1

2

Contents Welcome .................................................................................................................... 6

Wie is ons? / Who are we? ......................................................................................... 6

No longer a SA Police Museum .............................................................................. 7

Administration ............................................................................................................ 7

Legalities .................................................................................................................... 7

Air Show: SA Air Force Museum: 7 May 2016: Paul Els ............................................ 9

Boarding planes in Israel... Dr Lamb ..................................................................... 10

Polmed: Col Terry Schwartz ..................................................................................... 10

Nongqai: Happy with Polmed ............................................................................... 11

DA to conduct oversight visits to under-resourced police stations - Zakhele Mbhele11

Police Oversight: Inadequate SAPS training hampering the fight against crime ... 12

Apartheid cops were better - KwaMashu resident ................................................ 14

Fighting crime is a matter of political will. .............................................................. 15

POPCRU: Inmates must contribute towards running cost of Correctional Centres .. 16

Liberia ................................................................................................................... 17

Anglo Boer War: Nico Moolman ............................................................................... 18

Mrs (president) Steyn under British guard ............................................................ 18

Gen Meyer, Gen Botha, Gen Erasmus, an orderly and a ghost ........................... 18

Gen Louis Botha and his white horse ................................................................... 19

Intelligence: British meeting their Informers .......................................................... 19

Last to Surrender .................................................................................................. 20

Anglo Boer War: Execution of Joiners ...................................................................... 21

Unveiling of memorials to two executed Anglo-Boer War ‘joiners’. ....................... 21

National Security: Negotiations: NP/SACP/ANC ...................................................... 23

Karel Combrinck: Ope brief aan FW de Klerk ....................................................... 23

Dr Stoffel van der Merwe ...................................................................................... 26

Baragwanath: A particular South African Place name: Dr NC Lamprect .................. 30

New Military Books: Paul Els .................................................................................... 31

No 8880 Sgt Charles Robert Eastwood Brown: Master W/O Brown ........................ 33

Memorial Tablets .................................................................................................. 36

Medals & Commendations .................................................................................... 38

Adj Offisier Harry Bucholtz ....................................................................................... 39

3

Burial at Sea by L Col George Goodson, USMC (Ret) ............................................. 41

My first notification ................................................................................................ 43

The funerals .......................................................................................................... 44

Another notification ............................................................................................... 44

Another notification ............................................................................................... 44

Commonwealth Day: United Kingdom: Remembrance: Commonwealth Memorial

Gates on Constitution Hill in London: P Gillat ........................................................... 47

KwaZulu Police: Lt Gen RP “Roy” During ................................................................. 52

Chapter 11: Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi - The Man ......................................... 52

First Anglo Boer War: Uncle Tom Bennie: Ireland: Nico Moolman ........................... 60

Missing Planes & Pilots: Mike Smith ........................................................................ 60

Destruction of our once proud Air Force. The sad case of our missing planes

and pilots ........................................................................................................... 61

Kommentaar: Genl C Viljoen ................................................................................ 62

Sgt John Francis David Shaul, VC, MSM: Phil Beck ................................................ 63

Koevoet Memorial Service ....................................................................................... 65

Koevoetparade: Voortrekkermonument ................................................................ 65

Bekendstelling : Ds Jan du Preez PATU .............................................................. 65

Bekendstelling : Mike Visagie ............................................................................... 66

Koevoet members remember their fallen; deny atrocities ........................................ 67

Photos by Hennie Heymans ................................................................................. 71

Pipe-Major: Murray Mcgregor ............................................................................... 73

Medals .................................................................................................................. 76

Reflection (Archive) .................................................................................................. 77

Namibia rules out benefits for ex-members of the SWATF, Koevet forces ........... 77

Mandela’s Arrest: Request for Information: Gillian Scott-Berning ............................ 79

Detective Sergeant Willem Adriaan Vorster .......................................................... 79

Major Smidt & Det/Sgt Van Rooyen ...................................................................... 79

Matt Henning ........................................................................................................ 79

WO WB Truter ...................................................................................................... 80

6 August 1962 ...................................................................................................... 80

Maritime Disaster: Jacobs Bay: Alex Faria ............................................................... 81

Murder & Robbery Reaction Unit: Johannesburg ..................................................... 84

Group Photo: Murder & Robbery Reaction Unit: Johannesburg ........................... 86

4

Press cuttings ....................................................................................................... 87

From our Nongqai-page on Face Book .................................................................... 90

Historical Documents: Opening of the LP Neethling Building ............................... 90

Unrest: Gavin Tischendorf .................................................................................... 91

Unrest victim ..................................................................................................... 91

Explosion: Randfontein ..................................................................................... 91

COIN: Rhodesia: Sheila & Derek de Beer ............................................................ 91

Ploughing with a Landrover ............................................................................... 91

Terror in the Long drop ..................................................................................... 92

What’s this: Johannes Botha ................................................................................ 93

Obituary: Major Arthur Walker HCG and bar SM: Peter Dickens ............................ 94

Some pictures at the funeral by Hennie Heymans ................................................ 95

Old Policemen: Nico Moolman ................................................................................. 97

Cape Police: Garrison Aliwal North....................................................................... 97

Mr Bovey: Hopefield ............................................................................................. 97

ORCP Ladybrand ................................................................................................. 98

SAP Ladybrand: Hennie Heymans .................................................................... 98

Informasie oor Ingrid Jonker: Petrovna Metelerkamp ............................................... 99

Police in Cato Manor .............................................................................................. 101

Polisie-geskiedenis: Johann Visagè; .................................................................. 103

Ruacana... Boykie van Onesi... .............................................................................. 104

South African Constabulary: Trp J McCreight: 5 Bob-a-day! Caitrin Malone .......... 108

Constable J McCreight Nylstroom ................................................................... 108

Troopers McCrae; Montach, Spooner and Chogley ........................................... 109

SAC: Nylstroom Canteen .................................................................................... 111

Book: South African Constabulary ...................................................................... 113

SAP WWR Atletiek Hansie Grobler .................................................................... 114

SADF: Railways Police: Eastern Cape: Master Sgt Maj CS Brown ........................ 116

South African Navy Ranks and Insignia: Part Three: Junior Officers: Captain (SAN)

(Retd) Charles Ross ............................................................................................... 117

Junior Officers .................................................................................................... 117

Capt (SAN Ret) Charles Ross ............................................................................ 121

Unrest: Bloemfontein: SAP on Standby: Nico Moolman ......................................... 121

1973: Soweto: New Police Division ........................................................................ 122

5

A Handful of Hard Men: A review: Trevor Grundy .................................................. 123

A handful of hard men – The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia: H Wessels ... 124

Die Sowjetopsie: Nuwe SA wet stuur Steve dalk tronk toe as hy ‘Die Stem’ sing .. 127

Nederlandse toleransie .......................................................................................... 128

SAP (Security Branch) Memories: Piet “Walk Tall” van Zyl .................................... 130

SAP (SB): VIP Protection ................................................................................... 130

1993: Bomb Squad: Piet “Walk Tall” van Zyl ...................................................... 131

Contrast: Then and Now ..................................................................................... 133

ZARP: VIP protection for Pres Steyn: Nico Moolman ...................................... 133

Dasversameling ..................................................................................................... 134

2,478 Dasse: Koot Swanepoel .......................................................................... 134

Memories: Nico Visser ........................................................................................... 135

ZARP’s from Croatia : Dr Tian Schutte ................................................................... 135

Zarps: Nico Moolman ............................................................................................. 139

Zoutpansberg (Soutpansberg) ............................................................................ 139

Zarps: G Coetsee, Hendrik Conradie en Jahn Sales .......................................... 139

Uniforms: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek Politie (1870-1902): Johan Wolfaardt ...... 140

History ................................................................................................................ 140

Request for Information .......................................................................................... 158

Murder of Dr HF Verwoerd: Request for Information .............................................. 158

Greetings & Salute .......................................................................................... 158

Early CID - SACB

6

Welcome Welcome to this edition of the Nongqai, styled Vol. 7 No 4. We hope you would enjoy

this edition as much as we did compiling it. On our cover is one of our veterans, Lt

Gen JJ Viktor, a veteran of the first clash with SWAPO at Ongulumbashe that took

place on 26 August 1966. Genl Viktor is one of our Veterans and is now aged 86.

Genl Viktor is steeds meelewend en woon gereeld gedenkdienste en kollegiale

byeenkomste gereeld by. Die foto is by die Voortrekkermonument geneem tydens

die Koevoet-herdenkingsdiens.

Goeie wense ook aan genl MCW “Mike” Geldenhuys wat onlangs 91 jaar oud

geword het. Hy bedank almal wat hom gebel het toe hy verjaar het.

Wie is ons? / Who are we? We are an informal group of police and defence veterans as well as civilian researchers who would like to foster an interest in South Africa’s police, defence and national security history from 1652 with cut-off-date 1994; when the new South Africa came into being. As veterans we only tell and explain what we did; for we were the “on the spot” eyewitnesses! In fact we are the ones you saw on TV and in the news reels of the time following orders from parliament. However we have to debate the incidents because our memory is fallible as we grow older. In the terms of the

7

day "we earned the T-shirt and right to tell our stories for you to enjoy with malice towards none." We all can learn from the past.

No longer a SA Police Museum We no longer have a (former) South African Police Museum. After the Anglo Boer War (1902) a Union of South Africa was formed during 1910. The SAP came into being during 1913. In the former SAP Museum we had items of the Boer Republican Police and British Colonial Police forces, it did not matter whether it was Boer, Brit, Zulu or whatever police force – items were exhibited and cared for. When the Nats came to power in 1948 they did not destroy their foundation as would appear the SAPS did. Our grandparents, mine at least, were inmates of the British Concentration camps. As amateurs we are conserving our police history from 1652. To the “new” police we would like to say: “If you don’t know where you come from, any road will take you there! We had a rich history of keeping the peace, maintaining law and order. Our records speak loudly and proclaim our successes. You are welcome to compare notes. One has to remember that the police enforce the law, they do not make it! Since 1652, the date from which we kept records, the records show that policing in southern Africa was good! We are attempting to conserve and preserve our police history. So much is owed to so few – those few who formed a dotted line between peace and total anarchy. We have therefore revived the old “Nongqai” – to keep the old spirit alive!

Administration We are mainly a “one-man-show”, so if we do not respond immediately to your email

– please send a reminder to heymanshb@gmail.com or phone Hennie Heymans at

012-329-4229.

We were “fighters” and became bad “writers” - and as we mellow, not such good

“clerks”. History is such an all absorbing subject; we have do much reading,

research, scanning, liaison and other tasks - so sometimes we tend to forget,

however that’s one of the bonuses or plights when we get old. We always have

vacancies for volunteers, editorial contributors and the like. We also need

knowledgeable persons for our website which is a virtual museum and archive.

Legalities This publication is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in

policing/ national security or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Readers should

take legal and other advice before applying the information contained in this

publication to specific issues or transactions.

The Nongqai contains various and sundry personal opinions of different

correspondents and neither the compiler of The Nongqai nor The Nongqai will be

8

held responsible for any of their comments which is entirely their own and not

necessarily that of eNongqai or its publishers.

SASD – Suid-Afrikaanse See Diens / SANS – South African Naval Service

9

This is not a literary magazine, but a magazine by and for veterans of the SA Security Forces; we want to capture the words and moods as written by our former veterans.

