaarsdag wense -
Is Frans Brits se verjaarsdag vandag: Veels geluk Frans met jou spesiale dag! Geniet
dit en ook die lekker bederf!
Maandag 13 Mei: Sarie van Niekerk berig; Baie geluk aan Pottie
Potgieter wat vandag verjaar! Pottie hoop dit gaan vir jou 'n pragtige dag wees en
dat jy vreeslik bederf gaan word!
Donderdag 16 Mei: Sarie van Niekerk berig; Geluk aan ons ou
vriend, Johan (Mossie) Mostert. Ou Mossie slaan vandag 65 maar sê hy voel soos 'n
jongman, nog op en wakker! Baie geluk Mossie, geniet jou dag en ek weet Judy gaan
jou vreeslik bederf.
Sunday 19 May: Craig Maartens report: Happy Birthday Frik Bruwer,
have a good one!
Maandag 20 Mei: Frans Diff de Villiers berig; Verjaarsdag Wense.
Dis Johan Jacobs se verjaarsdag vandag. Baie geluk Johan mag dit vir jou ‘n
geseënde dag en ‘n baie gelukkige nuwe lewensjaar wees met een groot bederf
vandag. Geniet dit.
Maandag 20 Mei: Anli Venter berig; Baie geluk met jou verjaarsdag
Marietjie Nortjie Wilkinson. Mag jy ‘n wonderlike dag hê vol bederf.
Donderdag 23 Mei: Frans Diff de Villiers berig; Verjaarsdag
wense: dis Sarie van Niekerk se verjaarsdag vandag. Baie geluk Sarie. Mag jy een
groot bederfdag hê en ‘n geseënde nuwe lewensjaar ervaar. Geniet die dag.
Donderdag 30 Mei: Anli Venter berig; Baie geluk Piet Venter met jou
verjaarsdag mag jou dag en jaar net mooi dinge inhou en jy nog lank vir ons almal
gespaar sal word.
22
Donderdag 30 Mei: Sarie van Niekerk berig; Verjaarsdag Wense;
Baie geluk aan Roy During wat vandag verjaar! Roy ek hoop jy is al die heeldag
vreeslik bederf. Pragtige jaar vir jou vorentoe!
Vrydag 31 Mei: Johan Jacobs berig: Verjaarsdag wense aan Neelsie
Borea wat vandag verjaar. Veels geluk vriendin, geniet die dag en die bederf!
• Allegaartjie
Donderdag 2 Mei: André L du Toit berig; Vriende ek is op soek na
maters wat saam met my in die kollege was in 1968 Troep 23 D Kompanie ( jaar
troep), Speurderkursus nr 36/1969 en Offisierskursus 2/1978. As daar dalk manne en
vroue is wat saam met my op hierdie kursusse was sal ek dit waardeer as u met my
kontak sal maak. Dankie. Gen.Maj A L du Toit (afgt) hier op FB asb.
Woensdag 8 Mei: Pottie Potgieter berig deur Koos Brits; Vandag
08/05/1967 het ek en my wederhelf besluit om ons skape in dieselfde kraal te jaag, en
op n bootjie te klim en op onbekende waters te vaar. Vandag na, as my berekeninge
reg is, 46jr later vaar daardie bootjie rustig voort met baie onstuimige en baie gladde
waters agter ons, sê ek dankie aan die ALLERHOOGSTE vir hierdie voorreg. Ek se
dankie aan Marie vir die steunpilaar wat sy deur die jare was en steeds is. Die vraag
hoe lank nog, laat ons in SY hand oor. Dankie ook aan die kinders en kleinkinders
vir julle ondersteuning. Om te dink ek is al 17jr met pensioen en nou staan die
ouvrou op die vooraand van aftrede - 2013/11/30. Groetnis en geniet julle dag.
Maandag 13 Mei: Johan Jacobs berig; Posted on ISKK on fb: "I am
delighted to advise that Len Els Sensei has been awarded his Godan (5th Dan) grade
by the ISKK Shihankai. Congratulations Len San! Malcolm Bates Shihan - ISKK."
Saterdag 25 Mei: Lorraine Terblans berig; ‘n Saluut aan oud kol
Anton Crafford DELMAS. – “Die spook van baba Wiehan is nou uit my kop en die pienk voetjies
van sy nuwe tweeling-boetie en sussie het nou daai plek ingeneem. “Ek het nou
vrede en berusting in my hart.” So het oudkol. Anton Crafford, die polisie se
forensiese kenner wat die toneel ondersoek het waar klein Wiehan Botes (5 maande)
verlede jaar vermoor is, gesê. Wiehan en sy dagmoeder, Margrietha de Goede (66), is
23
eergister presies ’n jaar gelede by die Botes-egpaar, Wiets (33) en Rita (32), se huis in
Geldenhuysstraat, Delmas vermoor. Om die twee pienkvoetjies (die tweeling) nou
vas te kon hou, was die mees bevrydende belewenis wat ek nog gehad het.
• Die verdagte wat in verband met die moord gesoek word, Themba Ephraim
Mahlangu, is steeds soek.
Saamgestel deur Johan Jacobs: Kontak besonderhede; selnr
0769287320/[email protected]
GROETE TOT DIE VOLGENDE PERSONALIA
Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweg en Hawens Polisie: Brig Ronnie Beyl
Twee Strydosse van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie
• Brig. Kobus (Mounie) Mouton en genl. J.J.J Van Vuurn (SEE.SMO)
Genl. Van Vuuren was die Kommissaris van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie vanaf 1 Mei
1974 tot 31 Mei 1980. Hy is tans die oudste langslewende kommissaris en is 93
jaaroud. Op die ouderdom van 91 jaar het hy nog self sy motor in die stadbestuur.
Na die afsterwe van syeggenote ‘n aantal jare gelede, het hy durende 2012 weer in
die huwelik getree en is tans in Pretoria woonagtig en hy geniet nog goeie
gesondheid.
Brig. Mounie Mouton (84) het op verskeie plekke in die Republiek diens gedoen en
het die laaste aantal jare van sy dienstermyn, diens in Natal verrig waar hy baie
betrokke was by die afrigting van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie se rugbyspanne.
24
Hy word veral onthou vir sy betrokkenheid by die kapingsvoorval van Air India se
vliegtuig op 26 November 1982. Die verslaggewer Herni Crous van Rapport het
destyds soos volg berig. “Die 44 kapers van die Indiese Boeing het hulle wete danke
aan die oorredingsvermoë van ʼn senior veiligheidsbeampte op die Lughawe Louis
Botha”. Die senior veiligheidsbeampte na wie hy verwys het, was Brig. Mouton wat
toe die Bevelvoerende Offisier van die Natal streek was. Brig. Mouton en sy
eggenote woon tans in ‘n aftreeoord in Witrivier, Mpumalanga.
Die foto is op 24 September 2011 tydens die 25 jarige re-unie van die S.A.
Spoorwegpolisiete Esselenpark geneem.
Brig Mouton deur HBH
Dis nou ‘n lekker toeval dat Ronnie van Oom Mounie skryf.
Brig Mounie Mouton is baie goed aan my bekend. Sers Mouton soos hy destyds was,
se gade was “juffrou” Mouton van Dirkie Uys Hoërskool, op die Bluff in Durban. Sy
was kreupel en in ‘n rolstoel. Ten spyte van haar gestremdheid was sy ‘n lieflike
person. (Sy is later oorlede.)
‘Sant Mouton van die SASP en speurdersersant Nic Luther van die King’s Rest KOD
het ons eerste span by die skool afgerig. Oom Mounie het ons voorspelers afgerig.
Ek was maar blote kind, maar hy het ons krygslis geleer en al die fyn kunsies van
skrum en lynstaan. Alles deel van ons groot word proses. Sy kunsies het my altyd
bygebly!
Ek sal nooit vergeet nie – ek was voorry toe wys hy die slotte waar om te druk: “Toe
die Liewe Heer die man gemaak het, het hy die kepie onder die boud spesiaal daar
gemaak sodar die slot se skouer daar moet druk!”
Oom Mounie is een van die polisie se onbesonge helde – daar is net ‘n paar van ons
wat regtig weet wie en wat Oom Mounie regtig is en was!
Ek salueer ‘n kosbare vriend en kollega.
Nawoord oor SAP en Rugby
• Ek glo nie die polisie en die spoorwegpolisie het enige idée oor watter waarde
daardie sersante tot die polisie se werwingspogings bygevoeg het nie! Ons
skoolseuns het die sersante darem regtig bewonder! Ons wou net soos hulle
wees! Ons het twee DK’s se seuns in die eerste span gehad. Donald Campbell
se vader was DK Durban-Sentraal terwyl Raymond Griffiths se vader DK van
25
Durban-Suid was.
• Heel wat seuns van ons skool en Port Natal is in 1964 polisie toe.
Honours & Awards / Eerbewyse & Toekennings
Cross of Valour: Cross for Bravery (PCF) - HBH
The South African Police Cross for Bravery is a high ranking decoration that was
instituted on May 20th, 1963, retrospective to 31 May 1961 and this decoration was
awarded to all ranks of the South African Police, for conspicuous and exceptional
bravery in the execution of duties , or in the protection or saving of live or property.
The award existed between the years 1963 until 2004, when it was replaced by the
modern day South African Police Service award of a similar nature. Recipients are
entitled to the post-nominal letters, PCF, standing for PREAFECTURAE CRUC
FORTITUDINUS, the Latin form of the name.
• Cross for Outstanding Bravery Gold (PCFG), Exceptional Bravery Silver
(PCFS) and Bravery (PCF)
This award was discontinued in 1989 and replaced by a similar set of awards, in
three classes, corresponding to the military awards, Honoris Crux, Namely:
The South African Police Cross for Bravery Gold (PCFG) for outstanding bravery
whilst in extreme danger;
The South African Police Cross for Bravery Silver (PCFS) for exceptional bravery
whilst in great danger: and
The South African Police Cross for Bravery whilst in danger.
These decorations were reduced in size to be worn on the chest and additional white
stripes were used to distinguish the ribbons of the new second and third class
decorations.
The PCFG decoration is a gold cross, each arm built up in five stepped layers. In the
centre is a narrow cross on a gyronny background inside a blue circlet inscribed”
Vivit Post Funera Virtus” that means “Courage lives on after Death”, within a green
laurel wreath. The reverse depicts the national coat of arms (at the time) and the
words ”Vir Dapperheid” and “For Bravery”. The ribbon is blue with a white–gold-
white centre panel. The first issue was worn around the neck whilst the three later
awards were worn on the chest.
26
• First Award of the new South African Police Cross for Bravery Gold: No
0058498-3 Lieutenant-Colonel AL du Toit
The new version of the PCF (Gold) was awarded for the first time to a serving police
officer, 0058498-3 Lieutenant-Colonel AL du Toit, for two (and more) acts of
outstanding bravery whilst in extreme danger by the then Minister of Police,
Minister Adriaan Vlok, at the Aula Auditorium of the University of Pretoria on the
19th of November 1991.
Force Order (General) dated the 25 November 1991 states very simply:
“On the 26th August 1991 the State President awarded THE SOUTH AFRICAN
POLICE CROSS FOR BRAVERY (GOLD) to 0058498-3 Lieutenant Colonel AL du
Toit in terms of the rules contained in the warrant published in Government Gazette
No. 11969 dated 21 June 1989.
On 20 July 1987 Lieutenant-Colonel A L du Toit defused a limpet mine without
taking his own life into consideration.
On 5 July 1988 this officer’s prompt action during the search of a house in which a
trained terrorist was hiding, ensured that the members under his command , as well
as the inhabitants of the house were not injured or killed in that potentially
dangerous situation.”
These short descriptions do not tell the tales of outstanding bravery whilst in
extreme danger, that Lieutenant-Colonel AL du Toit showed during his career of
more than 38 years in the South African Police and the South African Police Service.
This officer, who retired in 2005 as an Assistant Commissioner (Major- General) and
Provincial Head of Detective Service, talks reluctantly about his career and the
actions that led to the awards he received for his many acts of outstanding bravery
whilst in extreme danger.
The first incident that gave rise to the award occurred on the night of 20th of July ,
1987 when General du Toit, then a Major in the SAP, was called to a crime scene
where a limpet mine was placed in the ladies toilet of the arrival hall at Cape Town
International Airport.
On the way to the airport the officer was informed that the explosive devise had
detonated, causing extreme damage to the structure of the arrival hall. Upon arrival
the officer had the area cleared entered the scene briefly to ensure that no persons
needed medical assistance. He then set up an investigation team interview the
27
witnesses. During the questioning of the witnesses, it became clear that there were
indeed more than one explosive device in the area where the explosion had taken
place and there was at least one other object, most probably another limpet mine, in
the ladies toilet, that had not detonated. Should this limpet also explode the damage
caused by both explosions would have most likely have caused the upper story of
the multiple story building to collapse totally, causing extensive damage, with the
possibility of police officers, visitors, passengers, buildings and vehicles at the
airport parking area being injured and or damaged. The airport was also closed to
all air traffic and several planes that had to land and depart were delayed, circling
above the airport air space on holding patterns.
As the ranking bomb disposal officer, General du Toit undertook to return to the
scene of the explosion, search for the second (or more) devices, defuse it on the scene
if possible and /or to carry it out of the destroyed toilets to a safer area, which was
some distance outside the building complex and to defuse the devise, risking his life
to prevent death, injury and or damage to state and private property , without
regard to the possibility of the devise being booby trapped and exploding , in the
process killing the officer.
The officer successfully searched the debris of the destroyed toilets and rest room,
found the limpet mine, inspected it, found that it was indeed rigged to explode as a
booby trap and carried the limpet mine 453 meters to an open space where he
successfully defused the explosive devise through controlled detonation, preventing
any further damage, injury and or death to others.
In the second scenario the officer was in charge of a group of detectives questioning
an arrestee who disclosed the fact that the arrestee and his colleague, had received
military training and had returned to Cape Town after being trained outside the
RSA, with the orders to further the armed revolt that was aimed against the previous
government by their organisation. The arrestee also told Du Toit and the other
detectives that both of them were heavily armed with automatic rifles, AK 47
Kalashnikov Assault Rifles, hand grenades, automatic pistols and other military
hardware. At the time of his arrest by members of the Uniform Branch, the arrestee
was in possession of a military automatic pistol and ammunition. He also informed
the officers that the two trained cadres had no intention of being taken alive and
would fight to the death, rather than be arrested.
Lieutenant-Colonel du Toit led a group of police officers to a suburb of Cape Town,
Guguletu, where the arrestee indicated that his comrade would be hiding. The
28
arrestee however was lying and several homes were visited and searched during the
night.
At about 0400 on the morning of the 5th of July, 1988, the group of police officers,
under the command of Du Toit, again approached a home, indicated to by the
arrestee, as a possible place where his comrade would be hiding. At this stage none
of the police officers really believed that the arrestee was going to assist the police in
finding the other trained cadre.
The house was encircled on instruction of Colonel du Toit, with strict instructions
that police officers had to ensure that they were adequately protected against gunfire
and or explosive devises like hand grenades. He also gave instructions that officers
were not to allow any person to leave the house via a window or back door and to
arrest any one that tried this.
After ensuring that all the officers were correctly placed and protected, Col Du Toit
and his other detectives, gained entrance to the house, after announcing their
presence. The house was a standard three bedroom, lounge dining room, kitchen,
bathroom and separate toilet lay-out and Col Du Toit’s team was well versed in
penetration and search procedures, having done this many times as a group,
together.
Col Du Toit and one of his officers, who spoke isiXhosa fluently, conversed with the
young girl who answered their request to open the door and it was clear to the
officers that something in the house was amiss, as the young girl was acting
unnaturally and extremely frightened. The team entered the house in pairs, quickly
searching the different areas of the home. In the back two bedrooms, a mother and
more children, smaller than the girl of about 13 to 14 years who answered the door,
were in bed. The team searching the house gave the “all clear” sign as they went
through the house and Du Toit and the other officer proceeded down the passage
after checking the lounge and dining room. Col Du Toit was also checking the
bathroom and separate toilet as they proceeded, with the young girl up the passage,
towards the back of the house.
Passing the half open toilet door on the right of the passage, Col Du Toit pushed
against the toilet door and upon feeling some resistance, he threw his weight against
the door, pinning an unknown person behind the door. Realising that it may be the
armed cadre, Col Du Toit, with no regard to his own life, pushed against the door,
shouting to his team to evacuate the house as the suspect was behind the door. Col
29
Du Toit peeped round the edge of the door, looking straight into the barrel of an
automatic firearm that the man behind the door had in his hand. The suspect fired
one round, less than 10 cm from Du Toit’s face, miraculously missing the officer. At
the same time Col Du Toit, who had replaced his side arm in the holster on his right
hip after the “all clear”” signal, had pinned the suspect behind the door with his
right shoulder, realised that he could not draw his firearm as he would have to let
the pressure against the door ease, giving the suspect a chance to come from behind
the door.
The officer behind Du Toit grabbed Col Du Toit’s belt, pulling him backwards after
the shot rang out, giving the armed suspect a chance to leave the toilet, firing more
shots at Col Du Toit, grabbing the young girl, pulling het into the open bedroom
across the toilet and shutting the door of the bedroom, whilst continuing to fire
indiscriminately through the closed door and bedroom window.
Col Du Toit and his team that had evacuated the house by this time, regrouped and
Col Du Toit ensured that none of his officers, inside or outside the house, were
injured. He then informed all the officers to hold their positions, not to let anyone
leave the house through the windows and or back door and to ensure that they
protect themselves against the suspect, who was still firing shots through the inside
bedroom door into the passage and through the bedroom window to any one visible
outside. Col Du Toit then reported the situation to his superiors, asking for
assistance, informing them of the hostage situation and the indiscriminate shooting
by the suspect. He also instructed members of his team to go to the surrounding
homes and to evacuate the inhabitants as the suspect was shooting into the next door
homes as well.
The girl in the room was crying and shouting for help endlessly and the mother and
other children, who were now trapped in the backrooms, were also shouting and
crying for assistance. After entering the house again and setting up a forward
command post in the lounge area, Col Du Toit realised that before they could
address the suspect, they had to get the young girl out of the room before the suspect
killed her. Through the interpreting police officer, Du Toit persuaded the suspect to
release the young girl, who Col Du Toit fetched at the door of the bedroom and had
her taken to the safety of a nearby parked police vehicle.
Without regard for his own safety Col Du Toit then went to the back bedrooms and
escorted the mother and rest of the children past the bedroom door through which
the suspect was still firing, using his body to shield the mother and children past the
30
door, not knowing when a shot will be fired through the door. The mother and
children were also taken to safety and given medical treatment for severe shock.
Col Du Toit and his team contained the suspect in the house, who refused to give
himself up, firing at anything that moved.
Col Du Toit kept command of the scene until the Tactical Support Unit arrived, gave
a report to the commander on the past happenings and assisted in penetrating the
locked and barricaded bedroom, when the suspect committed suicide by shooting
himself in the head.
Through General Du Toit’s clear headed thinking, well planned and executed
tactical actions, command and outstanding bravery whilst his own life was in
extreme danger, he prevent the death and serious injury of five members of the
public, his team of police officers, neighbours in the surrounding homes and his own
life.
General du Toit, in the mid 1980’s defused more explosive devices at municipal
offices in Mamre, near Cape Town, the Supreme Court in Cape Town, a service
station at Plumstead, a dustbin in Wynberg and rendered safe various arms caches
in and around the Cape Peninsula. These acts of outstanding bravery whilst his own
life was in extreme danger, was never publicised and the officer, up to today is
reluctant to claim any honour for himself, saying it was a team effort.
The South African Cross for Bravery Gold (PCFG) contains the Latin saying “Vivit
Post Funera Virtus” which means,” Courage lives on after Death”. This saying truly
indicates the spirit of the award because very, very few members of the SAP are
alive, who are recipients of this, the highest award of bravery as recipients actions
usually end in their demise.
Major-General (rtd) AL du Toit is the first police officer to receive this award in the
new format.
Roll of Honour / Ererol
“Ons al altyd ons ou kamerade onthou” – “We will remember them!”
• SAP Graves: Jeanette Victor (Cape Town)
Hennie, hierdie grafte is in Stikland Begrafplaas in Bellville, maar net in die gedeelte
waar my ouers se graf is. Die plek is verskriklik groot, en soos ek weer rondloop, al
ek soek vir nog grafte van Polisiemanne.
31
Groete
Jeanette Victor
(ENO) Taylor Dirk CJ Kroon Francois (Smiley) Zwarts
RR Visagie Andre Visagie Dubbel graf: J & P
Lombard
32
Johan van Greunen
• CWGC: Damaged Graves: Benghazi War Cemetery Libya: Charles Ross
Herewith the latest on the Benghazi War Cemetery as received from Head Office
Restoration to graves in the Benghazi War Cemetery
There has been progress recently on this matter and we thought you might find it helpful to
be informed of the current situation.
Since the incident took place, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has made
significant progress in restoring the desecrated commemorations in Benghazi. To date, the
241 damaged headstones at Benghazi War Cemetery have been re-erected in their entirety.
The Commission has also seen fit to erect a sign in both Arabic and English stating that the
Cemetery includes Muslim soldiers who died liberating the people of Benghazi.
Work is now also underway to replace the damaged commemorations in Benghazi Military
Cemetery. The Commission has been working with the local Libyan police and other Libyan
authorities to progress matters. Written permission has been granted to continue with the re-
erection of the 84 outstanding headstones and tablets and work is scheduled to recommence
on 17th May.
The Commission continues to monitor both cemeteries on a regular basis.
Yours Aye
Charles
Captain (Navy) Charles Ross (Ret)
Secretary of the SA Agency
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, P O Box 9849, Centurion 0046.
Our contractor has certainly done a fantastic job in restoring the graves that were
vandalised some time ago. I attach a few photos of some of the South African graves
that have been repaired for your information.
Yours Aye
Charles
33
Captain (Navy) Charles Ross (Ret): Secretary of the SA Agency
1st Headstone: Gunner PC Moodie & Bombadier GL Nott; 2nd Headstone Sgt RG
Bassano, L/Bom AD Fensham; 3rd Headstone: Gunners BA Riggs & SJ Riekert
Lt ER Scherer (SAAF) Flight Sgt CN Barrett
35
Friends Missing and Found! / SAP 55 Vermiste persone
André L du Toit berig; Vriende ek is op soek na maters wat saam met my in die
kollege was in 1968 Troep 23 D Kompanie (jaar troep), Speurderkursus nr 36/1969 en
Offisierskursus 2/1978. As daar dalk manne en vroue is wat saam met my op hierdie
kursusse was sal ek dit waardeer as u met my kontak sal maak. Dankie. Gen.Maj A L
du Toit (afgt) hier op FB asb.
HISTORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
(With acknowledgement to the unending vigil by Philip Longworth)
Part 4
With two thirds of the graves concentrated on the Western Front, ie Belgium and
France, where work progressed very well and the end in sight, the Commission had
to turn its attention to the more than 5 000 burial grounds in more than 100
countries, from Archangel to Adelaide, from Vancouver to Zanzibar. Even to those
countries where no fighting took place but servicemen/women died as result of
sickness, or accidents or were sent back for special medical treatment at home and
were entitled to a war grave.
Distances were one of the major challenges for the Commission’s personnel to
overcome. Other challenges included extreme climate, transport, shortage of
material and labour, and last but not least hostilities. Labour was a particular
challenge. For the Western Front where the cemeteries were concentrated in a
relatively small area labour could be recruited in the United Kingdom. Elsewhere
the Commission’s staff had to improvise and standard plans used for the Western
Front had to be amended and amended again to suit local conditions.
Most of the 4 000 graves in Italy were concentrated along a single section of the old
front line among the foothills of the Alps. A Commission team was dispatched to the
area and land agreements with the Italian Government put in place for the
cemeteries. A number of the cemeteries were located four thousand feet up in the
mountain pastures of the Asiago Plateau while the cemetery at Bordighera stood on
a hillside surrounded by date palms and fields of carnations, overlooking an azure
sea. Roads, or the lack of it, prevented Crosses of Sacrifice and Stones of
Remembrance reaching the cemeteries. As these places were already beautiful it was
decided to treat them simply and everywhere changes to the standards used for the
36
Western Front had to be made. Advantages were taken of the indigenous Italian
cypress, but visitors had to be reminded of the peculiarly English nature of these
cemeteries by the dwarf roses which were nurtured in them.
Outside the Adriatic the challenges were much greater with many of the cemeteries
lying in the rust-red earth of Macedonia, a country of mountains and wild people. So
deep rooted was the hatred between Muslims and Christians that Commission’s staff
was advised not to go around unarmed. At the same time the Commission had
concerns about safety of the graves and the headstones which may be desecrated.
To overcome the desecration challenge the Commission headstones were replaced
with concrete blocks while the Cross of Sacrifice was replaced with a large stone
cairn surmounted by a small cross. A further challenge was that some cemeteries
were prone to flooding and earthquakes.
Principles similar to those of the Belgium agreement had been reached with France,
Italy, Serbia and Greece. Huge amounts of stone were required for the manufacture
of the headstones which brought its own challenges as quarries had to be
established, roads constructed and suitable workers recruited. Locally recruited
workers had their own unique demands which had to be overcome.
As in Greece earthquakes was the main challenge in Turkey and roads impassable
during the winter. Almost all the graves were located on the Gallipoli Peninsula –
the most famous battlefield outside the Western Front. Gallipoli, uncivilised and
remote, was the scene of the blooding of the Australian and New Zealand Armies
and the ANZAC spirit born which continues to be observed to this day. The
Australian and New Zealand Governments requested that their troops stationed in
Egypt should carry out the construction work if the Commission would bear the
cost. Once again because of the fear of damage to the headstones and possible theft
of anything brass standard Commission headstones were replaced by the same type
of grave marker used in Macedonia. In the Commission these markers became
known as the Gallipoli markers. Local quarries had to be established which required
the building of roads while establishing horticulture in and around the cemeteries
had its own challenges. Around the world dawn memorial services are held on 25
April to commemorate the battle at Gallipoli and in South Africa the services was
held at the Diamond Hill Cemetery.
From Gallipoli the focus shifted to Iraq where the land was arid and pestilential and
the marsh Arabs desperately poor and the tribesmen of the desert fierce and
undisciplined rioting against anything not Muslim. Once again changes had to be
37
made to accommodate the harsh climate and sand storms and from the outset
establishing horticulture was almost impossible and it was agreed that the
cemeteries would be just “kept neat and tidy”.
Most of the land in Palestine was desert which again required amendments to the
original concepts of commemoration. With the local stone unreliable and
craftsmanship poor “keeping it simple” was the approached used with thick high
walls to protect the Crosses of Sacrifice and sloping stone blocks as grave markers.
While establishing horticulture was identified a major challenge it soon changed as,
in spite of a shortage of water, geraniums and carnations were planted with success.
The Jerusalem Memorial to the Missing was the largest construction in the area.
12 000 graves were under permanent care with eleven miles of rosemary hedges and
25 miles of flower borders belying their desert situation. In Egypt building
standards were poor, but 15 cemeteries had been built and nearly 10 000 headstones
erected.
On the African Continent graves were scattered over a fast area from East to West
and South Africa. In addition to the challenges with communication and
infrastructure workers faced wild animals and various diseases such as malaria.
Notwithstanding valiant attempts to locate and identify the graves a huge backlog
existed until a South African from the Department of Public Works arrived to take
matters in hand. Work progressed at a steady pace notwithstanding challenges in
getting Crosses of Sacrifice, Stones of Remembrance and headstones to the various
cemeteries.
End Part 4
Photo 1: ANZAC Beech Cemetery, Turkey
Photo 2: Bordighera British Cemetery, Italy
38
Photo 3: Jerusalem War Cemetery
Die Koevoetgedenkmuur
Muur van herrinering:Rede deur Marius Brand
Op 6 April 1652 het Jan van Riebeeck ‘n gelofte afgelê van ‘n nuwe begin en die land
opgedra aan die God van Israel. 361 jaar gelede. OP 9-15 Desember 1838 Herbevestig
Sarel Cilliers die gelofte en God bevestig dit op 16 Desember 1838 by Bloedrivier met
wonderwerk op wonderwerk. Dit het niks met rassisme te doen nie maar met
gelowiges teen ongelowiges.
Dus het God ‘n plan met die gelowiges in Suid Afrika. Wanneer ons dit in ag neem
en nou na die name op die Muur van Herinnering kyk moet ons vir onsself vra
hoekom staan hulle name daar? Hulle het nie verniet gesterf nie. Die oorlog was nie
verniet nie. Politici het die oorlog vir ons gereël maar ons het net ons werk as
polisiemanne gedoen.
Hierdie manne het met hulle lewens betaal vir gereg en geregtigheid. Hulle het die
mense in Owamboland se lewens beskerm. Hulle het die publiek se lewens beskerm.
39
Hulle het die dienspligtiges se lewens beskerm en jaarliks SWAPO se Spes magte
uitgewis wat op pad was suide toe om die blankes te gaan vermoor nog voor hulle
die rooilyn kon oorsteek.
Koevoet het Owamboland mak gemaak en vir die SAW ‘n stabiele platform gegee
van waar hulle die konvensionele aanslag kon loods. Was dit nie vir Koevoet nie
was duisende dienspligtes daar dood geskiet, duisende lede van die publiek en sou
Owamboland ‘n baie gevaarlike plek gewees het. Net my eie gevegspan het vyf basis
aanvalle deur groot groepe SWAPO vegters voorkom. Voorts het Koevoet se
aktiwiteite SWAPO verplig om in klein groepies rond te beweeg wat nie oor die
vermoë beskik het om aanvalle op weermag patrollies te loods nie.
Die manne op die muur het hiervoor met hulle lewens betaal. Eerstens deur
duisende ander se lewens te beskerm en dan tweedens maar eintlik die belangrikste.
Koevoet het 20 jaar tyd gekoop vir God om Sy Gelofte met ons te eer en die tafel te
dek om nou die liberales, die kommuniste en die wêreld heersers te vernietig en op
hulle knieë te dwing dat hulle sal erken, Koevoet was deel van God se plan. Koevoet
het gestaan vir gereg en geregtigheid. Koevoet was eintlik aan God se kant en ons
het nie verniet oorlog gemaak nie. Ons het maar net ons werk gedoen om die
publiek te dien en hulle lewens te beskerm.
God kan nie lieg nie. Hy sal Sy Beloftes in Sy Woord en ons geloftes aan Hom eer.
Die Skrifte sal nou geskied en niemand kan dit keer nie. Net soos Jan Van Riebeeck
‘n nuwe begin aangekondig het op 6 April 1652. Kondig ons nou met die opening
van die Muur van Herinnering ‘n nuwe begin aan. Koevoet het die Geskiedenis
geskryf deur die loop van die geweer. God gaan nou die laaste Hoofstuk skryf deur
die Krag van Sy Gees. Laat ons na God terug keer as Koevoete in Christus.
Hierdie manne het nie verniet gesterf nie. Wanneer u na hierdie muur kyk, onthou
dan die Goddelike doel agter dit alles. Draai terug na God en laat ons Hom dien.
Laat ons ons kollegas nie versaak nie. Laat ons vas staan in die geloof, dat God Sy
doel agter dit alles, die rede hoekom hulle gesterf het, sal volbring.
Skriflesing
God het vir my ‘n visioen gegee van ‘n katapult wat ‘n 2 meter in deursnee rots oor
my kop skiet en toe ‘n paar dae later die volgende Skrif wat praat van die rots wat
die beeld met die voete van klei vernietig. Die beeld is die wêreld heersers wat ons
so vel afkraak en kritiseer om ons sleg te maak in die oë van die wêreld met hulle
media wat gedurig iets te sê het oor Koevoet.
40
Dan 2:44. Maar in die dae sal die God van die Hemel ‘n koninkryk verwek wat in
ewigheid nie vernietig sal word nie, en die heerskappy daarvan sal aan geen ander
volk oorgelaat word nie; dit sal al daardie koninkryke verbrysel en daar ‘n einde aan
maak, maar self sal dit vir ewig bestaan— Dit is die gelowiges. God se kinders wat
Hy gaan gebruik. Maar deur Sy Gees en nie weer met oorlog nie.
Zep 3:9-10. Ek sal aan My volke rein lippe toebring, sodat hulle almal die Naam van
die HERE sal aanroep en Hom met ‘n eenparige skouer sal dien. 10 Oorkant die
riviere van Afrika vandaan sal my aanbidders, my verstrooide gemeente, my
offerande bring. Dit is mense wie se voorouers God aanbid het! Wie anders as die
setlaars in Suid Afrika! Dit is Christen gelowiges. Die Jode is nie gered nie en dus
kan dit nie hulle wees nie.
Jes 24:14. Hulle daar hef hul stem op, hulle jubel; vanweë die majesteit van die HERE
juig hulle van die see af: 15 Daarom, eer die HERE in die lande van die son, op die
kuslande van die see die Naam van die HERE, die God van Israel! 16 Van die einde
van die aarde af hoor ons lofgesange: Jesaja staan in Israel en sê; Daar aan die einde
van die aarde, in die land van die son, by die see, daar sal ‘n gejuig opgaan. Dis hier
by ons in Suid Afrika.
Eze 20:47. So spreek die Here HERE: Kyk, Ek steek ‘n vuur in jou aan wat in jou elke
groen boom en elke droë boom sal verteer; die uitslaande vlam sal nie uitgeblus
word nie, maar daardeur sal alle aangesigte verbrand word van die Suidland af tot
die noorde toe; 48 en alle vlees sal sien dat Ek, die HERE, dit aangesteek het; dit sal
nie uitgeblus word nie. God gaan weereens Sy Gees op ons uitstort en die vuur sal
noord beweeg deur Afrika en die wêreld sal niks daaraan kan doen nie. God gaan
dit doen.
Mat 24:14. Hierdie Evangelie van die Koninkryk sal verkondig word in die hele
wêreld tot ‘n getuienis vir al die nasies; en dan sal die einde kom. Dit is nou wat
moet gebeur. Die Goeie Nuus van Sy Koninkryk moet nou verkondig word. God
kan nie lieg nie. Hy is in beheer. Mense soek Hom met julle hele hart en siel. As jy
nie deel is van Sy Koninkryk, Sy kinders is nie, gaan jy swaar kry in die jare wat
kom. Glo in Hom. Hy gaan ons land omdraai en verlos.
(Marius Brand)
42
REUNIONS / REUNIES / EVENTS / GEBEURE
5 Mei 2013: Cassingadag: Johannesburg : Paul Els
Paul Els berig:
Foto AA 01 is Kol Monty Brett wat baie goed gepraat het.
AA04 is ou lede van SM wat bygewoon het.
AA05 somer ‘n dom Seiner.
Vasbyt
P Els
Kol Monty Brett
47
• Verslag: Genl-maj Gert Opperman
28 Mei 2013
Geagte Vriende
Die terugvoer op Sondag se verrigtinge was tot dusver baie positief, beide in die
media en ook via persoonlike boodskappe soos hieronder. Ek stuur nie gewoonlik
sulke boodskappe deur nie, maar doen dit tog hierdie keer om te illustreer dat die
positiewe effek van SAW Muur van Herinnering en ons herdenkingsaktiwiteite in
die Beeldetuin, op beide die Erfenisstigting en die Voortrekkermonument se beeld,
en veel verder, nooit onderskat moet word nie.
KykNET het versoek dat ek om 06h30 op 29 Mei aan 'n lewendige Dagbreek-
besprekingsprogram op DSTv oor die onderwerp moet deelneem. Ons het reeds
digitale materiaal vir gebruik tydens die program aan hulle te verskaf.
Tov die digitale materiaal, word graag erkenning verleen aan die fotograaf, Johan
Els, wat die diens intyds wêreldwyd per internet uitgesaai het. U kan gerus kyk na
van sy foto's en video-materiaal by
https://plus.google.com/photos/108491842234693592693/albums/588225343786752150
5?authkey=CILZ86XNvZ7PpwE
Onthou asb dat volgende jaar se herdenkingsdiens geskeduleer is vir DV 09h00 vir
09h40 op Sondag, 25 Mei 2014.
Gert Opperman
Besturende Direkteur: Die Erfenisstigting
www.erfenisstigting.org.za
-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: 28 May 2013 11:49 AM
48
To: Gert Opperman
Subject: Geluk
Liewe Gert
Baie geluk met jou funksie Sondag. Wat ek hoor en lees wys dit was 'n groot sukses.
Wat my eintlik geroer het om die epos te skryf is die uitruil tussen Freedom Park en
julle van kranse. My vriend, jy doen baie vir nasiebou. Jou en my kleinkinders gaan
die vrugte van jou toegewydheid, entoesiasme en arbeid geniet.
Jy is ook bevoorreg om soveel steun van Ria te kry.
Ek is trots om jou as vriend te hê. Baie seën op jou werk.
Liefdegroete
South African Legion: Royal Hospital Chelsea: 6 June 2013
Hi folks.
Some words & photos (with descriptions) about the RHC Founders Day Parade
yesterday.
Please just let me know if you need the photos in larger format. All of these have
width 800 pixels.
Regards
Pete G
Royal Hospital Chelsea Founders Day 6 June 2013.
Six members of the SA Legion-UK were able to attend the Founders Day parade at
the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Founder's Day is held on a day as close as possible to the 29th May every year. This
is the birthday of Charles II as well as the date of his restoration as King in May 1660.
It is also known as Oak Apple Day as it commemorates the escape of the future King
Charles after the Battle of Worcester (1651) when he hid in an oak tree to avoid
capture by the Parliamentary forces. During the course of this celebratory day the
statue of Charles II in Figure Court is partly shrouded in oak leaves, and all
participants in the Parade and spectators wear sprigs of oak leaves to commemorate
the King's escape from forces after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
In the photo’s you will notice most of the attendees wearing a sprig of oak leaves to
commemorate this fact.
49
The Chelsea Pensioners are usually reviewed by a member of the Royal Family.
Prince Harry reviewed the Chelsea Pensioners in 2011 and became the first serving
officer to inspect Founder's Day for many years.
This year 2013 the review was by HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall who took the
salute following the inspection.
The day began with the 6 legionnaires meeting up at the main gate. (henceforth
between us to be known as Sleeping Norman’s gate.) John Rochester of RHC who
had provided us with our invitations welcomed us at the gate before heading off to
prepare for the day.