Our languages are Afrikaans and English

Air Show: SA Air Force Museum: 7 May 2016: Paul Els In just over a month the SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum will stage its annual air show at AFB Zwartkop with a new Officer Commanding in charge of the flight deck. Lieutenant Colonel Thor Fredericks took over command of the SAAF’s military aviation heritage at Zwartkop in March and the May 7 air show will be his first. It is the museum’s major fundraising effort. He replaced Lieutenant Colonel Mike O’Connor who headed the museum for four years. The 2016 Museum air show is going to be a celebration of aviation through the ages under the theme “Wings over Zwartkop” and will have the majority of the Museum’s airworthy aircraft in action. Last year’s major sponsor, the Paramount Group, has again come forward to ensure the SAAF Museum air show takes its rightful place on the South African air show calendar. In recent years the air show has twice taken top honours as the South African air show of the year and has also earned a second place. Captain Kobus Kapp of the Museum said a full complement of Museum aircraft will take to the sky above the air force base in Valhalla on May 7 and while he could not, at this stage, commit to visiting aircraft he did indicate “some surprises” could be in the offing. A lot of interest is expected to be generated around the Cessna 150, the only example of a training aircraft used by Apla (Azanian People’s Liberation Army) and acquired by the Museum as part of its drive to become fully representative of what all combined to make the air force of today. The other Cessna acquired by the Museum last year – a silver 185 bearing the legend SA Army – is also expected to take part in the flying display. Albatross, Alouette II, Alouette III, Patchen Explorer, Harvards, Kudu, Puma and Vampire aircraft will also fly. Indications are, as usual, the three rotary-wing aircraft

10

will as usual be a “generals’ flight” with retired SAAF brigadier generals Hugh Paine, John Church and Piet Burger at the controls. The day before the air show has again been set aside as a careers day with Mango the major backer and supported by the National Youth Development Programme and the SAAF’s in-house youth awareness programme Siyandiza. ... and speaking about aircraft:

Boarding planes in Israel... Dr Lamb

What a simple and brilliant idea! I particularly like the 'spare' seat announcement!! It's hard to beat Israeli technology!

Tel Aviv, Israel: The Israelis are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with full-body scanners. It's an armoured booth you step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on your person.

Israel sees this as a win-win situation for everyone, with none of this crap about racial profiling. It will also eliminate the costs of long and expensive trials.

You're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter, an announcement: "Attention to all standby passengers, El Al is pleased to announce a seat available on flight 670 to London. Shalom!"

Polmed: Col Terry Schwartz Terry wrote to the Nongqai:

Hello Sir. With Medscheme having taken over from Metropolitan, there was bound to be hiccups and snags. I myself have experienced a few, having said that, I think once these have been ironed out things will improve. Some of the Call Centre Agents are not as competent as one would like them to be, but a learning curve. Some of those Polmed ladies behind the scenes try their level best to assist where they can. Have not mentioned names but I am sure you know who I am referring to. Think some members, do not always understand, (I find the 2016 Guide To Your Health, while comprehensive, is sometimes difficult to fully grasp) that there are rules and limits imposed by the scheme and the Agents cannot be blamed for this. Having said the above, I think we are indeed fortunate to have a Medical Aid Plan that is cheap in comparison with others, mine just over R1400 pm for me and my wife on Marine Plan. Rgds Terry

11

Nongqai: Happy with Polmed

Nongqai would like to thank the administration at Polmed. We have attended a few

“police-braais” and everybody without exception we have come across is happy with

Polmed! We wish to say to Mbasa Mxenge, Gideon Serfontein and Marlene Eloff:

“Thanks very much, it’s a jolly good show, please carry on as you do!”

DA to conduct oversight visits to under-resourced police stations -

Zakhele Mbhele 11 April 2016

SAPS allocated R26 billion to potential payments for civil claims against police officers for attacks and criminality by its members

DA to conduct oversight visits to under-resourced police stations 10 April 2016 I will be conducting a series of oversight visits to police stations across the country to see how the “four U’s” (under-resourcing, under-staffing, under-equipping and under-training) are impacting on the SAPS’s ability to carry out their responsibility to protect the citizens of this country. The sad fact is that we are losing the fight against rising levels of crime in South Africa, and what has become clear is that where the SAPS is most under-resourced, crime is highest. Crime affects each and every one of us. The latest crime statistics, released in September last year, showed an overall increase in crime nationally. Of the 27 crime categories, 16 categories, including murder, sexual offenses, robbery at residential homes, drug-related crime and carjacking, increased from the previous year. This worrying picture is painted by the following statistics: The 2014/15 SAPS Annual Report showed that there were 4 318 vacancies within SAPS, with many stations having unfilled posts. Police-to-populations ratios are skewed. In the Western Cape, for example, the police-to-population ratio is in excess of 1 police officer to 700 residents in some of the precincts hardest hit by crime. This is compared to a national average of 1 police officer to every 328 people. Detective-to-docket ratios also show that our detectives are severely overworked and are not able to deal with the huge number of cases on their desks. A reply to a parliamentary question showed that the recommended average case load per investigating officer is between 40 and 45 case dockets; however, the current average norm across the country is ± 80 case dockets per investigating officer. It is vital that we fight crime with all the means at our disposal, but especially that the funds allocated to protect South Africans are used effectively and efficiently for maximum benefit and ultimately to stave off the tidal wave of crime that has our

12

people feeling unsafe in their homes, on the streets and at places of work. For without these efforts we will not win the fight against crime. The DA therefore finds it staggering that the SAPS management have allocated R26 billion (or over a third of their budget) to contingent liabilities, which refer to potential payments the SAPS may have to make for civil claims against police officers for attacks and criminality by its members. Fighting crime is a matter of political will and the prioritisation of resources to achieve the best outcomes, that being the reduction of crime. The people of South Africa deserve to feel safe and it is important that the SAPS make the best use of the resources they have to ensure that we make meaningful strides to reduce crime so South Africans no longer need to live under siege in barricaded homes. I will therefore be analysing the needs of police stations nationwide in order to find sustainable solutions to the ever growing problem of crime in South Africa. Issued by Zakhele Mbhele, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 10 April 2016 http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/da-to-conduct-oversight-visits-to-

underresourced-

p?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=ab0cae7838-

DHN_12_April_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db99-ab0cae7838-

130042309

Police Oversight: Inadequate SAPS training hampering the fight against

crime 12 April 2016 South Africans of all walks of life are either victims of crime or terrified of becoming

victims, therefore becoming prisoners in our own homes, cars and businesses. Over the next month I will therefore be embarking on a series of oversight visits across the country to drill down into how the “four U’s” (under-resourcing, under-staffing, under-equipping and under-training) impact on the SAPS’s ability to carry out their

responsibility to protect the citizens of this country. On completion of this tour I will presenting a report to the Portfolio Committee along with proposals of how to reform the SAPS. On the first leg of this tour I conducted a visit to the Phillipi Training Academy yesterday during which it became crystal clear that the high levels of crime in South Africa affect all of society with insufficient amounts of training being done to recruit and capacitate our officers. My visit echoed the findings of the the Farlam Commission’s report into the Marikana massacre, which brought into sharp focus the consequences of a lack of training and experience in the SAPS, and attributed this travesty largely to insufficient and ineffective training, stating that“good and effective policing requires expert knowledge acquired by training and practical experience.”

13

The proper training of SAPS officers, both basic and on-the-job training, is vitally important to the effective functioning of the entire criminal justice system and acts as an important component in rebuilding the public’s faith in the SAPS. Yet it seems that the training SAPS recruits are given is lost along the way, due to a lack of leadership that ensures strict adherence to what is taught in basic training and implements on-the-job training continuously. In fact, in a reply to a parliamentary question revealed that not one cent was spent on training SAPS Senior Management Service (SMS) members during the last three financial years. More broadly, out of the total expenditure by the SAPS in 2014/15, the spend on training and development while in the work place, represents 0.1% of total expenditure. This is clearly inadequate to meet the needs of strained police service. On my oversight yesterday to the SAPS Training Academy I witnessed first-hand the kind of training recruits hoping to become SAPS officers receive. Basic training takes place over eight months, before recruits enter a year of on-the-job training, and involves instruction on a number of topics including crime prevention, crime scene management and community policing. While their training covers the correct fields, rising crime rates points to the inefficacy of the programme and its implementation. A number of cases underscore this point: Police officers are often ill-prepared to deal with crimes that require a solid understanding of socio-economic conditions, first and foremost amongst which is domestic violence. In 2014/15 alone, almost 30 000 sexual offences and just over 54 000 serious assaults were committed against women. Yet, a recent report to the Portfolio Committee on Police on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (1998) - which places a number of obligations on SAPS members to provide a service to the victims who report incidences of domestic violence - showed that almost 1 out of 5 (18.7%) police stations were not compliant. With regard to the DNA Act the Forensics Oversight and Ethics Board informed the Police portfolio committee in March that since the Act came into effect on 31 January 2015, a dismal 126 samples have been collected from a population of 162 423 offenders. This is 0.15% of their target, which should have been at 50% after the first year of collection. This was largely attributed to inadequate training for those responsible for collecting samples. And thirdly, high profile cases such as murders of Inge Lotz and Reeva Steenkamp, raised serious questions about training relative to evidence collection and crime scene contamination by inadequately trained police officers. This compromises the ability of the state to prosecute offenders and decreases conviction rates. What became clear from my oversight visit is that leadership, not only in the initial training of SAPS recruits, but more importantly in the leadership by station commanders and their higher-ups, is absolutely vital in ensuring that SAPS officers continue to implement what they learn in basic training, that this training is supplemented with further skills training on the job and that discipline and conformity to the law is maintained effectively.

14

Given the high levels of violent crime in South Africa, it is simply unacceptable that nothing has been spent to train the SAPS’s senior management. This is evidenced by the country’s murder rate which is five times higher than the global average. The fact is that we are losing the fight against the tidal wave of crime in South Africa, and what is clear is that where the SAPS is the most under-capacitated, crime is the highest. Of equal concern, police officers themselves have become victims of crime which is largely attributable to their under-capacitation as illustrated by the rising numbers in cop deaths over the last year. In order to ensure that the SAPS are adequately trained to fight crime in South Africa, the DA would take a number of steps to improve the quality of the recruitment and training program. Some of these steps include:

Ensuring there are enough trainers to guarantee the quality of training.

Ensuring trainers are assessed to guarantee quality.

Enhancing station management skills to ensure station commanders have the necessary management skills to account for their stations’ activities.

Apartheid cops were better - KwaMashu resident

2016-04-12 16:22 - Amanda Khoza, News24

Durban – Police during apartheid were better, a KwaMashu resident told senior police and prosecuting authority officials on Tuesday. "Why is it that under the black government there are so many problems? How can we sit here as blacks and watch this happening? The apartheid police used to arrest the suspects," the man said. He was addressing Hawks head Major General Berning Ntlemeza, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha and National Prosecuting Authority boss Shaun Abrahams at an imbizo in Durban. The man said he had been shot, but his attacker was never arrested. "You say that we must take the numbers and report crime, but you never do anything about it. You must tell us what you are going to do," said the man. The delegation visited the area after four people were shot and killed, execution style, at the KwaMashu hostel on Sunday. The security top brass visited the hostel briefly before addressing the gathering at the KwaMashu sports grounds. Residents said they had had enough of crime in the area. Mbulelo Ngwane, a member of the Community Policing Forum, said when locals caught alleged criminals, police seemed reluctant to make arrests.

15

"The people that come into our homes while we are sleeping are these whoonga-smoking boys. When they come to steal, they are armed. When we catch them, we beat them up and then take them to the police station, but the police encourage them to open a case of assault against the members of the community. That is not right." 'Police get paid, but they don’t arrest suspects' Another local claimed crime was rife because police were taking bribes. "When we give the police information about suspects who do crime in the area, the police take the information and give it to the suspects in exchange for money. Police get paid, but they don’t arrest suspects," he told the delegation. Abrahams assured residents that authorities were working hard to fight crime. He appealed for people to help police and to continue reporting crime. "We cannot fight crime without the people of KwaMashu. Fighting crime is like fighting corruption. I frown upon policemen that behave in the manner that they do, by instead of arresting and charging the perpetrator of a serious crime, they charge the community that want to fight the crime." Ntlemeza said he had received instructions to open new police units to deal with illegal firearms and drugs, as President Jacob Zuma had announced during his State of the Nation Address. "I have visited the different provinces and pilot stations have been opened. We will launch the units at a later stage." He warned people to get rid of illegal firearms. "If someone in KwaMashu has an illegal firearm, you better get rid of it because we are coming for you," he said. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/apartheid-cops-were-better-kwamashu-

resident-20160412

Why were the so-called ‘apartheid’ cops better? Was it because they cared?

Fighting crime is a matter of political will.

Fighting crime is a matter of political will. The City of Cape Town is making

meaningful strides in combating crime in the province. An example of this is the

training partnership with the United States’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

which has resulted in the United States government investing more than R10-million

in the City of Cape Town metro police through drug enforcement training, study

tours, school resources officers that we’ve had in training and also FBI (Federal

Bureau of Investigation) management training since 2009.

When SAPS leadership fails to ensure strict adherence to the training SAPS members receive on crime scene management, the evidence required to find and

16

successfully convict a perpetrator may be thrown out of court. This denies justice to the victims and families of the victims of crime, decreases the conviction rate of perpetrators of crime, fails to inspire confidence in the criminal justice system and ultimately fails to restore the faith South Africans should have in our police service. Clearly, SAPS management need to place greater emphasis on training, especially within the work environment. The DA’s vision is one in which our SAPS is well-trained, resourced and has the trust of the people they took an oath to serve and protect. This is a society that South Africans so desperately need and deserve. This society as envisioned by the DA is the only one that South Africans can truly value. Issued by Zakhele Mbhele, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 12 April 2016 http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/inadequate-saps-training-hampering-fight-

against-c?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=971068c09c-

DHN_12_April_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db99-971068c09c-

130042309

Fighting crime is the reason we have the police! They are there to maintain law and

order. Do we respect our police today?

POPCRU: Inmates must contribute towards running cost of

Correctional Centres Richard Mamabola | 11 April 2016

Inmates should not spend incarceration time being idle and lazying around The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has noted a report by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the conditions of South African prisons, and we still maintain that overcrowding and understaffing in prisons remain and create a challenge both on ablution facilities, the rising levels of violence among

inmates and in ensuring the very objective of rehabilitating inmates, with a view of reintegrating them back into society. Various studies indicate that approximately 85% to 94% of prisoners in South Africa re-offend after their release, which means the current system of rehabilitation needs to urgently be redefined because in the current, our prisons are far from being conducive to fulfilling the rehabilitation process needed. The gruesome approach of Private-Public-Partnerships (PPPs) has also demonstrated to consume most of the Department’s budget, and we are of the view that this approach was misapplied, which has negatively impacted on the level of skills that that offenders were acquiring before its introduction. Due to very little technical and life skills of the inmates, survival outside of the prison environment becomes very difficult and many tend to re-offend because in their view life is easier in prison. This is counter-productive to the fight against crime and corruption.

17

There is currently a huge expenditure on the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) budget, and we are of the firm view that prisons should be self-sufficient insofar as food production through farming, the production of offender uniforms, furniture, both steel and wood as well as inmates’ beds and lockers, the general maintenance and repairs, etc. Most farm prisons like Baviaanspoort and Zonderwater in Gauteng including others in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape have land which should be utilised for food production as this will cut down of costs. The training and development in the workshops should be reignited to address the idling currently underway. Inmates should equally be integrated into rural development projects that will assist with our national developmental goals as a way of paying back to the communities they have wronged, instead of being spoon-fed through taxpayers’ moneys while remaining idle. Our view on this matter is that inmates’ employment within the facility will contribute towards their rehabilitation, self-worth, dignity and skills development, all characteristics so vital towards the eventual successful reintegration into society. This will also reduce the levels of criminal activities common within prisons. For the DCS department to simply suggest that R2,6-billion would be spent over the next three years in attempting to deal with these challenges falls short of addressing the long-term stability of this department, and in turn remains a waste of taxpayers’ funds. We believe that time spent in incarceration must never be about inmates being idle and just lazying around for twenty-four hours a day everyday of their term of imprisonment. All inmates must contribute towards the running costs and decent up-keeping of all Correctional Centres. They can no longer be warehouses where people are stored until their release dates. Issued by Richard Mamabolo on behalf of POPCRU, 11 April 2016 http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/inmates-must-contribute-towards-running-cost-

of-co?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=ab0cae7838-

DHN_12_April_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db99-ab0cae7838-

130042309

A very good idea!

Liberia

Hi Hennie, Wonder of jy al hierdie gesien het http://hubpages.com/education/African-History-when-the-USA-bought-a-country-for-300 Groetnis Chris

18

Anglo Boer War: Nico Moolman

Mrs (president) Steyn under British guard

Gen Meyer, Gen Botha, Gen Erasmus, an orderly and a ghost

Three Boer Generals, an orderly, a spectator and a spook under the Botha tree.

(Look at the ghost figure between the two generals.)

19

Gen Louis Botha and his white horse

Intelligence: British meeting their Informers

William Boden and Captain Johnstone with informers near Heilbron.

Thanks Nico – this is a good “action” picture on the role of intelligence during the Anglo Boer War. In fact this is “normal”. The “poor” informer is many times just between the “tyre and the tube”. Sometimes he has no choice but to be an informer. (He has a family to feed or a wife to protect against the enemy.) Life is all about survival. We in the South African Police also met with our criminal and security informers in the same fashion.

20

Last to Surrender

Genl Nieuwoudt and his commando were the last to surrender on the 16th June

1902. (After a long period of relative peace riots broke out in Soweto, on the 16th of

June 1976, giving new impetus to the revolutionary war in South Africa.)

21

Anglo Boer War: Execution of Joiners

Unveiling of memorials to two executed Anglo-Boer War ‘joiners’.

22

On Saturday 27th August 2011, two memorials were unveiled to Adolf van Emmenis and Pieter Bouwer on the farms Rietfontein and Hartebeestfontein near Villiers (South Gauteng). These men were fighters for the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (Transvaal) in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. They had decided, after serious consideration, to desert the Republican forces and join forces with the British army against their erstwhile comrades, thereby committing high treason. Additionally, they had assisted with farm burnings and with destruction of crops and farm animals. These activities were guaranteed to seal their fate if caught by the Boers.

On the 24th July 1901, on the farm Braklaagte, Major Vallentin’s force (including a number of ‘joiners’) was totally surprised by a strong Boer commando. The ‘joiners’ became so panic-stricken at the prospect of being caught by the Boers that soon Vallentin’s entire force galloped away in all directions!

Van Emmenis and Bouwer were caught and a few days later they were tried for high treason in a horse stable on Hartebeestfontein, with Kommandant Buys presiding at the court martial. They were found guilty and sentenced to death. Two burghers rode all the way to the Eastern Transvaal, looking for the ZAR Government-in-exile, in order to have the death sentence ratified.

Meanwhile, Van Emmenis and Bouwer were kept in the jail at Villiers pending the return of the burghers. A young telegraphist in the town acted as their jailer and reportedly left the jail door open on many occasions, and urged the two men to escape while they still had a chance. However, the condemned men stayed put, believing that they would be shot if they attempted to escape.

23

Once the two burghers had returned with the death sentence confirmed, on the 24th August the two ‘joiners’ were taken to Rietfontein farm where they were blindfolded and executed by firing squad. Twelve men were selected for the squad - six to each condemned man. Of each six, only three had proper bullets. And so the traitors died, killed by their own kith and kin. The graves were filled in and then left to the elements.

In the spirit of the new South Africa, where the virtues of reconciliation, tolerance and forgiveness are (supposed to be) promoted, various people and organisations such as the Military History Society decided that after 110 years it was appropriate to arrange a Christian funeral service for the men and to arrange for commemorative headstones to be erected, both at the site of the trial and at the site of the execution.

Although the condemned men were members of the Dutch/Afrikaans churches at the time, no Afrikaans church ministers were able to preside at the funeral service, and an Anglican minister was happily able to preside over a very moving and solemn occasion.

Opmerkings

Hennie Heymans Thanks for sharing Phil Beck - very interesting. Could you please get me permission to share in Nongqai?

Phil Beck With the greatest of pleasure, my friend! [eGGSA het 2 nuwe foto's bygevoeg.] https://www.facebook.com/phil.beck.758/posts/10153804641731144?comment_id=10153804728826144&reply_comment_id=10153805196911144&notif_t=feed_comment_reply&notif_id=1460471976392525

National Security: Negotiations: NP/SACP/ANC

Karel Combrinck: Ope brief aan FW de Klerk

Topics: ANC Cyril Ramaphosa, FW De Klerk, Kraai Van Niekerk, Nelson Mandela,

Onderhandeling, Oorgawe, Pik Botha, Stoffel Van Der Merwe.

Posted By: Karel Combrinck 24 March 2016

Mnr De Klerk, nou wil ek u eers ʼn guns vra: U is nou tagtig jaar oud. Moet tog asseblief nie iets onbesonne aanvang soos om lepel in die dak te steek voor die boere kan organiseer om u onderstebo op te hang nie.

Dis verbysterend dat daar nog mense is wat die vermetelheid en dikvelligheid kan hê om u skandelike oorgawe aan ʼn kommunistiese ANC-terroristebende te probeer verdedig. Lyk baie na ʼn nostalgiese uitstappie van ʼn paar van u lakeie na die dae toe

24

u nog «president» was. Of miskien is daar mense wat sleg slaap oor wat hulle aangevang het.

Kom ons kyk na ʼn paar van hulle patetiese pogings :

In Die Burger van 18 deser verskyn ʼn artikel deur ene Alet Janse van Rensburg wat ondermeer soos volg lui :

“Diegene wat oudpres. FW de Klerk se hantering van die destydse onderhandelinge vir ’n demokratiese Suid-Afrika kritiseer, moet besef daar was geen alternatief vir die bestel wat hy suksesvol onderhandel het nie.

Só het oudkollegas van De Klerk hom Vrydag op sy 80ste verjaardag geprys vir die leierskap wat hy in ’n kritieke tyd in die land se geskiedenis aan die dag gelê het .”

U sal merk, mnr de Klerk, dat die berig, wat in beginsel veronderstel is om objektief en neutraal te wees, in kenmerkende Burger-styl duidelik in u guns bevooroordeeld is. Die inleidende paragraaf, wat sg die mening van u oudkollegas weergee, stel onomwonde u beleidsrigtings in ‘n positiewe lig. «Leierskap wat hy in ‘n kritieke tyd tyd in die land se geskiedenis aan die dag gelê het» bevat ook duidelik ‘n oordeel dat u beslissings reg en tot voordeel van die land en sy mense was. In belang van ewewig sou ‘n mens kon verwag het dat die berig ook die menings sou dra van mense wat minder lof vir u «onderhandelde» oorgawe het. Maar Die Burger, soos ons weet, het geen voorliefde vir objektiwiteit of ewewigtigheid nie.

En dan, mnr De Klerk, die ewige getokkel oor ‘n «onderhandelde» skikking: Hoeveel onderhandelingsvermoë en hoeveel diplomasie is nodig om ‘n land weg te gee?

«Dr. Kraai van Niekerk, destydse minister van landbou in die oorgangskabinet, het gesê ondanks kritiek teen De Klerk sou Suid-Afrika nie die demokrasie gehad het wat hy vandag het as dit nie vir De Klerk was nie.» Nogal ‘n taamlik onbeholpe sin, maar toemaar.

Maar die vraag is watter soort demokrasie het Suid-Afrika vandag en is dit die soort demokrasie wat enigiemand wil hê, een onder meer waar die Guptas besluit wie kabinetsministers moet wees? «Oorgangskabinet»! Watter soort gedrog is dit? Oorgawekabinet miskien. As ek die sin ietwat kan wysig: «Sonder De Klerk sou Suid-Afrika nie die katastrofiese en totaal mislukte demokrasie gehad het wat hy vandag het nie.»

En van die kant van die ou aartsbedrieër en vermaakliheidskunstenaar, Pik Botha :

“Hoewel daar baie ekonomiese en politieke druk teen apartheid was, was dit ’n etiese en morele motivering wat De Klerk daartoe gedryf het om ons daaruit te lei. Ons het besef dat dit waarmee ons besig is («apartheid»), sonde is en ons kon dit nie langer doen nie.”

Ons was nie in staat om ons land te behou nie, maar ons het darem die tweede prys gewen: Ons was «moreel». Mnr De Klerk u weet tog dat wanneer ‘n mens wil swig

25

voor druk dan klink dit beter om te sê dis weens «morele redes» as om te erken «ek gooi die tou op». En dan, asseblief , wil Pik Botha sowaar vir ons kom preek oor wat «sonde» is? Kan ‘n mens grotesker!

Maar dan gaan die ou amateurgoëlaar voort :

“Daardie referendum het aan die ANC gewys dat twee derdes van die wit mense in die land verkies het dat De Klerk en sy regering die toekoms namens hulle onderhandel. Dit het ons gered toe alles in die weegskaal was. Ons sou nie uit ’n swakkere posisie kon onderhandel nie.”