Inside we joined the increasing throngs of guests, dignitaries & pensioners all
looking resplendent in their top hats, tails & scarlet coats. We were given a sprig of
oak leaves for our jacket‘s & made our way to the main parade ground. The seating
we had been allocated couldn’t have been better as it provided an overview of the
whole event & allowed me to get the photo’s I was after.
Once the guests were seated the pensioners began to form up on the parade ground.
Trumpeters came out onto the balcony above them adding to the splendour of the
day.
The RHC does not have its own Colours so the RHC Sovereign's Mace was brought
forth. Our good friend John Rochester can be seen in the photos in black coat behind
the Mace Bearer.
HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall entered the parade ground & the band played
“God save the Queen following which HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall took the
inspection review of the pensioner’s ranks stopping to have a few words with some
of them as she walked through. HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall took to the stage
& the pensioners then marched past giving the salute. Interesting to see was the left
handed salute by the half of the pensioners who marched past in clockwise
direction.
Her speech is presented below:
” Ladies and Gentlemen,
As the proud daughter of a highly decorated soldier I am honoured to be here today to review
the parade at this very special event.
331 years ago this great institution was opened to be a home to old or disabled soldiers but
surveying your resplendent scarlet ranks I can only see evidence of soldiers; and judging
from your appearance I can see that the Royal Hospital continues to give you exceptional care
and support in your retirement, and in return you give further service to this country.
50
I know that 111 of you fought in the Second World War, some perhaps alongside my father in
North Africa…Many of you fought in other conflicts including Korea, Malaya, Borneo and
Africa and the ‘youngsters’ amongst you wear the South Atlantic Medal with pride.
Before too long you will no doubt welcome those who recently served in the Gulf, and
eventually in Afghanistan. Having just visited the infirmary and seen the excellent facilities
and care being provided to those pensioners who are unable to be on parade today, and had an
update on the ongoing refurbishment works, I am delighted that the future of the Royal
Hospital is secure for those who are currently serving.
The fact that it provides this service, whilst generating such marvellous ‘esprit de corps’ is a
great credit to its remarkable staff and - of course - to all of you. You have been very much in
the public eye lately (even more so than usual!) at the Diamond Jubilee - the Olympics - and
Baroness Thatcher’s funeral a few months ago.
Those of you who so magnificently lined the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral not only acted as a
guard of honour to an old friend of this establishment, but also as a salutary reminder to the
public, of the importance of service to one’s nation and the great and enduring importance of
the Royal Hospital.
To you all who are on parade today, not forgetting those who are unable to be with us, I can
only say that you are a constant reminder of the great debt we owe to those who have served
this nation over the years – I salute you all and wish you health and happiness in this
illustrious and historic hospital”
The Governor of the RHC responded to her speech & 3 cheers were offered in the
form of “Hip Hip Hooray” for King Charles 3rd, Her Majesty the Queen & HRH
Duchess of Cornwall following which the Duchess left the parade ground followed
by the marching off of the mace which brought to a close the official parade.
Guests & pensioners then all filed through to the gardens in which tables were laid
out along with beer tents assorted foods & the party began in earnest. Live music,
singers & belly dancers were the order of the day with lots of socialising & fun had
by all.
Our grateful appreciation to The Royal Hospital Chelsea for the wonderful day & to
John Rochester for the invites.
To the pensioners, staff & patrons of the RHC & to those who have gone before,
SALUTE!
51
01 Sprig of oak
02 Guests arrival
03 Seating & trumpeters lining up 04 Pensioner ranks forming up
05 Arrival of the Mace 06 Arrival of HRH Camilla.
07 Band playing God save the Queen
08 HRH takes inspection review
52
09 HRH chats to pensioner
Right: 10 Soverign Mace
11 HRH taking the salute 12 Service & prayer
13 3 Cheers
14 Closure
15 Legionnaires at parade 22 Saying goodbye to Sleeping Norman
PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH
Ex-Toti soldier honoured
Published in the DAILY News: May 23 2013 at 10:36am
A former eManzimtoti man, who this week received one of Britain’s highest awards
for gallantry on the battlefield, has recalled how his comrade died
himself shot and “blown up”
Markus Strydom and his platoon commander, Captain Michael Dobbin, were
awarded the Military Cross (MC).
Sergeant Strydom in Afghanistan
Their fallen comrade, Lance
Grenadier Guards, was given the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, his
being the 10th to be awarded to a British soldier
in the Afghanistan conflict, according to the UK government.
The awards were presented by Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony on the grounds of
Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The reconnaissance platoon was attacked during an
operation on June 13 last year during Strydom’s second tour of Afghanistan. Talking
to the Daily News from his home in Hampshire, England, Strydom said he joined
the army, following closely in his father’s footsteps. Lieutenant
Strydom (JCD, MMM) served for 34 years in the SANDF. Strydom said the Military
Cross was award was not only for the June 13 mission but for several other incidents
where he had gone beyond the call of duty to take out Taliban positions and protect
his fellow soldiers.
NALITY OF THE MONTH Lance-Sergeant Markus Strydom, MC
Published in the DAILY News: May 23 2013 at 10:36am; by LAUREN ANTHONY
A former eManzimtoti man, who this week received one of Britain’s highest awards
for gallantry on the battlefield, has recalled how his comrade died – and how he was
himself shot and “blown up” – while fighting in Afghanistan. Lance
Markus Strydom and his platoon commander, Captain Michael Dobbin, were
ss (MC).
Sergeant Strydom in Afghanistan
Their fallen comrade, Lance-Corporal James Ashworth, also of the 1st Battalion
Grenadier Guards, was given the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, his
being the 10th to be awarded to a British soldier since World War II and the second
in the Afghanistan conflict, according to the UK government.
The awards were presented by Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony on the grounds of
Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The reconnaissance platoon was attacked during an
operation on June 13 last year during Strydom’s second tour of Afghanistan. Talking
to the Daily News from his home in Hampshire, England, Strydom said he joined
the army, following closely in his father’s footsteps. Lieutenant-Colonel Leon
MM) served for 34 years in the SANDF. Strydom said the Military
Cross was award was not only for the June 13 mission but for several other incidents
where he had gone beyond the call of duty to take out Taliban positions and protect
53
Sergeant Markus Strydom, MC
y LAUREN ANTHONY
A former eManzimtoti man, who this week received one of Britain’s highest awards
and how he was
Lance-Sergeant
Markus Strydom and his platoon commander, Captain Michael Dobbin, were
, also of the 1st Battalion
Grenadier Guards, was given the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, his
since World War II and the second
The awards were presented by Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony on the grounds of
Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The reconnaissance platoon was attacked during an
operation on June 13 last year during Strydom’s second tour of Afghanistan. Talking
to the Daily News from his home in Hampshire, England, Strydom said he joined
Colonel Leon
MM) served for 34 years in the SANDF. Strydom said the Military
Cross was award was not only for the June 13 mission but for several other incidents
where he had gone beyond the call of duty to take out Taliban positions and protect
Lance-Sergeant Markus Strydom with his wife, Claire, at Buckingham Palace after
receiving the Military Cross from the queen.
I am not allowed to speak about some of the incidents because some are classified
and inquests are still being held for others. “Essentially what happens is that at the
end of each mission our commander compiles a report of all the events that occurred
and from these reports it was decided that I be awarded the MC,” he said. Strydom
said that while some think hi
only doing his job. “I always believe in leading the charge even if it is in the line of
enemy fire,” he said.
Strydom said he would never forget the bravery of his fellow soldier, Ashworth,
who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross
Queen Elizabeth II
Sergeant Markus Strydom with his wife, Claire, at Buckingham Palace after
receiving the Military Cross from the queen.
I am not allowed to speak about some of the incidents because some are classified
ng held for others. “Essentially what happens is that at the
end of each mission our commander compiles a report of all the events that occurred
and from these reports it was decided that I be awarded the MC,” he said. Strydom
said that while some think his actions were those of a “lunatic”, he believes he was
“I always believe in leading the charge even if it is in the line of
Strydom said he would never forget the bravery of his fellow soldier, Ashworth,
posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – the 1 361st one to be awarded.
54
Sergeant Markus Strydom with his wife, Claire, at Buckingham Palace after
I am not allowed to speak about some of the incidents because some are classified
ng held for others. “Essentially what happens is that at the
end of each mission our commander compiles a report of all the events that occurred
and from these reports it was decided that I be awarded the MC,” he said. Strydom
s actions were those of a “lunatic”, he believes he was
“I always believe in leading the charge even if it is in the line of
Strydom said he would never forget the bravery of his fellow soldier, Ashworth,
the 1 361st one to be awarded.
55
Ashworth was killed when he stormed a Taliban sniper team which was attacking
his platoon. Despite being bombarded by a hail of bullets, Ashworth, 23, broke cover
from his platoon, ran towards the Taliban position and threw his last grenade,
killing the snipers. He later died from injuries sustained during the attack. Strydom
said he was shot from about five metres away by two rounds from an AK47. “I was
hit twice in the stomach and once in the side. I was then blown up by a hand
grenade. “They say your life flashes in front of your eyes; that’s a lie! I just thought,
‘this day can’t get any worse’.” Strydom performed the “man down” drill, alerting
fellow officers to his predicament. He was grabbed by two men who got him out the
“killing area” and behind cover. “A medic began working on me and I was in and
out of consciousness.” From the Casualty Exchange Point he was carried on a
stretcher for about 1.5km, and then taken by quad bike to the patrol base from where
he was airlifted to Camp Bastion for the night.
“The next day, I was on a flight headed for the UK, but my vitals were down and I
started vomiting blood,” he said. The plane landed in Cyprus where Strydom was
rushed to an RAF hospital for emergency surgery. His bowels had been perforated
by the shock waves of the blasts and he underwent five operations in 10 days. This
involved removing 10cm of small intestine as well as stomach muscle because some
of the tissue had died. Strydom’s wife, Claire, was flown over to Cyprus to be by his
side. Being the wife of a soldier, she was fully aware of the dangers he faced every
day, but that didn’t ease the sense of foreboding when she opened her door at 11pm
to a uniformed welfare officer bearing news from Afghanistan. “The first thing he
said was, ‘he’s got his arms and legs’,” said Claire. “We knew then he’d been in a
blast and had grenade wounds but not that he’d been shot.”
From Cyprus, Strydom was flown to a hospital in England and was discharged to
his home in Hampshire 10 days later. Getting back into civilian life, Strydom got
involved in Forces Future, a NGO that helps soldiers find jobs and acclimatise
outside the military. “Coming from the military, you have to change your mindset
when you get home. You’re used to being told what to do, what to wear. It’s all very
regimental. Some people start in the military at 16 in an army college and they don’t
have a support base outside the army,” he explained. Having done ceremonial
duties before being posted to a battalion, Strydom was no stranger to the royal
family, who have close links to the military. However he did say receiving the
prestigious award from the queen was “awe inspiring”. Describing his reaction to
being awarded the MC, Strydom said he was shocked at first and although it’s a
“brilliant honour”, he didn’t do his job for the recognition. “You do it for the blokes
on your left and right,” he said. “I’ll wear it for the men who didn’t come back.”
From all the veterans in South Africa, the SAP, SAPS and SADF we salute you
Markus!(JJ)
56
PERSONALITIES & BIOGRAFICAL DICTIONARY/ PERSOONLIKHEDE &
BIOGRAFIESE WOORDE BOEK
• Capt Albert Scott (SAP Ret) (former UK Forces, late SAP Band Durban,
now Chelsea Pensioner UK) - Peter Gillatt
• Sgt Cliff Podmore BSAP (1947 Royal Security)
• Capt John Medley Loveband Fulford (SAP): Peter Wood (Benoni)
Hallo Hennie
Daar gaan binnekort 'n lesing plaasvind i.v.m. kapt Fulford se aksie teen stakers in
1922, wat myns insiens veroorsaak het dat die staking in 'n revolusie verander het.
Ek het gevra vir besonderhede van die lesing en sal dit aanstuur as ek dit kry.
Het u ooit op enigiets afgekom ivm Fulford?
John Medley Loveband Fulford was "District Commissioner" vir die Oos-Rand in
1922. Lt. William Christopher Loftus was destyds in beheer van die polisie in
Benoni; Kapt. O. S. Leishman was blykbaar in bevel van die Boksburg
57
polisie. Fulford het die "King's Medal" vir polisie ontvang in 1923; dieselfde tyd toe
Richard Shearman Godley 'n O.B.E. gekry het. Kol Fulford is oorlede in 1963 in
Natal; Godley is oorlede in 1950.
Beste wense - Peter Wood
Beste Peter,
Kry asb vir ons daardie lesing.
Ek het verskeie boeke waarin die optrede van kapt Fulford bespreek word. Ek het
ook kol Godley se boek.
Een van die beste riglyne wat ek kan gee om veral polisiegeskiedenis te verstaan is:
1. Beoordeel die SAP en UVM se optrede en die van die stakers teen die agtergrond
van destydse heersende omstandighede. Ons het destyds in ‘n gevaarlike tyd
gelewe. Daar was lyfstraf, die doodstraf en ons ingesteldheid oor polisiegeweld en
menseregte was anders as vandag. Ons het toe nog vuurpelotonne gehad en soldate
wat bv in Delville Wood op diens geslaap het is deur vuurpeloton doodgeskiet want
hul moes let op die wind en mosterdgas.
Punt:2 Staan altyd skepties teen alle kommissies van ondersoek. Lees eerder die
dagboeke van lede aandiens, die koerantverslae en luister na vertellings van
ooggetuies. Trek die hofverslae en lees die geregtelike doodondersoeke.
Punt 3: Wees versigtig om lede van veiligheidsmagte te “kondêm” – sien altyd die
groter prentjie en kyk na die strategiese situasie en verskeie ander faktore. Partykeer
is ons ook verkeerd – bv die offisier wat die padblokkades moes aflas tydens die
Rebellie / Foster-bende affere het uit skuldgevoel selfmoord gepleeg. Hy kon nie per
telefoon deurkom na Langlaagte en genl Koos de la Rey is die aand doodgeskiet.
Ek het foto’s van sommige genoemde offisiere
Kol RS Godley Kapt Loftus
59
• Jacobus Koos Kotze
K is a legal & risk management professional with more than 20 years’ legal
experience in Southern & West African jurisdictions. He obtained his B Iuris & LLB
in 1997 from the University of the Orange Free State (Bloemfontein, South Africa)
and was an admitted attorney in the High Court of South Africa between 1998 and
2006 after which he worked as legal advisor & risk manager for various companies
in South Africa and Nigeria.
Before that he was a member of the South African Police for six years and obtained a
three year National Diploma in Police Management in 1990 at the Technicon RSA
(Johannesburg, South Africa). K was awarded the SA Police Medal for Combating
Terrorism twice during his service years besides lesser awards. He also wrote six
books on law, counter terrorism and many other articles on security.
He is the founder of JKLS Africa, an exclusive legal consultancy specialising in legal
risk reduction in African jurisdictions based in South Africa and a frequent speaker
on legal forensics on Voice of America. His favourite pastime is Military History and
particularly the American Civil War which he finds much less boring than law."
• Constable Reginald Douglas Foy: SAP/Hartigan's Horse
More Hennie,
Hoe gaan dit nog?
Het jy dalk vir my enige informasie oor Konst RD Foy? Ek weet dat hy
gedurende WWI in Hartigan’s Horse gedien het, maar tot dusver kon ek
geen verdere inligting oor hom kry nie en die Polisie museum kon ook
geen verdere inligting oor hom kry nie.
Groete / Best regards
Dewald Nel
60
Foto’s via Martin Myburg: 1932 & 1952 SAP Potchefstroom
Die hele Potchefstroom se polisie in 1932 Vlnr: Hondemeester, 6de van links (later) brig George Baston - HBH
Potchefstroom Polisie Sondag Police Sunday 1952
Uitkenning: 4de van links lt-kol Els, Kol Brink,?, ds harpir Martins -
HBH
62
Over a nice cup of coffee ... or how I see things / Oor ‘n koppie lekker
koffie ... of soos ek die saak sien
Vandag die mymeringe van 'n "ou" polisie-offisier wat dood gelukkig met groot
dankbaarheid, op pensioen is!
"Humour is the spice of Life!" (So dink ek die Almagtige Skepper het ook 'n sin vir
humor gehad.)
Ons moet mèèr lag.
Toe ek offisier geword het, is ek vir my sondes na Kompol x302 verplaas; van die see
by Durban tot op 5de vloer Wachthuis - jis my maat: As sersant het ek baie meer
gesag en bevoegdheid in Durban gehad - op HK is jy "niks" - eers hier van senior-
brigadier (adjunkkommissaris) is jy "iets", 'n junior-brigadier (assistentkommissaris)
het gehardloop as die adjunk hom bel.
Die luitenant is maar die 'konstabel' van al die offisiere - hy moet alles doen wat
ander nie wil doen nie. Kolonelsrang is soms lekker want hy "shunt" almal rond.
Brigadier is weer die 'konstabel' van die generaals - hy moet alles doen wat hulle nie
wil doen nie!
Nie te min die offisisiers-gesellighede was baie, baie lekker. Erg stylvol. Jy het al die
mense daar gesien wat jy net in die Servamus gesien het. Ons het volgens
tafelplanne in die menasies gesit, maar tydens die "onthaal' in die ou Gym (waar ons
so gesweet het en aan lang toue gehang het) kon jy met jou pelle sit.
Maar van ek ‘n jong offisier was het ek altyd die minister met kompol vergelyk
wanneer hulle toesprake maak. Vir my was genl Gideon Joubert was ‘n besondere
geloofwaardige spreker! Ons het hom almal geeer omdat hy so waardig was. Hy het
respek afgewing – veral ook in die offisiersklub.
Die politici se toesprake was altyd veels te lank!!!! ‘n Vreeslike mors van ons kosbare
drinktyd! Ek dink meeste van ons politici, soos meeste van die politici, was werklik
uit pas uit met die werklikheid. Vir my was die uitsonderings adv Vorster, mnr
Vlok, mnr Roelf Meyer en dr Leon Wessels. Hulle kon lekker praat en mens wou na
hulle luister. Hulle was begeesterd. (Ek glo nie ek het ooit Oom Blackie Swart in
lewende lywe hoor praat nie.) Maar dit was lekker om na generaals soos Gideon
Joubert, Mike Geldenhuys en Hennie de Witt te luister. Hulle het vertel wat ons wou
hoor; genl de Witt kon baie grappig wees – maar baie natuurlik!
63
Ek moet ook nie genl Keevy vergeet nie! As konstabel het ek op ‘n paar parades
gedril met .303 en al daardie goed en hy was wraggies ‘n waardige omie!
Op die tafelplanne is ek altyd by "ou" luitenante tydens die ete (nee dit was ‘n
dinee!) geplaas - een ou pel was wyle lt Bunny Leach van die orkes. Hy het altyd die
volgende, om die ys te breek, gesê: "Aksie - aksie! Moet niks glo dis alles regerings
propaganda!" Ek is dadelik in 'n humoristies bui as die ou man so afgaan. Hy het
nog uit die geslag van kindersoldate gekom. Seuns was destyds in die Berede
Skutters die trompetters. Meeste berede bevele is per trompet gegee.
Tydens my eerste paar gesellighede het ek nog "op aandag" gekom vir die kollege
personeel wat as hofmeesters aldaar gedien het. Daardie instrukteurs het ook 'n
onuitwisbare invloed op my lewe gehad! Ja, ek het nogal geskrik as die sersant vra:
"Wat kan ek vir u kry, luitenant!" Veral as dit die kwaai oom van die snoepie was!
Ek het die spoggerige spyskaarte gebêre en laat teken deur die groot geeste! Ons het
destyds die ou aandpakke gedra - met goud-onderbaadjie, groot goue strepe op die
mou en wye goue streep langs die broek af. Jy kon pet met die ou tenue dra - dit was
opsioneel.
Vandag se ouens, met respek, weet nie meer wat dit is om 'n offisier van ouds te
wees nie! Ons het elk ‘n skatkisorder gekry vir ons nuwe uniforms. Geen store
uniforms nie! Nee een of ander snyer het vir ons kom meet en ons het snyerspakke
gekry en ook so met die bobbejaanpak!
Ons senior manne was genl GJ Joubert, genl NG Loxton, gen DA Bester, genl CA
Buys, genl WP Kruger, genl Tiny Venter, genl Kobus Visser, brig Louis Snyman, ds
‘Doempie’ Cloete - genl Wandrag en daardie manne was toe die luit-kol's en
majoors. Daardie ‘ou’ generaals was ysters! Man, ek skrik sommer nou nog as ek
onverwags hulle foto’s sien, taai gebreide deurwinterde manne! Die "ou" manne was
streng! Baie streng en formeel. Die atmosfeer in die klub was uitstekend - dit was 'n
here-klub met etiket reëls wat streng nagekom moes word. Deur fyn te luister en op
te let was daar nogal ‘n paar humoristiese insidente in die ou Klub te Wachthuis dis
nou voor voor die klub “Knuppeldik” geword het ...
Dis tyd dat ek van die ou spyskaarte begin uithaal en in die eNONGQAI plaas.
Daar was ook die groot ironie van offisieer word. Van jou is net die beste verwag.
Ons het meer betaal vir die teeklub, van ons was verwag om groter donasies te gee.
Wat was die realiteit? Van konstabel tot luitenant was die topskaal (1971) R3000 p.a.
Die konst het 'n R10 p.a. Trouediens toelae ontvang - dit het hy verloor as hy sersant
word. (Ek het darem vir ‘n paar jaar ‘n taaltoelaag van 10c per dag ontvang! Dis met
een of ander besparingsmaatreël gestaak. Toe was daar ook nie Popcru nie!)
64
Op v-hoofkantoor moes ‘n offisier PAK KLERE dra - sport drag was uit. Klere moes
gekoop word, vrou moet hoed / hoede hê vir gesellighede en uitpaseringsparades,
begrafnisse. Jy moet reistasse hê. [Ek dink dis net die Handelstak en die
Veiligheidstak wat sulke streng “dragorders gehad het. O ja, op ‘n stadium kon ons
safaripakke dra wanneer die SSO van kompol x94 kragtens die bevoegdhede aan
hom verleen; dit “somer” verklaar het ... soos in Staande Orders (V) bepaal. ]
Medies: Almal is na die DG en almal onder die rang van luitenant het 50% van hul
tandarts-rekening betaal. Alle offisiere moes hul eie en die familie se tandarts
rekening ten volle betaal.
Van die speur-offisiere het soms uniform aangetrek - hy het nie genoeg "pakke"
gehad nie het die ander geterg.
Wanneer jy offisier geword het, het jy nie meer betaaltafel toe gegaan nie! Jy het ‘n
persoonlike skatkisorder ontvang wat jy by enige bank gewissel het. Geen kontant
meer! Die skatkisorder is by enige bank – gratis - vir kontant gewissel. Die bank het
gewoonlik gevra jy moet agter op teken en wanneer hulle gevra het of dit jou
salaristjek was, het jy net, omdat dit so min was, gesê: “Nee, dis my resi-en-verblyf
toelae vir die maand”.
Nadat my my vader met pensioen gegaan het, het ek met tien jaar diens en as
kaptein baie minder verdien as hy. Vir sy spekvarke wat hy aan Estcort Bacon
Factory verkoop het, het hy R200 stuk ontvang. My salaris was minder as R600 dws
minder as drie varke! Toe kyk ek in die Vaderland eendag: Toe adverteer hulle vir ‘n
paalverwer op Springs toe is sy salaris by die munisipaliteit meer as myne! Maar ek
sê weer: Dit was lekker en alles was die moeite werd!
Ek mis die ou dae – waarom? Miskien was ons "dom" en "onskuldig", ons het alles
geglo en die Stem uit volle bors gesing ... ja (sug) ... die ironie van die lewe - dit is
waarom humor so belangrik is! Lag en die wêreld lag saam, huil en jy huis alleen!
Saluut!
Neelsie Borea, Frik Bruwer, Piet Kierie Fourie en 11 ander hou hiervan.
Fanie Bouwer Nostalgies, en so hier en daar filosofies ook, ou Henneman? Pluk
jy my nou sommer so 'n klompie dekades terug die verlede in. Weet nou nie hoekom
ek dink aan die aandpakke nie. Ek het altyd spoggerig en netjies gevoel. En as jou
metgesel ook so 'n langerige swart rok aangehad het, was dit sommer nog beter vir
die oog!
65
David Botha Daardie funksies was waardige, statige geleenthede. Die reëls van
etiket was tot die letter nagevolg. Jy is reg Fanie, die tafeltenue en jou metgesel met
‘n swart aandrok. Sien ek nou hoe sweef ons op die dansvloer. Kan dit nog gebeur?
Hennie, dankie vir die trip down memory lane. Was vir ‘n oomblik weer daar.
Nico Frylinck En so is alles na moer !!!!! Hogere offisiere woon funksies by met
Madiba hemde ......... So bly ek kon deel wees van die netjiese en trotse era van die
SAP ......
Hennie Heymans Ek het met genl Van der Merwe gepraat en 'n opname is
gedoen - niemand stel belang om 'n offisiersklub te laat herleef nie. Ek moet bieg ek
mis die atmosfeer (ambiance) van daardie statige geleenthede en ek was bykans al
my offisiersdae te hoofkantoor, die gewoontes het deel van my lewe geword - en die
lekker stories wat mens gehoor het.
Nico Frylinck Ai Oom Hennie, onthou jy nog die offisiersmenasies ??? Sentraal
en Kollege !!! Het darem menige Sondae die heerlikste middagmaal daar genuttig vir
‘n appel en ‘n ei !!!!! Lekker Kersetes in die treintrokke by die Kollege geëet ,,,,, Ek
glo nie dit bestaan meer nie ......
Paul Greyling Ek het nou nog my aanddrag. As vroulief praat van weggooi vra
ek net of sy weet hoeveel 'n egskeiding kos dan bly sy weer so paar maande stil. Die
etes daar by die Offisiersklub by HK het uitgeblink met hulle kos. Geen menasie kon
daar kers vashou nie.
Paul J Murphy Ek het destyds ontslae geraak van my "Bobbejaanpak" toe ek uit
die SAP bedank het: sou wat wou gee om weer een in die hande te kry.
Paul Greyling Al van myne wat nie gekrimp het nie is die miniatures en
rangkentekens. Sal hom moet terugvat na die skoonmakers vir 'n refund.
Paul J Murphy Ek het 'n ou SAP winters uniform saamgebring VSA toe -
dieselfde probleem vreeslik gekrimp - Dit saam met 'n volledige stel ou SAP Cammo
van my is tans op uitstalling by 'n groot miltaria winkel hier in VA Beach.
Billy Cox HK ‘n lekker Boys Klub.... Hehe
Billy Cox My 1965 uniform het ook gekrimp - Ek het dit nie eers probeer was
nie..... Eish
Gerhard Booysen Billy----1965----sjoe----- dit is die jaar wat ek skool toe is ---
genade--hoe////en wat is die oderdoms deursnee op die blad""" dan mag ek mos
maar aanspreek as oom --en tante---afhangende????
66
Billy Cox Gerhard - ouderdom anonymous..... Hehe ons kan nie briek nie.....
Billy Cox Gerhard - Terloops toe het ek al amper een jaar diens......
Gawie Botha My 1959 uitreiking rewolwerholster en leer lyfband, is omtrent ‘n
halwe meter te kort om, om my middel te pas,,,,,,,,,ook nie geweet leer kan so
krimp!,.dieselfde met die '"Sam Browne"!
’Fanie Bouwer Nou hoekom het julle so uitgesit?
Gawie Botha 1959 het ek net 17geword,,,,,klein seuntjie gewees,,,intussen het ek
"grootmens" geword.,,,,,,,, gelukkig dra ek rêrig nog dieselfde nommer skoen, no 9!
Billy Cox Ek sal nie van my skoene praat nie - hulle pas nog.....perfect.
Paul Greyling Oom Fanie, soos 'n man mos bevorder word laat jy noodwendig
die jongetjies die hardloop werk doen. Dan het jy ook nog die Heksies gehad wat
mos geleentheid gesoek het om soetgoedjies aan te dra en dan vergeet 'n man ook
dat die goedjies het gewerk om een hap = een kilogram. Ek kan ook darem sê dat my
laaste uitreiking van skoene in 1990 is, nou eers die begin van hierdie jaar op
pensioen gesit. Dit was nog skoene.
Louis Koekemoer dit is soos een ou speurder eendag gese het: “Ek dra die
afgelope 20 jr al ‘n no 36 broek: Hy sit nou net ‘n bietjie laer om die lyf.”
Billy Cox Louis - daai bier vaatjie...... eish!
Neelsie Borea Namens baie dames kan ek bieg my oorbelletjies pas nog ...
hehehee verder swyg ek voor ek gemoere worre .... xx
WE REMEMBER / ONS ONTHOU
My Ervaring met die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag in die Bosoorlog 1981 –
Hugo Hanneman (SAP Afgetree)
In 1981 was ek deel van ʼn groep polisiemanne wat deel uitgemaak het van die
Opleidings kontingent by die Opleidingskamp buite Opuwa, Kaokoveld, in Suid-
Wes-Afrika.
Deel van ons pligte was om die Ombombo hek te beman. Die kampie was reg op die
grens tussen Owamboland en die Kaokoveld. Ons was vier blanke SAP lede met
ongeveer ses en dertig swart spesiale konstabels, hoofsaaklik Herero’s en Himba’s.
Maar geen Wambo’s nie omrede hulle mekaar nie kon verdra nie. Ek het die opdrag
67
om beheer daar te gaan oorneem eintlik so geniet, dat ek vrywillig het om
permanent daar te bly. In ʼn japtrap het om die chaos waarin die kampie was, reg
geruk en byvoorbeeld ordentlike sandsak mure gebou.
Die Ruacana kraglyn het so ʼn kilometer noord van ons kamp verby geloop. Die
Suid-Afrikaanse Weermagbasis op Ruacana was getaak om hierdie kraglyn te
beveilig.
Die eerste wat ons van die Weermag patrollies bewus geword het, was toe ʼn seksie
Eland pantservoertuie by ons kamp op gedaag het. Dit is een 90mm kanonwa en
twee 60mm mortierwaens. Hulle het laat die middag daar opgedaag om vroeg die
volgende oggend met hulle patrollie deur die bosse terug Ruacana te beweeg, al met
die kraglyn langs.
Toe ons SAPTIN manne sien dat die soldate een rantsoenpak tussen drie moet deel,
sit ons voet neer. Ons trek die vleis en ander kosse uit, en saam met die soldate hou
Poliesman braaivleis, logies kon ons dan ook die kantien met hulle deel. Die
volgende oggend na stewige ontbyt, is die pantserseksie vort met hulle patrollie.
Drie dae (ongeveer) is die soldate weer daar. Hulle was eintlik baie verleë want die
menasie op Ruacana wou nie voorraad gee nie.
Ek en my manne het koppe bymekaar gesit, en per radio die saak met ons
Bevelvoerder op Ruacana bespreek. Toestemming is verleen, en ons kon ekstra
voorraad op Opuwa gaan trek... en ekstra bier... want uiteraard sou dit ons kitty ʼn
groot hupstoot gee.
Ons het toe ook sommer ekstra sandsakke getrek, en die kamp in ʼn volwaardige
basis omskep, een wat ons voertuie, asook die pantservoertuie, en nog meer kon
huisves. Hierdie reëling het nie net die Weermag manne bevoordeel nie, want
sedert daardie tyd was hulle feitlik elke aand in die basis. Dit het ons kamp meer
veilig gemaak, veral met die groter slaankrag.
Hierdie reëling het so aan gegaan en sommer baie goed gewerk. Nêrens was enige
“kortpaaie” geneem nie. Patrollies was gereeld vanuit ons kamp gedoen, soos die
opdragte verlang het.
Maar toe bars die bom! Toe ons weer sien daag daar ʼn hele peloton Infanteriste daar
op. Ek het net bekommerd begin raak, maar die volgende dag hou ʼn weermag
konvooi by ons in die hoofpad stil. En hulle laai vir ons voorraad af! Ek onthou
68
nog, die een keer het hulle snoek afgelaai! Iets wat nie eens die manne op Opuwa
gekry het nie. Al wat hulle wou hê... is yskoue bier na die lang reis vanaf Windhoek!
Hierdie reëling het geweldig uitgebrei in ʼn nie-amptelike amptelike samewerkings
ooreenkoms. Die Weermag gebruik ons basis as sentrale punt om hulle patrollies uit
te voer. Skielik het hulle ses dae patrollies ontwikkel in ses eendag patrollies. Elke
aand kon hulle veilig in ons basis slaap.
Om my Spesiale Konstabels besig te hou, want daar was gereeld struwelinge onder
hulle, het ek so ʼn paar per patrollie afgestaan om te dien as spoorsnyers en gidse.
Een voorval wat ek kan sê wat as voorbeeld van hierdie eintlik wonderlike
verstandhouding tussen die twee afdelings van die Veiligheidsmagte, kan dien is:...
Koevoet lede (wie ook van ons basis se fasiliteite gebruik gemaak het) was in ʼn
landmyn voorval betrokke, en een man was beseer. Toe ons ʼn Casevac helikopter
(dis die benaming vir helikopters wat getaak was om beseerdes af te voer) wou
ontbied, was daar na bewering nie een beskikbaar nie.
Toe kom een van hierdie seksies wat by ons gekuier het op die lug, en sê: “Hulle
lieg!... Daar staan ʼn Puma hier op Ruacana!”
Almal het geweet dat daar wedywering tussen die magte se bevel echelon was.
Maar op die grond het ons baie goed oor die weg gekom... veral in my kampie op
Obombo.
Rhodesië: Vroeë koper kruis: Chris van Ginkel, Robbie Green en HBH
25/04/2013
Hennie,
Kyk net die ooreenkoms tussen jou koper kruis en die vorm van ‘n chromosoom
hieronder!! Ongelooflik – wonder wat die spesifieke rede vir die ooreenkoms is…
Chris
69
Fig 1 Die Chromosoomvorm
Fig 2 Die Ingombe-ilede / Chedzurgwe koperkruis
Dit is heel waarskynlik die Ingombe-Ilede/ Chedzurgwe - kruis. Dit is ‘n groter en
swaarder vorm van die Katanga-kruis (Kongo) en dit het die geligte raam-effek in
die gietvorm soos wat joune ook vertoon. Gee my weer die spesifieke vindplek
asseblief!
Dit was in die 15 - 16de eeu as betaalmiddel gebruik en is in ouderdom tussen die
klein Sanga-kruisies en die meer algemene effe groter Handa-tipe. Hierdie Katanga-
kruis van jou is die grootste en swaarste van die tipes koper betaalmiddel in Afrika
se geskiedenis.
Bron: Herbert, Eugenia. W. 2003. Red gold of Africa: copper in precolonial history
and culture. P 186 – 188. University of Wisconsin Press.
70
Fig 3 Die Handa koperkruis
Fig 4 Sanga koperkruisies
HBH: Die navorsing wat ek gedoen het het ek die word “Tanda Kruis” gekry. Daar
is een in Groote Schuur.
Bo: Koperkruis – gevind in Karoi, Rhodesië. Bo: Chris van Ginkel en Robbie Green
Ex-SAP in the UK
They also remember .... Maleoskop and “those adrenalin filled days”
72
Stilte in die hof: Galg Humor: Adv Lentulus Els
Hierdie bydrae is volwasse van aard en mag verwysings na geweldadige dade hê
asook kru woorde. Om hierdie rede word persone onder die ouderdom van agtien
(18) verbied om hierdie afdeling te gebruik.
Sensitiewe persone en diegene met fundamentalistiese lewensbeskouinge word ook
aangeraai om nie verder te gaan nie.
Indien jy ouer as agtien is, en deur op die "Gaan Voort" knop te kliek bevestig jy dit
ook so, kan jy op "Gaan voort" kliek.
Waar polisiebeamptes van kriminele oortredings aangekla word, word die dossier
na die Direkteur Openbare Vervolgings (voorheen bekend as die Prokureur
Generaal)gestuur vir beslissing. Ek ontvang in die vroee 90's so dossier waar 'n
adjudant offisier aangekla word van aanranding op 'n prisonier. Die adjudant was
op sy dag die polisie se swaargewig boks kampioen en sy grysstof het met die jare 'n
lelike knou weg.
Sy waarskuwingsverklaring lees soos volg:
"On the day of the alleged assault I was driving my Nissan Langly SSS-Turbo. I was
in a happy mood. I was wearing an expensive imported three piece American suit
and listening to Afro-American Top 10 on the radio.I was not looking for any
trouble.
I proceeded to the cells with the aim of getting a convicted prisoner to wash my car. I
called a tall, strong prisoner politely and requested him to wash my car. But the
prisoner (now the alleged complainant) looked at me, passed some terrible remarks
and refused.
I advanced towards him and started shadow boxing as a warm up. In a second the
prisoner ran as fast as Mathews Temane to the station commander's office. I
followed. When entering the office, I saw the prisoner hiding underneath the
commander's desk. The commander did not offer me a chair to sit and discuss, but
on the contrary ordered me to leave his office. I then jumped on top of his desk using
the Olympic aerobics and started to demonstrate my black belt karate expertise. Both
the commander and the prisoner ran out of the office. The commander furthermore
insulted me by shouting "Sy fokken kop het weer uitgehak!"
I did not assault anybody. I am a part-time priest and it is a shame for fellow officers
to lie like this. If I assaulted the prisoner, he would have been admitted to the ICU in
an ambulance."
73
Op my aanbeveling is die bokser medies geraad en op pensioen geplaas weens
'dementia'...
My voorstel is "om die verlede te bewaar sonder om in die verlede te leef". Ek sou
die leuse as my motto gebruik "to preserve the past without living in the past" in
die publikasie.
Face Book: Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie – Afgetrede Lede
- http://www.facebook.com/groups/44388598559/
South African Police - Hall of Fame
http://www.facebook.com/groups/202147983990/
NATIONAL SECURITY NEWS / NUUS EN NASIONALE VEILIGHEID
Beeld: Hoofartikel
• Gedenk soldate op selfde plek
Maandag 03 Junie 2013
Die gedagte dat Suid-Afrikaanse soldate wat sedert 1994 in diens gesterf het met ’n
afsonderlike monument vereer word, strook nie met die ideaal om ’n verenigde
Suid-Afrika te bou nie.