U het dus uit ‘n posisie van krag onderhandel. Maar wat het u dan nou juis in u posisie van krag bereik? U sou, uit ‘n posisie van krag, ‘n vorm van selfbeskikking vir ons kon beding het. Maar dit is nie ‘n «alternatief» waarin u belang gestel het nie. U het net niks vir ons beding nie behalwe spookasems. Geen wonder Cyril Ramaphosa en die ANC-onderhandelingspan kon hulle gelag vir u nie beteuel nie. ‘n Mens sidder by die gedagte aan wat u sou «beding» het uit ‘n posisie van swakheid! Soos Pik Botha dit duidelik maak, die gedagte met die referendum was om die ANC te beïndruk en instede daarvan dat hulle beïndruk was, het hulle vir u gelag.

“Dr. Stoffel van der Merwe, oudminister van inligting en die uitsaaiwese, het gesê «mense vergeet dat ’n kompromis van nature iets is waarmee beide partye nie heeltemal tevrede is nie, maar waarmee albei kan saamleef. Daar was geen alternatief vir die stelsel wat hy suksesvol onderhandel het nie”.

Weer die mite van «suksesvolle» onderhandeling en «geen ander alternatief nie». U hartsbegeerte was, soos u self sê, om die mag aan die ANC oor te gee, die mooiste dag in u presidensie. Het u hoegenaamd na ander alternatiewe gekyk? Wees tog vir een keer eerlik en erken kapitulasie was die enigste alternatief wat u oorweeg het. U het ons die verderf ingelei met oëverblindery oor «geen ander alternatief» nie. Volgens u was die enigste keuses apartheid of totale oorgawe. Dis net nuttige idiote wat dit kon glo. En ongelukkig is hulle altyd in die meerderheid.

En waar in hemelsnaam is die kompromis ? Dis tog bloot politiekery. Kompromis beteken in gewone taal «iets vir jou en iets vir my». Hulle het ‘n land present gekry en ons?

Nog Stoffel:

“Dit was grootliks te danke aan De Klerk wat in 1990 die sameloop van omstandighede – wat ’n unieke geleentheid geskep het vir ’n vreedsame oorgang – berekend benut het.”

Vreedsame oorgang miskien, maar vreedsame oorgang na wat? En hoe kon dit anders as vreedsaam wees as u die land eenvoudig verniet weggegee het? Waar is dus nou die wonderwerk?

26

(Kraai) Van Niekerk het ook gesê dat Suid-Afrika «gelukkig was om iemand soos De Klerk te hê wat die moed van sy oortuiging gehad het om die land op ‘n verantwoordelike wyse vorentoe te neem».

Die «moed» gehad om die land «vorentoe» te neem! Maar, mnr De Klerk, u weet dit tog, alles het inteendeel sedert u oorgawe agteruit gegaan en gaan nog steeds verder agteruit. Die «moed» wat u openbaar het en die «vorentoe» waarvan Van Niekerk en Van der Merwe praat, is moed en vooruitgang uit die oogpunt van die New York Times.

Die knaende refrein van «suksesvolle onderhandelings» laat ‘n mens ook noodwendig wonder wat «suksesvolle» onderhandelings mag beteken. As ‘n mens mooi lees en mooi luister, beteken dit oorgawe aan die ANC sonder bloedvergieting. Vanselfsprekend sal niemand bloed vergiet wat ‘n land verniet kry nie. As bloed vergiet moes word om ons selfbeskikking te waarborg, dan moes dit gebeur. Ons bloed is herhaaldelik deur ons geskiedenis heen vergiet, in die Anlo-Boere-oorlog, jare lank in Angola en elders, ter wille van ons vryheid. Om te sterf ter wille van ons vryheid sou tog eindeloos meer moreel gewees het as hierdie eerlose en vernederende oorgawe. En dan, mnr De Klerk, wat van al die bloed van witmense wat nou op plase en elders vergiet word? Alles deel van u «demokratiese» oorgang ?

U het ons die verderf ingelei met oëverblindery oor «geen ander alternatief nie». Daar was ander keuses ook behalwe apartheid of oorgawe en u weet dit, maar u het nie die wil en die «moed» gehad om hulle te oorweeg nie. U het net uitgesien na die grootste dag in u presidensie.

Baie van ons, Mnr De Klerk, en ek glo al meer en meer, is oortuig daarvan dat u motivering nie moraliteit was nie, maar eerder lafhartigheid, soeke na internasionale gewildheid en eiebelang. U het die wêreld gewen deur u siel te verkwansel. Nelson Mandela het van u ʼn wêreldfiguur gemaak: Die grootste hensopper in die geskiedenis.

http://praag.co.za/?p=37377

Aangesien die brief ‘n ope brief aan mnr FW de Klerk is en dr Stoffel van der Merwe se naam genoem is, het ons die vrymoedigheid geneem om hom vir kommentaar te nader. Die Nongqai wou nie mnr De Klerk “pla” nie. Miskien sal ons nog later met mnr de Klerk gesels.)

Dr Stoffel van der Merwe

Karel Combrinck se brief wemel van negatiewe beskrywings van die oorgang van 1990-1994. Miskien is die volgende sinsnede eintlik die kern van sy betoog. Hy beskryf dit as “... ʼn skandelike oorgawe aan ʼn kommunistiese ANC-terroristebende”. En dan kritiseer hy almal wat by geleentheid van oud-president FW de Klerk se tagtigste verjaarsdag iets positiefs te sê gehad het. Hy maak twee verdere punte in hierdie verband, nl. eerstens dat die NP regering destyds die mag aan die ANC oorhandig het sonder om iets in ruil te kry – derhalwe slegs ʼn leë kompromis waarin een party alles kry en die ander niks, en tweedens vra

27

hy watter soort demokrasie het ons vandag “... een onder meer waar die Guptas besluit wie kabinetsministers moet wees ...” Die taal waarin die brief geskryf is, is kras en onprofessioneel, soos byvoorbeeld waar hy FW de Klerk uitkryt as “Die grootse hensopper in die geskiedenis” en dat hy gedoen het wat hy gedoen het ter wille van eie belang en uit “lafhartigheid”. Dan stel hy voor dat De Klerk aan sy voete opgehang moet word. Hierdie soort emosionele uitbarstings verdien eintlik nie kommentaar nie, maar ter wille van mense wat nog redelik dink, tog ʼn paar opmerkings. Die enigste aanduiding wat Combrinck gee oor die alternatief waarin hy sou belangstel, is die sinsnede waarin hy aanvoer dat De Klerk “... ʼn vorm van selfbeskikking vir ons kon beding het.” Dit is ʼn baie ou mite. Selfbeskikking in die klassieke sin van die woord, veronderstel ʼn soewereine regering in ʼn afgebakende grondgebied. Die vraag is: “WAAR?” Die stigters van Orania het oorspronklik gereken dat hul idee sou groei en groei totdat dit ʼn betekenisvolle grondgebied met ʼn betekenisvolle bevolking sou wees. Hoewel geen versperrings in hul pad geplaas is van enige kant af nie, het dit nie geblyk ʼn haalbare alternatief te wees nie. Sowel Orania as Kleinfontein is prysenswaardige inisiatiewe, maar het op die oomblik slegs beperkte toepassing. Daar was oor die afgelope dertig jaar en meer steeds politieke partye en bewegings wat selfbeskikking as ʼn ideaal gehad het, maar niemand kon nog ʼn sinvolle antwoord gee op die “waar”-vraag nie. En Combrinck probeer nie eens om enige inhoud aan die begrip te gee nie. Wat wel waar is, is dat die ANC in sy “bevrydingstryd” van terreur gebruik gemaak het – iets wat onder geen omstandighede goedgepraat kan word nie. Die terreur het selfs tussen 1990 en 1994 voortgeduur in die vorm van swart-op-swart geweld, veral in Natal. En die nalatenskap daarvan is vandag nog te bespeur daarin dat Suid-Afrika ʼn buitengewoon gewelddadige samelewing is. Dit is te betreur. Maar die terreur deur die ANC het tot ʼn einde gekom en vandag kan die ANC nie meer as ʼn terroriste-organisasie beskryf word nie. Sommige van ons eie mense het in die verlede ook van sabotasie en terreur gebruik gemaak om politieke doelstellings te bevorder. Gelukkig is ons nou ontslae daarvan, aan alle kante. Dan word die ANC ook beskryf as ʼn kommunistiese organisasie. En dit is waar dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Kommunistiese Party deel van die regerende alliansie is. Daar is selfs verskeie lede van die SAKP in die kabinet. Maar, as die regering aan sy dade van die afgelope 22 jaar beoordeel word, is dit allermins ʼn kommunistiese regering. Kom ons kyk daarna: Kort voor sy vrylating het Nelson Mandela nog teenoor ʼn buitelandse joernalis gesê dat nasionalisering van die myne, die banke en groot besighede “ononder-handelbaar” is. Maar in 1989 het die Berlynse muur geval en in die daaropvolgende maande en paar jare het die hele kommunistiese ryk soos ʼn kaartehuis inmekaargestort. Wanneer

28

die ANC manne hul pêlle in Oos-Duitsland of Rusland gebel het, het daardie pêlle net nie meer die fone geantwoord nie – hulle was uit in die koue. Oral waar die ANC manne in die buiteland gekom het, het hulle net een boodskap gekry: Julle kan nie met daardie sotlike beleid voortgaan nie. Selfs die leiers van Vietnam en Sjina het aan Mandela gesê dat hy nie dieselfde foute as hulle moes maak nie. Terug in Suid-Afrika het Mandela sy hande vol gehad om die leiers van die ANC te oortuig dat hulle nie met daardie soort beleid kon voortgaan nie. Daar is vandag nog mense wat meen dat Mandela “die rewolusie verraai” het. Dit is dus nie net De Klerk wat deur die mense aan die verre regterkant daarvan beskuldig word dat hy ʼn verraaier is nie, Mandela word op sy beurt deur die mense aan die verre linkse kant ook daarvan beskuldig. Sprekend is die feit dat Mandela in sy regering dieselfde persoon as minister van finansies aangestel het as wat voorheen in dieselfde hoedanigheid in die vorige regering van De Klerk gedien het. Combrinck maak ook die aantyging dat De Klerk se oorweging nie die etiese en morele was nie maar lafhartigheid en sy persoonlike eiebelang. Ons moet die draai ʼn bietjie wyd gaan vat: “Selfbeskikking” was vir ʼn baie lang tyd feitlik ʼn leuse in ons politiek. Maar in wese was selfbeskikking nie ʼn doel nie, maar ʼn middel – ʼn middel waarmee ons ons volksbelange en ons kultuurbelange kon dien. Van vroeg af in ons politiek was daar twee oorheersende oorwegings: eiebelang en regverdigheid. NP van Wyk Louw het dit soos volg geformuleer: “Voortbestaan in geregtigheid”. Dit was reeds vervat in Piet Retief se manifes wat hy uitgereik het voordat hy saam met ʼn groot groep Voortrekkers uit die Oos-Kaap vertrek het. Daarin het hy gesê dat hulle in vreedsame naasbestaan wil lewe met die volke wat hulle in die binneland sou aantref. Daarom het hy ook grond by Dingaan gekoop, voordat hy vermoor is. Die Grond Wet van 1913 het dan ook grond wat in die besit van swart mense was, beveilig teen gewetenlose mense wat stukke grond by die kapteins gekoop het vir ʼn appel of ʼn ei (of ʼn kas whisky). Verwoerd het reeds die reg van swart mense om oor hulself te regeer, erken met sy beleid van afsonderlike ontwikkeling – daar was nie perke op die hoogte wat ʼn swart mens kon bereik nie: professor, direkteur-generaal, minister, president. Die bedoeling was dat hulle dit in hul eie gebiede moes doen. Maar dit het die gelykwaardigheid van swart mense onomstootlik erken. Ook hul reg om seggenskap te hê oor die regering wat oor hulle regeer. Die onderliggende doel was steeds voortbestaan in geregtigheid. Mettertyd het dit duidelik geword dat afsonderlike ontwikkeling nie geslaag het nie en nie sou slaag nie. Die redes daarvoor is velerlei. Daarom kon nie langer verwag word van swart mense om tevrede te wees met stemreg vir ʼn regering in ʼn tuisland waar hulle nooit was nie en nooit sou wees nie. Reeds in ʼn toespraak by die opening van die Parlement in 1986 het die hoofleier van die Nasionale Party en Staatspresident, mnr PW Botha, aangekondig dat alle swart