Trouens, dit druis juis lynreg in teen wat die land sedert 1994 probeer bereik.
Genl.maj. Gert Opperman van die Voortrekkermonument en Fana Jiyane,
hoofamptenaar van Vryheidspark, stem saam dat ’n aparte monument vir soldate
opgerig moet word wat hul lewe sedert 1994 opgeoffer het.
Opperman en Jiyane se beweegredes daarvoor is onoortuigend.
Daar was, en is reeds, onder baie ongelukkigheid dat soldate van die SAW wat
tussen 1961 en 1994 dood is by die Voortrekkermonument gedenk word.
Daar is geen plek vir hulle in Vryheidspark nie, waar slagoffers gedenk word van
oorloë in prekoloniale tye, die twee wêreldoorloë en die Boereoorlog, asook vegters
van die ANC en ander bevrydingsorganisasies.
74
Vryheidspark en die Voortrekkermonument grens aan mekaar en mens kan van die
een na die ander stap.
Trouens, daar is planne – wat reeds te lank sloer – om die park en monument nader
aan mekaar te bring.
Waarom dan nog afsonderlike monumente en gedenkmure hê om die oorloë van die
verlede te onthou?
In die oorloë het Suid-Afrikaners teen mekaar of teen koloniale moondhede geveg.
In die aanhef tot die Grondwet word klem daarop gelê dat Suid-Afrikaners verenig
moet wees in ons verskeidenheid, dat ons die verdeeldheid van die verlede moet
heel en ’n verenigde land moet bou.
Versoening sal seëvier as ons al die slagoffers van ons uiteenlopende oorloë op een
plek gedenk.
Opperman en Jiyane se plan gaan verdeeldheid skep.
Dit behoort nie aan hulle oorgelaat te word om ’n besluit hieroor te neem nie.
Dit raak ons almal.
http://www.beeld.com/opinie/2013-06-03-gedenk-soldate-op-selfde-plek
NAT SECURITY HISTORY / NAS VEILIGHEIDSGESKIEDENIS
1812 Miltary Red Tape Glenn Macaskill (BSAP)
For anyone who has been frustrated by bureaucracy and process, take some comfort
in this letter from the Duke of Wellington to the National Office in London, in 1812:
Gentlemen,
Whilst marching from Portugal to a position which commands the approach to
Madrid and the French Forces, my officers have been diligently complying with
your requests which have been sent by His Majesty’s ship from London to Lisbon
and thence by dispatch to our headquarters.
We have enumerated our saddles, bridles, tents and tent poles, and all manner of
sundry items for which His Majesty’s Government holds me accountable. I have
dispatched reports on the character, wit and spleen of every officer. Each item and
75
every farthing has been accounted for with two regrettable exceptions for which I
beg your indulgence.
Unfortunately the sum of one shilling and nine pence remains unaccounted for in
one infantry battalion’s petty cash and there has been a hideous confusion as to the
number of jars of raspberry jam issued to one cavalry regiment during a sandstorm
in western Spain. This reprehensible carelessness may be related to the pressure of
circumstance, since we are at war with France, a fact which may come as a bit of a
surprise to you gentlemen in Whitehall.
This brings me to my present purpose, which is to request elucidation of my
instructions from His Majesty’s Government so that I may better understand why I
am dragging an army over these barren plains. I construe that perforce it must be
one of two alternative duties, as given below. I shall pursue either with the best of
my ability, but I cannot do both:
1.) To train an army of uniformed British clerks in Spain for the benefit of the
accountants and copy-boys in London or, perchance…
2.) To see to it the forces of Napoleon are driven out of Spain.
Your most obedient servant,
Wellington
Anglo Boer War
• Colenso “Until Dismissed by Death” – HBH
Share with me this beautiful
phrase: “The men stood to
their guns (kanonne) until
death gave the order to
“dismiss.”
Ref: The Right of Line – Royal
Regt of artillery – James
Nesbet & Co, London circa
1915.
• Armoured Oxwagon (Paul Els)
Hi Hennie
Hier is nou vir jou twee interessante foto’s.
Seker een van die min pantser-os-aangedrewe waens wat in die ABO gebruik is.
Weet nie of Boerkant of Kakiekant
76
Ook ‘n foto van fakkels wat afgeskiet is. Wonder hoe het die goed gelyk?
Vasbyt
I agree with Paul Els it is difficult to judge wether this is a Boer or British Arourmed
ox-wagon. Note the yoke. The original picture is in the Welsh Regt Museum in
Wales. In my collection I have a photo of a British aroured ox-wagon. I think that
ox-wagons with spans of 16 – 18 oxen are unique to Southern Africa – the Boers took
ox-wagons into neighbouring countries.
It took the British Forces some time to use spans of oxen. Each ox had his name and
place in the span. During the Anglo-Boer War my grandfather laughed at the Brits
when they “took” spans of Boer oxen to haul their wagons – No go! You have to
know the owner’s manuel that comes with the span.
• The Boers had a mechanized aroured car. It was a car and not a truck. I saw
the pic in the local archive.
• The SAP also had an early APC – HMLS Nemesis. (HBH)
77
• Anglo Boer War – Natal: Firing of Star Shells at Night - P.Els.
• Filler: Andre Marinaglia
• The Battle of Talana Hill (also known as the Battle of Dundee) on 20
October 1899: Anglo-Boer War by Johan Jacobs
On the outbreak of the War in South Africa the British authorities feared the Boers
from the Transvaal and the Orange Free State would invade the British coastal
colony of Natal, a triangular shaped area sharing a long common border with the
two Boer republics, its northern apex remote and exposed to attack, situated on the
Indian Ocean. In early autumn 1899 British reinforcements rushed to South Africa
from India under the command of Major General Penn Symons.
General Lukas Meyer and Ma
Major-General Sir William Penn Symons
who was mortally wounded as he commanded his forces at the
during the Second Boer War. Whilst his forces won the battle the
their position and fall back to
had to be left and he died as a
Voices of South African experience at the British War Office in London urged
Symons to keep his outnumbered troops well back from the frontier, behind the
Tugela River. Symons thought otherwise and advanc
north of the Tugela, where it would be outflanked by a Boer invasion along the
length of the frontier. On 20th October 1899 the Boer commando of General Meyer
appeared on Talana Hill to the North East of Dundee, following a ni
march. There was a delay before fire could be returned, the British artillery horses
being at water. The batteries harnessed up and hurried through Dundee, coming
into action in the open ground beyond the town, quickly silencing the
Boer guns.
two Boer republics, its northern apex remote and exposed to attack, situated on the
Indian Ocean. In early autumn 1899 British reinforcements rushed to South Africa
from India under the command of Major General Penn Symons.
General Lukas Meyer and Major General Sir Penn Symons
William Penn Symons KCB (1843–1899) was a British Army
who was mortally wounded as he commanded his forces at the Battle of Talana Hill
. Whilst his forces won the battle they had to abandon
their position and fall back to Ladysmith. Symons and the more severely wounded
had to be left and he died as a prisoner of war of the Boers.
Voices of South African experience at the British War Office in London urged
Symons to keep his outnumbered troops well back from the frontier, behind the
Tugela River. Symons thought otherwise and advanced his lead brigade to Dundee
north of the Tugela, where it would be outflanked by a Boer invasion along the
length of the frontier. On 20th October 1899 the Boer commando of General Meyer
appeared on Talana Hill to the North East of Dundee, following a night approach
There was a delay before fire could be returned, the British artillery horses
The batteries harnessed up and hurried through Dundee, coming
into action in the open ground beyond the town, quickly silencing the outnumbered
78
two Boer republics, its northern apex remote and exposed to attack, situated on the
Indian Ocean. In early autumn 1899 British reinforcements rushed to South Africa
British Army officer
Battle of Talana Hill
y had to abandon
. Symons and the more severely wounded
Voices of South African experience at the British War Office in London urged
Symons to keep his outnumbered troops well back from the frontier, behind the
ed his lead brigade to Dundee
north of the Tugela, where it would be outflanked by a Boer invasion along the
length of the frontier. On 20th October 1899 the Boer commando of General Meyer
ght approach
There was a delay before fire could be returned, the British artillery horses
The batteries harnessed up and hurried through Dundee, coming
outnumbered
Sir William’s grave at Dundee (photo Jeanette Jacobs)
Graves of British soldiers at Dundee (photos Jeanette Jacobs)
The Battle
Before dawn on 20 October, Erasmus's force occupied
Dundee. Meyer's men occupied the low Talana Hill east of the town
several German manufactured
British spotted the Boers on Talana Hill, these guns opened fire, ineffectually.
The British 16th and 69th field batteries galloped to within range
Leaving the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
s grave at Dundee (photo Jeanette Jacobs)
Graves of British soldiers at Dundee (photos Jeanette Jacobs)
Before dawn on 20 October, Erasmus's force occupied Impati Mountain
Dundee. Meyer's men occupied the low Talana Hill east of the town a
several German manufactured Krupp field guns to the top. As dawn broke and the
British spotted the Boers on Talana Hill, these guns opened fire, ineffectually.
The British 16th and 69th field batteries galloped to within range and opened fire.
Leicestershire Regiment and the 67th field battery to guard
79
Graves of British soldiers at Dundee (photos Jeanette Jacobs)
Impati Mountain north of
and dragged
field guns to the top. As dawn broke and the
British spotted the Boers on Talana Hill, these guns opened fire, ineffectually.
and opened fire.
the 67th field battery to guard
80
the camp, the British infantry, led by the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers and
supported in succession by the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) and the
1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers (RIF), moved forward to make a frontal attack, and
reached the foot of the hill where they were to advance through a small wood.
However they were pinned down by heavy rifle fire from the top of Talana Hill.
Symons went forward to urge them on, and was mortally wounded in the stomach,
although he was able to mount his horse and ride back into Dundee where he later
died. Under Symons’s successor, Brigadier-General James Herbert Yule, the KRRC
managed to reach a small stone wall at the foot of Talana Hill, where the Dublin
Fusiliers were pinned down by Boer fire. With the Royal Artillery laying down
accurate fire on the summit the KRRC supported by the RIF were able to proceed up
the hill. When they reached the top, they suffered casualties from their own
supporting artillery. The Boers abandoned their positions on the hill. Despite the
British artillery being repositioned to harass the Boer retreat, they declined to fire,
worried that they might hit their own troops again.[4]
General Lukas Meyer's forces mounted their ponies and made off. A squadron of
the 18th Hussars and the British mounted infantry tried to cut off their retreat, but
most of the British horsemen strayed onto the slopes of Impati. General Erasmus's
men, who had so far played no part in the battle due to Impati being shrouded in
fog, surrounded the British mounted detachment and forced them to surrender. As
his artillery bombarded the Boers, Symons prepared to attack their positions on
Talana Hill with his infantry, forming with the Dublin Fusiliers massed in the front
rank, the Rifles in the second rank and the Royal Irish Fusiliers in the third rank.
Penn Symons insisted his regiments attack in conventional close order, an unrealistic
tactic against an enemy armed with modern magazine rifles.
British Regiments:
- 18th Hussars: later the 13th/18th Royal Hussars and now the Light Dragoons.
- Royal Field Artillery: 13th, 67th and 69th Batteries.
- 1st Battalion, the Leicestershire Regiment: now the Royal Anglican Regiment.
- 1st Battalion, the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (60th): now the Royal Green Jackets.
- 1st Battalion, the Royal Irish Fusiliers: disbanded in 1922.
- 2nd Battalion, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers: disbanded in 1922.
- Mounted Infantry drawn from various infantry regiments.
Talana Hill at Dundee (photo by Jeanette Jacobs)
Uniforms, arms and equipment:
Army. At the outbreak of the war British tactics were appropriate for the use of
single shot firearms, fired in volleys controlled by company and battalion officers;
the troops fighting in close order. The need for tig
emphasised time and again in colonial fighting. In the Zulu and Sudan Wars
overwhelming enemy numbers armed principally with stabbing weapons were
easily kept at a distance by such tactics; but, as at Isandlwana, would overrun a
loosely formed force. These tactics had to be entirely rethought in battle against the
Boers armed with modern weapons.
In the months before hostilities the Boer commandant general, General Joubert,
bought 30,000 Mauser magazine rifles and a number of modern
automatic weapons from the German armaments manufacturer Krupp and the
French firm Creusot. The commandoes, without formal discipline, welded into a
fighting force through a strong sense of community and dislike for the British. Field
Cornets led burghers by personal influence not through any military code. The Boers
did not adopt military formation in battle, instinctively fighting from whatever cover
there might be. The preponderance was countrymen, running their farms from the
back of a pony with a rifle in one hand. These rural Boers brought a life time of
marksmanship to the war, an important edge, further exploited by Joubert’s
consignment of magazine rifles. Viljoen is said to have coined the aphorism
“Through God and the Mauser”. With
Boers were natural mounted infantry. The urban burghers and foreign volunteers
readily adopted the fighting methods of the rest of the army.
Talana Hill at Dundee (photo by Jeanette Jacobs)
Uniforms, arms and equipment: The Boer War was a serious jolt for the British
Army. At the outbreak of the war British tactics were appropriate for the use of
single shot firearms, fired in volleys controlled by company and battalion officers;
the troops fighting in close order. The need for tight formations had been
emphasised time and again in colonial fighting. In the Zulu and Sudan Wars
overwhelming enemy numbers armed principally with stabbing weapons were
easily kept at a distance by such tactics; but, as at Isandlwana, would overrun a
ely formed force. These tactics had to be entirely rethought in battle against the
Boers armed with modern weapons.
In the months before hostilities the Boer commandant general, General Joubert,
bought 30,000 Mauser magazine rifles and a number of modern field guns and
automatic weapons from the German armaments manufacturer Krupp and the
French firm Creusot. The commandoes, without formal discipline, welded into a
fighting force through a strong sense of community and dislike for the British. Field
s led burghers by personal influence not through any military code. The Boers
did not adopt military formation in battle, instinctively fighting from whatever cover
there might be. The preponderance was countrymen, running their farms from the
ny with a rifle in one hand. These rural Boers brought a life time of
marksmanship to the war, an important edge, further exploited by Joubert’s
consignment of magazine rifles. Viljoen is said to have coined the aphorism
“Through God and the Mauser”. With strong field craft skills and high mobility the
Boers were natural mounted infantry. The urban burghers and foreign volunteers
readily adopted the fighting methods of the rest of the army.
81
ar was a serious jolt for the British
Army. At the outbreak of the war British tactics were appropriate for the use of
single shot firearms, fired in volleys controlled by company and battalion officers;
ht formations had been
emphasised time and again in colonial fighting. In the Zulu and Sudan Wars
overwhelming enemy numbers armed principally with stabbing weapons were
easily kept at a distance by such tactics; but, as at Isandlwana, would overrun a
ely formed force. These tactics had to be entirely rethought in battle against the
In the months before hostilities the Boer commandant general, General Joubert,
field guns and
automatic weapons from the German armaments manufacturer Krupp and the
French firm Creusot. The commandoes, without formal discipline, welded into a
fighting force through a strong sense of community and dislike for the British. Field
s led burghers by personal influence not through any military code. The Boers
did not adopt military formation in battle, instinctively fighting from whatever cover
there might be. The preponderance was countrymen, running their farms from the
ny with a rifle in one hand. These rural Boers brought a life time of
marksmanship to the war, an important edge, further exploited by Joubert’s
consignment of magazine rifles. Viljoen is said to have coined the aphorism
strong field craft skills and high mobility the
Boers were natural mounted infantry. The urban burghers and foreign volunteers
Other than in the regular uniformed Staats Artillery and police uni
their every day civilian clothes on campaign.
their numerical superiority, spending the rest of the formal war on the defensive
against British forces that regularly outnumbered them.
from the Crimea, used at Modder River, Magersfontein, Colenso and Spion Kop
were incapable of winning battles against entrenched troops armed with modern
magazine rifles. Every British commander made the same mistake; Buller; Methuen,
Roberts and Kitchener. When General Kelly
commandoes out of their riverside entrenchments at Paardeburg using his artillery,
Kitchener intervened and insisted on a battle of infantry assaults; with the same
disastrous consequences as Colenso, Modder River, Magersfontein and Spion Kop.
The place where Symore was mortally wounded (photo Jeanette Jacobs)
The assault went in, the first lines reaching a wood at the base of Talana Hill where
in the face of heavy fire the attack
and led the advance himself, until he was mortally injured.
attack regained its momentum and continued up Talana Hill in the face of heavy
fire, gathering below the peak for the final att
the hill the Boers fell back. One of the British batteries firing from the open ground
outside Dundee failed to identify the troops on the top of Talana as British and
continued to fire on the crest, inflicting unneces
assault.
The Boers could be seen mounting their ponies and streaming away across the valley
on the far side of the hill. Penn Symons had sent the 18th Hussars and Mounted
Infantry around Talana Hill to take advantage of ju
no sign of them.
Other than in the regular uniformed Staats Artillery and police units, the Boers wore
their every day civilian clothes on campaign. After the first month the Boers lost
their numerical superiority, spending the rest of the formal war on the defensive
against British forces that regularly outnumbered them. British tactics, little changed
from the Crimea, used at Modder River, Magersfontein, Colenso and Spion Kop
were incapable of winning battles against entrenched troops armed with modern
magazine rifles. Every British commander made the same mistake; Buller; Methuen,
ts and Kitchener. When General Kelly-Kenny attempted to winkle Cronje’s
commandoes out of their riverside entrenchments at Paardeburg using his artillery,
Kitchener intervened and insisted on a battle of infantry assaults; with the same
nces as Colenso, Modder River, Magersfontein and Spion Kop.
The place where Symore was mortally wounded (photo Jeanette Jacobs)
The assault went in, the first lines reaching a wood at the base of Talana Hill where
in the face of heavy fire the attack stalled. Symons arrived at the wood, dismounted
and led the advance himself, until he was mortally injured. The British infantry
attack regained its momentum and continued up Talana Hill in the face of heavy
fire, gathering below the peak for the final attack. As the troops stormed the top of
the hill the Boers fell back. One of the British batteries firing from the open ground
outside Dundee failed to identify the troops on the top of Talana as British and
continued to fire on the crest, inflicting unnecessary casualties and hindering the
The Boers could be seen mounting their ponies and streaming away across the valley
on the far side of the hill. Penn Symons had sent the 18th Hussars and Mounted
Infantry around Talana Hill to take advantage of just such a situation, but there was
82
ts, the Boers wore
After the first month the Boers lost
their numerical superiority, spending the rest of the formal war on the defensive
little changed
from the Crimea, used at Modder River, Magersfontein, Colenso and Spion Kop
were incapable of winning battles against entrenched troops armed with modern
magazine rifles. Every British commander made the same mistake; Buller; Methuen,
Kenny attempted to winkle Cronje’s
commandoes out of their riverside entrenchments at Paardeburg using his artillery,
Kitchener intervened and insisted on a battle of infantry assaults; with the same
nces as Colenso, Modder River, Magersfontein and Spion Kop.
The place where Symore was mortally wounded (photo Jeanette Jacobs)
The assault went in, the first lines reaching a wood at the base of Talana Hill where
stalled. Symons arrived at the wood, dismounted
The British infantry
attack regained its momentum and continued up Talana Hill in the face of heavy
ack. As the troops stormed the top of
the hill the Boers fell back. One of the British batteries firing from the open ground
outside Dundee failed to identify the troops on the top of Talana as British and
sary casualties and hindering the
The Boers could be seen mounting their ponies and streaming away across the valley
on the far side of the hill. Penn Symons had sent the 18th Hussars and Mounted
st such a situation, but there was
The country was not familiar to the officers and they had become lost; straying away
towards the main Boer force where later that day they were surprised by a larger
contingent of Boers and captured.
misunderstanding of their orders or a failure to identify the Boers, did not open fire
on the retreating commando.
non-regular regiments; the City Imperial Vol
Australians and New Zealanders, who more easily broke from the habit of
traditional European warfare, using their horses for transport rather than the charge,
advancing by fire and manoeuvre in loose formations and m
rather than the formal advance into a storm of Mauser bullets.
Uniform
The British regiments made an uncertain change into khaki uniforms in the years
preceding the Boer War, with the topee helmet as tropical headgear. Highland
regiments in Natal devised aprons to conceal coloured kilts and sporrans. By the end
of the war the uniform of choice was a slouch hat, drab tunic and trousers; the
danger of shiny buttons and too ostentatious emblems of rank emphasised in several
engagements with disproportionately high officer casualties.
The British infantry were armed with the Lee Metford magazine rifle firing 10
rounds. But no training regime had been established to take advantage of the
accuracy and speed of fire of the weapon. Personal skil
craft were little taught. The idea of fire and movement was unknown, many
regiments still going into action in close order. Notoriously General Hart insisted
that his Irish Brigade fight shoulder to shoulder as if on parade in
of regular troops, Britain engaged volunteer forces from Britain, Canada, Australia
and New Zealand who brought new ideas and more imaginative formations to the
battlefield.
Map of the battle (photo Wikipedia)
The country was not familiar to the officers and they had become lost; straying away
towards the main Boer force where later that day they were surprised by a larger
contingent of Boers and captured. The British batteries came forward but due to a
misunderstanding of their orders or a failure to identify the Boers, did not open fire
on the retreating commando. Some of the most successful British troops were the
regular regiments; the City Imperial Volunteers, the South Africans, Canadians,
Australians and New Zealanders, who more easily broke from the habit of
traditional European warfare, using their horses for transport rather than the charge,
advancing by fire and manoeuvre in loose formations and making use of cover,
rather than the formal advance into a storm of Mauser bullets.
The British regiments made an uncertain change into khaki uniforms in the years
preceding the Boer War, with the topee helmet as tropical headgear. Highland
ts in Natal devised aprons to conceal coloured kilts and sporrans. By the end
of the war the uniform of choice was a slouch hat, drab tunic and trousers; the
danger of shiny buttons and too ostentatious emblems of rank emphasised in several
h disproportionately high officer casualties.
The British infantry were armed with the Lee Metford magazine rifle firing 10
rounds. But no training regime had been established to take advantage of the
accuracy and speed of fire of the weapon. Personal skills such as scouting and field
craft were little taught. The idea of fire and movement was unknown, many
regiments still going into action in close order. Notoriously General Hart insisted
that his Irish Brigade fight shoulder to shoulder as if on parade in Aldershot. Short
of regular troops, Britain engaged volunteer forces from Britain, Canada, Australia
and New Zealand who brought new ideas and more imaginative formations to the
Map of the battle (photo Wikipedia)
83
The country was not familiar to the officers and they had become lost; straying away
towards the main Boer force where later that day they were surprised by a larger
British batteries came forward but due to a
misunderstanding of their orders or a failure to identify the Boers, did not open fire
Some of the most successful British troops were the
unteers, the South Africans, Canadians,
Australians and New Zealanders, who more easily broke from the habit of
traditional European warfare, using their horses for transport rather than the charge,
aking use of cover,
The British regiments made an uncertain change into khaki uniforms in the years
preceding the Boer War, with the topee helmet as tropical headgear. Highland
ts in Natal devised aprons to conceal coloured kilts and sporrans. By the end
of the war the uniform of choice was a slouch hat, drab tunic and trousers; the
danger of shiny buttons and too ostentatious emblems of rank emphasised in several
The British infantry were armed with the Lee Metford magazine rifle firing 10
rounds. But no training regime had been established to take advantage of the
ls such as scouting and field
craft were little taught. The idea of fire and movement was unknown, many
regiments still going into action in close order. Notoriously General Hart insisted
Aldershot. Short
of regular troops, Britain engaged volunteer forces from Britain, Canada, Australia
and New Zealand who brought new ideas and more imaginative formations to the
84
The British regular troops lacked imagination and resource. Routine procedures
such as effective scouting and camp protection were often neglected. The war was
littered with incidents in which British contingents became lost or were ambushed
often unnecessarily and forced to surrender. The war was followed by a complete re-
organisation of the British Army. The British artillery was a powerful force in the
field, underused by commanders with little training in the use of modern guns in
battle. Pakenham cites Pieters as being the battle at which a British commander,
surprisingly Buller, developed a modern form of battlefield tactics: heavy artillery
bombardments co-ordinated to permit the infantry to advance under their
protection. It was the only occasion that Buller showed any real general ship and the
short inspiration quickly died.
The Royal Field Artillery fought with 15 pounder guns; the Royal Horse Artillery
with 12 pounders and the Royal Garrison Artillery batteries with 5 inch howitzers.
The Royal Navy provided heavy field artillery with a number of 4.7 inch naval guns
mounted on field carriages devised by Captain Percy Scott of HMS Terrible.
Automatic weapons were used by the British usually mounted on special carriages
accompanying the cavalry.
Casualties
British casualties were 250. Boer casualties were 500. The 3 Creusot guns were left on
Talana Hill, but recovered by the Boers with the British withdrawal from Dundee.
The British marked the battle as a victory, but it was only a temporary reprieve from
the inexorable Boer invasion of Northern Natal and the British retreat into
Ladysmith.
References:
- Wikipedia
- The Great Boer War by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Boer War by Thomas Pakenham.
The Casspir and his cousin the Sussper – William Marshall
85
Comments by Hennie Heymans: I have spoken to the developers of the Casspir and
in particular to Maj Gen Piet Kruger SAP (Ret) who was Chief Mechanical Engineer:
Quartermaster SAP.
He told me the Medics of the SADF were the only SADF people interested in the
Casspir for use as ambulance.
During my service in the SSSC we had an opportunity to travel in the BUFFEL in the
Operational Area but I must say that the Buffel was most uncomfortable. The
development Casspir has been fully researched and documented by many including
myself. It was a success from “day one” when the first proto type was used by
Koevoet. Various alerations were made. It is used worldwide.
We salute the men who made this possible from Maj Gen Apie van Dyk, Brig Frans
van Eeden and Sailor van Schalkwyk. Later Maj Gen Hennie de Witt (QM) who
instructed Col Piet Kruger (Nuts & Bolts Committee) “to do something as our men
were bleeding”. Fortunately I have the original notes made by Lt Gen AJ Wandrag at
an anniversary of the Casspir.
You will note that it does not have an Armscor name (animal name) but that the
amalgam is derived from SAP + CSIR = Casspir. (Nothing to do with friendly ghosts,
however our first “V” shaped hull police vehicles in Rhodesia were called “spook
voertuie” (ghost vehicles)
SA Navy
• Submarine Museum in Simonstown
Compiled by Johan Jacobs (former SA Marine)
SAS Assegaai, formerly the SAS Johanna van der Merwe, was one of three Daphne
class submarines acquired from France during 1970 to 1972, which became the first
submarines to serve in the South African Navy. She is 58m long and had a
complement of six officers and 45 senior and junior ratings. Fitted with 12 x 550mm
torpedo tubes, she could also
Assegaai (Assegaai is the Afrikaans word for 'spear') in 1999 and was the last of the
SA Navy’s Daphne class submarines in commission and finally decommissioned in
2003. Currently she is preserved as a floating museum b
at the Naval Museum by 2013.
SAS Assegaai’s patrol patch
The museum is one of about five of its kind in the Southern hemisphere and the first
in Africa. More than 20 countries including Germany, United States of America and
the United Kingdom have Museum Submarines.
Daphne Class submarine fact file
Length: 57.75m
Beam: 6.75m
Draught: 5.23m
Shafts: 2 (3 blade propellers)
Displacement: 860 tons (Surface)
Diving Depth 300m
Machinery: 2 x 8-
SAS Johanna van der Merwe, was one of three Daphne
nes acquired from France during 1970 to 1972, which became the first
submarines to serve in the South African Navy. She is 58m long and had a
complement of six officers and 45 senior and junior ratings. Fitted with 12 x 550mm
torpedo tubes, she could also carry sea mines. She was renamed
(Assegaai is the Afrikaans word for 'spear') in 1999 and was the last of the
SA Navy’s Daphne class submarines in commission and finally decommissioned in
2003. Currently she is preserved as a floating museum but will be preserved ashore
at the Naval Museum by 2013.
SAS Assegaai’s patrol patch
The museum is one of about five of its kind in the Southern hemisphere and the first
in Africa. More than 20 countries including Germany, United States of America and
the United Kingdom have Museum Submarines.
Daphne Class submarine fact file
57.75m
6.75m
5.23m
2 (3 blade propellers)
860 tons (Surface) | 1034 tons (Submerged)
300m
-cyl SEMT-Pielstick 8 PA4 185-450Kw diesel
86
SAS Johanna van der Merwe, was one of three Daphne-
nes acquired from France during 1970 to 1972, which became the first
submarines to serve in the South African Navy. She is 58m long and had a
complement of six officers and 45 senior and junior ratings. Fitted with 12 x 550mm
carry sea mines. She was renamed SAS
(Assegaai is the Afrikaans word for 'spear') in 1999 and was the last of the
SA Navy’s Daphne class submarines in commission and finally decommissioned in
ut will be preserved ashore
The museum is one of about five of its kind in the Southern hemisphere and the first
in Africa. More than 20 countries including Germany, United States of America and
450Kw diesel
generators
Propulsion: 2 x 800hp dual armature Jeumont
propulsion motors
Batteries: 2 compartments (80 cells each)
Speed: 13.5 knots (25 km/h Surfaced) 16 knots (29.6 km/h
Submerged)
Range: 4300nm (7 963km) @ 7.5 knots (Snorting)
2700nm (5 000km) @ 12.5 knots (Surface)
Torpedoes:
12 x 550mm (8 forward 4 aft
alongside)
8 Forward (Internal)
4 Aft (External)
Complement: 6 Officers and 45 Ratings
(+ 6 to 10 tra
Visitors arrive by ferry, waiting to go below. The opened
The Assegaai museum submarine gives those who have never been on a submarine
the opportunity to experience life in a submarine and its intricacies, albeit for a brief
visit. All tours are conducted by experienced volunteer guides who explain life
aboard as well as how the boat was run and how the systems work. The interior has
generators
2 x 800hp dual armature Jeumont-Schneider electric
propulsion motors
2 compartments (80 cells each)
13.5 knots (25 km/h Surfaced) 16 knots (29.6 km/h
Submerged)
4300nm (7 963km) @ 7.5 knots (Snorting)
2700nm (5 000km) @ 12.5 knots (Surface)
12 x 550mm (8 forward 4 aft - only reloadable when
alongside)
8 Forward (Internal)
4 Aft (External)
6 Officers and 45 Ratings
(+ 6 to 10 trainees)
Visitors arrive by ferry, waiting to go below. The opened can be seen to the right of
the image.
museum submarine gives those who have never been on a submarine
the opportunity to experience life in a submarine and its intricacies, albeit for a brief
visit. All tours are conducted by experienced volunteer guides who explain life
well as how the boat was run and how the systems work. The interior has
87
Schneider electric
13.5 knots (25 km/h Surfaced) 16 knots (29.6 km/h
only reloadable when
can be seen to the right of
museum submarine gives those who have never been on a submarine
the opportunity to experience life in a submarine and its intricacies, albeit for a brief
visit. All tours are conducted by experienced volunteer guides who explain life
well as how the boat was run and how the systems work. The interior has
been perfectly preserved and one is able to see and experience all its equipment in
the cramped setting – for example, the tiny galley.
Forward view of SAS Assegaai
Be warned: this vessel was designed and built as a deadly warship. She is compact
and filled with machinery. She was not designed for visitors. Passages are narrow
and you need to be careful where you step. Ensure that children do not fiddle with
switches or equipment because some valves control water ballast systems, and high
voltages are present in equipment.
One also gets to experience the feeling of being in a boat underwater. An explanation
is also given of how the submarine dives and how it s
know many interesting facts about submarines. One of the more fascinating aspects
been perfectly preserved and one is able to see and experience all its equipment in
for example, the tiny galley.
Forward view of SAS Assegaai
vessel was designed and built as a deadly warship. She is compact
and filled with machinery. She was not designed for visitors. Passages are narrow
and you need to be careful where you step. Ensure that children do not fiddle with
cause some valves control water ballast systems, and high
voltages are present in equipment.
Going down the hatch
One also gets to experience the feeling of being in a boat underwater. An explanation
is also given of how the submarine dives and how it surfaces at sea and you get to
know many interesting facts about submarines. One of the more fascinating aspects
88
been perfectly preserved and one is able to see and experience all its equipment in
vessel was designed and built as a deadly warship. She is compact
and filled with machinery. She was not designed for visitors. Passages are narrow
and you need to be careful where you step. Ensure that children do not fiddle with
cause some valves control water ballast systems, and high
One also gets to experience the feeling of being in a boat underwater. An explanation
urfaces at sea and you get to
know many interesting facts about submarines. One of the more fascinating aspects
is being the generation of fresh air for the crew when dived. The following pictures
show life aboard the submarine!
is being the generation of fresh air for the crew when dived. The following pictures
show life aboard the submarine!
89
is being the generation of fresh air for the crew when dived. The following pictures
Down periscope...DIVE! DIVE!
SAAF
• Kerkstraatbom: Terreur voor SALM Hoof Kwartier: Genl JV van der Merwe
Een van die skokkendste terreurvoorvalle in die geskiedenis van Suid
20 Mei 1983 plaasgevind. ʼn Motor met ʼn kragtige lading springstof het om
periscope...DIVE! DIVE!
Kerkstraatbom: Terreur voor SALM Hoof Kwartier: Genl JV van der Merwe
Een van die skokkendste terreurvoorvalle in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika het op
ʼn Motor met ʼn kragtige lading springstof het om
90
Kerkstraatbom: Terreur voor SALM Hoof Kwartier: Genl JV van der Merwe
Afrika het op
ʼn Motor met ʼn kragtige lading springstof het omstreeks
91
vieruur die middag voor die Nedbankpleingebou in Kerkstraat, Pretoria, ontplof.
(Die gebou het in Engels as die Nedbank Square Maritime House bekend gestaan.)
Altesame 19 mense is dood, onder wie 12 burgerlikes en 7 Weermaglede. Altesame
219 mense is erg beseer of vermink, onder wie 217 burgerlikes en 2 Weermaglede.
Die hoofkwartier van die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag was op die eerste, tweede en
derde verdiepings van die gebou. Die res van die dertien verdiepings is deur
burgerlikes gebruik. Op die grondverdieping was ʼn kafee en ander sake-
ondernemings.
Kol. Basie Smit (later generaal) en maj. Suiker Britz (later generaal) van die
speurafdeling was in daardie stadium in Klub 34, nie ver van die ramptoneel af nie.
Hulle het hulle na die toneel gehaas en was die eerste polisielede op die toneel. ʼn
Afskuwelike gesig van dood en verwoesting het hulle begroet. Oral het lyke, erg
beseerde of verminkte mense, ledemate, stukke verskroeide vlees, beendere en
bebloede en verskeurde klere rondgelê. Voor die gebou was die wrak van ʼn motor
met menslike oorblyfsels, vermoedelik die oorsprong van die ontploffing.
Lede van die taakmag en teeninsurgensie-eenheid onder bevel van genl. Bert
Wandrag en die onlusbestrydingseenheid onder maj. Loots het die gebied dadelik
afgekamp sodat moontlike bewysstukke nie versteur word nie.
Kundiges op verskillende terreine het dadelik aan die werk gespring: die Forensiese
Wetenskaplaboratorium onder genl. Lothar Neethling het noukeurige opnames
gedoen, die ingenieursafdeling van die Kwartiermeester het die motorwrakstukke
ondersoek en plofstofkundiges het die toneel gefynkam om vas te stel watter en
hoeveel springstof gebruik is.
Alles is met video- en ander kameras op film vasgelê.
Die Forensiese Wetenskaplaboratorium het later deur bloed- en weefseltoetse bepaal
watter ledemate aan wie behoort en só kon die identiteit van die 19 oorledenes
bepaal word.
By sy aankoms op die toneel het maj. Britz ’n lyk oorkant die pad regoor die
motorwrak sien lê. Die man het vir hom bekend gelyk, maar hy kon nie onthou waar
hy sy gesig al gesien het nie. Nadat hy op die ramptoneel gehelp het, het hy by sy
huis lêers en foto’s van mense wat hy gearresteer het, nagegaan. Hy het op die foto
van Ezekiel Maseko afgekom, wat hy jare tevore weens huisbraak, diefstal en
gewapende roof aangekeer het. Maseko is aan al die aanklagte skuldig bevind en tot
gevangenisstraf gevonnis. Dit was inderdaad hy wat oorkant die motorwrak gelê
het.
92
Die volgende dag is ʼn ondersoekspan uit lede van die veiligheidstak, speurtak,
moord-en-roofeenheid en die Forensiese Wetenskaplaboratorium saamgestel. Kapt.
Frik Nel en lt. Hennie Britz van die veiligheidstak was deel van die ondersoekspan.
Inligting wat die verskillende eenhede ingewin het, is daagliks saamgevoeg om ʼn
geheelbeeld van die voorval te kry. Kapt. Nel het deur ʼn informant vasgestel dat
Maseko en Freddie Shongwe by die ontploffing betrokke was. Dit het die inligting
van maj. Suiker Britz bevestig en hulle is na Maseko se huis in Mamelodi-Oos, waar
hulle sy ma aangetref het. Volgens haar het Maseko haar vroeg die vorige dag gebel
en gesê hy is per motor van Swaziland op pad na hul huis. Hy en ’n ander man het
later met ʼn Colt Galant by die huis aangekom. Hulle het toe die enjinnommer van
die motor met ʼn hoekslyper weggeskuur. Sy het die hoekslyper en die ystervysels
aan hulle gewys. Lt. Hennie Britz het op die hoekslyper beslag gelê en dit as
bewysstuk ingelewer. Maseko se ma het ook ʼn metaaltrommeltjie met R3 000 in
kontant wat Maseko van Swaziland saamgebring het, aan hulle gegee.
Lede van die Forensiese Wetenskaplaboratorium het later die monsters van die
ystervysels ontleed en vasgestel dat dit wel van die wrak kom wat die lading
springstof bevat het.
Kapt. Nel en luit. Hennie Britz het vervolgens by Shongwe se ma navraag gedoen.
Sy het oorblyfsels van haar seun se klere herken en só bevestig dat dit inderdaad
Shongwe se verminkte lyk in die wrak van die Colt Galant was. Nes Maseko was
Shongwe ʼn geharde misdadiger. Die wit Colt Galant waarin die bom ontplof het, is
ongeveer ʼn jaar voor die voorval aan die Oos-Rand gesteel.