29

mense in die toekoms volwaardige Suid-Afrikaanse burgers sou wees, en dat daar met die leiers onderhandel moes word oor die wyse waarop hulle aan die Suid-Afrikaanse politiek sou deelneem. Die motivering was weer eens voortbestaan in geregtigheid. Hierdie onderhandelinge het egter nie van die grond af gekom nie, omdat die ANC nog gedink het hulle kan die oorlog wen. Hulle het nog visioene gehad van swart soldate met ʼn rooi vlag vooraan wat deur Pretoria se (vernielde) strate opruk na die Uniegebou. Hulle was nie gereed om af te sien van gewelddadige rewolusie nie, en die swart leiers in Suid-Afrika wat nie lede van die ANC of sy frontorganisasies was nie, het nie kans gesien om hul nekke uit te steek nie (om goeie redes). In 1990 was dit egter anders: Die kommunisme het die wedloop teen die Weste verloor. Die Berlynse muur het geval. Die regering van Oos-Duitsland het geval. Die regerings van die Oos-Blok state het een na die ander geval. Die ANC kon nie meer hulp of ondersteuning uit die Oos-Blok of uit die Sowjet-Unie verwag nie. Hulle kon nie meer die oorlog wen nie. Hulle was nou gereed om te onderhandel. Die onderliggende tema van die onderhandeling was weer eens: geregtigheid, maar ook voortbestaan vir almal. Dit was in wese wat pres. Botha in 1986 reeds wou doen. Pres. De Klerk, en die manne wat hom ondersteun het, se fundamentele oorweging was weer eens voortbestaan in geregtigheid. Dit is betekenisvol dat hy eenparige ondersteuning in die kabinet sowel as in die koukus gehad het – nie een minister of parlementslid het weggebreek nie. Dan die vraag oor wat die aard van ons huidige stelsel is: Ooglopend is die bedeling wat ons vandag het uit ons oogpunt minder as ideaal – mens kan selfs sê: baie minder as ideaal – veral met Zuma en sy trawante aan die stuur. Daar is inderdaad baie dinge wat ons anders sou wou gehad het. Maar dit is so dat die huidige bedeling ook allermins ideaal uit die oogpunt van die Zuptas is: Daar is heeltemal te veel beperkings op sy mag in die stelsel ingebou na hulle smaak. Zwelinzima Vavi het dit raak opgesom toe hy gesê het dat Zuma eintlik homself sien as die tradisionele koning en ons almal as sy onderdane: Hy dink hy kan doen wat hy wil en hy kan vat wat hy wil. Hy sou graag ʼn heel ander bedeling wou hê, en natuurlik is hy met geslepenheid steeds daarop uit om die land te stuur in die rigting waarvan hy meer sou hou. Maar juis weens die aard van die skikking wat in die negentigerjare bereik is, gaan hy dit nie maklik regkry nie. Daar is wigte en teenwigte beding om die burgers te beskerm teen die vraatsige staat. As dit nie was vir die groot vryheid van die pers wat ons nog geniet nie, sou ons nooit eens geweet het van Nkandla en wat daar aangaan nie. Of van die Guptas nie. As dit nie was vir die Openbare Beskermer en haar onafhanklikheid nie, sou Zuma nooit oor Nkandla aangespreek gewees het nie. As dit nie was vir die onafhanklike Grondwetlike Hof nie, sou Zuma oor die

30

Openbare Beskermer en al die ander grondwetlike beperkings en instellings heen geloop het. Dit is ironies dat dit juis ʼn karakter soos Zuma gekos het om vir ons te demonstreer hoe sterk die demokrasie in Suid-Afrika inderdaad is. Wat staan ons nou te doen? Om mekaar te verwyt gee ʼn lekker warm gevoel, veral ná ʼn drankie of twee rondom die braaivleisvuur. Dit maak egter niks wat verkeerd is reg nie. Maar daar is steeds meer en meer mense en organisasies in die burgerlike samelewing wat die middele wat ons in die Grondwet gekry het, gebruik om ons volksbelange te beskerm en te bevorder. Dink daaraan: Voor 1990 was daar nie een enkele Afrikaanse kunstefees nie. ʼn Mens kan ʼn lang lys maak van die goeie dinge wat ons vandag het en die vryheid wat ons vandag het. Wat egter nodig is, is dat ons – man en muis – hande uit die mou moet steek en ʼn verskil moet maak in ons onmiddellike omgewing en, as ons kan, nog verder ook. Ons moet weer, soos ʼn eeu gelede, onsself self optel. En ons moet diegene wat dinge doen nie aftakel of in hulle pad staan nie – ons moet hulle arms omhoog hou.

Baragwanath: A particular South African Place name: Dr NC Lamprect South Africa undoubtedly has a plethora of interesting place names, many of them portraying the variety of people and languages to be found. Names such as Pampoenpoort, Pofadder, Putsonderwater, Hotazel, Amsterdam, Bethlehem, Gingindlovu, Alldays, Heidelberg, Nkandla and countless others, are often unique, or identify a characteristic or conjure links with towns and cities elsewhere in the world. A name that always intrigued me was Baragwanath and I initially suspected it was Portuguese. Being from the ‘pre-computer era’ without the advantage of instant info”, I only came across the name while reading about early English settlers in Natal. John Baragwanath was a Cornish sea captain on the England to Cape run. He decided to take up farming and come to South Africa in 1850 under the Byrne Scheme. He left England on the good ship Lady Bruce, with his wife Wilmot and their four children Elizabeth Grace, John Albert, Orlando and Emily. They settled on a farm "Isipingo", just south of Durban. The family later joined the Byrne settlers in the Natal Midlands. It was Orlando Baragwanath, a grandson of John the Sea Captain that was destined to become the best known Baragwanath. His family’s Cornish surname immortalised in the great Baragwanath Hospital just outside Johannesburg, and his first name associated with both Orlando a suburb of Soweto, and the black and white strip of the Orlando Pirates football team.

31

Dr NC Lamprecht is better known as Sgt Nico “Wollie” Lamprecht. He was

a policeman in Protea House & Fischer Street, Durban.) He left the Force

to become a teacher at DHS.

New Military Books: Paul Els Paul is a busy man, he writes: The following three books is now available fromepos@groep7.co.za

Die Verste Sektor (Afr) deur Johan van Wyngaard A4 Bl 264 @ R260 met CD met foto’s.

Selfde boek met 24 kleur bld vir R340. Geskiedenis van Sektor 70 en Kmdt Dirk du Toit.

The Heights Cemetery by Paul J. Els A4 Pg 245 @ R220. List of people buried in the Voortrekkerhoogte cemetery.

Tekkie Pilots (Afr) deur Pieter vd Walt A5 Bl 50 @ R49 . Geskiedenis van die Leer Eskd 42 LOV.

32

Nongqai has not yet seen these books, so we have no comment.

33

No 8880 Sgt Charles Robert Eastwood Brown: Master W/O Brown

34

The Star 19321108

The Star 19321108

35

Argus 19321110

Argus 1932-11-11

36

1933-04-12

Memorial Tablets

37

38

Medals & Commendations

39

We salute Sgt Brown’s Memory! What happened to the Memorial Tablets?

We know those at Johannesburg Central Police Station were stolen.

Adj Offisier Harry Bucholtz Piet Van Zyl het op hierdie kommentaar reageer.

40

Piet Van Zyl 3 April om 01:13 NM. · Nelspruit, South Africa · Hier was nou ʼn absolute legende .... Adj Offisier Harry Bucholtz wêreldoorlog II Vet ..... Hardegat en so bedonderd soos doringdraad maar ʼn hart van goud. In sy aftree-jare ons jonges in die kaserne in Welkom met ʼn ysterhand regeer. Toe ek later by SANAB was het ons sy tarentale en ganse ge-poach voor ons uit is veld toe vir kos. Saluut aan een van die S.A. Polisie grotes ..... Oubaas Harry was soos ʼn Pa vir ons. Walk Tall

36 Jy, De Wet Potgieter, Jorge Costa en 33 ander 1 deling Opmerkings

Fanie Vermaak Daai oë sê alles Piet Van Zyl!! Walk Tall!!!

Piet Van Zyl Eishhh as hy jou ingeroep het, het hy jou altyd So ʼn Kyk gegee ... Ek was Tapkantienmeester op ʼn stadium en het hy my ingeroep en sy hele curio versameling geskenk .... Gesê hy weet ek sal daarna kyk. Ons SANAB-span, Krappie Meiring, Chris Dunn en ek het dit in die onder-offisierkantien uitgestal en wonder wat het uiteindelik daarvan geword. Walk Tall

Fanie Vermaak Mooi herinneringe Piet Van Zyl...daardie karakters kry ons nie meer!! Walk Tall!!

41

Albie Wentzel Onthou jy toe hy met die opruktrok agteruit gery het teen die lamp paal vas en toe gee hy sommer arme ou Motaung die skuld en trap hy hom uit. Motaung was nie eens naby. Wat ' n pragtige ou karakter. Verwerp · Antwoord · 2 · 3 April om 02:59 NM.

Piet Van Zyl Absolute Yster Elbie.....Walk Tall

Johan Roeland Hy was baie bedonderd maar het met ʼn ysterhand regeer as opsigter in Welkom. Ons as kinders hom baie besig gehou - veral Gert Landman en myself...... Walk Tall

Johan Herselman Snr "Oom" Harry was ic van die menasie in my tyd op Welkom saam met ou auntie Rubber Panty Haasbroek. Eich, Sondag se kos was hopeloos en ons klomp jonges het gereeld gaan braai daar by die dam daar by die lughawe pad. Lekker ou dae van lank verlede. Amper vergeet, Kleinjan Venter het sommer ou Harry se hoendertjie in die barracks op die vloer gebraai toe hulle nie vir hom kos uitgesit het nie.

Louis Fourie Hy sal in sy graf omdraai as hy sien hoe dit nou op Welkom se gronde lyk. Hy was ʼn yster gewees.

Corlea Smit Wonderlike dae by Sanab saam met julle drie, Piet.

Piet Van Zyl Hi Corlea, ja dit was baie goeie tye. Walk Tall.

Stanley Joubert Saluut vir 'n Staaldraad in ons SAP geskiedens.

Piet “Walk Tall” – dankie vir hierdie mooi getuigskrif!

Burial at Sea by L Col George Goodson, USMC (Ret)

Via Ben Kruger (from Ben in the US and written in “American”)

In my 76th year, the events of my life appear to me, from time to time, as a series of vignettes. Some were significant; most were trivial...

War is the seminal event in the life of everyone that has endured it. Though I fought in Korea and the Dominican Republic and was wounded there, Vietnam was my war.

Now 42 years have passed and, thankfully, I rarely think of those days in Cambodia, Laos, and the panhandle of North Vietnam where small teams of Americans and Montangards fought much larger elements of the North Vietnamese Army. Instead I see vignettes: some exotic, some mundane:

*The smell of Nuc Mam.

*The heat, dust, and humidity.

42

*The blue exhaust of cycles clogging the streets.

*Elephants moving silently through the tall grass.

*Hard eyes behind the servile smiles of the villagers.

*Standing on a mountain in Laos and hearing a tiger roar.

*A young girl squeezing my hand as my medic delivered her baby.

*The flowing Ao Dais of the young women biking down Tran Hung Dao.

*My two years as Casualty Notification Officer in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.

It was late 1967. I had just returned after 18 months in Vietnam. Casualties were increasing. I moved my family from Indianapolis to Norfolk, rented a house, enrolled my children in their fifth or sixth new school, and bought a second car.

A week later, I put on my uniform and drove 10 miles to Little Creek, Virginia. I hesitated before entering my new office. Appearance is important to career Marines. I was no longer, if ever, a poster Marine. I had returned from my third tour in Vietnam only 30 days before. At 5'9", I now weighed 128 pounds - 37 pounds below my normal weight. My uniforms fit ludicrously, my skin was yellow from malaria medication, and I think I had a twitch or two.

I straightened my shoulders, walked into the office, looked at the nameplate on a Staff Sergeant's desk and said, "Sergeant Jolly, I'm Lieutenant Colonel Goodson. Here are my orders and my Qualification Jacket."