Daar is vasgestel dat Maseko en Shongwe met Maseko se Kombi na die middestad
gery en toe met die Colt Galant na die Nedbankpleingebou gery het. ’n Soektog na
die Kombi is dadelik op tou gesit, want as dit deel van die ontploffingsplan was,
moes dit naby die toneel van ontploffing geparkeer gewees het. Twee lede van die
veiligheidstak het toe wel die Kombi naby die ramptoneel opgespoor, op die
sypaadjie by ʼn parkeerterrein op die hoek van Schubart- en Vermeulenstraat.
In die Kombi was ʼn draagbare radio wat in ’n sender omgeskep is, asook springstof.
Die sender het ʼn skakelaar gehad om die afstandbeheermeganisme te aktiveer.
Oorblyfsels van die ontvangstoestel is in die wrak van die Colt Galant aangetref. Dit
het ʼn ook skakelaar gehad om die afstandbeheermeganisme te aktiveer.
Daar word vermoed dat Shongwe die Colt Galant met die bom en ontvangstoestel in
Kerkstraat voor die Nedbankpleingebou geparkeer het. Hy het daar bly sit terwyl
Maseko die afstandbeheermeganisme deur middel van die sender in die Kombi gaan
aktiveer het. Maseko het teruggekeer en aan die oorkant van die pad aan Shongwe
die teken gegee dat dit gedoen is. Shongwe het die ontvangstoestel geaktiveer en die
93
bom het onmiddellik ontplof. Blykbaar moes die ontvangstoestel in die Colt Galant
eers geaktiveer gewees het en die sender in die Kombi later op die tyd waarop
ooreengekom is.
Die MK-lid Johannes Mnisi het tydens die amnestieverhore amnestie gevra vir sy
betrokkenheid by die grusame voorval. (Die bevinding van die amnestiekomitee kan
by die webadres http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/decisions/2001/ac21003.htm gelees
word.)
Mnisi is al in 1981 deur die veiligheidstak aangekeer, maar het ná sy arrestasie
soveel waardevolle inligting verstrek dat besluit is om hom nie te vervolg nie. Hy is
by die Vlakplaaseenheid as askari ingeskakel, waar hy aanvanklik sy volle
samewerking verleen het. Sy broer is ook later gearresteer en as askari gebruik, maar
die twee het later gevlug en hulle weer by die ANC geskaar. (Die woord “askari”
kom in verskeie tale voor, onder meer Arabies en Swahili, en beteken “vegter”. In
ons geval is die benaming gebruik vir lede van Umkhonto weSizwe en ander
organisasies wat ons in hegtenis geneem en oorreed het om vir die veiligheidstak te
werk.)
Mnisi het sy bevelvoerder, Aboobaker Ismail, gehelp om die afstand-
beheermeganisme in Zambië te toets. Hy het ook Maseko en Shongwe, twee geharde
misdadigers, gewerf en hulle is oor naweke in Swaziland as MK-lede opgelei. Die
twee is ook geleer hoe om die afstandbeheermeganisme wat in die motorbom
gebruik sou word, te hanteer. Klaarblyklik was die onderrig nie baie geslaag nie.
Mnisi het die bom en ontvangstoestel in die Colt Galant geplaas en Helene Pastoors
het die motor na Pretoria bestuur, waar sy dit op ʼn afgesproke plek gelaat het.
Die amnestiekomitee het die volgende in die geval van Pastoors bevind (die
bevinding van die amnestiekomitee kan by die webadres
http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/decisions/2001/ac21023.htm gelees word):
The Applicant was a member of the Special Operations Unit of Umkhonto weSizwe.
During May 1983 she received instructions from her superior officer, one Aboobaker
Ismail, to drive a motor vehicle which had been primed with explosives from
Swaziland to a specified place in Pretoria. She drove the vehicle to Pretoria on 19
May 1983 and left it at the pre-arranged place as instructed. When she delivered the
vehicle she did not know the target at which it would be used. She only learnt after
the event that it was used in the car bomb operation outside the building in Church
Street, Pretoria, which housed the Air Force headquarters.
We are satisfied that the Applicant has made a full disclosure of all relevant facts
and that her actions in driving the vehicle to Pretoria were associated with a political
94
objective. We are also satisfied that her application complies with the requirements
of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No.34 of 1995.
The Applicant is accordingly GRANTED amnesty in respect of the unlawful
delivery from Swaziland to Pretoria on 19 May 1983 of a motor vehicle which
contained explosive material.
In die geval van die bevelvoerder, Aboobaker Ismail, het die amnestiekomitee soos
volg bevind (die bevinding van die amnestiekomitee kan by die webadres
http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/decisions/2001/ac21003.htm gelees word):
The Church Street bombing took place shortly after a parliamentary debate on the
tricameral constitution and subsequent to the December 1982 SADF raid into Maseru
in which a number of ANC supporters and Lesotho civilians were killed and the
assassination of Ruth First in Maputo. The evidence before us is that the bombing
was a planned operation. The target was selected subsequent to reconnaissance
being carried out and the bomb was specifically constructed and infiltrated into the
country for the operation. The stated objective of the operation was to carry out a
highly visible attack on security force members which could not be covered up by
the authorities. The operation was discussed at the highest level of Special
Operations Command. It was considered that the target was overwhelmingly
military and the question of civilian casualties was taken into account before arriving
at the decision to proceed with the operation. Approval to go ahead with the
operation was also obtained from Oliver Tambo, the President of the ANC.
We are satisfied that the bombing was an act associated with a political objective as
envisaged by Section 20 of the Act and that it was not merely an act of anarchy or
terrorism. The fact that the bombing took place before the Kabwe Conference does
not mean that the target selection was against ANC policy. It was always the policy
of MK to target security force personnel and, with regard to the civilian casualties,
the operation was given prior approval by the highest authority in the ANC and the
ANC acknowledged responsibility for the blast shortly after its occurrence. We are
also of the view that the bombing was not racially motivated. The blast occurred in a
busy public street and the civilian casualties included both blacks and whites. There
was no possibility whatsoever in the circumstances of targeting a particular racial
group.
The Applicant, Aboobaker Ismail, testified that at the time of the funeral after the
Maseru massacre Oliver Tambo "had raised the issue that if the then government
justified its action on the basis that civilians were killed because the ANC had set up
bases amongst the civilian population, then would it also not be justified for the
ANC to carry out operations against enemy headquarters and bases located within
built-up areas". This, as well as the objective of carrying out a highly visible attack
95
against military personnel which could not be covered up were, no doubt, factors
taken into account in selecting the target. It was accepted by Special Operations
Command that the blast, which would primarily be aimed at the military personnel
who would gather at the bus stop immediately in front of the building which housed
the SAAF Headquarters would also result in civilian casualties. The blast was an act
of war which struck a severe blow at the ANC's enemy and which introduced a new
phase of guerilla warfare in the struggle. Although the consequences of the blast
were gruesome and tragic and affected many innocent civilians we, after careful
consideration, are of the view that the manner of the execution of the operation was
not disproportionate to the political objective pursued.
Dit is opvallend hoe uiters oppervlakkig die amnestiekomitee hierdie grusame
voorval, die grootste terreurdaad in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika, gehanteer het.
Daarteenoor is aansoeke deur lede van die veiligheidstak, waar enkele lede van
Umkhonto weSizwe of politieke aktiviste om die lewe gebring is, gekenmerk deur
uitgerekte amnestieverhore waar die WVK-ondersoekspan in sekere gevalle tot
belaglike uiterstes gegaan het om die aansoekers as leuenaars aan die kaak te stel.
SAP / SADF (SAAF) Co-operation
Received – carried over to next month - HBH
SA Army
• Die storie van skutter Luiters
Vrydag 31 Mei 2013
Die dood van ’n “onbekende troepie” in 1985 in ’n vuurgeveg tussen die weermag
en Koevoet het gesorg vir ’n eietydse Waarheids-en-Versoeningskommissie.
Willemien Brümmer vertel dié verhaal van vergifnis en vrede.
“Wie in My glo sal lewe al het hy ook gesterwe,” lui die inskripsie op skutter
William Raymond Luiters se grafsteen.
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Profetiese woorde, want al was die 21-jarige Luiters 28 jaar gelede ’n onbekende
troep wat gesterf het in ’n ongewilde oorlog, het hy nou uit die skadu’s herrys. Sy
nagedagtenis staan vir hoop en versoening; vir geharde veterane wat vir die eerste
keer snags slaap.
Sy graf is die enigste in die helde-akker in Robertson in dié Wes-Kaapse vallei van
wyn en rose. Afgekamp agter ’n palissade sal die meeste verbygangers dit miskyk.
Spring jy oor die draad sien jy egter die granietsteen met die kenteken van die
voormalige Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag (SAW) en die naam van sy bataljon, 61 Meg.
Die datum van sy dood: 9 Augustus 1985.
Vir minstens vier mense was dié datum ’n keerpunt. Een van hulle is Theron de Wit
(52), ’n oudpolisieman wat nou nog stoei met terugflitse en die simptome van post-
traumatiese stres. Vandag háát hy oorlog. Destyds was dit sy werk. As lid van die
polisie se gevreesde teeninsurgensie-eenheid Koevoet was hy en sy span betrokke by
99 kills tydens “kontakte” – die doodmaak van “terroriste” wat ’n prys gehad het op
hul kop.
Hy sug waar hy die gehoorbuis vashou in Tsumeb, 400 km noord van Windhoek.
“Die destydse regering het daai woordjie ‘oorlog’ gebruik om ons na die Grens te
jaag en mense dood te maak en toe die oorlog klaar is, toe ken hulle ons nie meer nie.
“Ons het oorlog toe gegaan as gewone mense en ons het as moordenaars
teruggekom.”
Die storie van hoe hy verander het van ’n never-minded-Grensvegter tot ’n held van
boetedoening begin lank gelede.
Troep sonder naam
Net ná laaste lig op 9 Augustus 1985 vertrek De Wit en sy span na die omgewing
van Oshikuku, 35 km noord van Oshakati, in Ovamboland.
Hy het vroeër die dag die weermag gebel om die gebied in die omgewing van
Oshikuku “te vries” sodat die Koevoete alleen in dié gebied kan patrollie stap.
“In daai stadium was daar ’n nagklokreël. As iemand ná sononder beweeg het, het
ons geweet dis die vyand,” onthou De Wit.
Om 21:00 besluit De Wit om die twee Casspirs wat hulle afgelaai het te radio om
hulle weer te kom haal.
Terwyl een van die konstabels die radiotoerusting opstel, kyk hy eers links en toe
regs met sy nagsigapparaat.
97
Hy verstyf toe hy honderde meter daarvandaan ’n ry vae, groen beelde in enkelgelid
op hulle sien afstap.
“Ek het begin tel en hier by 35 rond toe hou ek op. Ek het onmiddellik vir my mense
gesê as ek eerste vuur, dan volg julle; ek dink dis die vyand.”
Hulle neem stelling in vir ’n hinderlaag onder ’n witgatboom, hy stel sy visier op die
vyfde soldaat van voor en trek die sneller toe hy sowat 60 m van hulle op die
teerpad is.
Die ander Koevoete trek los en die “vyand” hardloop oor die teerpad, kry dekking
en beantwoord die vuur.
Ewe skielik skiet die “vyand” ’n groen verligtingsfakkel op. Met ’n skok besef De
Wit die “terroriste” van Swapo dra nie hierdie soort verligtingsfakkels nie en hy
antwoord met ’n rooi fakkel van sy eie.
“Ek skree hard ‘polisie’ en hulle skree ‘weermag’.”
Sy hart sak tot in sy skoene toe hy in die middel van die pad ’n liggaam sien lê.
Alle hel bars los toe die Koevoete uitvind die “vyand” was eintlik van 61 Meg, wat
nagpatrollie gestap het in die rigting van Oshikuku.
“Ek was in die weermag ’n operasionele medic. Toe het ek daar begin help totdat die
weermagoutjies se medics oorgeneem het,” vertel De Wit.
“Toe begin die verskriklike vrae mos nou: Hulle vra ‘wat soek jy hier?’ en ek vra
‘wat soek julle hier?’ ”
De Wit en sy manskappe klim saam met die gewonde troep in ’n Ratel van 61 Meg
en jaag met hom na Oshakati se lughawe. Daar verneem De Wit die troepie is dood.
Sy stem kraak. “ ’n Mens se brein werk anders in ’n oorlogsituasie. Die emosionele
goeters kom eers later.
“Ek het nie eens moeite gedoen om sy naam uit te vind nie. Dit was ek of hy daai
aand en gelukkig was dit hy.”
’n Klag van moord
Om elfuur dieselfde nag pyl twee militêre polisiemanne reguit op tweede luitenant
Marc Tison af waar hy sit en kreef eet saam met vriende in ’n restaurant in Oshakati.
“Kom dringend,” sê hulle. “Kol. Van Heerden wil jou sien.”
98
Om middernag sê die kolonel die twee sinne wat Tison, ’n Fransman van Belgiese
afkoms, se lewe sou verander: “Luitenant, jy word aangekla van die moord op
skutter Luiters.
“Het jy enigiets om te sê?”
Tison, wat toe pas sy toekomstige vrou ontmoet het, se bene word jellie.
Instinktief antwoord hy: “Nee, kolonel.”
“Ek het nog nooit in my lewe van Luiters gehoor nie,” vertel Tison (nou 50) vanuit
sy kantoor buite Kaapstad. Hy is deesdae die uitvoerende bedryfshoof by ’n
versekeringsreus.
Gelukkig volg sy vriende hom na die operasiekamer van sektor tien in Oshakati en
help hom om die gebeure van die dag soos legkaartstukke te pas.
Hulle vind uit daar was ’n vuurgeveg tussen Koevoet en die SAW en hy onthou van
die Koevoet wat hom dié oggend gebel het om toestemming te vra vir ’n patrollie in
’n “rooi sone” op die operasionele kaart.
Tison het vir die polisieman gesê net die kolonel mag toestemming gee en hy moet
om 11:15 terugbel. “Ek het die ruitverwysing op ’n klein papiertjie neergeskryf wat
ek later weggegooi het. Ek het dit nie in die logboek aangeteken nie, want hy het nie
toestemming gehad nie.”
In die helder maanlig soek Tison en sy vriende in elke swart vullissak buite die
gebou totdat een van sy vriende in die vroeë oggendure die verfrommelde papiertjie
ontdek. Die koördinate, sien Tison verlig, is sowat 4 km van die plek waar Luiters
doodgeskiet is.
‘My enigste bloedfamilie’
Die volgende dag kry die 19-jarige Yolandi Luiters (nou Yolandi Genade) ’n oproep
wat haar wêreld uitmekaar skeur.
Haar ma is reeds vroeg oorlede en sy en haar enigste broer, Raymond, is
grootgemaak deur haar oom en tannie in Robertson.
Haar eie pa het sy nooit geken nie. Al wat sy van hom weet, is dat sy naam ook
William Raymond Luiters is.
Ná skool het die skrander Raymond jr. BSc gaan swot aan die Universiteit
Stellenbosch, maar ná sy eerste jaar opgeskop om te gaan “kop skoonmaak” in die
99
weermag. In Maart het dié blonde borselkop die laaste keer vir sy suster geskryf om
te sê hy sou in Augustus afkom Kaap toe om haar te kom sien.
En toe kom die nuus: Raymond is dood.
“Die weermag het net vir my oom en tannie gesê dis vyandelike magte,” vertel sy
vanuit haar huis in Riebeeckstad in die Vrystaat.
“My broer was my enigste bloedfamilie.”
Middel-Augustus word Raymond met volle militêre eerbetoon in Robertson
begrawe. “Ek het só gehunker na ’n reünie,” onthou sy.
“Dit was net omstandighede wat ons uitmekaar gehou het sodat ons nie ’n gewone
suster-broer-verhouding kon opbou soos ek graag wou nie.”
Kort daarna vertrek sy na Durban vir ’n kort vakansie en haar oog vang ’n
koerantberig met die opskrif “Bloody battle in pitch dark between familiar forces”.
Sy verstar toe sy haar broer se naam raak lees. “Dis erg genoeg om te hoor hy’s deur
vyandelike magte gedood. Wat nog as jy hoor dis ’n fout?”
Sy probeer dadelik navraag doen, maar word van bakboord na stuurboord gestuur.
“Iemand in die weermag het vir my gesê moenie eers probéér verder krap nie; jy
gaan tweede kom.”
Ná maande besef sy haar navrae gaan hom nie terugbring nie.
“ ’n Ou gaan maar deur jou proses; die jare bring berusting en jy vind ’n vorm van
afsluiting.”
‘Jou nagmerrie is verby’
Intussen stel die weermag ’n geheime kommissie van ondersoek in na Luiters se
dood. Ná maande van slapelose nagte word Tison as deel van die ondersoek na ’n
ondergrondse bunker van die weermag in Pretoria ontbied.
Hy gaan sit langs ’n generaal en sien die eerste keer Koevoet se pienk logboek. Dis
oop by 9 Augustus. Die koördinate in dié boek is nie dieselfde as dié op sy stukkie
papier nie.
Dit lyk of die oorspronklike koördinate uitgevee en verander is na die plek waar
Raymond Luiters gesterf het. “Generaal, hier’s ’n probleem,” sê Tison en stoot sy
gefrommelde bewysstuk na die generaal.
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Die generaal vra hom beleef om die kamer te verlaat en kort hierna roep die majoor
wat die saak moes ondersoek hom en sê: “Kom, luitenant, jou nagmerrie is
uiteindelik verby.”
Twee weke later word hy bevorder na volle luitenant en gevra om sektor tien se
operasionele prosedures “skoon te maak”.
Maar sy nagmerries hou nie op nie.
Jare daarna sou Raymond Luiters nog by hom spook en nie omdat hy kwaad was
oor sy ontbering nie.
“Dinge loop verkeerd tydens die oorlog en mense verkeer onder ontsettende druk.
Uiteindelik was daar seker tien dinge wat waarskynlik gelei het tot Luiters se dood.
Al wat seker is, is God het seker beslis dis sy dag om te gaan.”
Dit wat hom bly pla het, was of Raymond se familie gewéét het hoe hy dood is.
“My vrou het vir my gesê: ‘Jy word snags wakker en dan huil jy’. Ek het toe nie
geweet waaroor dit gaan nie.
“Ek het net gesê as dit gebeur, vra my dadelik wat is die probleem.”
’n Tweede oproep
De Wit is in 1989 uit die polisie toe Koevoet ontbind is. Vandag is hy ’n assessor in
die versekeringsbedryf en hy bedryf sy eie toerisme-onderneming in die Caprivi.
Met die jare het dit hom al hoe meer gehinder dat hy nie eens die naam ken van die
troepie wat hy in 1985 doodgeskiet het nie. “Alles het net begin terugkom en
terugslaan teen ’n mens en ek het net eendag ’n brainwave gekry ek moet iets aan die
saak doen,” vertel hy.
Op 16 Oktober 2008 besoek hy die webblad van die Suid-Afrikaanse
Bosoorlogveterane (Sabov) en doen vir die eerste keer navraag oor die “kontak die
aand met 61 Meg se manne by Oshikuku”.
“Ek was verbonde aan Koevoet in Oshakati en soek tog enige inligting omtrent die
oorledene. Kan iemand my dalk help?” skryf hy.
’n Paar maande later sien Hannes Roodt, hoof van die Laerskool Edleen in Kempton
Park, die desperate inskrywing. Al was hy nie direk betrokke nie, was hy destyds ’n
pelotonsersant in 61 Meg en hy’t geweet van Raymond se dood.
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Hy stuur vir De Wit Raymond se naam, stuur later ’n foto en ’n heen- en-weer-
skrywery begin. Saam spoor hulle Raymond se graf op in die helde-akker in
Robertson. Deur die begraafplaas kry De Wit die nommer van Yolandi se oom.
Op 29 Mei 2009 tel hy die gehoorbuis op om Yolandi te skakel – die belangrikste
oproep van sy lewe. “Ek het so adrenalien en emosies opgebou in daardie tyd ek
was amper verlam,” onthou hy.
Yolandi dink dis ’n siek grap. “Die eerste ding wat in my kop opgekom het, was dis
die laagste, gemeenste ding wat ’n mens kan doen. Aanvanklik kon ek nie eens
besluit of ek wou luister na wat hy sê nie, maar ek het vasgebyt.”
Vir De Wit was dit soos ’n “berg wat van my rug afval”. Nog baie telefoonoproepe
en vrae het gevolg.
Einde 2009 sê Yolandi vir De Wit sy wil hom ontmoet op ’n neutrale plek waar nie
een van hulle “gebiedsvoordeel” het nie.
De Wit laai sy twee dogters saam met hom in die kar en lê die 2 000 km Kaap toe af.
Toe Yolandi die Spur in die Tygervallei-winkelsentrum binnestap, pyl sy reguit op
De Wit af.
“Hy het vir my openlik en eerlik die gebeure van daai dag vertel,” onthou sy. “Hy’t
my in die oë gekyk en gesê hy’t die sneller getrek.”
Haar stem bewe.
“Ek het hom nie verwyt of veroordeel nie. Dit was net baie swaar om die detail te
hoor. Ek het vir hom gesê ek is in pyn oor wat gebeur het, maar ek hou dit nie teen
hom as mens nie.”
Op pad terug stop De Wit by die helde-akker in Robertson en bring sy laaste hulde
aan Raymond.
Yolandi moet egter haar eie hulde bring. In Augustus 2010 vlieg sy Windhoek toe
om vir ’n week deur De Wit en sy gesin onthaal te word in Tsumeb.
Op die negende, op die dag 25 jaar ná Raymond se dood, stop De Wit en Yolandi by
die teerpad in Oshikuku.
“Ek het presies geloop na die plek in die middel van die pad en gesê: ‘Yolandi, hier
het ek hom geskiet, hier het hy geval, daar het ons gelê onder die boom’,” onthou hy.
102
Yolandi het gehuil. Tog het sy De Wit se hand geneem en vir hom gesê: “Dis nou
klaar, ons sluit dit nou af.”
“Ek het gesê ek maak hom vry en daarna het ons nooit weer op dieselfde aambeeld
gehamer nie. Die boek is nou toegemaak in terme van wat in 1985 gebeur het.”
Vir Yolandi kon De Wit nooit haar broer se plek inneem nie. Hy’s wel “God se
familie” – “ ’n ontsettende goeie vriend wat God oor my pad gebring het”.
De Wit is nog nie van sy post-traumatiese-stresversteuring genees nie.
Maar wat Raymond betref, het hy sy vryheid gekry. “Ek kry geweldig baie
erkenning vir wat ek gedoen het en dit laat my goed voel. Ek gebruik dit as ’n
voorbeeld dat ouens moet praat oor hul stories en kyk of hulle nie beter voel nie.”
‘Ek is nie kwaad vir hom nie’
Hannes Roodt maak sy eie spoke stil deur Raymond se storie te skryf vir 61 Meg se
webtuiste. Hoe meer inligting hy inwin, hoe langer word die verhaal. Uiteindelik het
hy 61 Meg se eie storiekompetisie gewen met sy skryfstuk “Die onbekende 61 Meg-
troepie”.
Sonder dat hy van Roodt geweet het, besoek Tison verlede jaar 61 Meg se Facebook-
bladsy. “Weet enigiemand van die skutter Luiters-voorval?” waag hy.
Soos vir soveel veterane word die internet vir hom ’n “eietydse Waarheids-en-
Versoeningskommissie”.
Die volgende dag kry hy 30 boodskappe op Facebook. “Kort daarna het Hannes my
gekontak en gesê hy’t gedag die storie is afgesluit, maar weer moes hy uitvind hulle
het nie al die stukke van die legkaart nie,” sê Tison.
Hy het diep asemgehaal en vir die eerste keer sy eie verhaal geskryf.
Maar eers het hy dit in ’n koevert toegeplak en dit langs sy vrou se bed neergesit.
“Lees dit eendag,” het hy vir haar gesê. “Jy sal baie dinge verstaan wat ek nie met
jou kon deel nie.”
Tison maak sy oë toe, bly vir ’n lang tyd stil. “Toe ek klaar geskryf het, het ek vir my
vrou gevra of ek steeds wakker word in die nag.”
Hy glimlag. “ ‘Jy’t opgehou,’ het sy vir my gesê.
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“Uiteindelik kon ek terugstaan van die oorlog. Maar daar’s baie mense vir wie die
nagmerrie nog nie verby is nie.”
Sy laaste tog na heling sal wees om De Wit te ontmoet. “Ek wil hom in die oë kyk
sodat ons mekaar kan vergewe. Ek is nie kwaad vir hom nie en ek wil hê hy moet dit
weet.”
• Lees Hannes Roodt en Marc Tison se oorspronklike verhale.
http://www.beeld.com/bylae/2013-05-31-die-storie-van-skutter-luiters
History: The Hungarian Police
• History of the Hungarian Police Peter Kovacs
The history of the Hungarian law enforcement dates back to the time of the medieval
age, when Hungary was founded in 1000. That time Hungary was a kingdom and
most of the crimes were petty crimes like stealing, pick pocketing but due to regional
conflicts the number of murders highly increased. The Hungarian King (Stephen I of
Hungary) created very powerful laws and it can be said it was the first form of "zero
tolerance" policing that time. It meant that even for petty crimes the punishment was
fatal: death penalty. If the suspect had stolen more than one rouster (or something
which is worth more than one rouster) the punishment was death. If it was less, they
only chopped off the criminal's hand.
There weren't significant changes of the law enforcements u
age of enlightment in Hungary, the "Baron of Region" was the head of the court
itself, and the "officers" were soldiers of the Hungarian Kingdom. The uniforms of
the units were different and depended on the region where they were s
many of them were located at larger cities where they were patrolling and were
responsible for public safety.
After 1867 when Austria accepted Hungary as eq
the new empire was called Austrian Hungarian Monarchy. This was the time when
officially police was set up and was the base of the modern police today. They were
wearing uniform, firearms, and their training was almost lik
elite career that time, and they were respected for stopping the Gypsy criminals and
Gypsy traveller caravans who were committing crimes from petty crimes to brutal
There weren't significant changes of the law enforcements until the 19th. Until the
age of enlightment in Hungary, the "Baron of Region" was the head of the court
itself, and the "officers" were soldiers of the Hungarian Kingdom. The uniforms of
the units were different and depended on the region where they were stationed at.
In the 18th after the Hungarian rebellion against
the Austrian Empire, the Hungarian citizens were
forbidden to carry anything with them that can
be used as weapons. The Austrian mounted
police called "pandurs" were the official police in
Hungary that time. The people hated them for
oppression and for cruelty.
Significant changes came to the history of the
police during the revolution and independence
war of 1848/1849. The Hungarian government
then established the National Guards, who were
protecting properties, were helping in the defence
of Hungary, they even took part in battles, but
many of them were located at larger cities where they were patrolling and were
After 1867 when Austria accepted Hungary as equal power of the Habsburg Empire,
the new empire was called Austrian Hungarian Monarchy. This was the time when
officially police was set up and was the base of the modern police today. They were
wearing uniform, firearms, and their training was almost like in the military. It was
elite career that time, and they were respected for stopping the Gypsy criminals and
Gypsy traveller caravans who were committing crimes from petty crimes to brutal
murders.
This was the era of the
Hungarian Gendarmerie too,
when the government did set
up special units for the
countryside. They were
feared and respected at the
same time, wearing cavalry
sabres, rifles and pistols.
They were mounted units
104
ntil the 19th. Until the
age of enlightment in Hungary, the "Baron of Region" was the head of the court
itself, and the "officers" were soldiers of the Hungarian Kingdom. The uniforms of
tationed at.
In the 18th after the Hungarian rebellion against
the Austrian Empire, the Hungarian citizens were
forbidden to carry anything with them that can
be used as weapons. The Austrian mounted
police called "pandurs" were the official police in
ngary that time. The people hated them for
Significant changes came to the history of the
police during the revolution and independence
war of 1848/1849. The Hungarian government
then established the National Guards, who were
rotecting properties, were helping in the defence
of Hungary, they even took part in battles, but
many of them were located at larger cities where they were patrolling and were
ual power of the Habsburg Empire,
the new empire was called Austrian Hungarian Monarchy. This was the time when
officially police was set up and was the base of the modern police today. They were
e in the military. It was
elite career that time, and they were respected for stopping the Gypsy criminals and
Gypsy traveller caravans who were committing crimes from petty crimes to brutal
This was the era of the
Hungarian Gendarmerie too,
the government did set
up special units for the
countryside. They were
feared and respected at the
same time, wearing cavalry
sabres, rifles and pistols.
They were mounted units
105
and there are many notes that even 1 gendarmerie member arrested more than 40
gypsies. I think it says how feared they were. If they were attacked they didn't
hesitate to use sabres and firearms either. Hungary was very safe that time, and the
people honoured them. However after the World War 2 they were disbanded,
because they took part in war crimes, murdered Serbian civilians in 1941, and lots of
Jewish people, they were collaborating with the Nazi Germany.
After the World War 2, Hungary became occupied by the Soviet Union and joined
the Eastern Block. The police became political army of the communist government;
they created a special brand of police the AVH. The State Protection Authority was
the secret police of Hungary from 1945 until 1956. During the anti-Communist
revolution of Hungary they shot into the protestors and killed many innocent
people. From this era the police in Hungary lost all of its respect, and people were
terrorized and at the same time they hated the police from heart.
In 1989 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Hungary became a democratic
country, but many former leaders of the police stayed in high positions. It was also a
negative image for the Hungarian Police. From this era the number of crimes highly
increased especially in poor (eastern) regions of Hungary. The Hungarian citizens
demanded justice and protection from the police, demonstrating against "Gypsy
criminals" The Hungarian police does not make difference between ethnic groups,
and did not pay attention on this problem until the murder of Lajos Szögi, who was
a well respected Hungarian teacher. He was murdered by group of Gypsies in front
of her own daughters in a village called Olaszliszka. Due to the demonstrations and
political violence that followed this brutal event the police tried to use new tactics
how to work differently with Gypsy people.
They recruit Gypsy youth to join the police, and they have special programs, some of
this programs work well, but the Hungarians do not see difference. All they see that
police is punishing the average working citizen for driving too fast. However the
police arrest all kind of criminals, and the Hungarian police works successful, it is
not their fault that Gypsy people are not yet integrated to Hungarian society. The
Hungarian police took part in programs and in foreign trainings and they were lot
better than neighbouring countries from east and south. That's why that Romania
might be an EU member state, yet they are not part of the Schengen area, because
according to EU their police are not ready yet for border control (corruption), but
they have good opinion on the Hungarian Border Police.
However another sad thing came to appearance that gave negative image for the
106
police. Many high ranking officials even from the secret and security service who
should have fought against organized crimes were arrested for corruption. It is
estimated that at least 100 high ranking officers took part in corruption and probably
even more 1000 non commissioned officers. This is called the "Vizoviczky case" in
which Hungarian officers were paid not to patrol and check night clubs and drug
business of Vizoviczky who is a Hungarian mafia leader.
Yet another case that affected the Hungarian police is the riots of 2006 in which
many right wing protestors were seriously injured. However the police was attacked
by Molotov cocktails, even with a tank that was stolen from the museum, and since
1956 this was the first mass protests and the police was not able to control it, that's
why sadly innocent civilians were hurt too.
The number of the Hungarian Police is 45 000 today and according to EU officials
they are on their way to become, modern, civilian, and humanist service. However it
is still the future, because the hierarchy of the Hungarian Police resembles the
military, and unlike in South Africa, their ranks are not like "inspector" but
"lieutenant" etc. just like in the military.
Peter Kovacs
Border Police Officer Cadet
Mecedes Six by Six - first six
Submitted by Tubby Myburg and compiled by Johan Jacobs
Hitler was a huge fan and had eight of the six
at his various castles around Germany.
AMG, the G4 wasn't six-wheel drive with power only sent to the rear four wheels.
is understood there are just three models in existence which are absolutely authentic
although other models have been rebuilt. One of these models is owned by the
Spanish royal family after Hitler gave it to General Franco in 1939.
Rare: It is understood there are just three
absolutely authentic although other models have been rebuilt
Not the first: The G4 was a heavy
German army between 1934 and 1939
first six-wheeled model since the Nazi era
Submitted by Tubby Myburg and compiled by Johan Jacobs
a huge fan and had eight of the six-wheeled cars, with a number located
at his various castles around Germany. However, unlike the new Mercedes G63
wheel drive with power only sent to the rear four wheels.
just three models in existence which are absolutely authentic
although other models have been rebuilt. One of these models is owned by the
Spanish royal family after Hitler gave it to General Franco in 1939.
Rare: It is understood there are just three G4 models in existence which are
absolutely authentic although other models have been rebuilt
Not the first: The G4 was a heavy-duty off-road car Mercedes produced for the
German army between 1934 and 1939
108
wheeled model since the Nazi era
wheeled cars, with a number located
However, unlike the new Mercedes G63
wheel drive with power only sent to the rear four wheels. It
just three models in existence which are absolutely authentic
although other models have been rebuilt. One of these models is owned by the
G4 models in existence which are
absolutely authentic although other models have been rebuilt
road car Mercedes produced for the
The new model is not the first six
Hitler owning eight during the Third Reich.
Mercedes produced for the German army between 1934 and 1939.
G4s during this period with heads of state and top militar
a 'prestige all-terrain vehicle'.
Forget your 4x4; it's time for the SIX BY SIX: Mercedes launches G63
G63 AMG 6x6 is a limited edition model based on iconic G
536bhp behemoth capable of
and comes with a massive £350,000 price tag
new rugged off-roader with six wheels
produced for the Nazis in 1930s Germany.
is a limited edition model based on the iconic G
the off-road capabilities of a tank, accelerate like a hot hatch and provide the luxury
feel of a limousine.
Monster: the Mercedes G63 AMG 6 x 6 is a limited edition model based on the iconic
The new model is not the first six-wheel off-roader from the German firm, with
Hitler owning eight during the Third Reich. The G4 was a heavy-duty off
Mercedes produced for the German army between 1934 and 1939. Mercedes built 57
G4s during this period with heads of state and top military brass regarding them as
Forget your 4x4; it's time for the SIX BY SIX: Mercedes launches G63 - their
G63 AMG 6x6 is a limited edition model based on iconic G-Wagon
536bhp behemoth capable of 0-62mph in less than six seconds. It has 37 inch wheels
and comes with a massive £350,000 price tag. Mercedes have unveiled a monstrous
roader with six wheels - their first since a similar model was
produced for the Nazis in 1930s Germany. The outrageous Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6
is a limited edition model based on the iconic G-Wagon. It has been designed to have
road capabilities of a tank, accelerate like a hot hatch and provide the luxury
3 AMG 6 x 6 is a limited edition model based on the iconic
G-Wagon
109
roader from the German firm, with
duty off-road car
Mercedes built 57
y brass regarding them as
their Mercedes
Vehicle is a
It has 37 inch wheels
Mercedes have unveiled a monstrous
their first since a similar model was
he outrageous Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6
It has been designed to have
road capabilities of a tank, accelerate like a hot hatch and provide the luxury
3 AMG 6 x 6 is a limited edition model based on the iconic
Acceleration: Mercedes has replaced the standard G Wagon's 3
with a twin
Interior: The off-roader comes with a massive £350,000 price
To give it brutal acceleration, Mercedes has replaced the standard G Wagon's 3
diesel engine with a twin-turbocharged 5.5
which is capable of 0-62mph in less than six seconds
length, weighing 3.85 tons. Mercedes claims the 6x6
negotiate rocky terrain with 'all the agility of a mountain goat', while fording a river
is 'almost child's play'. They add: 'Anyone exploring the on
certain to be impressed by the catapult
However, the 6x6 comes with a massive £350,000 price
expensive model in the Mercedes range and three
Wagon. The off-roader, which is likely to be most popular in the Middle
limited to around 30 sales per year.
Acceleration: Mercedes has replaced the standard G Wagon's 3-litre diesel engine
with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8
roader comes with a massive £350,000 price-tag
To give it brutal acceleration, Mercedes has replaced the standard G Wagon's 3
turbocharged 5.5-litre V8. The result is a 536bhp behemoth
62mph in less than six seconds - despite measuring 19ft in
Mercedes claims the 6x6 - which has 37 inch wheels
negotiate rocky terrain with 'all the agility of a mountain goat', while fording a river
They add: 'Anyone exploring the on-road performance is
ertain to be impressed by the catapult-like acceleration of this 3.85-tonne pickup.'
However, the 6x6 comes with a massive £350,000 price-tag - making it the most
expensive model in the Mercedes range and three-times as pricey as a typical G
roader, which is likely to be most popular in the Middle-
limited to around 30 sales per year.
110
litre diesel engine
tag
To give it brutal acceleration, Mercedes has replaced the standard G Wagon's 3-litre
The result is a 536bhp behemoth
despite measuring 19ft in
which has 37 inch wheels - can
negotiate rocky terrain with 'all the agility of a mountain goat', while fording a river
road performance is
tonne pickup.'
making it the most
times as pricey as a typical G
-East, will be
Nicolas Trudgian – Aviation, transport and landscape artist
Submitted by Tubby Myburg and compile
It is said that we are fashioned by our earliest influences so it
artist destined to become well known in the field of military and transport art should
grow up in a city like Plymouth, England. Famous for being the harbour from which
the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for America and, for centuries, home to the vast Royal
Naval dockyards at Devonport, this was a vibrant place for a youngster where there
was always something to see, be it planes and trains, aircraft carriers and submarines
or tanks and helicopters.