Sergeant Jolly stood, looked carefully at me, took my orders, stuck out his hand; we shook and he asked, "How long were you there, Colonel?" I replied "18 months this time." Jolly breathed, you must be a slow learner Colonel." I smiled.

Jolly said, "Colonel, I'll show you to your office and bring in the Sergeant Major. I said, "No, let's just go straight to his office." Jolly nodded, hesitated, and lowered his voice, "Colonel, the Sergeant Major. He's been in this job two years. He's packed pretty tight. I'm worried about him." I nodded.

Jolly escorted me into the Sergeant Major's office. "Sergeant Major, this is Colonel Goodson, the new Commanding Office. The Sergeant Major stood, extended his hand and said, "Good to see you again, Colonel." I responded, "Hello Walt, how are you?" Jolly looked at me, raised an eyebrow, walked out, and closed the door.

I sat down with the Sergeant Major. We had the obligatory cup of coffee and talked about mutual acquaintances. Walt's stress was palpable. Finally, I said, "Walt, what's the h-ll's wrong?" He turned his chair, looked out the window and said, "George, you're going to wish you were back in Nam before you leave here. I've been in the Marine Corps since 1939. I was in the Pacific 36 months, Korea for 14 months, and Vietnam for 12 months... Now I come here to bury these kids. I'm putting my letter in. I can't take it anymore." I said, "OK Walt. If that's what you want, I'll endorse your request for retirement and do what I can to push it through Headquarters Marine Corps."

43

Sergeant Major Walt Xxxxx retired 12 weeks later. He had been a good Marine for 28 years, but he had seen too much death and too much suffering. He was used up.

Over the next 16 months, I made 28 death notifications, conducted 28 military funerals, and made 30 notifications to the families of Marines that were severely wounded or missing in action. Most of the details of those casualty notifications have now, thankfully, faded from memory. Four, however, remain.

My first notification

My third or fourth day in Norfolk, I was notified of the death of a 19 year old Marine. This notification came by telephone from Headquarters Marine Corps. The information detailed:

*Name, rank, and serial number.

*Name, address, and phone number of next of kin.

*Date of and limited details about the Marine's death.

*Approximate date the body would arrive at the Norfolk Naval Air Station.

*A strong recommendation on whether the casket should be opened or closed.

The boy's family lived over the border in North Carolina, about 60 miles away... I drove there in a Marine Corps staff car. Crossing the state line into North Carolina, I stopped at a small country store / service station / Post Office. I went in to ask directions.

Three people were in the store.. A man and woman approached the small Post Office window. The man held a package. The Storeowner walked up and addressed them by name, "Hello John. Good morning Mrs. Cooper."

I was stunned. My casualty's next-of-kin's name was John Cooper!

I hesitated, then stepped forward and said, "I beg your pardon. Are you Mr. and Mrs. John Cooper of (address.)

The father looked at me-I was in uniform - and then, shaking, bent at the waist, he vomited. His wife looked horrified at him and then at me. Understanding came into her eyes and she collapsed in slow motion. I think I caught her before she hit the floor.

The owner took a bottle of whiskey out of a drawer and handed it to Mr. Cooper who drank. I answered their questions for a few minutes. Then I drove them home in my staff car. The storeowner locked the store and followed in their truck. We stayed an hour or so until the family began arriving.

I returned the storeowner to his business. He thanked me and said, "Mister, I wouldn't have your job for a million dollars." I shook his hand and said; "Neither would I."

44

I vaguely remember the drive back to Norfolk. Violating about five Marine Corps regulations, I drove the staff car straight to my house. I sat with my family while they ate dinner, went into the den, closed the door, and sat there all night, alone.

My Marines steered clear of me for days. I had made my first death notification.

The funerals

Weeks passed with more notifications and more funerals. I borrowed Marines from the local Marine Corps Reserve and taught them to conduct a military funeral: how to carry a casket, how to fire the volleys and how to fold the flag.

When I presented the flag to the mother, wife, or father, I always said, "All Marines share in your grief." I had been instructed to say, "On behalf of a grateful nation...." I didn't think the nation was grateful, so I didn't say that.

Sometimes, my emotions got the best of me and I couldn't speak. When that happened, I just handed them the flag and touched a shoulder. They would look at me and nod. Once a mother said to me, "I'm so sorry you have this terrible job." My eyes filled with tears and I leaned over and kissed her.

Another notification

Six weeks after my first notification, I had another. This was a young PFC. I drove to his mother's house. As always, I was in uniform and driving a Marine Corps staff car. I parked in front of the house, took a deep breath, and walked towards the house. Suddenly the door flew open, a middle-aged woman rushed out. She looked at me and ran across the yard, screaming "NO! NO! NO! NO!"

I hesitated. Neighbors came out. I ran to her, grabbed her, and whispered stupid things to reassure her. She collapsed. I picked her up and carried her into the house.. Eight or nine neighbors followed. Ten or fifteen later, the father came in followed by ambulance personnel. I have no recollection of leaving.

The funeral took place about two weeks later. We went through the drill. The mother never looked at me. The father looked at me once and shook his head sadly.

Another notification

One morning, as I walked in the office, the phone was ringing. Sergeant Jolly held the phone up and said, "You've got another one, Colonel." I nodded, walked into my office, picked up the phone, took notes, thanked the officer making the call, I have no idea why, and hung up. Jolly, who had listened, came in with a special Telephone Directory that translates telephone numbers into the person's address and place of employment.

The father of this casualty was a Longshoreman. He lived a mile from my office. I called the Longshoreman's Union Office and asked for the Business Manager. He answered the phone, I told him who I was, and asked for the father's schedule.

45

The Business Manager asked, "Is it his son?" I said nothing. After a moment, he said, in a low voice, "Tom is at home today." I said, "Don't call him. I'll take care of that." The Business Manager said, "Aye, Aye Sir," and then explained, "Tom and I were Marines in WWII."

I got in my staff car and drove to the house. I was in uniform. I knocked and a woman in her early forties answered the door. I saw instantly that she was clueless. I asked, "Is Mr. Smith home?" She smiled pleasantly and responded, "Yes, but he's eating breakfast now. Can you come back later?" I said, "I'm sorry. It's important. I need to see him now."

She nodded, stepped back into the beach house and said, "Tom, it's for you."

A moment later, a ruddy man in his late forties, appeared at the door. He looked at me, turned absolutely pale, steadied himself, and said, "Jesus Christ man, he's only been there three weeks!"

Months passed. More notifications and more funerals. Then one day while I was running, Sergeant Jolly stepped outside the building and gave a loud whistle, two fingers in his mouth... I never could do that ... and held an imaginary phone to his ear.

Another call from Headquarters Marine Corps. I took notes, said, "Got it." and hung up. I had stopped saying "Thank You" long ago.

Jolly, "Where?"

Me, "Eastern Shore of Maryland. The father is a retired Chief Petty Officer. His brother will accompany the body back from Vietnam..."

Jolly shook his head slowly, straightened, and then said, "This time of day, it'll take three hours to get there and back. I'll call the Naval Air Station and borrow a helicopter. And I'll have Captain Tolliver get one of his men to meet you and drive you to the Chief's home."

He did, and 40 minutes later, I was knocking on the father's door. He opened the door, looked at me, then looked at the Marine standing at parade rest beside the car, and asked, "Which one of my boys was it, Colonel?"

I stayed a couple of hours, gave him all the information, my office and home phone number and told him to call me, anytime.

He called me that evening about 2300 (11:00PM). "I've gone through my boy's papers and found his will. He asked to be buried at sea. Can you make that happen?" I said, "Yes I can, Chief. I can and I will."

My wife who had been listening said, "Can you do that?" I told her, "I have no idea. But I'm going to break my ass trying."

46

I called Lieutenant General Alpha Bowser, Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, at home about 2330, explained the situation, and asked, "General, can you get me a quick appointment with the Admiral at Atlantic Fleet Headquarters?" General Bowser said," George, you be there tomorrow at 0900. He will see you.

I was and the Admiral did. He said coldly, "How can the Navy help the Marine Corps, Colonel." I told him the story. He turned to his Chief of Staff and said, "Which is the sharpest destroyer in port?" The Chief of Staff responded with a name.

The Admiral called the ship, "Captain, you're going to do a burial at sea. You'll report to a Marine Lieutenant Colonel Goodson until this mission is completed..."

He hung up, looked at me, and said, "The next time you need a ship, Colonel, call me. You don't have to sic Al Bowser on my ass." I responded, "Aye Aye, Sir" and got the h-ll out of his office.

I went to the ship and met with the Captain, Executive Officer, and the Senior Chief. Sergeant Jolly and I trained the ship's crew for four days. Then Jolly raised a question none of us had thought of. He said, "These government caskets are air tight. How do we keep it from floating?"

All the high priced help including me sat there looking dumb. Then the Senior Chief stood and said, "Come on Jolly. I know a bar where the retired guys from World War II hang out."

They returned a couple of hours later, slightly the worst for wear, and said, "It's simple; we cut four 12" holes in the outer shell of the casket on each side and insert 300 lbs of lead in the foot end of the casket. We can handle that, no sweat."

The day arrived. The ship and the sailors looked razor sharp. General Bowser, the Admiral, a US Senator, and a Navy Band were on board. The sealed casket was brought aboard and taken below for modification. The ship got underway to the 12-fathom depth.

The sun was hot. The ocean flat. The casket was brought aft and placed on a catafalque. The Chaplin spoke. The volleys were fired. The flag was removed, folded, and I gave it to the father. The band played "Eternal Father Strong to Save." The casket was raised slightly at the head and it slid into the sea.

The heavy casket plunged straight down about six feet. The incoming water collided with the air pockets in the outer shell. The casket stopped abruptly, rose straight out of the water about three feet, stopped, and slowly slipped back into the sea. The air bubbles rising from the sinking casket sparkled in the in the sunlight as the casket disappeared from sight forever....

47

The next morning I called a personal friend, Lieutenant General Oscar Peatross, at Headquarters Marine Corps and said, "General, get me out of here. I can't take this anymore." I was transferred two weeks later.

I was a good Marine but, after 17 years, I had seen too much death and too much suffering. I was used up.

Vacating the house, my family and I drove to the office in a two-car convoy. I said my goodbyes. Sergeant Jolly walked out with me. He waved at my family, looked at me with tears in his eyes, came to attention, saluted, and said, "Well Done, Colonel. Well Done."

I felt as if I had received the Medal of Honor!

A veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including their life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

Commonwealth Day: United Kingdom: Remembrance: Commonwealth

Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London: P Gillat

Morning Hennie. A little something from England. Every year on the second Monday in March, 53 countries join together in celebration of the links they share as members of one diverse and dynamic global family - the modern British Commonwealth. Commonwealth Day in the United Kingdom begins with a service of remembrance and the laying of wreaths at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London. The South African Legion was once again honoured to attend this parade in London, and we were even more honoured to be able lay a wreath alongside all the dignitaries in honour of the South African lives given to the British Crown under the Commonwealth agreement. From WW1 and WW2 and even to the present day. Thanks to Lgr Andrew Bergman, Chair of our European Outpost for laying the wreath on behalf of the South African Legion and to Lgr Theo Fernandes for the photos. The ceremony was also attended by Lgr Russel Muttusheck Best regards Pete Gillat

48

Lgr. Andrew Bergman

Lgr. Theo Fernandes

49

50

51

52

KwaZulu Police: Lt Gen RP “Roy” During

Chapter 11: Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi - The Man

Being a South African, born and brought up in KwaZulu-Natal, I had been aware of the existence of the man called Mangosuthu Buthelezi for many years, long prior to my meeting him personally for the first time in October 1992 - for Dr Buthelezi has made his presence felt in the KwaZulu-Natal region and further afield, for many years. If my memory serves me correctly, I recall having heard his name mentioned for the first time when I was a young policeman in Durban in the late 1950's.1 Again, if my memory serves me correctly, his name was being referred to in a negative context as at that time he was labelled a member of the hated ANC. And it would not surprise me were he, in his early years of political involvement, a supporter of some form of socialism. That is, however, a long time ago and things have since changed drastically. 2 Nevertheless, in whatever guise or capacity, Dr. Buthelezi was always engaged in the struggle against racism and segregation - the liberating struggle against apartheid. He has consistently and nobly stuck to the original ANC policy (1912) that

1 His father was WO During from King’s Rest, Durban. Mr During (Senior) was a fluent Zulu linguist.

2 As a member of the Durban Security Branch I heard through the “grape vine” that he and the then

Divisional Commander of the Security Branch (later Maj Gen) FMA “Frans” Steenkamp had a chat. It was said to me that Dr Buthelezi was a devout Christian. He founded Inkatha ye Siwe iZulu – Hennie Heymans.