In this article we feature his paintings on WW2 fighters and bombers:
Operation Tidal Wave: B
Fw-44 Focke-Wulf’s over German Tiger tanks
Aviation, transport and landscape artist
Submitted by Tubby Myburg and compiled by Johan Jacobs
fashioned by our earliest influences so it is little surprise that an
artist destined to become well known in the field of military and transport art should
grow up in a city like Plymouth, England. Famous for being the harbour from which
rs set sail for America and, for centuries, home to the vast Royal
Naval dockyards at Devonport, this was a vibrant place for a youngster where there
was always something to see, be it planes and trains, aircraft carriers and submarines
In this article we feature his paintings on WW2 fighters and bombers:
Operation Tidal Wave: B-24 Liberators over Poland –US Army Air Airforce
Wulf’s over German Tiger tanks - Germany
111
s little surprise that an
artist destined to become well known in the field of military and transport art should
grow up in a city like Plymouth, England. Famous for being the harbour from which
rs set sail for America and, for centuries, home to the vast Royal
Naval dockyards at Devonport, this was a vibrant place for a youngster where there
was always something to see, be it planes and trains, aircraft carriers and submarines
In this article we feature his paintings on WW2 fighters and bombers:
US Army Air Airforce
His liking for trains was no doubt fostered by
born in1959 was just yards from a railway line still worked by steam locomotives. Of
the many aircraft to see he fondly remembers the Shackleton’s droning overhead
looking much like Lancaster’s and also the Navy jets
His father, who had served with the RAF in North Africa during the Second World
War, worked in the dockyard and at the annual 'Navy Days' he, was able to show
Nick over the huge ships and ride on the lifts in aircraft carri
teeming with those first generation jet aircraft.
Messerschmitt Bf110 night fighters over a train along the Rhin
Nick's artistic skill came from his father, a very skilled amateur, who encouraged
him to produce the drawings which were to fill countless pocket money sketchbooks
purchased for an old sixpence from the 'corner' shop. Inevitably, transport and
military subjects loomed from each page, painstakingly executed with all the detail
that mattered. Inspiration came from all around him and also from the stories his
parents told of the war years and of a recent past where aeroplanes were powered
by propellers and trains by steam.
His liking for trains was no doubt fostered by the fact that the house in which he was
born in1959 was just yards from a railway line still worked by steam locomotives. Of
the many aircraft to see he fondly remembers the Shackleton’s droning overhead
looking much like Lancaster’s and also the Navy jets which scorched across the city.
His father, who had served with the RAF in North Africa during the Second World
War, worked in the dockyard and at the annual 'Navy Days' he, was able to show
Nick over the huge ships and ride on the lifts in aircraft carriers to the hangar decks
teeming with those first generation jet aircraft.
Messerschmitt Bf110 night fighters over a train along the Rhine river
Nick's artistic skill came from his father, a very skilled amateur, who encouraged
him to produce the drawings which were to fill countless pocket money sketchbooks
purchased for an old sixpence from the 'corner' shop. Inevitably, transport and
bjects loomed from each page, painstakingly executed with all the detail
that mattered. Inspiration came from all around him and also from the stories his
parents told of the war years and of a recent past where aeroplanes were powered
ains by steam.
112
the fact that the house in which he was
born in1959 was just yards from a railway line still worked by steam locomotives. Of
the many aircraft to see he fondly remembers the Shackleton’s droning overhead
which scorched across the city.
His father, who had served with the RAF in North Africa during the Second World
War, worked in the dockyard and at the annual 'Navy Days' he, was able to show
ers to the hangar decks
river
Nick's artistic skill came from his father, a very skilled amateur, who encouraged
him to produce the drawings which were to fill countless pocket money sketchbooks
purchased for an old sixpence from the 'corner' shop. Inevitably, transport and
bjects loomed from each page, painstakingly executed with all the detail
that mattered. Inspiration came from all around him and also from the stories his
parents told of the war years and of a recent past where aeroplanes were powered
Lancaster bombers of RAF 617 Squadron (Dam busters) bombing the Möhne dam
He wasn't alone in being thrilled with such things for that generation of children
were lucky to be able to see at the cinema epic films like 'The Battle of Britai
Squadron', 'Tora Tora Tora' and, rather less warlike, The Railway Children or 'Those
Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines'. Perhaps that is why children in those
days spent so many hours building Airfix kits or model railways, laying the
foundations for lifelong hobbies. We owe much to those film makers for it's surely
no exaggeration to say that their young audience then are now today's middle
supporters and custodians of a vast industry that preserves our military and
transport heritage, honouring the sacrifices and ac
Messerschmitt Bf109’s flying over a downed
Police in Australia – Fanie Avenant
Fanie found this small rural police station in Australia:
Lancaster bombers of RAF 617 Squadron (Dam busters) bombing the Möhne dam
He wasn't alone in being thrilled with such things for that generation of children
were lucky to be able to see at the cinema epic films like 'The Battle of Britai
Squadron', 'Tora Tora Tora' and, rather less warlike, The Railway Children or 'Those
Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines'. Perhaps that is why children in those
days spent so many hours building Airfix kits or model railways, laying the
ations for lifelong hobbies. We owe much to those film makers for it's surely
no exaggeration to say that their young audience then are now today's middle
supporters and custodians of a vast industry that preserves our military and
honouring the sacrifices and achievements of past generations.
flying over a downed Curtiss P-40 RAF Kittyhawk: North African
desert
Fanie Avenant
Fanie found this small rural police station in Australia:
113
Lancaster bombers of RAF 617 Squadron (Dam busters) bombing the Möhne dam
He wasn't alone in being thrilled with such things for that generation of children
were lucky to be able to see at the cinema epic films like 'The Battle of Britain', '633
Squadron', 'Tora Tora Tora' and, rather less warlike, The Railway Children or 'Those
Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines'. Perhaps that is why children in those
days spent so many hours building Airfix kits or model railways, laying the
ations for lifelong hobbies. We owe much to those film makers for it's surely
no exaggeration to say that their young audience then are now today's middle-aged
supporters and custodians of a vast industry that preserves our military and
hievements of past generations.
awk: North African
114
Murder: Dr HF Verwoerd: Investigating Officers (M Newham)
Here we can see that Gen Van den Bergh
and Brig Gideon Joubert were the
investigation officers. Discussions were
held with the AG of the Cape, adv WM
van den Berg.
• Our thanks to Mark Newham.
115
John Harris and the Joburg station bomb: The real timeline
Paul Trewhela - Maritz van den Berg: 03 May 2013
On BBC TV Peter Hain repeats, as fact, the questionable claim
that the SAP were given ample warning and chose to do
nothing
• The Johannesburg station bomb and a BBC TV programme
On July 24, 1964, a bomb made mainly from sticks of dynamite and petrol exploded
in the main concourse of Johannesburg railway station, killing a grandmother,
disfiguring for life her 17-year-old granddaughter, and injuring others.
The bomb-maker was John Harris, a member of South Africa's small Liberal Party
(1953-68) and a member also of a small sabotage group, the African Resistance
Movement (ARM), whose members had been committed not to use violence against
people.
Harris was hanged on April 1, 1965, after being found guilty of murder. The author
of the article below is Maritz van den Berg, a friend of Harris who lived in Pretoria,
attended every day of his trial, and visited him regularly in Pretoria Central Prison
until the day before his execution. Maritz was a member of the Liberal Party in
Pretoria, but not a member of the ARM sabotage group. He emigrated to Britain in
1966.
In a recent BBC TV commentary on the state of contemporary South Africa, the
Kenyan-born, South Africa raised, but now British based, politician Peter
Hain repeats the legend that the South African police deliberately blocked action on
a telephone warning transmitted by Harris to newspapers in Johannesburg and the
South African Railway Police. The programme, "South Africa: The massacre that
changed a nation" - was broadcast in Britain on BBC2 on Wednesday 24 April 2013.
It is due to be screened internationally on BBC World on Saturday 4 May and
Sunday 5 May.
The bomb exploded somewhere between 8 and 13 minutes after the warning was
given by Harris. His telephoned warning was the subject of intense discussion and
scrutiny in an article including different comments on Politicsweb on 27 August
2010, titled "'John Harris was not a hero'".
This was followed by an article on Politicsweb on 7 September 2010 containing
separate statements by three former senior security policemen, under the title "John
Harris, Gordon Winter and the station bomb".
116
These articles were critical of unexamined assumptions stated online as fact by the
South African journalist, Jeremy Gordin, and in a book by the former British
journalist, David Beresford, Truth is a Strange Fruit (Jacana, 2010).
No attention was given to these criticisms by Peter Hain MP in his BBC programme.
The Hain family, who lived in Pretoria, were close friends of Harris, and because
both parents were banned by the apartheid government at the time, 15-year-old
Peter Hain, at the burial service recited the words from Ecclesiastes 3:3: ‘A time to
kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up".
In 1972 in Britain, Hain was sent a letter bomb that failed to explode because of
faulty wiring. In 1976, he was tried for, and acquitted of, a 1974 bank robbery in
London, after he had allegedly been framed by the South African Bureau of State
Security (BOSS).
- Paul Trewhela
• Countdown: John Harris's bomb and execution
Maritz van den Berg
The police raids which resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of many members of
the African Resistance Movement (ARM), and to the planting of a bomb at
Johannesburg station, began in Cape Town on 4 July 1964.
Early that morning the ARM activist Adrian Leftwich was arrested at his flat in
Lemon Lane, Cape Town, and later the same day so was Lynnette van der Riet, who
had been with Leftwich when the Security Police called, but had been allowed to
leave. Over the next few days more detentions followed in Cape Town: Leftwich's
comrades Spike de Keller, Anthony Trew, Eddie Daniels, Alan Brooks and Stephanie
Kemp.
Adrian Leftwich died in Britain on 2 April this year.
Mike Schneider, who had managed to evade the Security Police, raced to
Johannesburg and warned ARM members in the city that Adrian Leftwich was
telling the Security Police everything he knew. The Johannesburg group came to
quick decisions. Ronald and Hilary Mutch (who had British passports) motorcycled
across the border to Botswana; Mike Schneider took an ARM escape route to
Swaziland with Rosemary Wentzel; and Hugh Lewin decided to stay and face the
consequences.
At 5.30 am on Thursday 9 July, with his comrades safely on their way out of South
Africa, Hugh Lewin called at the home of John Harris, who had been recruited into
the ARM in 1963, and had so far been inactive. Lewin told Harris that command of
the ARM now passed to him and to John Lloyd, who was temporarily away in Natal,
attending a wedding. He also told Harris where the ARM's cache of explosives,
timers, instruction manuals, etc was stored. Later that morning, at 10.30am, the
Security Police arrested Lewin at his office and, later on the same day, another ARM
member, Roman (then known as Raymond) Eisenstein.
117
On Sunday 12 July, John Harris recovered the explosives cache from the cupboard in
Witwatersrand University where it had been stored by another ARM member,
Dennis Higgs, and transferred the material to a luggage store in Johannesburg
Station.
On Tuesday 14 July, John Lloyd returned from Natal. John Harris telephoned him,
they met for a snack, and Harris told Lloyd (who had joined the ARM in December
1963 and played only a minor role, acting as driver in one or two missions) that
command of the ARM now rested with the two of them. They discussed
various sabotage possibilities, but came to no decisions, either then or at a further
meeting on July 17.
On Tuesday 21, July John Lloyd was questioned by the police but not arrested,
whereupon he told Harris that he wanted to lie low for a while as he was now being
watched. Harris accepted this, and started that day to make a bomb consisting of
eight sticks of dynamite, five gallons of petrol - which made the bomb too heavy to
carry, so he disposed of three gallons into his car tank - two detonators, and a timer.
On Thursday 23 July, John Lloyd was arrested.
On Friday 24 July at 4.33 pm - peak hour on a Friday afternoon in Johannesburg,
with throngs of people pouring into the station on their way home from work - an
explosion tore through the waiting cubicle above platforms 5 and 6 of Johannesburg
Station, leaving shattered glass, blood and lacerated bodies.
Mr BJ Vorster, the Minister of Justice, appeared at the station very grim-faced
indeed. Later that evening several of the previously detained ARM members,
including Hugh Lewin, were brought to the station to view the bloodstained scene.
Then Lewin was taken to The Grays, the much-feared Security Police Headquarters
on the corner of Von Wielligh and Main Streets, and dragged into an interrogation
room. He glimpsed John Lloyd slumped in a chair in an adjoining office, "flushed,
mouth open, looking haggard and beaten", as he described it in a letter in 1995.
Lewin was badly beaten and gave the interrogators John Harris's name as the last
remaining ARM member still at large. At this stage he was quite unaware of any
connection between Harris and the bomb blast, which he simply did not connect
with the ARM.
At about 11 pm that evening Lieutenant H Muller2 and Sergeant J M Strydom
arrested John Harris at his home, where he was sound asleep, and took him to The
Grays, where he was subjected to a savage assault. After being taken to Pretoria
Local Prison, where many political arrestees were being detained, Harris - either on
the night of his arrest or the following night - informed Paul Trewhela, in a
2 Later brig Hennie Muller, ABV VTak WWR – HBH.
118
neighbouring cell, that his jaw had been broken, and the famous plastic and
reconstructive surgeon, Dr Jack Penn, had been brought into prison to wire him up.
The most precise identification of the assailant (there may have been more than one)
is by Hugh Lewin, who as noted above had already been interrogated and assaulted,
and was in a room beneath where this was happening, and heard what was taking
place. In his memoir, Bandiet: Seven Years in a South African Prison, Barrie & Jenkins.
London, 1974 - banned in South Africa, and later issued in an expanded second
edition, Bandiet out of Jail - Lewin identifies a security policeman, Erasmus, as "the
man who had beaten up Harris.... his fists full of blood, particularly the right fist, one
with a large ring on, messy with blood." (pp.38-39).
Early in the morning on Saturday 25 July John Harris guided Major W H Brits of the
South African Railway Police, the Officer in charge of the case, and Lieutenant W J
van der Merwe, 3 to 33 Oxford Road where they found 82 sticks of dynamite,
detonators, timers, batteries, rubber gloves and a book on electrical circuitry.
On the same day the morning newspapers in Johannesburg carried the following
reports:
1 Die Transvaler reported that a bomb had gone off in Johannesburg station at 4.33
the previous afternoon. It stated that the newspaper had received a phone call at 4.27
pm that afternoon from someone asking in excellent ("suiwer") Afrikaans to speak to
the Editor. He was put through and told the person who answered: "Dit is die
African Resistance Movement wat praat. Daar is 'n bom in die hoofsaal van die
stasie. As iemand aan hom vat sal hy ontplof. Dit sal om 4.33 ontplof. Waarsku die
stasie". Die Transvaler then telephoned the Station Police and informed them.
2 The Rand Daily Mail reported the following sequence of events: (a) At 4.27 pm the
previous afternoon the newspaper received a telephone call saying: "Listen carefully.
This is a very important message. A time-bomb set for 4.33 will explode in the main
concourse of Johannesburg Station this afternoon". The message was repeated and
the caller rang off when asked to identify himself. (b) At 4.30 pm the Mail
telephoned Colonel H Venter of the Security Branch in Johannesburg and told him of
the call. (c) At 4.35 pm a member of the public telephoned the Mail to say a bomb
had exploded on the station. (d) At 4.37 pm the Mail again telephoned the Security
Branch to report the explosion.
On Monday 14 September John Harris appeared on formal remand on charges of
murder and sabotage, having made a statement admitting guilt before a magistrate
on 11 September. The case against him opened in Pretoria on Monday 21 September.
3 Word baie keer verwar met genl JV van der Merwe – HBH.
119
On 12 October John Harris confessed in court to planting a suitcase with dynamite
and petrol in it next to a bench in the Johannesburg Station concourse at 4.05 pm,
and then driving to the Jeppe Street post office and "telephoning the station and two
newspapers to be cleared so that nobody would be hurt". This admission was
contained in the confession he had written while in detention. Before Harris's
statement was read out in court, the trial judge, Mr Justice Ludorf, asked Mr K E N
Moodie QC (for the State): "Is this a confession?" Mr Moodie replied: "Yes". The
judge then asked Mr Namie Phillips, senior counsel for the defence: "Are you
objecting?" and Mr Phillips answered "No".
Evidence on the timing of this sequence of events, given both before and after the
above confession in court, included the following:
1 On 22 September, Mr J H Openshaw of the Rand Daily Mail told the court that he
received a call "soon after 4.20 pm" [note: this differs from the time given in the RDM
news report of 25 July, above] on 24 July from an anonymous telephone caller who
told him to listen very carefully as what he had to say was very important. The caller
said that a bomb timed to go off at 4.33 pm had been placed in the main concourse of
the station, repeated the message, and hung up.
2 Also on 22 September, Mr J J van Rooyen of Die Transvaler told the court that he
received an anonymous phone call "at 4.27 pm" on 24 July from a man speaking
good Afrikaans who said: "Dit is die African Resistance Movement wat praat. Daar
is 'n bom in die hoofsaal van die stasie. As iemand aan hom vat sal hy ontplof." He
then rang off.
3 On 12 October, Capt J Vermeulen, police staff officer in Johannesburg, told the
court that he received "a mystery call at between 4.25 and 4.27 pm" on 24 July from a
man who did not identify himself and said: "This is the African Resistance
Movement. Can you hear me ? There is a bomb somewhere in the main hall of the
station. It will go off at 4.33 pm. Don't touch it". Under cross examination he denied
that the caller had said the bomb was near the main concourse, or that that station
should be cleared.
In response to these testimonies the senior defence counsel, Mr Namie Phillips, said
only that John Harris (who had already formally confessed to planting the bomb at
4.05 pm) would state that the time of his telephone call to the police was more like
4.20 pm than 4.25 pm. For the rest he raised no fundamental objections to the times
given, and there the matter rested.
The trial ended on Friday 6 November. Mr Namie Philips made a plea in mitigation
based on three points: (a) That JH's mental condition was such that "here is a man
who is not wholly normal"; (b) That John Lloyd had testified that JH had not
intended to kill anybody; and (c) That JH had not acted for any motive of personal
gain but only to create a spectacular political demonstration. No reference was made
to the timing of the three warning telephone calls. Mr Justice Ludorf rejected Mr
Philips' arguments and pronounced sentence of death.
120
An appeal was lodged, and on 2 February 1965 Mr H Hanson QC argued to the
Appeal Court in Bloemfontein that Mr Ludorf's judgement should be overturned
because (a) The Defence had established that JH was unable to distinguish between
right and wrong at the time of the crime, owing to mental disease; (b) The State had
failed to establish that JH's mental state was such that he was capable of formulating
an intention to kill; (c) The passages from a neurological journal relied upon by Mr
Justice Ludorf had not been referred to by any witness and were therefore not
evidence; (d) And finally that, should the court find JH guilty of murder, it should
find that his mental state had so impaired his judgement that the sentence should be
a lesser one. Again no reference was made to the timing of the three warning
telephone calls.
The appeal was rejected on Monday 1 March.
John Harris was executed in Pretoria Central Prison on 1 April 1965.
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=37411
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HERALDRY, UNIFORMS, COLOURS, FLAGS, MEDALS, MEMORIALS &
BUILDINGS/ HERALDIEK, UNIFORMS, VAANDELS, VLAE, MEDALJES,
GEDENKTEKENS & GEBOUE
Website: The South African Police Hall of Fame
This site is under construction by Hennie Heymans, Johan Jacobs and Bruce Jones.
VESTED INTERESTS OF VETERANS /LEDE AANGELEENTHERDE
• Polmed
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• Injuries on duty / Beserings aandiens
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• Pensioen
Stem vir Gideon Serfontein hy is die oudlede se verteenwoordiger.
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THE LIBRARY / DIE BOEKRAK
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the information provided.
More Hennie,
Jy vra my vir ‘n kort agtergrond op my boeke? Mag ek begin deur te sê ek dink nie
aan myself as ‘n skrywer nie hoewel ek graag lees en boeke versamel vandat ek kan
onthou. Het my eerste boek van meer as 100 bladsye gelees op 5 jaar dink ek. Was en
is dankbaar teenoor my ma wat my leer lees het en 'n wêreld oopgemaak het wat my
vandag nog verstom. Iemand wat nie lief is vir lees nie sal dit nie verstaan nie en dis
ook goed want daar is meer krag in verskeidenheid (diversity) as in eendrag wat glo
mag maak. Neem byvoorbeeld 'n SAP TIN peloton teenoor n diensplig peloton soos
ons noem in my boek "Gewetenlose Strate - Lewe in die Apartheid Polisie" waar die
verskille bespreek word en dit duidelik uitkom dat die eendersheid geensins iets
goeds is nie. Eintlik is "Gewetenlose Strate" ‘n direkte vertaling van "Mean Streets -
Life in the Apartheid Police" wat ek in Engels geskryf het omdat ek die oorsese mark
wou bereik so dit kan gesien word as boek een en "Gewetenlose Strate" as boek ses.
• Gewetenlose Strate - Lewe in die Apartheid Polisie
• Mean Streets - Life in the Apartheid Police
Ek was moeg die nonsens en twak wat ek moes lees wat na 1994 geskryf is en wou
iets skryf wat meer akkuraat tot die SAP is. Terselfdertyd moes die geskiedenis agter
die gebeure verduidelik word omdat negentig persent van die lesers nie Afrikaners
is wat dit sou ken nie. Dit maak die boek heelwat anders as die gewone troepie
boeke waaraan ons nou al gewoond geraak het. Party lesers sien dit as 'n akademiese
werk maar ek dink aan dit as 'n storie wat geskiedkundig korrek is. Meeste sien dit
as die snaaksste boek (soos in lag) wat ooit oor die SAP geskryf is en ja daar is
snaakse dele maar dit is eintlik ook bitter ernstig as jy tussen die lyne lees. Anders as
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baie skrywers onderskat ek glad nie my lesers se breinkrag nie - hulle weet wat ek
bedoel deur byvoorbeeld te sê ek was besig om blind te word synde eers getroud op
30 jaar (ses jaar na die gebeure in die boek). Ek neem nie myself ernstig op in die
boeke nie en ook nie in die werklike lewe nie. Hoogmoedigheid is nie vir my nie en
titels beteken niks nie. Dis die skool van die lewe wat my beïndruk.
Die naam van die boek is nie sonder groot denke gekies nie. Dit was juis "Mean
Streets" want ek wou die verskil tussen straat polisiemanne en plastiek polisiemanne
duidelik uitwys. Ja daar was plek vir altwee en die twee het mekaar ondersteun. Dis
iets wat ek miskien nie duidelik genoeg uitgewys het nie synde die boek suiwer
vanaf my straat polisieman oogpunt geskryf is en ook vanaf Sersant Kotze se
oogpunt wat 'n arrogante (op ‘n mooi manier) Blitspatrollie oogpunt is. Mens moet
egter onthou dat dit vandag 22 jaar later is en ek feitlik niks meer in gemeen met die
ou het nie. Aan die anderkant sal die SAP nooit heeltemal uit 'n oudlid gaan nie. Ons
was ‘n ander specie en trots daarop ook. Dit glo ek vas.
Baie mense het my gevra hoekom die woorde "Apartheid Polisie" en nie die korrekte
benaming "Suid Afrikaanse Polisie" nie? Eenvoudig want ek wou dat die uitlanders
verstaan waarvan ek praat - die meeste weet wat Apartheid is of het al daarvan
gehoor. Suid-Afrika en die SAP? Wel nee, hulle weet Suid-Afrika is langs Egipte of
iewers of dalk in Suid-Amerika en dat iemand genaamd Mandela een op 'n tyd
bekend was en dis al wat hulle weet. Ek spot in een boek oor hoe mense reageer as
ek en my Amerikaanse Patriot saam is en hulle begin besef 'n wit man van Afrika af
kan kom en ook kan Engels praat. Hoe lagwekkend dit vir ons is wys dit ook die
onkunde wat reggestel moes word. Jy weet in die wet, as jy nie iets ontken nie, staan
dit vas as feite (is meer ingewikkeld maar jy weet wat ek bedoel). Daarom moes
"Mean Streets" geskryf word en daarna het ek besef die boek in Afrikaans ook
waardevol is en dus die vertaling wat 40 000 ekstra woorde bevat as die Engelse een.
Ek weet my standpunte mense ontstel maar ek moes skryf wat ek gedink het is reg.
Laat elkeen self oordeel.
• Tricks of Trade - Forensic Law Principles in Africa
Die tweede boek is oorspronklik genoem "Tricks of Trade - Forensic Law
Principles in Africa" wat gebaseer is op my doktorale verhandeling in forensiese
reg. Ek het later die naam verander na "Tricks of Trade - Memories of a Rogue
Lawyer" nadat ek besef het dat my mark nie bereik word nie en dat meer akademici
dit aflaai as sakemanne en die akademici het met hulle gewone langdradige
argumente na vore gekom dat dit nie (kan) bestaan nie. Iets wat ek nou al te veel
kere verdedig het. Dis afgesaag want dit bestaan en ek nie 'n groot dunk van
akademiese antwoorde het nie. Mense soek praktiese antwoorde en dit is in al my
boeke.
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Ek wou die beginsels van forensiese reg (is privaatreg en nie strafreg nie)
verduidelik en ek was die eerste prokureur wat daarin begin spesialiseer het.
Vandag het elke tweede firma natuurlik 'n "forensiese" afdeling wat neerkom op
bedrog ondersoek werk - iets wat ek verwys na as klassieke forensiese reg en iets
anders is - maar net 'n klein afdeling van forensiese reg. In elk geval, die boek
bespreek ook die verskillende modus operandi waarmee beleggers bevark word in
Afrika wat nie noodwendig iets met strafreg te doen het nie. Saam met dit gaan die
twee artikels (40 bladsye elk) oor besigheid doen in Nigerië en hoe om as 'n gyselaar
te oorleef wat jou lewe kan red.
• Your Worst Enemy
Die derde boek is "Your Worst Enemy". Hierdie is 'n boek waarop ek redelik trots is
en graag wil hê almal moet lees want dit verduidelik die algemene ou op straat se
regte teenoor banke en ander geldleners (jou ergste vyand). Jy weet dinge is moeilik
in die land en banke sal enigiets doen om jou geld te gee of skuld te laat maak omdat
dit die enigste manier is waarop hulle rekord winste kan maak. Dit het niks met
goedheid te doen nie en hulle doen jou geen guns nie. Daarna, as dinge skeefloop,
word jy soos 'n iets van satan af behandel en veral word die mishandeling (daar is
geen ander woord nie) toegepas deur die skuldinvorderaars wat ek spottend verwys
na as die "hounds from hell". Hulle arrogantheid ken geen perke nie. Die woorde
"Your worst enemy" verwys direk na die regsverhouding tussen jou en jou bank wat
een is van "sincere mutual distrust". Geensins sê die boek om nie jou skuld te betaal
nie - dit moet betaal word - maar dit wys watter regte (en daar is baie) wat jy as
skuldenaar het en jy kan hulle erg seermaak as hulle nie by die regulasies hou nie.
Miskien sal dit die arrogansie stop. Omdat die boodskap so ernstig is was die boek
nooit te koop nie maar is verniet beskikbaar. Mens kan nie geld vra vir sulke advies
nie en dit gaan oor geregtigheid. Die veld is slegs gelyk as almal die kennis het om
mekaar te verstaan.
• The Circle of Life
My vierde boek is "The Circle of Life" wat gaan oor die regsverhouding tussen jou
as mens en die sirkel van die lewe want ons almal gaan deur die fases soos genoem
in die boek. Dit begin met verlowing en alles te doen met verlowing wat nogal
interessant is. Dan huwelik en egskeiding en waarop jy op die uitkyk moet wees.
Laastens praat ons openhartig oor die dood maar vanuit 'n ander hoek as gewoonlik
synde erfreg geen rol speel nie. Dis meer prakties. Ek vind dat baie mense nie weet
wat om te doen as pa of ma skielik sterf nie. Of as jou beter helfte in 'n ongeluk sterf
en die polisie het die liggaam - wat is jou regte? Wat kan jy doen en wat behoort jy te
doen voor die dood? Byvoorbeeld kyk ons na die "lewende testament" oor wat
gebeur as jy in 'n koma is. Ons kyk na jou internet teenwoordigheid - iemand moet
jou FB ens kan toemaak na jou dood maar meeste het nie die kodes nie want dis
saam met jou dood. Sulke dinge veroorsaak onnodige stres en moet bespreek word.
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• The Egg Breakers - Counter Terrorism in Sub Saharan Africa
My vyfde boek is "The Egg Breakers - Counter Terrorism in Sub Saharan Africa"
wat 'n vergelykende studie is tussen die opstand (insurrection) in Kenia (die
sogenaamde Uhuru) teenoor Rhodesiese Bosoorlog en ons eie stryd teen terrorisme.
Wat ons vergeet is dat die "terroriste" ook heeltyd sy metodes aangepas het soos ons
die teeninsurgensie metodes aangepas het. Die patrone kom duidelik uit in die boek.
Terselfdertyd het ek ernstig gekyk na wat die Weste verkeerd doen in Afrika met
hulle "War against Terror" - iets wat ek weet heelwat regerings organisasies ontstel
het. In my opinie het hulle geen idee van teeninsurgensie in Afrika nie en dit gaan
ook terug na "Mean Streets" waar ek die invoer van Engelse polisielede om die SAPS
op te lei as belaglik en waansinnig afmaak. Ek sien hulle maak dieselfde foute in Irak
en Afghanistan en leer niks nie - die geskiedenis herhaal homself. Die punt is, daar is
net een groep mense wat die kenners is in Afrika op teenterrorisme en dis die
Afrikaner (die Rhodesiërs ook, maar is bietjie oud). Tog vra niemand ons raad nie.
Daar is soveel kennis in mense van jou ouderdom wat gebruik kan word.
Ek is dankbaar om te sê dat die boeke by die honderde per maand aflaai en veral die
artikels oor dwelm misbruik (The Drug Addict Pattern) maak opslae synde ek die
ouers sien as die verontregte en nie die dwelm gebruiker nie - die kan maar
doodgaan. Dis die een artikel waarop ek die meeste eposse kry vanoor die hele
wêreld en almal is positief. Mens kan eenvoudig nie die dwelm gebruiker vertrou
nie en baie weet nie hoe om dit te hanteer nie. Dis baie sleg vir almal maar die ouer
word altyd blameer wat verkeerd is. In elk geval, kan maar self lees.
Dit is so dat nie een van my boeke polities korrek is nie. In "Gewetenlose Strate" sê
ek reguit en ek haal aan: "Politieke korrektheid is regtig 'n debat wat ek nie
belangstel om aan deel te neem nie synde dit die domein is van die vet politikus en
generaals wat 'n pensioen soek. Beide is veragtelik en ek verwerp hulle politieke
korrekte godjie met minagting. Die waarheid is belangriker vir die nageslag." Die
gevolg is die boeke word afgekraak deur die liberales wat my nie veel hinder nie. Ek
dink nie ek is altyd reg nie maar ek maak altyd 'n standpunt. Dis iets wat die
gewetenlose strate my geleer het - neem bevel en doen wat nodig is maar moenie
staan en wonder nie.
Ek wil egter ook sê dat ek skryf nie met die doel om mense te ontstel nie en die
meeste is redelik positief en ek is dankbaar daaroor. Ek kan my standpunte / feite
verdedig. Elke boek het 600 bladsye se navorsing agter hom en die grootste kritiek is
ook 'n regverdige een. My boeke is nie 100% taalkundig korrek nie. Dis iets waaraan
ek werk en om verskoning vra in elke boek. Die ander klagte is my skryfstyl wat vir
party erg irriterend is want dis asof ek met jou direk praat. Laastens, my geloof in
God kom ook altyd uit in al my werke en dit irriteer sommige wat voel dis onnodig
en 'n indringing op hulle "privaatheid". Ek verseker jou dis iets wat ek nie gaan
verander nie en hulle kan maar ophou lees as dit te erg raak. My boeke en artikels
125
kan gevind word op op die volgende webwerwe en is buiten "Gewetenlose Strate"
verniet beskikbaar: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JacobusKotze en ook
'n Suid Afrikaanse een http://www.kindlebooks.co.za/category/authors/jk
Iets oor Gewetenlose Strate
Dit is nodig om te kyk wat Koos Kotze, wat ‘n geslag later gekom het, se
woordsbegrip is, voor mens die boek lees. Hier volg sy omskrywings:
• Spesifieke betekenis van woorde
Voordat ons verder gaan voel ek dis nodig om te verduidelik wat die beteken is van
sekere woorde en afkortings was wat dikwels in die boek gebruik word. Die lys is
geensins volledig nie en dit is opsetlik nie alfabeties gerangskik nie.
• SAP verwys na die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemag wat die nasionale polisie van
Suid-Afrika was tussen 1913 en 1994. Dit was intussen vervang deur die
SAPD of Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie Diens en was van 'n semi-militêre aard met
militêre range, opleiding en dissipline. Die nuwe SAPD het 'n burgerlike of
siviele oriëntasie met die gepaardgaande gebrek aan dissipline. Dit sal nooit
werk in Afrika nie. Die SAP word ook na verwys as die Mag.
• Amerikaanse Patriot verwys na die skrywer se beter helfte. 'n Amerikaanse
Patriot wat vir die Amerikaanse Vloot werk. Sy is nie net pragtig nie maar
heelwat slimmer ook.
• 1994 verwys na die jaar waarin Suid-Afrika 'n demokrasie geword het.
Dikwels word dit verkeerdelik beskryf as die einde van Apartheid wat in
praktiese terme reeds gestop het in 1990 toe Mnr Mandela vrygelaat is. Ook
verwys na as die "Nuwe Suid-Afrika" teenoor "Apartheid Suid-Afrika."
• Mnr Mandela verwys na die legendariese bevrydingsleier wat 27 jaar in die
tronk in Suid-Afrika was vir sy idees oor gelyke behandeling voor die reg.
Soos ons almal weet was hy ook die eerste nie rassige verkose president van
Suid-Afrika. As die wenner van die Nobelprys vir Vrede word hy gesien deur
alle (wel die meeste) Suid-Afrikaners as 'n vader figuur. Daar is 'n gerug dat
swart Suid-Afrikaners na sy dood al die wit Suid Afrikaners gaan aanval en
vermoor. Dit is absolute nonsens en iets wat begin het terwyl hy nog in die
tronk was.
• Apartheid verwys na die politieke stelsel in Suid-Afrika tussen 1948-1994
waaronder swart Suid-Afrikaners politieke mag op grond van ras geweier
was. Die stelsel is deur die Verenigde Nasies beskryf as 'n misdaad teen die
mensdom. Dit het 'n burgeroorlog ontketen wat nou en dan oorgespoel het in
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die ope. Niks goeds kan gesê word van hierdie stelsel nie synde gebaseer op
boerdery en Bybelse beginsels en nie natuurlike geregtigheid of gelykheid
voor die reg nie. Dit was bestem om te misluk en dit het maar nie voordat dit
byna Suid Afrika vernietig het nie. Het ook tien duisende lewens gekos.
• Die oorlog verwys na die teen-insurgensie en teen-terreur-aksies wat deur die
Apartheids veiligheidsmagte geneem is teen die bevrydingsbewegings se
stryd vir politieke vryheid en vice versa. Dit het meestal plaasgevind op die
grens gebiede van Namibië asook 'n paar voorvalle op die grens gebiede van
Suid-Afrika en later jare binne Suid-Afrika. Waar die twee kante mekaar
raakgeloop het sou 'n skietery plaasvind en die SAP was altyd aktief op soek
na konfrontasie en het meestal (omtrent altyd) die gevegte gewen. Dit was 'n
rasse-oorlog en nie 'n godsdienstige een nie. Beide kante het skynbaar
dieselfde God aanbid en vir hulp gevra soos ons sal sien.
• Boer verwys na wit Afrikaners wat gebore is in Suid-Afrika. Dit is bedoel om
'n neerhalende term te wees en was algemeen gebruik deur die
vryheidsvegters om die SAP lede en wit mense in die algemeen te beskryf.
Vandag was dit haatspraak as dit in die konteks gebruik word.
• Z88 verwys na die Suid-Afrikaanse kopie van die Beretta 92F pistool wat die
standaard dienspistool in die SAP vanaf 1988 was. In internasionale terme
staan dit bekend as die M9.
• Casspir verwys na die landmyn bestande en gepantserde voertuie wat
gebruik was deur die SAP binne en buite Suid Afrika. Die meeste is na die
oorlog verkoop teen belaglike pryse synde 'n simbool van onderdrukking.
• SAP TIN verwys na die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie Teen-Insurgensie eenhede.
Dit was spesialis eenhede wat spesiaal opgelei was in teen-insurgensie oorlog.
Hulle lede het 'n kamoefleer uniform gedra en na soldate gelyk vir die
oningeligte oog. Om met SAP TIN te bots het byna seker die dood aan die
terroriste gebring en SAP TIN was altyd opsoek na 'n kontak om terroriste
dood te maak. Daar was nooit moraal probleme in die SAP nie. Die Spesiale
Taakmag en ook die Onluste Eenhede was almal deel van SAP TIN.
• Terroriste verwys na enige lid van die gewapende vleuel van die African
National Congress (ANC) en ander bevrydingsbewegings. Hulle was
gewapen, opgelei en ondersteun deur die kommunis lande maar nie
noodwendig kommuniste self nie. Mens moet erken dat die meeste dapper
manne en vroue was wat elke keer terug gekom het tenspyte van swaar
verliese. Hulle het, soos ons, werklik geglo in hulle saak. Het ook weinig
beloning na die tyd gekry.
127
• ANC verwys na die African National Congress. 'n Verbode
bevrydingsbeweging en nou die Suid-Afrikaanse regering. Hulle het 'n baie
beter en eerbare tradisie as enige ander party in Suid-Afrika ten spyte van
hulle onlangse probleme. Sal nog vir baie dekades regeer.
• Nasionaliste verwys na die politici van die nou ontbinde Nasionale Party wat
Apartheid geskep het. Hulle het ook die mites van die "Swart Gevaar" en
"Rooi Gevaar" verkondig wat hulle vrees vir die swart man en kommunisme
duidelik gewys het. Ek het geen twyfel dat hulle hulle eie propaganda geglo
het nie en aan hulleself gedink het as eerbare maar misverstane mense. Dink
stelliglik nogsteeds so. Die woord word neerhalend hier bedoel.
• Polisie generaal verwys na enige offisier van die rang van generaal-majoor en
opwaarts. (Brigadiere was nie gesien as generaals nie.) Die hoof van die SAP
was 'n (volle) generaal wat die Kommissaris van Polisie genoem was maar hy
was 'n polisie generaal eerstens en laastens. Geen burgerlike of politieke
aanstellings as hoof van die polisie is ooit toegelaat nie synde so 'n persoon op
geen manier bevoeg is om 'n polisiemag te lei nie. Die kommissaris het direk
verslag gedoen na die burgerlike (verkose) Minister van Polisie en later
Minister van Wet en Orde. Hulle was uitstekende polisiemanne.
• Gewetenlose Strate beteken die strate en gebiede waar die skrywer gewerk
het as 'n polisieman in verskillende dele van die land. Absoluut wreed en
gewetenloos verwys dit ook na die polisiemanne wat die misdaad en
terroriste beveg het (straat polisiemanne) en die gespuis bekend as plastiek
polisiemanne wat in die kantore diens verrig het. Die het natuurlik absoluut
geen idee van die gewelddadigheid van die gewetenlose strate gehad nie en is
met vaderlike minagting bejeën. Met die jare se geweld raak almal betrokke
by die gewetenlose strate self gewetenloos soos uitkom in die boek.
• Vaderlike gesprek beteken om iemand uit te sorteer op die gewetenlose strate.
Dit was nie altyd fisies nie maar dit kon fisies wees en was meestal 'n paar
klappe of meer indien nodig. Polisie taalgebruik en dieselfde vir vaderlike
belangstelling of om 'n vaderlike belang in iemand te kry. Dit beteken
moeilikheid vir die persoon.
• Bose oog is om na iemand te staar met die opset om hom te domineer. Polisie
taalgebruik en vanaf die Engelse "evil eye." Is baie gedoen en in die spieël
geoefen.
• R1 verwys na die Suid-Afrikaanse kopie van die Belgiese FN-geweer in 7.62
NAVO kaliber. In Engeland was dieselfde geweer bekend gewees as die L1A1
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SLR (Self Loading Rifle). Hierdie geweer was vir baie jare die standaard SAP
geweer wat die Lee Enfield .303 vervang het. Eers met die Belgiese FN en
daarna met wat ons ken as die R1. Die dra handvatsel was verwyder maar die
res was redelik dieselfde. Langer blitsbreker gehad as die Engelse weergawe
om geweer granate en traangas houers te skiet.
• R4 & R5 verwys na die standaard Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag aanvalsgeweer
wat niks anders is as 'n kopie van die Israeliese Galil in 5.56 NAVO kaliber
nie. Die Galil is 'n kopie van die meer bekende AK47. Die SAP het dit in later
jare in die hande gekry en dit het die standaard wapen in die korter R5
weergawe geword. In Afrika was dit geensins ongewoon om polisiemanne
met aanvalsgewere te sien nie.
• Rhodesië verwys na 'n land net noord van Suid-Afrika en is nou bekend as
Zimbabwe. 'n Voormalige Britse Kolonie wat eensydige onafhanklikheid
(UDI) verklaar het in die middel 1960's. Hulle was in 'n hewige teen-
insurgensie oorlog betrokke tot 1980 toe die Lancaster House-ooreenkoms
hulle verraai het om 'n (mislukte) en despotiese een party staat te word wat
nie eers sy eie burgers kan voed nie. Dit is hier waar SAP TIN die truuks van
teen-insurgensie oorlogvoering geleer het en klomp eks-Rhodesiërs was in die
SAP as instrukteurs. Apartheid as 'n sisteem het nooit in Rhodesië bestaan
nie. Vir interessantheid kan julle in my nuwe (gratis) boek "The Egg Breakers
- Counter-Terrorism in Sub Saharan Africa" lees oor hoe die modus operandi
in terme van teen-terrorisme strategie verander het van die een oorlog na die
ander.
• Suid-Wes-Afrika (SWA) of net Suidwes verwys na 'n land net noord van
Suid-Afrika aan die westekant langs die Atlantiese Oseaan. Dit is waar die
Suid Afrikaanse teen-insurgensie oorlog begin het en was vandag bekend as
Namibië. Dit was deur Suid-Afrika as gevolg van 'n Volkebond (League of
Nations) mandaat regeer tussen 1915 (effektief) tot 1989. Voor dit was dit 'n
Duitse kolonie. Apartheid het bestaan tot 1989 toe dit onafhanklik geword
het. SWA se noordelike grens met Angola (genoem Owamboland of die
operasionele gebied) was waar die meeste van die teen-insurgensie
plaasgevind het. Die boek gaan glad nie daaroor nie hoewel dit daarna
verwys.
• Angola verwys na 'n land net noord van Suid-Wes-Afrika waar die terroriste
geskuil het om aanvalle te loods na Suidwes en Suid Afrika. As gevolg
daarvan is die suidelike deel van Angola ingeval en beheer deur die SAW in
'n semi-permanente besetting. As een van die top tien olie produsente van die
wêreld is dit vandag besig om aanspraak te maak op sy regmatige plek in
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Afrika. Tans (in suidelike Afrika) is dit die land wat die meeste aan wapens
spandeer. Hoekom sal geen mens weet nie.
• SAW verwys na die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag wat bestaan het uit die Leër,
Lugmag, Vloot en mediese eenhede. Ek dink nie enige iemand kan betwyfel
dat dit 'n professionele weermag was wat versterk is deur tien duisende
gewillige & goed opgeleide dienspligtiges nie. Op sy tyd was dit die
kragtigste weermag in Afrika en het (ten spyte van die gerugte vandag) nooit
'n slag sedert Tobruk in 1942 verloor nie. Vandag is dit bekend as die SANW
(Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionaliste Weermag) en nie eers 'n lokale mag nie wat 'n
goeie ding is voor ons ook nog staatsgrepe begin ervaar.
• Transkei en Ciskei verwys na twee "onafhanklike state" geskep deur die
Apartheid-staat as tuislande vir die Xhosa-Nasie (waarvan Mnr Mandela deel
is). Hierdie "state" was nooit deur enige land behalwe Suid Afrika erken nie
behalwe (miskien) Taiwan. Die SAP het geen jurisdiksie in hulle gehad nie as
gevolg van die klug van onafhanklikheid. Op 'n stadium het die twee lande
mekaar "aangeval" soos ons sal sien in die boek met die uwe reg in die
middel.
• Engeland verwys na die Verenigde Koninkryk en ook die Britse Ryk waar van
toepassing. Die woord word gebruik in die algemene sin van die woord en
beskryf al die Engelse nasionaliteite.
• Blitspatrollie verwys na die elite polisie-eenhede wat in elke groot stad in
Suid-Afrika gevind word. Die eenheid wat met vinnige karre reageer op
(slegs) ernstige misdaad en terrorisme. As gevolg van hulle bedrywighede het
hulle 'n baie spesifieke tipe persoonlikheid in hulle lede gesoek en
aangewakker. Dit het daartoe gely dat hulle besonder bekend was vir hulle
arrogante maniere en gedrag in die algemeen. Was redelik gehaat deur die
gewone SAP lede (net jaloers gewees as jy my vra). Die skrywer was 'n lid van
die Pretoria Blitspatrollie vir die meeste van die tyd wat in hierdie boek
beskryf word. Daar is geen twyfel dat die Blitspatrollies altyd op soek was na
skietgevegte en vaderlike gesprekke en het daarvoor geleef om gesteelde
(hopelik) karre te jaag en te skiet ("chases" genoem). Alle Blitspatrollies val
onder die uniform tak en het niks met speurders of ondersoek werk te doen
nie. Lede was en is nogsteeds oortuig daarvan dat hulle deel vorm van 'n elite
en inderdaad was dit so. Dit was geensins vir almal bedoel nie.
• Honde Eenheid verwys na die elite honde-eenhede van die SAP waarvan die
skrywer ook deel gevorm het vir 'n kort rukkie voor sy ontslag. Hulle was
administratief deel van die Blitspatrollies soos ook die polisie duikers was.
Hard en ervare was (en is) hulle altyd baie welkom gewees op die
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gewetenlose strate. Waar iets ookal gebeur het was die Honde Eenheid altyd
betrokke. Baie spesiale manne (en deesdae vroue).
• Die Spesiale Taakmag verwys na die elite SAP Spesiale Magte Eenheid met 'n
keuring druipsyfer gelyk aan dié van die Amerikaanse Green Berets ('n
woord wat nie vertaal kan word nie). Dit is onbekend presies wat hulle alles
gedoen het want die meeste van hulle werk was top geheim en was nogsteeds
hoewel hulle bekendheid verwerf het met gyselaar dramas. Gelykstaande
(soveel meer) as die bekende "SWAT" spanne wat jy in flieks sien. Hulle was
die enigste lede in die SAP wat gekwalifiseer was om valskermvleuels te dra
tensy die lid syne verwerf het in die weermag voor hy by die SAP aangesluit
het. Swart lede is toegelaat (mits hulle die keuring kon slaag) maar geen
vroue nie.
• Afrikaners verwys na die wit Afrikaners wat in Suid-Afrika gebore was en 'n
vorm van Vlaams praat wat bekend staan as Afrikaans. Synde baie direkte
mense was hulle nooit juis beïndruk met die Engelse nie en het twee oorloë
(Eerste en Tweede Anglo-Boereoorlog) teen Engeland geveg en drie saam met
hulle (die Eerste Wêreldoorlog, die Tweede Wêreldoorlog en Korea). Die
meeste van hulle voorvaders was Nederlanders, Franse en Duitsers of selfs
Russe. Nie 'n enkele Afrikaner sal sommer erken dat hy dalk Engelse bloed in
hom het nie ongeag wat sy stamboom wys. Hulle het nogsteeds 'n probleem
met die oorlogmisdade wat teen hulle gepleeg was gedurende die Tweede
Anglo-Boereoorlog waar ses en twintig duisend vroue en kinders vermoor is
deur die Engelse in konsentrasiekampe. Twee miljoen van die oorspronklike
vyf miljoen het na 1994 geëmigreer vir verskeie redes wat niks met rassisme te
doen het nie.
• Dienspligtiges verwys na die wit mans wat opgeroep was vir twee jaar
militêre diensplig tydens Apartheid en jaarlikse kampe daarna. Dit was
verpligtend na skool maar kon uitgestel word vir byvoorbeeld studie aan 'n
universiteit solank jy deurkom. (In daardie jare was standaarde hoog genoeg
om weggejaag te word as jy te veel vakke pluk.) Versuiming om aan te meld
vir diensplig het tronkstraf en openbare vernedering gebring so bitter min het
geweier of weggehardloop. As die vloedgolf van boeke na 1994 geglo word
was hulle almal takhare wat dagga gerook het terwyl hulle probeer het om
die stelsel te ontduik. Dis natuurlik absolute nonsens. Baie min was teen
diensplig en moraal meestal hoog. Die dienspligtiges het uitstekende werk in
al die eenhede verrig behalwe in die duikbote en lug bemanning wat vir die
professionele soldate gelos was.
• Linksgesinde takhare verwys na die wit ondersteuners van die
bevrydingsbewegings met hulle liberale sienings. Hulle is erg gehaat deur die
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SAP en so sleg behandel as wat die SAP mee kon wegkom. Paar sommer
vermoor ook. Die meeste was hoogs geleerd en baie uitgesproke in hulle
veroordelinge van die Apartheid-Staat. Mens moet erken en eer gee dat hulle
dapper ouens was en het baie vyandigheid verduur vir hulle sienswyses. In
hierdie boek word die term ook gebruik om die liberale te beskryf wat
menseregte neem tot sulke belaglike lengtes dat eie (lynch law) geregtigheid
nou verskyn. Asook diegene wat die politieke korrekte godjie aanbid. Dit is
nie bedoel om neerhalend te wees. Polisie taalgebruik.
• Rooinek is 'n wit Suid-Afrikaner wat nie 'n Afrikaner was nie maar groot
geword het met Engels as sy huistaal. Dit verwys na die rooi gebrande nekke
wat die meeste buitelanders aan ly in die skerp Afrika-son. Dit is nie 'n
neerhalende term nie en moet ook nie gesien word as een nie. Hulle het ook 'n
ander naam gehad wat ek nie op skrif wil sit nie. Begin met die woord "sout."
Ek is seker jy verstaan.
• Koevoet verwys na die elite SAP TIN eenheid wat slegs in die noordelike dele
van Suid-Wes-Afrika bekend as die operasionele gebied of Owamboland
gewerk het. Tegnies, na 1985, het hulle deel gevorm van die Suid-Wes-Afrika
Polisie TIN Eenheid (SWAPOL TIN) en het SWAPOL kamoefleer uniforms
gedra het in plaas van SAP. Hierdie eenheid het legendaries geword en 90%
van alle terroriste doodgeskiet tydens die oorlog maar slegs in daardie
spesifieke gebied. Iets wat vergeet word vandag. Die weermag het getalle
gewys baie meer terroriste doodgemaak noord van hulle in Angola. Daarom
is dit meer korrek om te sê dat hulle 90% van die oorblywendes wat die
weermag ontsnap het doodgemaak het. Vandag word die eenheid gekruisig
as gevolg van hulle sukses wat 'n skande is. Dis meer belangrik dat die
geskiedenis korrek neergeskryf word as om vingers te wys. Daar is baie goeie
boeke oor hulle waarvan Jim Hooper se "Koevoet" die beste is. Ten spyte van
die valskermvleuels wat op die internet te koop is was hulle nooit die
valskerm gekwalifiseerd nie en die "vleuels" is vervals. Hulle was kundiges in
gemeganiseerde oorlogvoering en speel feitlik geen rol in die boek nie.
• Speurder verwys na 'n polisieman wat in die speurtak (kriminele) sake
ondersoek het. Soos alle speurders het hulle in burgerlike (nie-uniform) klere
gewerk hoewel hulle voertuie se vyf voet lange antenna drade hulle altyd
weggegee het. Daar was geen verskil in hulle polisie bevoegdhede en die
uniform tak sin nie. Enige speurder kon terug na die uniform tak geplaas
word indien nodig ('n groot straf). As 'n spesie op hulle eie het hulle nie goed
met die skrywer se uniform tak gemeng nie. Baie dapper manne wat nie
gehuiwer het om misdadigers te soek en arresteer nie selfs binne swart
gebiede en meestal alleen of saam met 'n maat. Geen uniform het hulle
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beskerm nie en hulle oplossing syfer was meestal bo 90% wat uitstekend is.
Dikwels van polisie brutaliteit beskuldig.
• Veiligheidspolisie verwys na die gevreesde polisie-eenheid wat slegs met
staatsveiligheid sake soos hoogverraad en terrorisme te doen gehad het. Hulle
het die teen-inligting operasies hanteer en was 'n eenheid apart van die res
van die SAP wat hulle met minagting en 'n gebrek aan respek behandel het.
Daar is geen twyfel dat hulle die elite was nie. Op 'n stadium het hulle egter
hulle eie lede begin vermoor om te verhoed dat hulle wandade (gepleeg in die
naam van die Apartheid-staat) uitkom. Niemand ontken dat hulle baie
effektief was nie en het hulle het die bevrydingsbewegings heelwat
moeilikheid gegee.
• Krygkor verwys na die Suid-Afrikaanse wapen nywerheid wat van
kernwapens tot wat ook al nodig was vir veiligheidsmagte vervaardig het. Dit
was vandag bekend as Denel.
• Sanksies verwys na die wêreld-wye boikot in sport en wapens op Apartheid
Suid-Afrika om verandering af te dwing. Dit was heeltemal onsuksesvol en
maklik oorkom. Al wat dit veroorsaak het was om Krygkor te versterk en het
die nasionaliste laat saamstaan het soos min. Ek is geneig om te sê dat dit die
oorlog onnodiglik verleng het en van geen werklike nut vir enigiemand was
nie.
• Kontak (met die vyand) was om met die vyand slaags te raak en hom dood te
maak indien moontlik. Ook bekend as 'n vuurgeveg en dit verwys na 'n
klassieke teen-insurgensie terroris teen veiligheidsmagte botsing. Gewoonlik
in die landelike gebiede en nie stede nie.
• Skietgeveg verwys na 'n kontak op enige plek tussen misdadigers (of
terroriste) en die polisie waar skote afgevuur word. Aangesien die SAP alle
terroriste wou doodmaak waar hulle ookal hulle kon vind gebruik ek die
term skietgeveg ook waar dit gebeur het tydens stedelike terrorisme in
teenstelling met klassieke teen-insurgensie se kontak soos bo beskryf. Kan
ook egter teen gewone misdadigers wees.
• Boksgeveg verwys na 'n vuisgeveg met enige wapen behalwe vuurwapens.
Iets wat die SAP bekend was voor en het dikwels gewelddadig opgetree
wanneer nodig (of onnodiglik).
• 'n Polisiestasie is nie dieselfde as 'n Eenheid nie. Daar was omtrent 1000
polisiestasies in Suid-Afrika gedurende hierdie tyd onder die bevel van
enigiets tussen 'n sersant en 'n kolonel afhangende van die grootte. Dit behels
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meer basiese polisiëring as wat 'n elite eenheid doen. Dis die plek waar die
publiek klagtes kon indien (by die aanklagtekantoor) en aangehou is as
verdagtes. Geen burgerlike was ooit op 'n Eenheid se perseel toegelaat nie.
• Haasman verwys na die publiek. Vir een of ander rede was dit die term wat
deur SAP lede gebruik was om die publiek te beskryf. Glad nie neerhalend
bedoel nie.
Omdat sy woordbegrippe belangrik is, het ek dit aangehaal. Ek haal twee episodes
aan om die boek fyner toe te lig. Dis nie jou gewone troepie boek nie – dis ‘n diep
boek met ‘n boodskap en vrae wat beantwoord moet word. Lees ook maar tussen die
lyne en moet nie sy fyn sin vir humor miskyk nie, lekker lees aan die happie! (HBH)
• Die SAP het die publieke simpatie dekades voor 1985 al verloor
Die nasionaliste het so bang vir die openbare mening geraak dat hulle ons
kamoefleer uniforms verbied het binne die townships. Soos ons weet is die Casspirs
ook skielik geel en blou (hoe aaklig) geverf om minder militêr te lyk. Ons het
oorgeslaan na gewone blou velddrag uniform. Ek het dit al voorheen genoem en jy
hoef nie slim te wees om te besef dat die uniform nie eintlik saak maak nie. Dis wat
die manne in die uniform beveel is, wat saak maak. Dis hierdie tipe denke van die
nasionaliste wat hulle nog meer idiootagtig laat lyk het. Kom ons ontleed dit bietjie.
Hulle het geweet (nie vermoed nie) dat indien die SAP beveel word om na die maan
te gaan en die maanmannetjie te arresteer die SAP hulle Casspirs vol diesel sou
maak en begin ry na waar die maan is met een stel boeie en die bedoeling om
vaderlik die maanmannetjie te arresteer. Gevolglik het die nasionaliste (anders as
wat staatsmanne doen) hulle mag misbruik. 'n Polisiemag moet baie versigtig
aangewend word of dit word 'n instrument van onderdrukking. Hoe meer
gedissiplineerd hoe versigtiger want soos ons gesien het met die meisiekind by Wits
(wat die sambok geproe het) is dit bitter gevaarlik om polisiemanne los te laat op die
publiek met wette wat geen mens aan gehoorsaam kan wees nie. Enige idioot kan
tog dink dit gaan groot probleme veroorsaak. Dit het ook. Ons ken die geskiedenis.
My vraag is (soos altyd) wat het ons geleer van die nasionaliste af? Suid-Afrika
brand al weer (statistiek sê meer as in Apartheid Suid Afrika) soos mense oproerig
raak vir munisipale dienste wat (wees eerlik) sedert 1994 in duie stort. Dit tragies en
onnodig. Wat het geword van die hoop wat daar in die middel en laat 1990's was toe
ons regtig gedink het ons gaan die wêreld wys wat Afrikane kan doen? In dertig jaar
van nou af sal ons lees wat vandag se konstabels deur gaan en hulle boeke begin
uitkom. Ek bid dat hulle minder kwaad sal wees met hulle regering as wat my
generasie is.
Ons het redelik baie klopjagte vir dwelms en wapens gedoen. Interessant het al die
plekke honde gehad en die spesifieke honde hou niks van wit mense nie. My
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probeer byt en is vrek geskiet. Ek dink dat ons honderde honde doodgeskiet het
synde erg mishandel en half dood van die honger. Mense, tensy jy in die townships
gewerk het weet jy niks van armoede nie. Dit is 'n harde harde lewe en die mense
het geen geld gehad het om bekommerd te wees oor diere nie. Slegs gegaan oor
oorlewing. Ergste was die eks-resies perde wat ook verkoop en mishandel is om
steenkool ensovoorts te trek met sere op hulle lywe. Op 'n stadium was ons met SAP
TIN binne Bophuthatswana en is gevra om rondloper donkies te skiet. Iets waarvan
ek niks gehou het nie tensy die dier ly. Ongelukkig het paar konstabels begin om die
donkies te skiet wat karretjies sleep (hulle was vol sere). Een helse insident
veroorsaak. Sommer die eienaars ook met die swepe bygekom. Vaderlik vir sy eie
beswil natuurlik.
Die DBV het hard probeer om te help maar was gereeld weggehou met die geweld.
Selfs ambulans manne en brandweer moes begelei word en klomp wit dronkgatte is
vermoor wat sjebiens wou besoek. Die swart mans was nie gelukkig met hulle nie en
het hulle stelliglik gevang met swart vrouens ook. Dis natuurlik nie 'n rede vir
moord nie. Ek noem dit om die gaping tussen die groepe uit te wys. Tensy jy daar
was sal jy nie die haat verstaan nie.
Ek het nie self gesien nie maar ek is vertel deur baie dat die terroriste 'n sloot dwars
oor die straat gegrawe het. Dan dit bedek dit met sink plate en sand en vol diesel of
petrol gegooi. Die Casspirs sal insak en die skare hulle aanval en of die sloot aan die
brand gesteek word om die polisiemanne uit die Casspir te kry. Alle voertuie het in
pare gery en mekaar uitgesleep en gehelp. Om te skiet op die polisie was alles deel
van die pret. Het genoeg gebeur om ons binne die Casspirs te hou en nie op die dak
nie. Ander meer praktiese rede was die terroriste taktiek om 'n kabel oor die pad te
span wat die lid kan afgooi en ernstig beseer. Om dit te voorkom is soliede
draadsnyers op die Casspirs vas gesweis. Het die draad losgebreek of afgesny. Moes
ook die vensters beskerm met redelike stewige rooster draad voor die vensters. Is
natuurlik onmoontlik om die koeëlvaste vensters met klippe uit te gooi maar dit kon
skade kry wat duur is om te vervang. Alle Onluste Casspirs het ook 'n verspotte (nie
koeëlvaste) dakkie gehad om brandbomme te keer. Seker gemaak om my kop laag te
hou synde enige koeël deur dit kon gaan. Party Casspirs het tot sirenes en PA
sisteme op gehad. Wys jou hoe prakties polisiemanne is en hoe die Casspirs
aangepas kon word.
Een laat middag net voor donker sit ek in my Casspir en uitkyk na niks in besonders
nie toe die kant venster reg voor my neus kraak. Besef dis 'n terroris wat op ons
geskiet het. Ons, nee eintlik reg op my. Selfs met al jou gewetenlose straat
ondervinding is dit 'n vreemde gevoel wanneer jy verstaan dat die koeëls reg op jou
afgekom het. Slegs die koeëlvaste glas is tussen jou en die beloofde 1000 jaar rusdag.
Verseker begin terug skiet want in die skemer kon ons duidelik die AK47 sien blits.
Dis waar die sinnelose vrae van die onbevoegde advokaat uitgekom het wat ons
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iewers bespreek het. Dit is vir my ironies dat die ou nooit die prokureur met die
sersant in die getuie bank verbind het nie. Nogal dikwels met mekaar gewerk.
'n Taktiek wat ons geleer het is om te beweeg op voetpatrollies (nie baie nie) en die
tekens van moeilikheid te lees. As jy begin sien dat die vroue en kinders huis toe
gaan weet jy om uit die gebied te beweeg. Ook om nie styf teen 'n muur te staan nie
maar ongeveer een voet weg. Weet nie hoekom nie maar koeëls volg mure. Deur
weg te staan is veiliger. Moes ook bitter versigtig wees as mens huise storm. Die
koeëls kan regdeur die sink mure gaan en iemand anders tref. Soos oral begin skares
vergader wanneer iets gebeur. Bitter vinnig ook. As jy opkyk is honderde mense
daar (nie noodwendig dreigend nie). Veral by misdaadtonele wat dikwels
gerapporteer is want nie alle probleem in die townships was terrorisme nie. Daar is
en was baie misdaad hoewel die publiek gewoonlik geweet het wie die kriminele is.
Anders as ons is daar nie agter hoë mure weggekruip nie. Die ouens het mekaar
goed geken en ondersteun. Dis die sosiale gedrag wat eie is aan Afrikane. Jy weet
almal was woedend so paar maande terug toe die huidige president (Zuma) gesê het
dat slegs witmense hulle oumas in tehuise sit. Hy was reg en dis nog onBybels ook
om dit te doen. Kyk na ons geskiedenis as 'n volk. Dink jy oupa en ouma was in 'n
tehuis vir bejaardes 80 jaar gelede? Nee, almal was op die plaas of waar ook al.
Mense ons moet leer om mekaar te begin verdra en terug te gaan na wat vir ons
gewerk het (ek bedoel nie Apartheid nie). As 'n volk het ons so baie om te bied.
Waarom anders is ons so welkom in die buiteland?
• The saints came marching
(Daar is geen manier hoe ek bostaande in Afrikaans kan vertaal nie - dit verwys na
die Rhodesiese Ligte Infanterie se bekende regimentele lied.) Een nag bars alle hel
los in die tuisland langs ons. Blyk dat die Transkei besluit het om hulle neefs in die
Ciskei aan te val. Die was reg langs my dorp. Die aan diens konstabel het na die
skietery gery om ondersoek in te stel. Dit was sarsie op sarsie en 'n jong oorlog. Het
my vertel dat toe hy die lugspoor koeëls verby sy voorruit van beide rigtings sien hy
homself neutraal verklaar het. Dus ook dan agt rondtes op beide partye geskiet met
geen bekende effek nie en is toe terug na die stasie. Ons het die skietery gehoor en
uit die bed geval om aanvalsgewere te trek uit die magasyn. Verseker het on nie
geweet wat aan die gang is nie behalwe dat ons baie outomatiese geweervuur kon
hoor. Jy moet onthou dat hierdie dinge amptelik plaasgevind het in 'n "onafhanklike
land" waar ons geen jurisdiksie gehad het. Daarom kon ons nie inmeng nie tensy die
aanval oor die grens na Suid-Afrika gespoel het (ons luitenant se groot vrees) of
hulle ons hulp versoek het en dit is nie op ons vlak nie.
Presies wat gebeur het sal waarskynlik nooit bekend wees nie maar dit het jare later
uitgekom dat voormalige Rhodesiese Spesiale Magte die aanvallers opgelei het vir
die aanval om die Ciskei president te vermoor. Die aanvallers self is vir een of ander
rede ontdek (lees verraai deur die Apartheidsregering) en 'n lopende geveg het
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plaasgevind. Ek was slegs op die kant betrokke toe ek op pad na Oos-Londen gestop
is deur die Transkei kommando's wat die pad geblokkeer het. Hulle het soos alle
Spesiale Magte manne op 'n geveg sending baie taai voorgekom. Was in beheer van
daai pad. Hulle was almal swart wat my ongemaklik gemaak het in die begin. Dat
ek nie daardie dag gesterf het nie is net as gevolg van die hoogs opgeleide
Rhodesiërs. Om op 'n nasionale hoofweg gestop te word deur 'n groep ouens in
vreemde kamoefleer uniforms is nie goed vir 'n mens se hartklop nie. Dit het 200
bereik en vir 'n lang tyd daar gebly. In elk geval het ek gestop en in uniform en
gewapen met my .38 Webley kon hulle my gesien het as meer van 'n bedreiging as
wat ek was. Gelukkig is ek net gesê in my kar te bly. Die helder blou oë van my
blokkade bevelvoerder en sy Britse (Engelse) aksent so tipies van die Rhodesiërs het
my laat verstaan die ou wit is al is hy pikswart gesmeer met die "black is beautiful"
room. Ek het net daar gesit en niks gesê of gedoen nie. Ek nie gebid het nie want ek
het redelik veilig gevoel na my aanvanklike skok. Het hulle herken as professionele
mense wat my nie sou doodmaak nie. Dit is tensy ek iets dom soos om hulle te
probeer arresteer. Na 'n paar uur (lees minute) het 'n gekamoefleerde Suid-
Afrikaanse Lugmag Puma sonder enige kenmerke verskyn en langs die pad geland.
Dis toe ek regtig groot geskrik het soos klomp soldate verskyn het uit die bos. Hulle
moes ons al die tyd in hulle visiere gehad het. My blou oë vriend het vir my 'n
vriendelike grynslag gegee en geloop, nie hardloop nie, na die Puma. Wat my
beïndruk het. Nog 'n ander wit man (sy gesig het wit gelyk) het langs die Puma
gestaan en elkeen getel deur sy skouer te klap soos hulle inklim. Die soldate self het
hulle nie aan my gesteur nie. Ek was beïndruk want hulle was baie kalm maar het
gatvol gelyk. Hulle is iets anders. Nie jou gemiddelde tipe ou nie.
Die helikopter het opgestyg en baie laag net bo die bome na die Transkei gevlieg. Dit
het my diep ontsteld gelos. Ek ken wapens beter as die meeste mense en ek het
geweet dat geen ander Lugmag in Suider-Afrika Pumas gebruik nie. Ek kon logies
aanvaar dat die nasionaliste in hierdie aanval betrokke moes wees want die Lugmag
is redelik erg oor hulle vliegtuie en dit kon nie net per toeval daar wees nie. Dit was
die eerste wekroep. Ek het besluit dat die nasionaliste geen redelike bekommernis
vir my lewe of my kollegas het nie. Wat op aarde sou gebeur het as byvoorbeeld
SAP TIN in die ouens vasgeloop het? Hoeveel mense het gesterf in hulle dom
spioenasie speletjies? Dit is 'n hartseer oomblik om uit te vind jou leiers misdadigers
is wat moord bevele uitreik. Groot skok want ek het in hulle geglo. Die saadjie was
egter nou geplant en sedert daardie dag het ek het geen verskonings meer gehad om
nie die waarheid te sien nie. Ons is nie net gebruik word om hulle vuilwerk te doen
nie maar 'n hele eerbare organisasie met eerbare mense is misbruik. Skandelik. Nog
steeds die lyne was getrek en ek sou vir 'n verdere vier jaar aanhou veg vir 'n verlore
saak. Ek het absoluut daardie dag geweet ons het die oorlog verloor. Dit sou 'n man
soos Mnr Mandela vat om die stryd te stop. Die lyne was getrek voor my geboorte.
137
Ek het nooit hierdie voorval aangemeld nie want ek was bang dat die generaals sou
wou gehad het dat ek hulle moes arresteer met my .38 Webley wat selfmoord sou
gewees het. Ek wou ook nie daardie manne verraai soos die nasionaliste tweekeer in
Rhodesië gedoen het nie. Hulle is beslis nie my vyande selfs al is hulle verag deur
die nasionaliste.
Daardie oggend het (baie) senior offisiere daar aangekom en die onskuldiges
gespeel. Saam met die Honde Eenheid het ons gedurende die volgende paar dae die
area deursoek vir wapens en klomp gekry ook soos dit weggegooi is deur die
aanvallers wat goed 20km getrek het tot waar ek die exfiltrasie ervaar het. Het baie
weerloos in my blou uniform in die veld gevoel maar geweet die aanvallers het
reeds weg gevlieg. Ek was banger vir die Ciskei Weermag wat in 'n toestand van
paniek was en ook op soek (nie baie hard nie) en dat ons mekaar kon raakloop. Die
gevonde toerusting was alles van Suid-Afrikaanse oorsprong en nie kommunisties
nie. Ek het outomaties kennis geneem dat die Rhodesiërs die standaard SAW R5-
aanvalsgewere met kommunistiese bors webbing gedra het. (Die bors webbing is 'n
teken is van Rhodesiese SAS of Selous Scouts.) Dit was geen algemene terroriste
aanval nie ten spyte van die bullsh-t wat die generaals vir die media vertel het. Om
vrae te vra is vir takhare met neigings. Ek het stilgebly. Begin besef die land is
gevaarliker as wat ek gedink het. Jy kon glad nie meer jou eie regering vertrou nie.
Die vetgat nasionaliste gaan vasklou aan mag solank hulle kan en die duiwel met die
res.
Ons het nie die handgranate wat die twee kinders vermoor het gekry nie. Die
handgranate sou ook nie daar gewees het as die aanval nie plaasvind het nie. Nog 'n
ding vir die nasionaliste om aan God te verduidelik. Die kinders het in peloton vier
gestaan in my nagmerrie. Net gestaar na my want hulle kon nie goed praat nie.
Kakebeen is af. 'n Terroris wat ons dood gekry het in Pretoria het gewoonlik na hulle
omgesien. Ek bid elke aand vir hulle siele.
Die R5 gewere wat gekonfiskeer is as bewysstukke het daarna verdwyn uit die
polisiestasie en ek weet hoekom. Hulle het nommers opgehad en kon teruggevoer
word na Militêre Intelligensie wat agter die aanval gesit het. Ek is deur die
Veiligheidspolisie gevra of ek weet waar dit is maar synde ek op die gewetenlose
strate gewerk het en nooit binne die aanklagtekantoor nie het hulle my geglo toe ek
ontken ek iets weet. Ek kon net sê dit is oorhandig maar het geen idee wat gebeur
het daarmee nie (het ook nie). Vandag wonder ek hulle iets vermoed het want die
aanvallers sou na die tyd verslag doen. Kon dalk my passiewe rol in hulle
ontsnapping gesê het. Sedert daardie dag het ek die Veiligheidspolisie glad nie
vertrou nie myself belowe om soveel moontlik te skiet indien hulle iets probeer. Baie
jare later het ek met 'n voormalige RLI offisier gesels wat ingestem het om 'n
persoonlike boodskap te gee aan my blou oë weldoener. Ek was dankbaar om nie
138
geskiet nie te wees nie. Ek is nog steeds dankbaar. Dankie Majoor. Ek wens jou en
jou gesin alles wat goed is toe.
My ongevraagde kommentaar: “K” ek weet nie of almal die grappie gaan sien nie?
Almal van ons was maar in die verlede soms “cowboys” met die beste bedoeling in
die wêreld. Almal van ons wou Suid-Afrika “red”.
Ons het soms opbouende kritiek van ander as dislojaliteit gesien en ervaar. Ek het
genoeg bewyse in my lewe gesien, talle voorbeelde is gedokumenteer en ek het ook
skriftelike bewyse in my besit. Al die VM’e se posisie was in wetgewing verskans en
niemand kon ons werklik kritiseer nie. Nie eens Donald Woods nie, in die parlement
was dit net mev Helen Suzman.
Dit is ook goed om die siening van junior lede te lees – al het hul in die lewe
aanbeweeg. Die arme Nasionale Party politici het ook in ‘n onverkwiklike situasie
verkeer. Dikwels met politici gesels – indien hulle nie die beleid van “afsonderlike
ontwikkeling” (lees apartheid) voorgestaan het nie, sou niemand vir hulle gestem
het nie. Ons het ‘n eerste wêreld Westminsterstelsel vir die witmense gehad.
Dis ons geskiedenis en dis niemand se skuld; of dis ons almal se skuld. Dis die erwe
van ons vaadre! Ons is maar die produk van ons omgewing sowel as die vele
bedreigingspersepsies en die heersende strategiese situasie wat oor tyd en historiese
afstand verander het.
Chris van Ginkel: Oor boeke
Hennie,
Nog twee interessante boeke in die lyn van "educating genetiese bloedsappe" soos
Peter Lamb hulle sou noem. Die enigste manier om voorouers wat teen Duitsland vir
Engeland gaan veg het probeer rasionaliseer is om die foefie van 'n aggressiewe en
bose Duitsland te probeer lewendig hou. Hierdie boeke wys weereens dat die
waarheid sal bly kop uitsteek!
Die konsentrasiekampe was werkerskampe; die bedryf daarvan, die sterftes asook
die redes vir die sterftes is deur die Internasionale Rooikruis aangeteken aangesien
hulle daar toegelaat was, andersins as wat die geval was in die na-oorlogse kampe
vir Duitse soldate in Europa, Kanada en die VSA waar die mense uitgehonger en
van ontbering omgekom het omdat die Joodse? Ike Eisenhower dit wou. Hier was
die Rooikruis nie toegelaat nie en ook nie in die Irakese martelkampe waar die VSA
en Brittanje wetenskaplikes en museumpersoneel gemartel het en steeds doen nie.
139
Die doel van die werkerskampe in WWII was om die mense vir die te-stigte Israel se
Industrie op te lei - 'n Rockefeller inisiatief. Diegene wat nie die Sionisme wou
aanvaar nie is wel slegter behandel en die opstandiges moontlik vermoor - maar dit
was Sionistiese geweld op nasionalistiese of internasionalistiese jood en nie soseer
Duitse volk nie en beslis nie Hitler-beleid nie. ook die Eugenics wat Mendele se
senior, 'n paperclip man, bedryf het was gefinansier deur die Rockefeller stigting.
Ek wil soms stik en dit maak my baie seer as andersins intelligente wesens nie feite
van propaganda kan skei nie - veral noudat ons soos die Skotsman kan sê:
“Hindsight is 20/20 vision!”
Kyk bietjie na hierdie boeke.
Groete,
Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: Ostara Publications
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:26 PM
Subject: World War II: The Bombing of Civilians
Two new books from Ostara Publications, dealing withe the vexed topic of the
saturation bombing of civilians during World War II.
140
Astonishing reading.....
• Bombing Vindicated
By J. M. Spaight. Published in 1944 by a former British Principal Secretary of the Air
Ministry as a response to increasing discontent in Britain with the Allied bombing of
German cities, this book set out to justify the saturation bombing of civilians.
Reflecting official British government policy, it states clearly that the idea to saturate
bomb civilian targets was initiated by the British in May 1940, and that Hitler
opposed this concept and refused to retaliate for months while the German cities
were bombed, hoping that “Churchill would come to his senses.”
This belief is dismissed as “stupid” by Spaight, who went on to describe as
“pacifists” and “socialists” those Britons who objected to the bombing of civilians.
The British bombers were designed to bomb cities, he said, while the “Teutonic
mind” never even considered such a policy, and instead viewed an air force merely
as a tool to “blast open” a path for attacking armies.
The German air force, he pointed out, was never used for anything else until ordered
to retaliate against the British campaign.