53

racism and segregation should be opposed by employing strategies of ‘non-violence and negotiation'. The ANC later abandoned this passive approach and this eventually led to the break between Dr. Buthelezi and the ANC. In certain 'black' circles he was ostracised for not supporting violence, sanctions and disinvestments. Being the statesman he is, he refused to submit to these destructive forces as he knew that it would bring further untold suffering and hardship especially to the underprivileged black people of South Africa. I believe that he is a deeply committed Christian and that he will not abandon his ideals or be intimidated into changing a course destined to benefit the welfare of all South Africans irrespective of colour or creed. Dr. Buthelezi is a true believer in democracy and therefore also a staunch and tenacious camp-fighter for a federal system of government. He confirms his belief in democracy in his book "South Africa: My vision of the future” (p.8), where he writes: "Democracy cannot fail. Only those who abandon democracy fail. Democracy as evolved throughout the history of mankind has never been achieved in one fell swoop or one stroke." He is one of the elite farsighted politicians who have actively fought for a democratic system of government in South Africa for many years: not a pseudo-democracy - communism/socialism disguised as democracy! His fearless and sober awareness of the unstable African character and the insecurity of a fledgling (black) South African government, are clearly demonstrated in the following excerpt from his previously mentioned book (p.8): "For us in this country there is no prospect of any lasting democracy unless there is a multi-racial, multi-party democracy. A one-party state in South Africa would be a prescription for an ongoing series of revolutions and counter-revolutions." He has stated that his vision of the future South Africa was: "simply one of unqualified growth in human, spiritual, political and economic terms." He is someone who recognises and accepts that socialism will not work in this country. I believe that Dr. Buthelezi has, throughout his political career, shown remarkable statesmanship and a consistency and insight that few other South African politicians have revealed - past or present. It is a grave pity that he does not have greater support, as many white South Africans along with Dr Buthelezi, believe that a one-party state will inevitably lead to hostilities and conflict in South Africa. And the immediate future scenario presents a picture of an ANC/SACP one-party state that will no doubt lead to a situation intolerable to an appreciable percentage of the population. What would happen from there is predictable! To promote his ideals and political philosophy Dr Buthelezi established the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 of which he is the undisputed leader. The IFP is a party of close on two million supporters, mostly Zulus. (Inkatha's membership grew from one hundred thousand in 1977 to over a million in the mid 1980's). He envisaged, as the foundation for a post-apartheid state, a government system based on a nationally-accepted constitution and a Bill of Rights that would entrench and protect the rule of law. Simply expressed - a multi-party democracy acceptable to all South Africans. Dr. Buthelezi’s Inkatha Party (Inkatha yeNkululeko yeSizwe) was established as a National Cultural Liberation Movement - a modern version of King Dinizulu's Zulu

54

Cultural Society launched in 1928, and was one of the most serious and real threats facing the ANC/SACP/COSATU/UDF alliance. Dr. Buthelezi was also, amongst others, actively involved in the following organisations and official appointments: -

The Chief Executive Officer of the KwaZulu Territorial Authority in 1970.

Chief Executive Counsellor in the KwaZulu Territorial Authority in 1972.

President of the IFP since its inception as Inkatha in 1975.

From 1976 to April 1994 – Chief Minister of KwaZulu.

The Buthelezi Commission to look into alternatives to apartheid in the KwaZulu-Natal region - 1980.

The Joint Black/White Executive Authority - KwaZulu-Natal. (Primarily as a preliminary step towards negotiating a multi-racial Legislative Authority for the region).

KwaZulu-Natal Indaba - 1987. (Aimed at constitutional reform in the region. A Bill of Rights formed on the basis of the Indaba’s constitutional proposals.)

The KwaZulu-Natal Joint Executive Authority.

He was opposed to the UDF (1983) Anti-apartheid movement that was engaged in clashes in KwaZulu-Natal throughout 1985 - 1986 with groups apparently supporting Dr. Buthelezi.

The United Workers Union of South Africa (UWUSA) launched on May Day 1986 was Buthelezi's counter to ANC-oriented labour, especially Cosatu and the UDF who were not only engaged in promoting political activism in the work place, but also seen as recruiting agencies for the ANC and Umkhonto.

Since April 1994 – the Minister of Home Affairs in the National government.

Present Chairman of the Committee of Traditional Leaders. I feel it also appropriate to question the belief, expressed by some, that the more anti-apartheid violence engendered by Umkhonto we Sizwe, the more whites sought Buthelezi's co-operation in the conviction that he would be the black leader most willing to leave minority power intact in a post-apartheid South Africa. This was obviously wishful thinking, or malicious propaganda, as Buthelezi had for many years rigorously promoted the principle of peaceful transition to majority rule that clearly indicated his vision of future majority (black) rule. For the record, Dr. Buthelezi has also, as long as I can remember, been opposed to communism. He has been of the opinion that communist ideology threatened to upset the traditional Zulu cultural order that sustains the system of Chieftaincy. Furthermore, he is a responsible Christian with a noticeable obedience to his obligation as such, and this to my mind precludes his buckling down to the ways of the anti-Christ. His stance was yet again confirmed on the 16 February 1999 in Pretoria at the Conference of the “Volkstaatraad” (National Council). He stated that he believed that the apartheid system originated in the Afrikaner’s belief in self-determination and the development of an Afrikaner Volkstaat that was their reply to British aggression and the European “Colonial Stampede”. He stated that he still believed in the self-determination of communities and their development beyond the

55

parameters of a Volkstaat. This clearly illustrates his belief in decentralised power with far less control and interference from Central Government. This policy, I believe, is supported by appreciable numbers of the population who would also strive to promote the interests of their particular communities with regard especially to education, religion, old-age homes and many other culturally related matters. I do not perceive him to be a power-monger and definitely not a 'fence-sitter”, but rather an intelligent and proud idealist, a statesman of admirable virtue and fortitude; a man who has limitless love and respect for not only the Zulus, but for all his country fellowmen irrespective of colour or creed. He is different from many recognisably opportunistic pseudo-politicians and pursues his politics with an intensity and sincerity seldom seen in his contemporaries. His commitment is no doubt motivated and stimulated by his thorough knowledge and historical acumen regarding the traditions and culture of the Zulu nation. Tribal loyalties have always been of great importance to Dr. Buthelezi and he has shown a skilful ability in leading the Zulus making full use of their pride and acute sense of national identity in gaining their trust and adoration. He has an extraordinary tenacity of Zulu folk-lore, beliefs and customs he uses to great advantage! He is also very clever in the use of body language and statements expressly formulated and calculated to subtly encourage predetermined audience reaction. In doing so he maintains a high profile in public diplomacy and displays the capacity, much envied by political opponents, to engage the accumulative support of politicians, the cultural hierarchy and the ordinary citizen. This, as opposed to the sterile efforts of many political operatives in their attempts to capture the hearts and minds of their constituents. He is hale and hearty and has a great sense of humour: a man equally at home in traditional dress singing cultural songs amongst the uneducated rural Zulu, or in evening dress in the company of statesmen, academics and royalty. He is often, to the delight of his guests, the spontaneous initiator of traditional song at functions and sincerely enjoys relating tales from Zulu history. To illustrate Dr Buthelezi's 'manipulative'; or persuasive powers; I would like to relate just one such incident. On the 14 February 1994 His Majesty the King of the Zulus, Zwelithini Goodwill ka Bhekuzulu and the Chief Minister held talks with the State President, Mr. F. W. de Klerk and members of his Cabinet in the City hall in Durban. However, prior to the commencement of the meeting, literally thousands of Zulu supporters from as far afield as the Rand, gathered at the King's Park stadium to be addressed by the Chief Minister prior to marching en masse on the City hall. Fearing that the estimated 12-15,000 Zulu supporters would cause chaos in the centre of Durban on an ordinary working day the Regional Commissioner of the SAP

56

in Natal3 met the Chief Minister on his arrival at the airport and, to the CM's annoyance, the Regional Commissioner had attempted to persuade him to call off the march to the City hall. As a result of this plea by the Regional Commissioner, during his speech at the stadium the Chief Minister made the following remark giving emphasis where it was calculated to be the most effective: "The Commissioner of the Natal Police has requested me to call upon you, my loyal friends, not to march on the City Hall to support our King who is engaged in talks with Mr. de Klerk!" This announcement was obviously interpreted by the crowd precisely as Dr. Buthelezi had intended, and was followed by a deafening roar of disapproval clearly registering their feigned surprise, defiance and full intention to go ahead with the march regardless - which they did. I could, however, appreciate the Natal Police Commissioner’s concern, as there were numerous incidents of indiscriminate discharging of firearms at both the stadium and again at about 16:00 that afternoon in front of the City Hall.

The shooting was at one stage so persistent and heavy that I had to calm the SAP members who were entrenched behind the wall on the Bay side of the Church street entrance to the City Hall. (Front entrance). Had I not intervened I believe that counter-shooting would have erupted with catastrophic results. Interesting to note that during this critically unstable period there was not a single senior SAP officer in evidence! I later found the senior officers conveniently sheltering behind armoured vehicles at the Smith Street entrance to the City Hall some distance from the theatre of threatening violence!4

On this occasion the emotions were so inflamed that the King was called upon to leave the meeting with De Klerk for a while to address the crowds and calm them. He duly appeared at the West Street entrance to the City Hall where he addressed his supporters. This had the desired effect and the meeting was resumed. Several people, nevertheless, suffered gunshot wounds during the chaos. This unacceptable and undisciplined behaviour compelled me to write an explicitly worded minute to the Chief Minister requesting him to use his influence and authority in the future to constrain supporters on such occasions. Personally I do not think that anything was done to address this dangerous tendency, as the indiscriminate discharge of firearms at future rallies and mass meetings continued; obviously not only as a symbol of support, but also as a explicit warning to adversaries that the IFP were armed and meant business! Dr. Buthelezi is a work-a-holic, a man of tremendous endurance and prodigious energy that would put certain members of parliament to shame who appear to spend their time dozing even during sessions of the National Assembly.

3 Name withheld - Hennie Heymans.

4 I concur. Combating riots were left to the youngsters in the “Riot Squad” - later called the ISU –

Hennie Heymans.

57

I have, for example, left my office on a Friday evening whilst Dr. Buthelezi was still in his chambers, and returned the next afternoon to find that he had worked throughout the night and was still going strong. His everyday schedule was horrific and left many a younger man gasping for breath. This was also evidenced in his very long and sometime tedious speeches in the legislative assembly and from public platforms. I was also subjected to his long budget speeches and the ensuing debate, as in my capacity of Commissioner for the KwaZulu Police, I was obliged to be present throughout these debates in order to immediately offer accurate replies to questions addressed to the Chief Minister by members of the Legislative Assembly during the debate, thus furnishing the Chief Minister with the appropriate replies only minutes after his having been questioned. This compelled me to prepare for the Chief Minister's budget debate well in advance and at all times to be fully acquainted with not only the crime statistics and criminal trends, but also the full spectrum of political unrest in the territory including also all progress and the shortcomings at all levels within the department. It certainly taught me to anticipate many of the questions likely to be debated, and I accordingly attend sessions armed with the necessary knowledge and material to accommodate them. Very different from the National parliament in Cape Town where opposition party questions were tabled during a particular debate and the required information formulated and submitted to the responsible minister to be addressed in the House of Assembly at a later date. Dr. Buthelezi also showed admirable patience and always found time to lend a sympathetic ear. He, however, notwithstanding an infectious sense of humour, was at times inclined to a show of sudden impatience, but simultaneously a well-controlled temper. On one such occasion, during a meeting in his cabinet room, Dr Buthelezi became extremely agitated by Minister Cobie Coetzee's apparently wanton ignorance regarding the, in Buthelezi’s opinion, justifiable carrying of traditional weapons by the Zulu, and he ended up reading out a long speech that he had on a previous occasion delivered before the State President in Pretoria that clearly reflected his standpoint on this subject. It was clear that Dr Buthelezi was of the opinion that Cobie Coetzee should have been familiar with his stance regarding this very contentious matter, and it consequently warranted not further debate. Politicians meeting with Dr Buthelezi often forgot, or did not appreciate his formidable memory and command for detail. I recall on another occasion, after a lengthy meeting with Minister Roelf Meyer and on taking his leave of the South African Government delegation at the main entrance to the Legislative Assembly building, the Chief Minister turned to Prince Gideon Zulu and, referring to Roelf Meyer, remarked somewhat bemusedly that Meyer was only a youngster and did not understand. Buthelezi was quite clearly referring to the subject matter of their immediate past meeting.