“Whatever Hitler wanted or did not want, he most assuredly did not want the
mutual bombing to go on. He had not wanted it ever to begin. He wanted it, having
begun, to be called off. There was ample evidence that he did not want the latter
kind of bombing to become the practice. He had done his best to have it banned by
international agreement.”
This is a shocking reminder of the horror of war which provides a fascinating insight
into the brutal psychology of the time. An exact reproduction of the wartime
original.
Paperback (£7.95) and Hardcover (£13.95) (plus local shipping).
• Advance to Barbarism
By F.J.P. Veale. Who started the mass bombing of civilians in World War II? This
book proves, with clinical detail, that it was the Allies, and not the Germans, who
started the “blitz” and once underway, carried it to the most extreme murderous
ends.
To add insult to injury, at the end of the war, the Allies then arrested German
military leaders and put them on show trials for responding to these Allied-initiated
atrocities.
141
The author, a legally-trained expert, shows how European conflicts prior to 1939 had
an unwritten agreement to avoid involving civilians in warfare and gives several
historical examples where victors exercised non-vindictive restraint in dealing with
the vanquished. This code of conduct, however, vanished in an orgy of hatred in the
1939–1945 conflict, particularly with the deliberate Allied bombing of civilian, non-
military areas of cities.
Veale is meticulous in his arguments and cites cabinet meeting transcripts, memoirs
of those involved in the decision-making, and many other sources to prove that the
British and Americans were the first and the best at killing innocent civilians—and
that if there had been any justice at Nuremburg, the accused would have included
the Allied leaders as well.
He points out that an appalling precedent had been set by the Nuremburg Trials, for
the judgments meant that in any future war the admirals, generals and air marshals
of the defeated side could expect to be condemned to death for obeying the orders of
their government. In addition, the prosecutors were judge and jury in their own
cases.
Frederick J. Veale (died 1976) was a professional soldier, a prolific writer, and a
regular contributor to the famous Nineteenth Century and After monthly review.
In addition to articles on economic and historical subjects, Frederick Veale
wrote Lives of Lenin (1932) and Frederick the Great (1935).
Cover images: Black and white image: German civilians, killed in the mass bombing
raids on Dresden, February 1945, heaped up for cremation. Color image: The
present-day memorial on the same site in the city. The writing reads: “This is a place
of admonition, of remembrance and commemoration, where the bodies of thousands
of victims of the air raids of the 13th and 14th February, 1945, were cremated. At that
time, the horrors of war, in Germany and all over the world, came into our city.”
Aquila Muscas Non Capit
Len Els - GROEP 7, R129 (plus R30 posgeld)
Adv. Len Els SC volg met sy bundel Aquila Muscas Non Capit in die voetspore van
oudregter Kees van Dijkhorst deur te bou aan ’n groeiende versameling
regsmemoirs wat die aard van die regsberoep noukeurig uitbeeld.
Vir baie mense is die reg die soort drama waaroor hulle in rillers lees en baie jong
prokureurs en advokate begin hul loopbaan met ’n verromantiseerde beeld van die
regsberoep.
142
Regsmemoirs gee die leser wat onbekend met die reg is insae in hoe die regsberoep
werklik daar uitsien: ’n menslike konstruksie wat deur feilbare mense bestuur word,
en daarom bevat dit al die menslike tekortkominge.
Els gebruik spesifiek ’n humoristiese inslag in sy bundel en dit bestaan uit ’n
versameling stories van werklike gebeure en onbekende feite. Van die verhale het al
regsfolklore onder regspraktisyns geword, terwyl ander unieke belewenisse is.
Skuilname word gebruik wanneer na die karakters verwys word ten einde
identiteite – en soms reputasies – te beskerm.
Die bundel bestaan rofweg uit twee dele: eerstens is daar ’n deel humoristiese
vertellings en ’n tweede deel, getiteld “Galgehumor”, bevat, soos die titel verklap, ’n
versameling swart humor.
Die kortheid en ekonomiese woordgebruik laat baie van die verhale in die genre van
vonkfiksie val en maak elke storie maklik verteerbaar. Die verhale verveel die leser
nie met onnodige besonderhede nie. Ek dink my kollegas sal saamstem dat die
ingewikkeldhede van die reg erg vervelig kan raak. Dit is soms so erg dat ’n vriend
my eendag aangeraai het om as ’n kuur vir slaaploosheid voor slaaptyd oud-Engelse
hofuitsprake te lees.
In alle billikheid moet ’n mens ook na die tekortkominge van die bundel verwys.
Hier en daar het ’n paar spel- en tipografiese foute ingesluip. ’n Verdere punt van
kritiek kan wees dat die betekenis in die titel, Aquila Muscas Non Capit (’n
algemene regsuitdrukking wat beteken dat ’n belangrike persoon hom nie met
onbenullighede besig hou nie), vir die nie-regskenner verlore kan wees.
Lesers moet ook daarop bedag wees dat die verhale werklike hofverrigtinge uitbeeld
en dat die soms aanstootlike kragwoorde wat deur getuies en regsbeamptes gebesig
word deel van die verhale is. Sensitiewe lesers moet daarom maar liewer nie die
werk lees nie.
In die geheel is die boek beslis die lees werd. Dit is in gemaklike taal geskryf en
probeer nie pretensieus wees nie. Die regsterme wat gebruik word, word
verduidelik sodat die leser nie met ’n regswoordeboek hoef te sit om die verhale te
verstaan nie. Ek kan voorstel dat jy die boek saam met jou in jou tas ronddra vir
wanneer jy ’n oomblik het om ’n storie te lees. Dit is net so ’n goeie remedie vir ’n
stresvolle dag as ’n stewige dop.
* Martiens Labuschagne is ’n regsadviseur van Pretoria.
* Bestel die boek by dié adres: [email protected].
143
file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/2013-05-19-regsketse-stresdoepa-nes-dop.htm
Die SAW in die Grensoorlog: Nag van die lang lesse
2013-05-25 23:28: Pieter Malan
Tydens die Grensoorlog was ons generaals ‘naïef en skroomvallig’, het ’n voorste historikus
aan Pieter Malan gesê.
Generaals van die destydse Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag (SAW) loop deur onder sterk
kritiek in ’n nuwe boek oor die Grensoorlog wat pas verskyn het.
Die joernalis en krygshistorikus dr. Leopold Scholtz skryf in Die SAW in die
Grensoorlog (wat pas by Tafelberg verskyn het) dat Suid-Afrikaanse generaals, veral
teen die einde van die oorlog, strategies onbeholpe was en, teenstrydig met militêre
doktrine, gedurig oor die skouer van frontoffisiere geloer het.
“Watter opsies ons ook al aan hulle (die generaals) voorgelê het, hulle het altyd die
k*kste een gekies,” het ’n ervare gevegsbevelvoerder (wat naamloos wou bly) aan
Scholtz gesê.
In die inleiding tot sy boek skryf Scholtz: “Daar is een ding wat dié boek nié is nie:
Dit is nie polities korrek nie.” Hy sê baie van die kommentaar oor die oorlog ly
onder twee uiterstes: Aan die een kant is daar linkse politici, akademici en joernaliste
wat alles wat die vorige regering en die SAW gedoen het voor die voet veroordeel,
“meestal sonder om hul kritiek op behoorlike navorsing te grond”. Daar is ook
diegene wat “alles wat die Suid-Afrikaanse weermag gedoen het verromantiseer en
enige kritiek as verraad beskou”.
Dit is veral laasgenoemde groep vir wie dele van Scholtz se boek as ’n skok kan kom.
Scholtz het die afgelope week aan Rapport gesê hoewel hy probeer het om “nie
mense seer te maak nie” kan hy hom nie laat lei deur ander se eise nie. “I have to call
it as I see it.”
Hy sê talle senior generaals en politici het “nooit gebodder om ’n behoorlike studie
van oorlog te maak nie”.
Hy vertel van senior generaals wat hom “in die oë gekyk en erken het” hulle het
nooit die vernaamste 20ste-eeuse kenner van taktiese oorlogvoering, Basil Liddell
Hart, gelees nie.
“Nee, ek gaan nie name noem nie, van hulle leef nog,” skerm hy. Die enigste
generaal wat hy wel bereid is om te identifiseer, is genl. Kat Liebenberg, die hoof
van die leër tydens die laaste twee jaar van die oorlog. Hy is in 1998 oorlede. Hy sê
144
in sy boek Liebenberg, ’n oudrecce, het nie konvensionele oorlogvoering verstaan
nie.
Operasie Savannah, toe die Suid-Afrikaners in 1975 kort digby Luanda gaan draai
het, was ’n “debakel. Nie soseer op taktiese en operasionele vlak nie, maar strategies,
die feit dat ons sonder ’n behoorlike doel ingeneuk het. Die feit dat ons ingesuig is,
dat die gebeure met ons weggehardloop het.”
Hy sê in 1987 en 1988 (met Operasies Modulêr, Hooper en Packer) is al dié lesse by
die venster uitgegooi en presies dieselfde foute gemaak.
Hy beskryf SAW-generaals se benadering in dié tyd as “naïef” en “skroomvallig”.
Dit was naïef om die teenwoordigheid van 6.1 Meg, ’n eenheid met 1 000 man en 130
Ratel-gevegsvoertuie, in Angola te probeer ontken. “Dit is waar ons
geloofwaardigheid heeltemal by die venster uit is.”
Daarna is die weermag, net soos in 1975, inkrementeel in die konflik ingesuig sonder
’n behoorlike politieke doelwit.
“Ek verstaan hoe dit gebeur het, maar ek dink hulle moes gedagtig aan die foute wat
in 1975 gemaak is twee keer gedink het.”
Genl.maj. Roland de Vries, ’n voormalige bevelvoerder van 6.1 Meg, het aan Scholtz
gesê hy was vroeg reeds bekommerd dat die Suid-Afrikaners se mobiliteit deur ’n
“ewig stywer wordende lus” ingeperk word en dat hulle uiteindelik in ’n slagyster
teen die Cuito-rivier sou beland.
“Ek het my ongemak ’n paar keer aan die hoës genoem. Uiteindelik het ek besef ek
moet my mond hou as ek nog in bevordering belangstel.”
Scholtz sê anders as wat voorheen geskryf is, was die generaals – nie die politici nie
– daarvoor te blameer.
Ná ’n besoek aan die fronthoofkwartier op 28 September 1987 het oudpres. PW
Botha ’n “amper blanko tjek” aan die weermag gegee om met alle mag tot hul
beskikking ’n teenoffensief teen Fapla (die Angolese leër) te onderneem.
“Tog bly die generaals skroomvallig. Gegewe die opdrag van PW moet jy gaan sit en
beplan wat die beste manier is om die politieke opdrag uit te voer.” As dit beteken jy
moet weswaarts na Cuito Cuanavale opruk en Fapla en Kubane se “ligte en water
gaan afsny”, soos sommige frontoffisiere wou, moes jy dit gedoen het, sê Scholtz.
Scholtz gee toe die Suid-Afrikaanse veldtog het tóg oorhoofs gesien grotendeels sy
doelstellings bereik. “Ons doel was om Unita as faktor te laat oorleef. Dít het ons
gedoen.”
145
Genl. Jannie Geldenhuys, destyds die hoof van die leër, het Vrydag aan Rapport gesê
hy wil nie oor die boek kommentaar lewer voordat hy dit gelees het nie. Hy sê die
SAW het tog die oorlog gewen. “Pleks daarvan om klem te lê op ons foute, waarom
vra iemand nie hoe ons dit reggekry het teen so ’n oormag nie?”
• Wie was die beste en suksesvolste bevelvoerder in die Grensoorlog?
Die krygshistorikus dr. Leopold Scholtz twyfel nie vir ’n oomblik nie: “Loshande
Roland de Vries. Hy staan soos ’n reus bo die ander uit.”
De Vries was tydens die 1980’s bevelvoerder van 6.1 Meg, ’n konvensionele
gevegseenheid wat hoofsaaklik uit Ratel-gevegsvoertuie bestaan het. Tot die einde
van die oorlog het hy ’n belangrike beplanningsrol gespeel.
Scholtz stem saam dat De Vries die genl. Christiaan de Wet van die Bosoorlog was –
iemand wat die voordeel van mobiliteit in oorlogvoering besef het. “In ’n sekere sin
is beweging ’n doel op sigself. Maak die slagveld so vloeibaar moontlik, was ons
leuse,” het De Vries onder meer geskryf.
Scholtz sê De Vries se gevegsplanne was altyd “van die boonste rak”. Een voorbeeld
is die een waarmee hy in 1987 ’n Fapla-brigade oos van Cuito Cuanavale se planne
gefnuik het. Hy het sy kennis van krygsgeskiedenis benut en sy plan gegrond op die
sogenaamde “Gaza Gallop” toe veldmaarskalk Erwin Rommel by Tobruk met die
Geallieerdes afgereken het. De Vries het sy plan die “Chambinga Gallop” genoem.
Aan Kubaanse kant was die beste bevelvoerder Fidel Castro, sê Scholtz. “Dit is eers
nadat hy persoonlike beheer oor die gevegte vanuit sy bunker in Havana oorgeneem
het dat dinge vir die Kubane op die grond begin verander het.”
http://www.rapport.co.za/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Nag-van-die-lang-lesse-20130525
Leopold Scholtz - Mei 26, 2013 om 08:54
Vriende, gaan lees asseblief eers die boek om my volle, genuanseerde mening oor
die oorlog te kry. Moenie laat waai op grond van 'n koerantonderhoud nie. Groetnis,
Leopold Scholtz.
Jannie Otto oor twee boeke:
More Hennie,
Wat ‘n voorreg en genade om vanoggend vir jou te kon more sê!!!
Hennie, ek het verlede jaar op 15 September tydens die “skaapbraai” [Oud-SAP-
Liefdadigheidstrust se jaarlikse braai] die boek oor Genl. Mike [Geldenhuys] gekoop.
146
Ek wou dit baie graag lees, maar altyd ander “urgent” goed wat my besig gehou het.
Verlede naweek het ek dit begin lees. Wat my baie getref het is dat Genl. Mike 53
jaar jonk was toe hy Kommissaris geword het. Ek is nou 55 jaar jonk en wat het ek al
vir my Here, my land en my medemens gedoen. Wat ‘n voorreg om saam met jou en
Willie [du Plessis] by die Genl. en Mev. Annatjie [Geldenhuys] te kon braai. Ek is so
dankbaar dat die Genl. oor wie die boek gaan, nog leef en dat ek hom persoonlik kan
ken.
Ek wil elke persoon wat na die waarheid soek, aanbeveel om die boek te lees, nie net
te koop nie!
Hennie,
Tweedens het ek ‘n ander persoon ontmoet wat ‘n groot verskil in my lewe maak
sedert verlede jaar. Hy was deur ‘n gemeenskaplike vriendin aan my voorgestel. Sy
het aangehou: “Jannie jy moet Myan ontmoet”. Dan sê ek maar ek is nie ‘n Blou Bul
nie, maar ‘n Stormer! Myan Subrayan is die skrywer van Pierre Spies (Kapt van die
Blou Bulle) se boek “MORE THAN RUGBY”. Ciska het egter aangehou totdat ek
hom ontmoet het. Myan was ‘n Hindu wat tot bekering gekom het. Hy het nou ‘n
boek in Afrikaans geskryf : ‘n BOER MAAK ‘n PLAN MAAR JY HET ‘n INDIER
NODIG OM DIT TE VERKOOP (Humorously written in Afrikaans to inspire and
encourage South Africans with a message of hope). Ons is nou groot vriende en ek
147
help hom met die verkoop van sy boeke, want sy lewe en die inhoud van sy boeke
gee my baie hoop vir ons land. Seëngroete vir al ons lesers.
Jannie Otto [082-851-6204] Eagle Vision Toere/Tours
Ander publikasies
• Anglo Boere-Oorlog: Angels of Mercy: Chris Schoeman
• Servamus
• Marlantes, Karl: What is is like to go to War
• Van Heyningen, E: Concentration Camps
From The Military Bookshop: Johan van den Berg (Kaapstad)
• Eye of the Firestorm
Strength lies in Mobility
ISBN: 978-0-9921912-5-2
Paperback, 744 pages
Price: R 295,00
Roland de Vries may be mentioned in one breath with South African military giants
like Generals Christiaan de Wet or Dan Pienaar. This book belongs on the shelf of
everyone interested in the warfare War, as well as military professionals wanting to
know how mobile was practiced by the SADF. Dr. Leopold Scholtz
For his battlefield exploits and tactical astuteness, Roland de Vries has rightfully
been called the “Rommel of the SADF.” In this forthright, warts-and-all but
compassionate autobiography – crammed with fascinating military detail, yet
148
unashamedly emotional – he recounts the fascinating story of the transformation of a
small, colonial army into, pound-for-pound, the best fighting force on the planet.
After assimilating the principles of such diverse military geniuses as Napoleon, Sun
Tzu, Heinz Güderian and Boer general, Christiaan de Wet, he and a band of daring
young commanders tossed aside military textbooks and developed their own
doctrine of Mobile Warfare, South African-style.
De Vries’s career bracketed the 22-year Border War and is irrevocably interwoven
with the machine he helped create – the incomparable Ratel Infantry Combat Vehicle
– and his beloved regiment, the renowned 61 Mech, as they are channelled through
the funnel of history towards a final, climactic showdown against overwhelming
odds in the mud and dust of southern Angola near a nondescript village called Cuito
Cuanavale…
• Die SAW in die Grensoorlog 1966-1989
• The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989
English Edition / Afrikaans Edition
Author: Leopold Scholtz
ISBN: 9780624054085
Price (incl. VAT): R 350.00
Format: Soft cover, 544pp
Die SAW in die Grensoorlog 1966-1989 / The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989
offers the first comprehensive analysis of the South African Defence Force’s role in
the Border War in Namibia and Angola since the end of this conflict in 1989. It
investigates the causes of the Border War and follows its progress and escalation in
the 1980s. It also considers the broader international context against which this
conflict took place.
The author brings vital new information to light gained from documents which have
since been declassified. This includes documents from the State Security Council, the
department of foreign affairs, the SADF itself, as well as from the Cuban and Soviet
governments. It sheds light on the objectives of the National Party government in
both Angola and the former Southwest Africa, the SADF’s strategy in the war and its
cross-border operations in Angola.
To sketch as complete a picture as possible of individual operations, the author not
only interviewed several high-ranking SADF officers, but also included information
from the Cuban archives and testimonies of Cuban and Russian officers. All the
major operations and battles are discussed, including Savannah, Reindeer, Sceptic,
Protea and Moduler, as well as the battles of Cassinga and Cuito Cuanavale.
149
Where a battle had no clear winner, the author asks what the aim was of each of the
parties involved and whether they succeeded in achieving that goal. In this way, he
offers fresh perspectives on long-running and often controversial debates, for
instance on who won the battle of Cuito Cuanavale. In the last chapter, the author
looks at the objectives of all the parties involved in the war and whether they
achieved them. In the process he tries to answer the all-important question: Who
won the Border War?
BSAP: Special Branch War
• Slaughter in the Rhodesian Bush, Southern Matabeleland, 1976–1980
Ed Bird
ISBN: 978-1-920143-74-9
Hardback
320 pages
100 colour & b/w images, maps
R350.00
A litany of incidental slaughter …
This searing account primarily covers Ed Bird’s Special Branch (SB) service in the
Beitbridge area of southern Matabeleland, 1976–1980, encompassing Operations
Repulse and Tangent of the bitter Rhodesian ‘bush war’. Joining the British South
Africa Police (BSAP) in 1964, Bird cut his teeth on Selous Scout ‘pseudo’ operations
during Operation Hurricane in 1974–1976, so was well equipped to deal with the
insidious escalation of the ZANLA and ZIPRA campaigns in the south of the
country. A meticulous recorder, Bird implemented and maintained the Beitbridge SB
incident log, and it is this diary of terror and death upon which Bird’s account
hangs, interspersed with detailed accounts of firefights, ambushes, landmine blasts,
ZANLA executions, traitors and assassinations, SB ‘dirty tricks’ and ‘turning’
terrorists. Although first and foremost an intelligence-gatherer, Bird thrived on
combat and against all protocol inveigled his way onto Fire Force operations and as
an airmobile MAG machine-gunner on converted Police Reserve Air Wing aircraft.
Highly decorated for gallantry but overlooked for promotion, Bird’s BSAP career
became victim to spurious political expedience.
The Rhodesia Regiment
• From Boer War to Bush War 1899-1980
Author: Alexandre Binda
242 X 168mm, 424pp, plus 48pp of pics in b/w and colour, maps, R625,00
1st edition. 300 (few left) copies of special limited numbered edition.
All signed by author
No's 1 to 50 richly bound in half leather, numbered 1 to 50.
150
No's 51 to 300 case bound with dust jacket, numbered 51 to 300 (Two left: Nos 138 &
137 of only 300 copies)
ISBN/Bar code: 978-1-919854-42-7
2nd edition
Trade softcover
242 X 168mm, 424 pp
plus 48pp of pics in b/w and colour, maps,
ISBN/Bar code: 978-1-919854-52-6 (OUT OF STOCK)
The Rhodesia Regiment fought for the Queen and then the King in the Boer War, the
King in German West Africa, German East Africa, the Western Front and finally in
the Salonica campaign during the Great War of 1914-1918, then for the King in
World War II on all fronts on land, sea and in the air. During the 1960s until 1980,
abandoned by their friends and former allies, they fought invading insurgent
guerrillas who were well armed by Soviet and Chinese communists until Great
Britain forced a handover of the country toZANU-PF terrorists led by Robert
Mugabe who has since brought the country to a state of ruin.
SAAF's Border War
• The South African Air Force in Combat, 1966–1989 Africa@War Volume 8
By Peter Baxter
Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-920143-71-8
80 pages
Illustrated throughout, including 16-page colour section, with 20 colour aircraft
profiles, ideal for modellers
R185.00
South African Mirages and Cuban MiG-21s dogfighting over Cuito Cuanavale, the
largest tank battle on African soil since El Alamein; Puma troopships shot out of the
skies by Strela missiles and RPG-7 rockets; Alouette III gunships hovering
menacingly above Koevoet tracker-combat teams as they close in for the kill;
Hercules and Transall transports disgorging their loads of Parabats over Cassinga;
suicidal helicopter hot-extractions of Recce operators deep in enemy territory; and a
lone Alouette pilot who disobeyed orders and under intense ground fire evacuated a
critically wounded soldier … such is the story of the South African Air Force, the
SAAF, over the 23-year period 1966–1989, the period of conflict that became known
as the ‘Border War’. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the SAAF was
effectively South Africa’s first line of defence against Soviet expansionism in
southern Africa. That the Soviets, through their surrogates—the Cuban military,
Angola’s FAPLA and Namibia’s SWAPO—sought a communist regime in South
Africa is indisputable, as too was the SAAF’s skill, quality, determination and
151
capability to defeat the best Soviet air defences of the time. This account covers all
the major operations that the SAAF was involved in, from Operation Blouwildebees,
the opening salvo of the conflict at Omgulumbashe, South West Africa in 1966 to the
final curtain, Operation Merlyn, the so-called April Fool’s Day ‘war’ of 1989 when
the SAAF and Koevoet, almost alone, frustrated SWAPO’s last throw of the dice
with its illegal invasion of South West Africa.
In this account, making reference to all the principal operations of the war, Baxter
examines and brings to life the squadrons and aviators that fought in both counter-
insurgency and conventional warfare roles. Besides an extensive selection of rare
photographs, the book features a comprehensive section on camouflage and
markings and 6 pages of colour aircraft profiles and insignia by noted SAAF
authority William Marshall, making this title especially useful for modellers
Other War Books
• The Hot Cold War: The USSR In Southern Africa
Author: Vladimir Shubin
ISBN: 9781869141554
Price (incl. VAT): R 225.00
Format: Soft cover, 320pp
This book analyses the causes of armed conflicts in Southern Africa during the Cold
War, tracing the influence of the foreign powers involved in the region during this
period and their relationship to local movements and governments.
• ONS WAS DAAR / WE WERE THERE*
* The Afrikaans edition, “Ons was Daar”, is out of print – only the English edition
“We Were There” is still in print.
Jannie Geldenhuys (ed.) 2011 ;Kraal Publishers ; ISBN: 9780981400983 ;R350,00
• Book review: Dr Leopold Scholtz**
Judging by the number of books published - either on paper or on the internet - the
(probably mostly white) public’s interest in the so-called Border War is ostensibly at
an all-time high. By far most of the publications are written by ex-soldiers who
themselves participated in the war, but academics are also increasingly turning their
attention in that direction.
Some of the participants simply have a story to tell, and have no ulterior motive.
War is a brutal business, and putting your memories in writing is often therapeutic.
However, others have a political and ideological axe to grind. They either want to
“prove” that they were on the side of the angels, or that they won the war. This, by
the way, also applies to some academics, who apparently find it extremely difficult
152
to remain dispassionate when discussing the war and who are now doing
everything they can to “prove” that their preferred side were the “good guys” and
that the “others” were badly beaten.
It is almost as if the war is being fought all over again, although this time not with
bullets or shells, but with words.
This is a pity, because these writings often obscure more than enlighten our
understanding of this very important episode in the history of Southern Africa.
It was, therefore, with some anticipation that one waited for this book, which
General Jannie Geldenhuys, Chief of the South African Defence Force (1985-1990),
brought together. He told his own story in his memoirs (Dié wat wen: ‘n Generaal se
storie uit ‘n era van oorlog en vrede), which appeared for the first time in 1993, but
he apparently felt the need to counter what he believes to be misrepresentations and
lies about the SADF’s role in the war more forcefully.
One cannot differ with the necessity as such. In 2007, about the time when
Geldenhuys felt that he had had enough, the governing ANC came with a series of
speeches, articles, seminars, even a parliamentary debate, to commemorate the
SADF’s alleged defeat at the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. For instance, in a brochure
published by Parliament about the commemoration, it was stated that the SADF’s
capture of Cuito Cuanavale would have meant quite probably, also the end of
Angola’s existence as an independent country. It went on: “The victory at Cuito
Cuanavale for the liberation forces and their Cuban compatriots was therefore
decisive in consolidating Angola’s independence and achieving that of Namibia”.
Therefore, when reflecting on the events, it is not only the brutality of the former
regime that should be recalled, but the global solidarity displayed by nations far
beyond our borders, which eventually led to the fall of the apartheid regime”.
(Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, Project
Synopsis)
Quite apart from the question whether Parliament as an institution should distribute
what amounts to the viewpoint of a political party, albeit the governing one, it was
opinions like these that brought Geldenhuys to the decision that enough was
enough, that he had to do something to counter it. This book is the result.
The book consists of numerous “I was there” stories. The whole spectrum of the
Border War is covered, from Operation Savannah through the counterinsurgency
war in Namibia to the various cross-border operations into Angola.
Some of the writers were troops or non-commissioned officers (NCO). These
writings suffer from the same problem that characterises every war account at
grassroots level in that the writer looks at “his” war, so to speak, through a keyhole.
153
He sees what is immediately in front of him and is unable to furnish a perspective on
the broader picture. This is not meant negatively, because there is simply no way in
which a private or corporal (or even a lieutenant) can know which factors are
driving the generals and colonels whose decisions influence his life.
At the same time, the writers convey a significant picture of what happened at
grassroots level. War is, after all, much more than the pushing around of battalions
or brigades on a map like pawns on a chessboard. War induces intense fear, heroism,
boredom, physical endurance, monotonous food, dirt, horrible sights and smells,
intense heat, thousands of flies, post-traumatic stress and nightmares.
Many of the contributions in this book tell something about that. Moreover, they
often make the same point one encounters in other similar accounts about other
wars: if you were not there, you will never really understand how it was and how it
affected people.
It forces anyone who was not there to be humble when judging the war.
The participants also clearly want to make sense of what happened there.
They need to emphasise that their suffering was not for nothing, that they did
something good, and that they won. They need to feel proud of what they did.
Understandably. The accounts may not only be useful to the military historian, but
also to the psychologist studying the aftermath of war on participants.
It is a pity that all these “thumbnail pictures” are never properly integrated into an
over-arching history of the war. However, given the fragmentary nature of these
kinds of contributions, it could not have been otherwise.
The main purpose of the book however is political and ideological. Above all,
Geldenhuys wants to counter the propaganda emanating from the ANC and Cuba.
The reviewer has a certain understanding and even sympathy with this objective.
Political propaganda is not known for its truthfulness, even when it is repeated by
academics who should know better.
Against this background, the book is complemented throughout by a series of
viewpoints by either Geldenhuys himself or other senior officers near to the
decision-making process at the time.
[End of Extract]
154
** Leopold Scholtz, Military Historian, European correspondent of the Media24
newspapers and Research Fellow in the Department of History at the University of
Stellenbosch.
• Four Ball One Tracer
Commanding Executives Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone
By Roelf van Heerden as told to Andrew Hudson
Hardback, 234 x 156mm; 100 colour & b/w photos, maps, 320 pages; ISBN: 978-1-
920143-66-4 ; R295.00
Brutally honest and devoid of hyperbole, this is Roelf van Heerden’s Executive
Outcomes
Unapologetic, unassuming and forthright, the combat exploits of Executive
Outcomes (EO) in Angola and Sierra Leone are recounted for the first time by a
battlefield commander who was physically on the ground during all their major
combat operations.
From fighting UNITA for the critical oil installations and diamond fields of Angola
to the offensive against the RUF in Sierra Leone to capture the Kono diamond fields
and the palace coup which ousted Captain Valentine Strasser, van Heerden was at
the forefront.
He tells of the tragedy of child soldiers, illegal diamond mining and the curse of
government soldiers who turn on their own people; he tells of RUF atrocities, the
harrowing attempt to rescue a downed EO pilot and the poignant efforts to recover
the remains of EO soldiers killed in action.
Coupled with van Heerden’s gripping exposé, hitherto unpublished photographs,
order of battle charts and battle maps offer unprecedented access to the major
actions as they took place on the ground during the heydays of EO.
• Congo Unravelled
Military Operations from Independence to the Mercenary Revolt, 1960–68
Africa@War Volume 6;By Andrew Hudson Paperback; 72 pages; 297 x 210mm
Illustrated throughout, including 8-page colour section;ISBN: 978-1-920143-65-7
R185.00
“Clearly and comprehensively explains the intrigues of the Congo wars” –Colonel
Mike Hoare Post-independence events in the Republic of the Congo are a veritable
Gordian knot.
155
The ambitions of Congolese political leaders, Cold War rivalry, Pan-Africanism,
Belgium’s continued economic interests in the country’s mineral wealth, and the
strategic perceptions of other southern African states all conspired to wrack Africa’s
second largest country with uprisings, rebellions and military interventions for
almost a decade. Congo Unravelled solves the intractable complexity of this violent
period by dispassionately outlining the sequence of political and military events that
took place in the troubled country.
The reader is systematically taken through the first military attempts to stabilize the
country after independence and the two distinguishing military campaigns of the
decade - the United Nations military operations (Opération des Nations Unies au
Congo, or ONUC) to end the secession of the Katanga Province, and the Dragon
Operations led by Belgian paratroopers, supported by the US Air Force, launched to
end the insurgency in the east of the country - are chronicled in detail.
Finally, the mercenary revolt - an event that tainted the reputation of the modern
mercenary in Africa - is described. Lesser known military events - Irish UN forces
cut off from the outside world by Katangese gendarmes and mercenaries, and a
combined military operation in which Belgian paratroopers were dropped from US
Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and supported by a mercenary ground force to
achieve humanitarian ends - go far toward resolving the enigma surrounding post-
independence Congo.
• Mad Dog Killers: The Story of a Congo Mercenary
By Smith, Ivan
Paperback; ISBN: 978-1-920143-51-0; 160 pages, 234 x 156mm, 40 b/w photos;R185.00
Ivan Smith, a mercenary volunteer in the Armée Nationale Congolais, came to
witness and understand fear
During that long, hot summer of 1964, Ivan Smith, a mercenary volunteer in the
Armée Nationale Congolais, came to witness and understand fear, the law of the
jungle and the lust for killing that permeates Africa.
A member of ‘Mad Mike’ Hoare’s 5 Commando Group, he and his companions were
nominally soldiers but there was little in the way of campaigns, tactics and
discipline. Of conventional warfare there was none.
Loyalty to country or unit did not exist and the fear of death was the only
commander. Many more mercenaries died from an accidental discharge, in a
drunken shoot-out or from a bullet in the back than were ever killed in action by
Simba rebels.
156
Nearly half a century later, Ivan Smith re-lives the nightmare that was the
Congo.
• ISLAND AT WAR: ROBBEN ISLAND 1939-45
Author: Col Lionel Crook
PAPERBACK, BOARDS, A4-Format, illustr.,
344 pp, R250,00
Robben Island, lying at the entrance to Table Bay, was one of the last defensive sites
to be developed in the long history of coast artillery in South Africa, and in the
Peninsula area in particular. From 1940, positioned at the forefront of the Table Bay
defences, it was converted into a veritable fortress. To do justice in documenting the
role that the island played, it is also necessary to describe the other batteries of the
defences of the Cape Peninsula. Not well-known is the fact that the Cape Peninsula
was one of the most heavily defended coastal zones during World War Two.
Currently Robben Island boasts the only semi-fully restored 9.2in coastal gun (fully-
functional, non-firing) in the southern hemisphere and possibly in the world.
• Tumult in The Clouds
Stories from the South African Air Force, 1920–2010
Dean Wingrin; Paperback; 388 pages; 130 colour b/w photos; 8 maps;
ISBN: 978-1-920143-74-9; R320.00
The South African Air Force (SAAF), formed on 1 February 1920, is the second oldest
air force in the Commonwealth. The air arm played a major role in securing victory
for the Allies during the Second World War, in the 1948/49 Berlin Airlift, and in
Korea in the 1950s. The SAAF assisted Rhodesia in the 1960s and ’70s, made a major
contribution to the ‘Border’ or ‘Bush’ war in South West Africa and Angola,
participated in the transition to a new democracy in South Africa and continuously
supports South African peace missions in Africa. It has also assisted in countless
relief and rescue missions in southern Africa throughout this entire period.
However, the SAAF is not just about aircraft and ordnance; it is made up of people
and it is in this compilation that these people, airmen and ground crew alike, find
their voice. These are their stories, all told in the first person by the actual
participants as unvarnished, unabbreviated and intensely immediate and personal
recollections. Through their stories of heroism, duty, adventure and tragedy, the
reader will follow the history of the SAAF from 1939 to the present day. To
complement the stories, the final chapter includes a collection of squadron pub songs
from the Second World War, Korea and the Border War.
• From Addis to the Aosta Valley
A South African in the North African and Italian Campaigns 1940–1945
By Keith Ford
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Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-920143-72-5
192 pages
50 b/w illustrations & maps
R250.00
Based on the author’s diaries, From Addis to the Aosta Valley is the account of Keith
Ford’s service in the Second World War from 1940–1945. As a gunner, he was
deployed ‘up north’ to East Africa and experienced his first taste of action with the
1st South African Division during the invasion of Italian Somaliland; thereafter he
was involved in the Abyssinian campaign and was with the victorious Allies when
Addis Ababa was liberated.
Then came North Africa and the dark days of the Desert campaign as a Gun Position
Officer’s Assistant on 25-pounders with the 1st South African Brigade: from Taieb el
Essem, the defensive box south of Sidi Rezegh, to Bir el Gubi, Bardia, Tobruk and
Gazala, and to the annihilation of his battery by German panzers at Agheila.
Retrained as a Bofors anti-aircraft gunner, he was with the Eighth Army at El
Alamein. On posting to Italy, his Light Anti-Aircraft Unit 1 became D Company
Witwatersrand De la Rey Battalion and dug in on the 1944 Winter Line.
He saw action during the assault and capture of Caprara, the advance to the river Po
and finally, St Bernard’s Pass in the Aosta valley.
This is the story of an ordinary soldier, but one who has a keen eye for detail for the
countryside and people around him. He brings a sense of immediacy and pathos to
his writing through his relationships with his comrades and the civilians he
encounters, particularly with the Italian women for whom he retains a special place
in his heart.
• The Great Trek
Escape from British Rule: The Boer Exodus from the Cape Colony, 1836
Robin Binckes. Paperback: 80 b/w illustrations, maps, 584 pages
ISBN: 978-1-920143-68-8 ; R320.00
‘Until the lions are taught to write, history will always be written by the hunters’
In the early planning stages of Freedom Park Robin Binckes participated as a
member of the history sub-committee. The amount of debate and argument, much of
it heated, astounded him. Practically every event discussed was interpreted from
diametrically differing viewpoints. One of the most controversial topics was the
Great Trek, the 1836 Boer exodus from the Cape Colony. Traditionally writers on the
158
subject have covered the event from a perspective not only of ‘white history’ but
predominantly of ‘Afrikaner history’. It has always been seen as ‘an Afrikaner
event’. It was anything but. As the Great Trek and the events leading up to it
involved every section of the population—Zulu, Sotho, Ndebele, Xhosa, Khoisan,
Khoikhoi, Coloured, British, English-speaking South African and Boer—it is time to
portray the trek in that light, in the context of a unbiased, modern South Africa.
Like most history the dots are all connected; it is impossible to separate the Great
Trek from events which took place as far back as the Portuguese explorers because
those early events shaped the backdrop to the causes of the Great Trek. Most writers
have specialized in the trek itself whereas Binckes has adopted a broader approach
that studies the impact of the earlier white incursions and migrations—Portuguese,
Dutch, French and British—on southern Africa, to create a better understanding of
the trek and its causes. Drawing heavily on eyewitness accounts wherever possible,
he has consolidated these with the perspectives of leading historians, the final
product being an objective and comprehensive record of one of the seminal events in
South African history. This book shows that the Afrikaner was, is, and always will
be, an important player in South African society, but it shows him as part of a bigger
picture. The author distances himself from the noble characters stereotyped for the
past two centuries and portrays them in their true light: wonderful, courageous
people with human feelings, strengths and failings.
160
POSTAGE & PACKING ON ALL BOOKS EXTRA
Johan van den Berg: The Military Bookshop
P O Box 15030, PANORAMA 7506, South Africa
Tel/Fax: 021-9397923
Mobile Ph: 082-5790386
Email: [email protected]
Cassinga-slag in fokus
Kommentaar en ontleding
Maandag 13 Mei 2013
Dit is vandeesmaand 35 jaar gelede dat die omstrede Slag van Cassinga plaasgevind
het, toe Suid-Afrikaanse valskermtroepe ’n Swapo-kamp in Angola aangeval het.
Swapo beweer dit was ’n vlugtelingkamp waar vroue en kinders genadeloos
afgemaai is. In dié geredigeerde uittreksel uit sy nuwe boek ontleed Leopold Scholtz
die aard van die kamp aan die hand van verskeie bronne.
Eerstens moet gekyk word na wat die SAW-beplanners werklik van Cassinga
geweet het – of gedink het hulle weet. Die lugfoto’s wat deur SALM-
verkenningsvliegtuie geneem en in verskeie bronne gepubliseer is, wys ’n
uitgebreide loopgraafstelsel wat tipies van ’n militere installasie is. Dit is wat die
beplanners gesien het en waarop hulle die operasie deels gegrond het.
Dit is bevestig in die ondervraging van gevangenes van die People’s Liberation
Army of Namibia (PLAN, Swapo se militêre vleuel) wat 32 Bataljon-patrollies noord
van die Angolese grens aangekeer het. Hulle het vertel van ’n basis, wat hulle “the
Farm” genoem het, waar die PLAN se bevelvoerder, Dimo Hamaambo, se
hoofkwartier was. ’n Tyd daarna is die presiese ligging daarvan deur ’n Canberra-
fotoverkenningsvliegtuig van 12 Eskader ontdek.
In ’n memorandum om die SAW-leierskorps te oortuig dat die aanval nodig is, is dit
kategories gestel: “Geen burgerlikes sal betrokke wees nie.” Cassinga is beskryf as
die operasionele militere hoofkwartier van Swapo van waar alle operasies teen die
SAW beplan en gekoördineer word. Van dié basis af word alle voorraad en
wapentuig na die basisse verder vorentoe voorsien. Hier vind ook opleiding plaas:
Dit is seker Swapo se belangrikste basis in Angola.
’n Ander belangrike dokument, wat deur die stafhoof: operasies onderteken is en
met die datum 1 April 1978, maak geen melding van burgerlikes of vlugtelinge by
Cassinga nie. Die kamp word beskryf as die PLAN se hoofkwartier waar Hamaambo
alle operasies in Suidwes van ’n sentrale operasiekamer beplan en koördineer. Dit
was luidens die dokument ook ’n logistieke, opleidings- en mediese gerief, en daar
word aangevoer die verwoesting daarvan sou Swapo se operasies minstens ses
161
maande lank ontwrig. Die inwoners word beskryf as “varying between 300 and 1
200 terrorists and an unknown number of armed women terrorists”.
Ongeag die ware bevolkingsamestelling van Cassinga op 4 Mei, die dag van die
aanval, was die SAW dus ten volle onder die indruk dat hy ’n PLAN-hoofkwartier
en -basis aanval.
Maar wat dan van die foto’s van die massagraf wat ’n paar dae later geneem is? Op
een wyr foto is daar ’n massa lyke, met ’n vrou in ’n gewone rok wat bo-op lê. Geen
ander vroue of kinders is sigbaar nie. Die res van die lyke lyk soos mans (herkenbaar
aan die kaal bolywe) en/of vroue in uniform. Die meeste liggame lê met die gesig na
onder. Op ander foto’s is onderskeidelik een en twee vroue in burgerlike klere
sigbaar tussen ’n klomp mans in uniform.
Dié foto’s is almal van die tweede graf. Geen foto’s is beskikbaar van die ander graf,
wat al toegegooi was toe die joernaliste op 8 Mei opgedaag het nie. Die beskikbare
foto’s bevestig in elk geval nie die bewerings van “gaily coloured frocks” en “blue
jeans”, of “the bodies of young girls” nie, selfs al is sommige in kleur. Op geen foto is
babas of kinders sigbaar nie.
Die MK-lid Joseph Kobo, wie se werk dit was om oor toevoerroetes vir Swapo-ANC-
kampe naby die grens toesig te hou, het Cassinga beskryf as Swapo se hoofbevelspos
in Suid-Angola. Kobo het die aanval toevallig van ’n afstand aanskou en besef, soos
hy later geskryf het, dat die verkenningsvliegtuie vooraf die opbou van voorraad as
’n klaarblyklike Swapo-infiltrasieveldtog gesien en die spyker op die kop geslaan is.
Oor wat hy gesien het toe hy Cassinga ná die onttrekking van die valskermtroepe
binnegaan, het hy geskryf: “It had been razed. Six months of logistics work had
literally gone up in smoke. Thousands, millions of rounds of ammunition were still
exploding …” Die aanval het Swapo se oorlogspoging ernstige skade berokken, het
hy gesê.
“It had burnt away nearly all the infiltration lines into Namibia. Some of the Swapo
groups on the far side of the border were cut off without resupply and there would
be no quick way to re-establish contact.”
Wat Kobo hier beskryf, is duidelik geen vlugtelingkamp nie. Wat meer is, volgens
Jan Breytenbach het Kobo persoonlik aan hom bevestig dat die PLAN aan die
voorberei was vir ’n oorweldigende inval deur swaar gewapende Swapo-bendes
teen einde April. Die Kubane by Cassinga, saam met Hamaambo, het die kern van
die beplanningsproses uitgemaak. Peter Nanyemba, Swapo se sekretaris van
verdediging, het in ’n vertroulike verslag oor die geveg (wat deur Mac Alexander in
die SAW-argief opgediep is) geskryf: “Our ground force consisted of about 600
cadres, 300 of whom were fresh from the Hainyeko Training Centre.” Geen Swapo-
woordvoerder sou dit in die openbaar herhaal nie.
162
Laastens het die Amerikaanse historikus Christian Williams, wat Swapo se wandade
teen sy eie mense ondersoek het, ontdek dat baie van die Swapo-andersdenkendes
wat in 1976 aangehou is kort voor die SAW-aanval na Cassinga oorgeplaas is. Dit
moet een van die grootste ironieë van die oorlog wees dat van dié gevangenes
waarskynlik in die aanval dood is.
Williams se kommentaar is: “Also, as became evident in my research interviews,
some Swapo critics who lived in exile quietly question the dominant narrative about
Cassinga and describe the camp in ways that resemble the South African alternative
version of it.”
Dit is ook belangrik om in ag te neem dat die SAW nooit ontken het dat sy troepe
vroue en kinders teegekom – en doodgemaak – het in die geveg nie. Inteendeel.
Daar is iets te sê vir Mac Alexander se gevolgtrekking dat geen guerrillakamp as
eksklusief “militêr” of “burgerlik” geklassifiseer kan word nie.
“The nature of a guerrilla or insurgency war is such that the two are inextricably
intertwined.” Dit impliseer ’n vae onderskeid tussen militêre en burgerlike
bedrywighede.
Willem Steenkamp se gevolgtrekking is ook: “Yes, Cassinga had a strong military
presence – not just a small protection element – because it was both a military base
and the main PLAN command headquarters. And yes, it did house a large number
of civilians of one description or another.”
Ten slotte het die WVK ook aanvaar Cassinga was “dus sowel ’n militere basis as ’n
vlugtelingkamp”.
Die vraag kan ook van die ander kant benader word. As ons aanvaar – soos ons
moet, gegewe die getuienis – dat Cassinga onder meer ’n militêre basis was, het
Swapo die reg gehad om burgerlike vlugtelinge daar te huisves? Dit is moontlik dat
hulle doelbewus daar gehou is om te dien as menslike skilde teen ’n SAW-aanval.
Dit is moontlik, maar nie juis waarskynlik nie, omdat Swapo nie ’n SAW-aanval
verwag het nie. Regspunte soos die Geneefse Konvensie se bepaling dat militêre
magte en burgerlikes apart gehou moet word, sou kwalik ’n prioriteit wees in ’n
guerrilla- stryd soos dié. Die feit dat burgelikes en troepe saam gewoon het, is
waarskynlik bloot ’n tipiese voorbeeld van Swapo se onbekwaamheid.
Boek dán te koop
Dr. Leopold Scholtz is ’n bekende joernalis, politieke kommentator en militêre
kenner.
Hy was tot einde 2007 adjunkredakteur van Die Burger en is tans Europese
korrespondent vir Media24 se Afrikaanse koerante.
163
Scholtz het sy doktorsgraad aan die Universiteit van Leiden verwerf en is tans ’n
navorsingsgenoot aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch.
Hy het al vier boeke en meer as 40 akademiese artikels geskryf. Hy was tot onlangs
’n kaptein in die Reserwemag van die Suid-Afrikaanse Leër.
Onder sy vorige boeke tel Beroemde Suid-Afrikaanse krygsmanne, Generaal
Christiaan de Wet as veldheer en Waarom die Boere die oorlog verloor het.
• Die SAW in die Grensoorlog, 1966-1989 sal van einde Mei op die rakke
wees teen ’n aanbevole verkoopprys van R350. Dit word deur Tafelberg
uitgegee.
http://www.beeld.com/opinie/2013-05-13-cassinga-slag-in-fokus
HUMOUR IN UNIFORM
Uit “Pretoria Brief” Rosa Swanepoel
• Niks nuut onder die son
De Pers 1890/02/21
Grappie.
“Partick” zei de magistraat, “voor de laaste jaar heb ik u als tuinier gehuurd, maar
nu niet langer.
Ik zie dat gy oneerlik, onvertroubaar en lafhartig zyt.”
Wat, mynheer zal ik nu doen?”
“Wel, ik heb voor u eene post als constabel gekregen.”
De Pers 1890/12/03
De Reghter-Commisaris, de heer Schutte, merkte Vrydag op in het Hof, dat de
politie hem meer moeite veroorzaakte door wangedrag dan het publiek. Zy
verstoorde den vrede meer dan dat zy hem bewaarde. Moest zoo iets kunnen
voorkom ?!
Groete tot Volgende maand.
Rosa Swanepoel
• Dankie Rosa vir hierdie humor in uniform uit 1890 meer as 100 jr gelede!
ANECDOTES, A POINT TO PONDER
• "Too old to fight, too slow to run but I can still shoot pretty damn
good!"
Americans gotta love Florida's concealed hand gun law!
Pan Am/Delta Pilot John Lovell is Top Gun
Plantation, Florida: Last week police were called to investigate an attempted armed
robbery: The 71-year-old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a
Plantation, Florida, Subway shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically
wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former helicopter pilot for two
presidents. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, and he works out every day.
Lovell was a man of action Wednesday night. According to police, two masked
gunmen came into the Subway 1949 N. Pine Rd. just after 11 p.m. There was a lone
diner, Mr. Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, the two
men attempted to shove Mr. Lovell into a
his money, but then Mr. Lovel
the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head. When police arrived,
they found one of the men in the shop, K
nearby business.
They also found cash strewn around the front of the sandwich shop
detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department.
Both men were taken to the Broward General Medical Centre, where
Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. The
ANECDOTES, A POINT TO PONDER, ETC
"Too old to fight, too slow to run but I can still shoot pretty damn
Americans gotta love Florida's concealed hand gun law! Retired Marine and former
Pan Am/Delta Pilot John Lovell is Top Gun at Subway Sandwich Shop.
Last week police were called to investigate an attempted armed
old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a
Plantation, Florida, Subway shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically
wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former helicopter pilot for two
presidents. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, and he works out every day.
Lovell was a man of action Wednesday night. According to police, two masked
the Subway 1949 N. Pine Rd. just after 11 p.m. There was a lone
diner, Mr. Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, the two
men attempted to shove Mr. Lovell into a bathroom and rob him as well. They got
his money, but then Mr. Lovell pulled his handgun and opened fire. He shot one
the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head. When police arrived,
they found one of the men in the shop, K-9 Units found the other in the bushes of a
strewn around the front of the sandwich shop
detective Robert Rettig of the Plantation Police Department.
Both men were taken to the Broward General Medical Centre, where one, Donicio
Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. The other, 21-year-old Frederick Gadson of
164
"Too old to fight, too slow to run but I can still shoot pretty damn
Retired Marine and former
Last week police were called to investigate an attempted armed
old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a
Plantation, Florida, Subway shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically
wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former helicopter pilot for two
presidents. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, and he works out every day. Mr.
Lovell was a man of action Wednesday night. According to police, two masked
the Subway 1949 N. Pine Rd. just after 11 p.m. There was a lone
diner, Mr. Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, the two
bathroom and rob him as well. They got
l pulled his handgun and opened fire. He shot one of
the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head. When police arrived,
other in the bushes of a
according to
one, Donicio
old Frederick Gadson of
Fort Lauderdale is in critical but stable condition. Mr. Lovell was a pilot
Marine Corps, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He
later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta Airlines. He is not expected to be
charged authorities said. ''He was in fear for his life,'' Detective Rettig said, "These
criminals ought to realize that most men in their 70's have military backgrounds and
aren't intimidated by idiots." Something tells me
his life", even though his life was definitely at risk. The only thing he could
be charged with is participating in an unfair fight. One 71
against two punks. Two head shots and one centre body mass shot.
Outstanding shooting! That'll teach them not to get between a Marine and his meal.
Florida law allows eligible citizens to carry a c
a story with a happy ending?
• Interesting History of September 1752
Submitted by Glenn Macaskill
Here is an interesting historical fact that you probably didn't know, (I sure didn’t).
Just have a look at the calendar for the month of September 1752.
(If you think I ' m joking, you may search it on Google and see it for yourself.)
critical but stable condition. Mr. Lovell was a pilot
ps, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He
later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta Airlines. He is not expected to be
charged authorities said. ''He was in fear for his life,'' Detective Rettig said, "These
to realize that most men in their 70's have military backgrounds and
aren't intimidated by idiots." Something tells me this old Marine wasn't "in fear for
his life", even though his life was definitely at risk. The only thing he could
rticipating in an unfair fight. One 71- year young Marine
against two punks. Two head shots and one centre body mass shot.
Outstanding shooting! That'll teach them not to get between a Marine and his meal.
Florida law allows eligible citizens to carry a concealed weapon. Don't you just love
Interesting History of September 1752
Glenn Macaskill (BSAP)
Here is an interesting historical fact that you probably didn't know, (I sure didn’t).
calendar for the month of September 1752.
(If you think I ' m joking, you may search it on Google and see it for yourself.)
165
critical but stable condition. Mr. Lovell was a pilot in the
ps, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He
later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta Airlines. He is not expected to be
charged authorities said. ''He was in fear for his life,'' Detective Rettig said, "These
to realize that most men in their 70's have military backgrounds and
this old Marine wasn't "in fear for
his life", even though his life was definitely at risk. The only thing he could
year young Marine
Outstanding shooting! That'll teach them not to get between a Marine and his meal.
oncealed weapon. Don't you just love
Here is an interesting historical fact that you probably didn't know, (I sure didn’t).
(If you think I ' m joking, you may search it on Google and see it for yourself.)
In case you haven’t noticed, 11 days are simply missing from the month. Here's the
explanation: This was the month during
Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar. A Julian year was 11 days longer than a
Gregorian year. So, the King of England ordered 11 days to be wiped off the face of
that particular month. (A King could order anything
worked for 11 days less that month, but got paid for the whole month. That's how
the concept of "paid leave" was born. Hail the King!
In the Roman Julian Calendar, April used to be the first month of the year; but the
Gregorian calendar observed January as the first month. Even after shifting to the
Gregorian calendar, many people refused to give up old traditions and continued
celebrating 1st April as the New Year ' s Day. When simple orders didn't work, the
King finally issued a royal dictum; which stated that those who celebrated 1st April
as the New Year’s Day would be labelled as fools.
From then on, 1st April became April fool’s Day.
History is really interesting, isn't it?
• Road Traffic Ordinance, c/s what section?
Road rage - African style - Patience is a virtue
Compiled by Johan Jacobs
When you are feeling rushed and in a hurry, maybe it is time to stop and appreciate
the wonder all around you.
These photos are from Thursday, Feb. 17 by someone from Centurion in
game reserve, South Africa.
In case you haven’t noticed, 11 days are simply missing from the month. Here's the
explanation: This was the month during which England shifted from the Roman
Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar. A Julian year was 11 days longer than a
Gregorian year. So, the King of England ordered 11 days to be wiped off the face of
that particular month. (A King could order anything, couldn’t he?) So, the workers
worked for 11 days less that month, but got paid for the whole month. That's how
the concept of "paid leave" was born. Hail the King!
In the Roman Julian Calendar, April used to be the first month of the year; but the
rian calendar observed January as the first month. Even after shifting to the
Gregorian calendar, many people refused to give up old traditions and continued
celebrating 1st April as the New Year ' s Day. When simple orders didn't work, the
sued a royal dictum; which stated that those who celebrated 1st April
as the New Year’s Day would be labelled as fools.
From then on, 1st April became April fool’s Day.
History is really interesting, isn't it?
Road Traffic Ordinance, c/s what section?
atience is a virtue
When you are feeling rushed and in a hurry, maybe it is time to stop and appreciate
These photos are from Thursday, Feb. 17 by someone from Centurion in Pilanesberg
166
In case you haven’t noticed, 11 days are simply missing from the month. Here's the
which England shifted from the Roman
Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar. A Julian year was 11 days longer than a
Gregorian year. So, the King of England ordered 11 days to be wiped off the face of
, couldn’t he?) So, the workers
worked for 11 days less that month, but got paid for the whole month. That's how
In the Roman Julian Calendar, April used to be the first month of the year; but the
rian calendar observed January as the first month. Even after shifting to the
Gregorian calendar, many people refused to give up old traditions and continued
celebrating 1st April as the New Year ' s Day. When simple orders didn't work, the
sued a royal dictum; which stated that those who celebrated 1st April
When you are feeling rushed and in a hurry, maybe it is time to stop and appreciate
Pilanesberg
The guy in the white Volkswagen was trying to get past the elephant
Road rage...it affects us all!
DO NOT MESS WITH AN OLD FELLA!
The guy in the white Volkswagen was trying to get past the elephant
Road rage...it affects us all!
DO NOT MESS WITH AN OLD FELLA!
167
168
Christian Stickers on Car & the Law
The light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the
crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through
the intersection.
The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as
she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and
her makeup
As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the
face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her
hands up.
He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted,
photographed, and placed in a holding cell.
After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She
was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with
her personal effects.
He said, ''I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while
you were blowing your horn, giving the guy in front of you the finger, and cursing
at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life'
license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the
chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally... I assumed you
had stolen the car.''
• Love This (via Dieks)
I am not afraid of tomorrow for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
Noah's Ark: Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark ..
ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat!
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something
really big.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
169
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the
cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, there's always a rainbow waiting.
Most people walk in and out of your life,
but FRIENDS leave footprints in your heart.
OOR DIE NONGQAI SE DRUMPEL EN KUIERS
“Uit Japie van Warmbad se Possak."
Naand oom Hennie.
Ek moet iets vertel. Ons veeartse kan ook soms oulik wees. Een Saterdagaand kom
ek so amper 12-uur op die plaas, bietjie in die dorp gekuier. Soos ek in die stoor
intrek waar ek altyd die bakkie parkeer, gaan Pote, ‘n Staffordshire, erg tekere by ‘n
halwe 44 gelling drom. Die drom was swaar, het klomp kettings in gehad, en was
staande op drie bakstene. Dit was langs die plek waar ek stop en uitklim. Moet net
sê, daar het my ‘plaasrystoel’ gestaan, ek doen dinge mos maar soort van
georganiseerd. Daar ry of stop ek, en daar staan die rystoel vir my en wag. In die kar
en op die bakkie was die dorp-toe-gaan rystoele.
Soos ek op die rystoel klim, het Pote hier langs my nog erger tekere gegaan, al half
onder daardie drom in. Ek kon dink daar is seker ‘n slang daaronder. Ek was net op
die stoel, toe brul Pote, hy lig daardie sware drom, en hy skud iets soos hy uitkom.
Slangmis en stukke slang het in my gesig gespat. Man weet net, daardie slang sou
die hond gepik het onder die drom. Aan die stukke kon mens sien dit is pofadder se
kind.
Ek het besluit hierdie hond moet veearts toe, en het huis toe gewikkel om die veearts
te bel. Selfone het nog nie bestaan nie, dit was in die negentigs. Dierekliniek gebel,
en die lyn het my deurgeskakel na die arts op bystand. Dit was ‘n vroumens. Ons
sou mekaar gou by die kliniek kry. Ek was 20 kilometer buite die dorp. Daardie brak
het geweet van bakkie ry. Ek het net gesê ‘spring’, toe is hy op die bak, en ons het
dorp toe gejaag.
By die kliniek gekom, het Pote klaar geslaap. Sy het hom van die bak af opgetel, en
ingedra. Hy was toe drie keer gepik. Ek was betyds met die ou, en sy het hom
ingespuit. Hy was slapende, en sy het hom weer op die bak gesit.
Alles was reg.
170
Terug by die huis het ek hom op die bakkie se bak gelos, hy het net verder geslaap.
Die volgende oggend was hy weer die wêreld vol. Sy het my ‘n reeks pille
saamgegee. Daagliks een, so vir ‘n week. Dit moes jy sien. Ek roep hom net, sê ‘kom
vat jou pil’, dan sit hy, en vat sy pil. Niks stryery nie.
My liewe ou brak.
Hy is ongelukkig ook al dood. Redenasie met ‘n beestrok daar op die grootpad
gehad, en hy het verloor.
So rukkie terug het ek julle vertel van die honde wat die kat gejaag het, en die
brakke met ‘n ystervark. Een hond was Charlie, ‘n Foxterrier. Hy is paar maande
gelede dood. Onderonsie met ‘n slang. Ek kon nie betyds keer nie, toe pik daardie
mamba hom. Swart mamba van bietjie meer as 3 meter. Dinge het vinnig gebeur,
maar ek kon darem ‘n hooivurk deur die slang steek. Ek glo nie dit was meer as 10
minute na die slangpik dat Charlie gaan lê het nie. Paar sekondes later toe loop sy
water, en hy was dood.
NEWS FROM ALL OVER - THE POLICE POST BAG / NUUS POS VAN
HEINDE EN VERRE - POLISIE-POSSAK
TWEE HONDERD SKOENE
Eina eina! Hoe brand my bas,
ek sit maar sommer op my skooltas.
Moeder gryp my arm vas,
met haar skoen slaan sy my
binne in die ou hangkas.
Hoekom het jy twee honderd skoene?
Ek kniel in die kerk
en mense sien gate in my skoene.
Jammer meneer, ek het nie ander skoene.
Ek gee nie om , al is hulle versoolde skoene.
Kyk na my skurwe voete
en my lang omkrul tone.
Sien jy, ek het verslete skoene,
dit wat so uitsteek is hul tonge.
Jy het twee honderd pragtige skoene,
outydse skoene en vandag se moderne skoene.
Jy het `n paar goedkoop skoene,
maar die meeste is duur mode skoene.
Ek het altyd my Oupa se kerk skoene gepoets,
dan ry ons almal in die perde koets,
Die perde het ook nuwe yster skoene,
ja, hulle noem dit hoewe.
171
`n Rusie in die huis is soos `n ompaar skoene,
opinies soos omgeruilde skoene.
Die een trek regs en die ander links,
net soos `n steeks hings.
Toe ek in die klaskamer stry,
sê my Onnie , kry jou ry.
Skoenmaker, hou jou by jou leuse.
As die skoen pas , dra hom
want die hele lewe is jou eie keuse.
Die Boesman loop sonder skoene
al maak die skoen fabriek miljoene,
Boesman is `n kind van die natuur,
sy voete is bevriend met die Kalaharie kultuur.
Op die see van Galelea
dra die visser manne sandale.
Die Meester leer hulle die skoene van geloof
want dit is hulle wat Hom loof.
Kan ek my in jou skoene sit?
Nee, ek moet alleen in Getsemane bid.
Waar kry ek skoene vir my voete van klei?
Skoenmaker, O Skoenmaker, dink aan my.
Jy het twee honderd skoene,
pantoffels vir jou slaap kamer,
dans en ballet skoene,
al die reënboog kleur skoene.
Party is sommer net inglip skoene.
Ek het gedink daar`s net plastiek en leer skoene.
Die Eskimo loop op sy draad skoene.
Die Hollander klop soos `n tok tokkie
met sy hout skoene en dik sokkie.
In jou deftige kas is lang-punt skoene,
stomp neus skoene en tekkies.
Met die spyker skoene hardloop jy die hekkies,
maar vanaand dra jy weer hoë hak skoene.
Skoene word verguld vir die nagedagtenis.
Skoene stap honderde, duisende kilometers.
Soms kry hulle nuwe skoen-veters.
Hoeveel skoene dra ek in my lewe?
Die polisieman ry te perd met kammaste en steuwels,
die soldaat voer oorlog in sy steuwels.
Die brandweer man dra dik rubber skoene,
die bank bestuurder dra net duur leer skoene.
Skoene, skoene , ons is met hul getroud.
Sonder hulle kry ons voete seer en koud.
Skoene aan ons voete is beter as goud,
al word hulle gemaak van goud.
Hulle sê my motor het briekskoene.
172
Die ou ossewa het ook rem skoene.
Die stoom trein het ook yster skoene.
Ai! Dink net `n wêreld sonder skoene?
Stukkende skoene is soos gebreekte harte.
Skoenveters hou hulle nie meer aanmekaar.
Hy sleep sy sandale deur die rasende skaar,
dis blasé sere en dorings.
Vir die Koning , nie mooi skoene, net smarte.
MJJ van Rensburg April 2013
Graves of Victoria Cross Recipients in South Africa Charles Ross
Goeiedag Hennie,
Aangeheg is deel 5 van die geskiedenis van die Kommissie.
Ek werk tans ook aan ‘n artikel oor die grafte van 32 ontvangers van die Victoria
Cross en 2 ontvangers van die George Cross wat in Suid Afrika begrawe is. 15 grafte
van die ontvangers van die Victoria Cross is direk ons verantwoordelikheid.
Lekker dag
Charles
Oom Pieter Swanepoel
• Mev Hester Zietsman
Hullo Hennie
Dis Sondagmiddag en mens behoort 'n slapie te vang, maar ek dog net ek sal jou
vertel dat my vriendin van baie jare, Hester Zietsman4, gisteraand (1 Junie 2013 )
oorlede is. Sy was generaal Zietsman se weduwee. Ons was saam op Laerskool in
Vryheid voordat hulle gesin Durban-toe getrek het. Daar het sy by Port Natal
skoolgegaan. (Hester Venter). Sy was 'n besonder aktiewe mens, tot onlangs rolbal
gespeel. Ek dink sy was ongeveer 87 jaar oud.
• Bejaardesorgfonds
Vanoggend luister ek en Marina na die gebruiklike gelukwense vir mense van 90
jaar en ouer. Ek stel veral belang in die gelukwense wat kom van die Polisie se
4 Sy was die gade van genl CF Zietsman. Ek ken die Zietsman’s van my kinderdae; ons was in
dieselfde kerk, NG Kerk Durban-Suid saam met 100 ander Durban polisiemanne. Oom Swannie ek
het die inligting ook in ons stelsel ingevoer.
173
Bejaardefonds. Dis verblydend dat daardie organisasie mens elke Sondag aan
iemand wat jy jare gelede geken het herinner. Soms aan 'n ou makker en soos
vanoggend aan 'n ou vriend se weduwee.
• Mevrou McDuling
Vanoggend was dit Mevrou McDuling van Durban wat haar 97ste geboortedag
beleef het. Haar man, s/sersant Callie McDuling was een van die bekendste en
beminste van die "ou hande" in Durban. Vir baie jare was hy en Oom “Kippie’
Geyser die enigste lede van die Moord Ondersoek span by die Smith-
straat Polisiestasie.
• TV Bulpin
'n Staaltjie oor Oom Mac wat ek altyd oorvertel gaan oor iets wat in T.V.Bulpin se
boek oor Natal verskyn het. Hy beskryf die grondpad van die outyd van Durban af
na die Rand en dan kom hy daar duskant Ladysmith se wereld by die Biggarsberge.
Daar, skryf hy, "farmed a Scotsman, one McDuling, with his fat Dutch wife and
eight children". Wel ou Mac was woedend. Hy gaan Bulpin hof toe sleep het hy ons
verseker, want daardie McDuling was sy oupa. Maar was jou Ouma nie dalk regtig
'n bietjie geset nie? wou ons weet.
"Wel dalk was sy", het hy geantwoord. "Wat my ontstel is dat hy my oupa as 'n Skot
beskryf. Dis 'n onwaarheid. My oupa was 'n Ier"!
'n Ander eienaardige staaltjie oor die McDulings wat ek ook soms oorvertel gaan oor
een van hulle seuntjies. Ek meen dit was klein Patrick. Daar iewers in die
vyftigerjare was Mac in Dundee gestasioneer waar ons "Special Branch" 'n eenman
takkantoor gehad het. Hy het drie maande verlof geneem om vir 'n bevorderings
eksamen te studeer en ek, toe nog ongetroud, is gestuur om hom af te los.
Ek het by hulle aan huis loseer en sodoende die seuntjies se gedrag kon
waarneem. Die een kind het 'n onsigbare vriendjie gehad.. Hy het ons in alle erns
vertel dat sy vriendjie se naam "Vier van Aarde" was, presies hoe hy gelyk het, wat
hy alles vertel het en gedoen het. Hy kon vir ure vinger alleen met Vier van Aarde
speel, maar soms kon Vier saamspeel as hulle 'n klomp seuntjies was. Die ander
kinders het nooit vir Patrick gespot oor hierdie onsigbare maatjie nie en by
geleentheid, toe Vier beseer is terwyl hulle rugby in die parkie voor die huis gespeel
het, het sy maats hom selfs gehelp om die beseerde huis-toe te dra!!!
Baie jare later het ek uit die bloute 'n skilderstuk van Patrick persent gekry, ek weet
nie of hy steeds skilder nie. As mense in Durban die McDulings raakloop, kan hulle
gerus my groete en beste wense oordra.
174
Wederom Hennie.
Swanie.
Genl Hennie Westraat
Dankie, ek het Saterdag ook (die) roudiens van Marie Mostert vrou van genl Floris
Mostert hier op Bellville bygewoon het ‘n kort huldigingswoord gespreek en gewag
gemaak daarvan dat sy haar man bygestaan het en hom toegelaat het dat hy sy werk
as baasspeurder kon uitoefen.
Groete
Hennie Westraat
• Robbie Green
Nearly 700 Commonwealth war dead of
the two world wars are buried or
commemorated in 19 sites in Zimbabwe.
Most of the First World War casualties
buried in Zimbabwe were members of
the British South African Police, the
Rhodesia Regiment or the Rhodesia
Native Regiment. During the Second
World War, the Rhodesian Air Training
Group was headquartered at
Kumalo. Many of the graves from
this era are those of airmen who died in
flying accidents.
Harare (Pioneer) Cemetery, one of the
largest sites in the country, contains two
separate plots as well as the Harare
Memorial, commemorating 66 men of
the Rhodesia Native Regiment and
British South African Police
• Andrew Sinclair
Hennie, The Nongqai is a startlingly large publication for one that comes out
monthly and is run by 'amateurs'. I am very impressed by the depth of the academic
content and what a wide variety of articles there are? I have posted the link to the
175
latest issue on some other SAP specific groups on FB and I hope you get a broader
following soon
• Uittreksel uit: WEL EN WEE VAN DIE MILITêRE VETERANE : BERIG
14/2013. AANTUIGINGS OOR DIE SA LEëR SE WAPENTUIG EN
OPTREDE TYDENS DIE OPSTANDE
13. Agtergrond
’n Sekere dr Botha van die Fakulteit Teologie by die Universiteit van die Vrystaat
het hierdie week in ‘n artikel in die media aangevoer dat die SA Leër haelgewere en
rubberkoeëls gebruik het om oproeriges in 1981 te onderdruk. Hy voer aan dat hy op
daardie stadium ‘n NDP KO by die Pant Skool was, dat hulle kompanie in
Botshabelo aangewend is en dat van hulle die rubberkoeëls met flitsbatterye vervang
het om ‘n dodelike effek te verkry. Volgens hom het hulle die inwoners van
Botshabelo op wrede wyse onderdruk en kleef bloed en kruit aan sy hande. Hy voel
skuldig en glo dat skuld bely kan word indien die NG Kerk die Belydenis van Belhar
sal aanvaar.
14. Genl Johan van der Merwe : Voormalige Kommissaris van die SAP
“Dr Botha skryf die artikel met die oog op die Sinodesitting van die Vrystaat van 14
tot 17/06/2013 op Bothaville. Soos ek dit verstaan, is die onreg van die verlede sy
motivering waarom die Belydenis van Belhar aanvaar behoort te word. Geen reëling
het hoegenaamd bestaan dat die SA Leër haelgewere en rubberkoeëls sou gebruik
nie. Dit spreek vanself dat die SAW in noodweer sou kon optree, maar dit sou met
hulle eie wapens en beslis nie met rubberkoeëls gewees het nie”.
15. Toon Slabbert van die SAW Vereniging (SAWV)
“Die SAWV kan nie betrokke raak by een of ander filosofie of ideologie nie, maar
ons kan ook nie duld dat onwaarhede van die verlede gebruik word om die huidige
denkrigtinge van die jonger geslag te laat seëvier nie. Tydens my dienstydperk as
Skakeloffisier by KOMPOL oor dieselfde tydperk is ek seker dat die SAW nooit van
rubberkoeëls gebruik gemaak het nie. Ek vind dit in elk geval verstommend dat een
enkele operasie aan die Belhar Belydenis gekoppel kan word”.
16. Daan Nell van de Seiners
“Geen geloofsbelydenis kan met die politiek of geskiedenis verwar word nie. Ek
stem heelhartig met genl van der Merwe saam en beskou die Belydenis van Belhar
as ‘n poging om die kerk ‘n politieke bestaansreg in die RSA te gee. Ek glo nie dit is
nodig om die SAW se rol te verdedig nie, want rubberkoeëls was nog nooit aan lede
van die SAW uitgereik nie. Die SAW het ontplooi met skerp ammunisie en het slegs
met goedkeuring van die senior lid van die SAP teenwoordig en op bevel van die
SAW bevelvoerder enige skote gevuur”.
176
• Koot van Schalkwyk (Wes-Kaap)
Hello Hennie hoe gaan dit? My kleindogter Roelien Kroon, onderwyseres te
Befordview, woon te Gauteng het deurgedring na die eerste 50 finaliste vir die Mev.
Suid Afrika 2013. Die finaal word binnekort gehou en alle opbrengs gaan aan die
Kanker navorsing. Ek stuur 2 foto’s hiermee. Sy staan aan die linkerkant met tiervel
rok. Baie trots op haar Koot en Koeks Van Schalkwyk. Weskaap.
• Alexanderbaai: Kreef: Jan van Wyk
Jan Van Wyk
Dit is hoe ‘n ‘ou’ Alexanderbaai-man een aand alleen eet soos in die ou dae 40 jaar
gelede! 'n Kreef as voorgereg met rys, en 'n harder as hoofgereg. Moet nie die
wyntjie in my hand vergeet nie! KONINGS KOS verskaf deur Piet Bester van
Veldrift. Baie Dankie Piet!
177
NETWORKING & “LET’S SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND OUR OWN”/
NETWERK & “KOM ONS ONDERSTEUN MEKAAR EN ONS EIE”
Annemari Jansen – Koorsboom Kothuis
Jannie Otto
Onthou indien u Israel wil besoek, tree in verbinding met Jannie Otto.
Karate: Kol (adv) Len Els
KARATEKA40:
www.karateka40.co.za
Karateka40 - age groups, mature adult, stressful, crime, self defence, self
confidence, men
• Sensei Len (4de Dan, Tokio geakkrediteerd) is ook ‘n nunchaku en amok
mestegnieke instrukteur.
Kontak besonderhede: Kontak Sensei Len @ 0829230603 of [email protected]
Gegroet, Sensei Len.
178
Kunswerk: Japie Erasmus
Kom ons ondersteun vir Japie. Indien u illustrasies en
kunswerk nodig het. Kom ons ondersteun mekaar!
Japie, ek het pas jou kunswerke ontavang wat ek laat raam deur kapt Jan Idema van
die hondseskool – lyk pragtig. Sal foto’s later plaas. (HBH Junie 2013)
Antikwiteite en boeke: Leon “Div” de Villiers
AANKOPER & HANDELAAR IN AFRICANA
& SKAARS BOEKE, insluitend:
Boekversamelings, manuskripte, kaarte,
skilderye, kunswerke, ens., met betrekking tot
ons literatuur, geskiedenis, historiese geboue &
plekke, jag, natuur, wildslewe, spoorweë,
maritieme, militêre, oorloë, mense ens. asook
onderwerpe wat betrekking het op die Afrika-
kontinent.
Kontak Leon by:
Tel/Faks: 021 592 3460
Sel: 084 436 0842
e-pos: [email protected]
http://antiqbook.com/bookdealer.phtml?o=australafrica
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/seller/435994/Boekesmous
Piet “Kierie” Fourie
Piet is een van ons oudkollegas. Indien u iets wil weet oor versekering skakel gerus
met Piet “Kierie” Fourie.
179
Trappers Witbank
Kontak vir Phillip Jacobs by Witbank se Trappers.
Epos: Philip Jacobs [email protected]
180
STOP PRESS / LAAT BERIGTE
INDEMITY / VRYWARING
Die e-Nongqai bevat die uiteenlopende en diverse persoonlike menings van
verskillende korrespondente en die opsteller van e-Nongqai kan nie vir enige deel
van die inhoud daarvan in sy persoonlike hoedanigheid verantwoordelik gehou
word nie.
The e-Nongqai contains various and sundry personal opinions of different
correspondents and the compiler of e-Nongqai cannot be held responsible for any of
their comments.
Enige advertensies of enige sake voortspruitend is tussen u en die ander party.
NEXT EDITION / VOLGENDE UITGAWE
Next edition some time, Deo Volenti, during March 2013.
CONCLUSION / SLOT
Dankie aan almal wat gehelp het om hierdie uitgawe ’n sukses te maak!
Kontak besonderhede: “Hennie Heymans” <heymanshb@ gmail.com>, tel 012-329-
4229.
Greetings - Groete
Salute! Saluut!
Hennie Heymans No 43630
© 2013