58

Dr Buthelezi appeared to have remarkable insight and would usually be resolute in his decision when confronted with a problem. Characteristically, however, was his ability to subtly guide one in a certain direction leaving you ultimately in the inevitable position of coming to the anticipated conclusion that he had pre-determined. This strategy left you with a sense of achievement and the reaffirmation of your authority, but nevertheless in no doubt of who was in command. My personal relationship with Dr. Buthelezi was, in my opinion, sound and amicable. It was always a pleasure to have dealings with him, although, contrary to what has been said in the previous paragraphs, on occasions he was not as communicative as I would have wished. Meetings with him were sometimes, contrary to his characteristic loquacity, rather one-sided and on occasions I left meetings feeling somewhat uncertain as to his true feelings on a specific subject. The customary summing-up of subject matter and the specific decisions and consequent explicit instructions one was accustomed to receiving when dealing with for example Adrian Flock, the Minister for Police in the South African government, were not always evident. The result was that you were on occasions required to make your own decisions and act accordingly - not that this did not compliment my temperament as I am by nature a loner and have always preferred making my own decisions. On an occasion, being extremely concerned with the emotional suitability of the members in the KwaZulu Police who were attached to the Internal Stability Unit, I went to consult with the Chief Minister regarding the redress of this serious irregularity. This Unit requires men who are both mentally and physically suited to this specialised work, and this group was accordingly for the first time, on my instruction, subjected to a battery of especially devised psychometric tests in order to determine their psychological suitability for this extremely stressful employment. The results of these tests were appalling reflecting that only a very small percentage of this Unit's present members were suited to this type of work. It was obviously irresponsible to employ such men in the ISU, and correctional measures such as the immediate recruitment of suitable material and intensive specialised training was called for. This I explained to the Chief Minister and I was left without words when he replied: "General were you and I psychometrically tested?” obviously a rhetorical question; “and yet you are the Commissioner and I the Chief Minister!" To set your mind at ease the ISU Commanding Officer, Lieut-Colonel Johannes Fourie, on my instruction, did an excellent job of recruiting 'more' suitable members for the ISU and subjected them to the most stringent testing and training programmes. I think that the Chief Minister also appreciated the fairer sex. He was extremely attentive and courteous and his gentlemanly attentions were well received by all ladies who met him. His refined etiquette and relaxed protocol observance was an example to be followed. On an occasion during an official banquet honouring visiting Royalty from Swaziland, Dr Buthelezi, who was a fun type of persons on such occasions, during his speech and much to the pleasure and amusement of all present, stated with discernible

59

nostalgia that what he missed from his younger days was, amongst other things: “walking along a path in the veldt where the long grass was scented with the aroma of freshly bathed maidens who had very recently strolled along the path ahead of him.” An indication of a statesman who had not lost his appreciation for simple yet meaningful past experiences. On the same occasion he also spontaneously burst into traditional song, as he often did, that infectiously drew his guests into responding and sharing his obvious love and enjoyment of his culture and those things precious to the Zulu. On that particular occasion I was seated alongside the eloquent and interesting conversationalist, Mr. Mzimela, who was the IFP representative in the USA. Today he is the Minister for Correctional Services in the ANC/SACP government. Dr Buthelezi’s sense of humour was also quite apparent and exposed his ability to joke and laugh at things reflecting on the African character. On one occasion during a high-level meeting he attended that was chaired by Dr. Mdlalose, I made mention that it was difficult to identify certain political activists and before I could elaborate, Dr Buthelezi, with a mischievous chuckle, retorted: “because they are all black, have curly hair and flat noses!” A lot more can obviously be said, but I will leave that to the more articulate writer. However, in conclusion, I must say that Dr. Buthelezi is one of the most courageous and most determined men I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He is an ambitious politician and humanitarian who will hopefully never submit to the very real temptation of joining forces with the ANC/SACP, irrespective of the dubious rewards it would offer. It would be a tragic sell-out of all that he has stood for - not the least of which would be his major present objective as a political leader of establishing good and proper government in South Africa based on a federal system founded in strong Christian principles. I unfortunately believe that – politically speaking, he will be marginalised and therefore not be in a position to break down persistent barriers of intolerance and mistrust: he will regrettably pursue his political carrier in central government teetering on the brink of irrelevance. These are the characteristics that have made Dr. Mangosuthu Buthelezi one of the Zulu nation’s best loved leaders and gained him the respect and admiration of many beyond the borders of both KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. He would be liked to be remembered as, in his words: “someone that cared for all South Africans”, as I’m sure he will be. It is said that: “Everything has a beginning, an end is rarely achieved." Let us pray that statesmen of the integrity and tenacity of Dr. Buthelezi, with guidance from above, are able to achieve the ideals of a truly Christian founded democracy for South Africa.

60

First Anglo Boer War: Uncle Tom Bennie: Ireland: Nico Moolman I recently received a photo of a relative – Oom Tom Bennie - that fought in the 1st

ABW of 1881. A family member of mine found it in Ireland when visiting a cousin

there. So after 155 years my great-great Uncle Tom Bennie came 'home'.

We all honour his memory!

61

Missing Planes & Pilots: Mike Smith

Destruction of our once proud Air Force. The sad case of our missing planes and

pilots

By Mike Smith: 26th of February 2016

Living in South Africa can be very amusing sometimes when one has to deal with blacks. For instance their flat-out denial of theft or stupidity whenever they are caught out having stolen or broken something. It is never them. The thing broke itself or a fairy Tokoloshe stole it, etc.

Take our illustrious Minister of Defence (and military Veterans), Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, for instance. When asked in parliament why our pilots are being trained at huge costs in Russia and Cuba, she said that we have no planes for training, because The white pilots who were phased out due to Affirmative Action stole the planes and sold them to museums

See? You couldn’t make this shit up even if you tried.

When EFF member, Leigh-Ann Mathys, urged her to go and get the planes back, and even offered to help get them back, she suddenly did not know which museums have the planes.

So where are our planes?

In December 2010 Denel Aviation, Armscor and the South African Air Force (SAAF) jointly sold 12 Cheetahs to Ecuador for US$78.4 million

These Cheetah’s (still in excellent condition) were modified French Mirage III’s and based on the Israeli Kfir fighters. The modernisation by Denel (with Israeli assistance) consisted of a complete renovation of the airframe, implementation of fixed canards, two new weapon points on the wings, a new in-flight refuelling intake, new ejection seats and a more powerful engine. It also included more sophisticated avionics, radar and self-protection. The SAAF started the withdrawal of the Cheetah aircraft in the late 1990’s.

What replaced them?

SA bought 26 Gripen fighter jets (17 single-seat Gripen Cs and nine two-seat Gripen Ds) from Sweden at a cost of R19 Billion. Three years ago Minister Mapisa-Nqakula announced that 12 Gripens were mothballed and in long term storage apparently due to a lack of money.

So where is the money?

Stolen of course. In the pockets of the ANC.

And the pilots?

62

A report in the Rapport Newspaper says that four of only the handful of jet fighter pilots in the SAAF have resigned leaving the force with three times as many Gripens as qualified pilots for them. Another two test pilots based at AFB Overberg, home of the Test Flight and Development Centre (TFDC), have not had their contracts renewed. The report also has it that about 10 pilots from 2 Squadron at AFB Makhado have been selected for further training in Russia. Four pilots are already undergoing training in Cuba Pilots training in Russia and Cuba

In its 2010/2011 report, the Department of Defence said that due to underfunding, the number of flight hours per Gripen aircrew member was reduced from 224 to 110 per year. At present the SAAF can only muster six qualified Gripen pilots who only have 150 flying hours available across the whole Gripen squadron. The annual target for fighter flying hours was 250.

Defence analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman noted the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) requires fighter pilots to log at least 20 flight hours per month (240 flight hours per year per fighter pilot) to remain qualified.

And the training planes in the Museums?

Before the Gripens, SA pilots trained on 1950 Harvards. A fleet of brand new Pilatus PC-7 Mk II trainers were introduced in the 90's and all the old Harvards were put up for auction. Most were bought by the Americans with only a few remaining in SA in the hands of private owners. If it wasn't for the Harvard Club attached to the SAAF museum “stealing” the aircraft, almost every last one would be in Florida or California. Simply put, the second oldest Air Force in the world, once the pride of the South African nation, has been run into the ground.

Posted by Mike Smith at 10:06 PM 4 comments:

Kommentaar: Genl C Viljoen

Genl C Viljoen lewer soos volg

kommentaar:

Constand Viljoen 24 Mar

Dankie dit is die resultaat van ʼn steriele NP wat nie na raad geluister het nie en die ou SAW nie in die finale planne in 1994 geken het nie. Die ou SAW was nog in top potensiaal maar is in die proses tot hulle barakke beperk en toe volg die inploffing wat ons vandag. Ons lugmag was seker vir hierdie gevegsteater die beste in die wêreld. In 1994 het ek verskeie kere mnr De Klerk gesien en hom gewaarsku om nie so ʼn gesofistikeerde staat summier te oorhandig aan onopgeleide Regering nie. Ek was nie teen verandering nie maar het mnr de Klerk aanbeveel om ʼn oorgangsperiode van 20 jaar te onderhandel en oral mentors beskikbaar aan te bied

63

vir hierdie periode maar dis nie aanvaar nie. Toe tree die NP nog uit die regering van nasionale eenheid! Die waarheid wat nou orals soos ons lugmagvandag beleef word is tragies maar die resultaat is die gevolg van onoordeelkundige planne wat in daardie tyd ʼn miricle genoem is. Lyk my dit is aangewese om terug te keer na die tekenborde van 1993/1994. Maar hoe ʼn mens die verskeie rolspelers in so iets sal oortuig is seker net so onmoontlik om Grippen vliegtuie te laat vlieg in ʼn kreupel Lugmag. Maar so kan dit ook nie aangaan nie. Sent from my iPad

Sgt John Francis David Shaul, VC, MSM: Phil Beck Citation: right. Photo: below.

“On the 11th December, 1899, during the Battle of Magersfontein, Corporal Shaul was observed (not only by the Officers of his own battalion but by several Officers of other regiments) to perform several specific acts of bravery. Corporal Shaul was in charge of stretcher-bearers; but at one period of the battle he was seen encouraging men to advance across the open field. He was most conspicuous during the day in dressing men’s wounds, and in one case he came, under a heavy fire, to a man who was lying wounded in the back, and, with the utmost coolness and deliberation, sat down beside the wounded man and proceeded to dress his wound. Having done this, he got up & went quietly to another part of the field. This act of gallantry was performed under a continuous and heavy fire as coolly and quietly as if there had been no enemy near”.

This was the citation for the award of the Victoria Cross to Corporal John Francis David Shaul of the Highland Light Infantry. He was decorated at Pietermaritzburg on 11th August, 1901 by HRH The Duke of York (the future King George V). John was born on 11th September 1873 to Sergeant John Shaul, 2nd battalion, Royal Scots and Hanna Matilda Shaul, of Windsor Terrace, South Lynn, Norfolk, England. He had two sisters, Elizabeth and Rose and a brother, Francis. He joined the 1st battalion, Highland Light Infantry in 1888 and was duly promoted to Corporal. He served in Malta and then in India where he saw service during 1897-98 in the Punjab Frontier, Samana and the Tirah Campaigns. He then fought in Crete in 1898. His regiment’s next posting was South Africa, where he fought in the Boer War and, during which, won his VC at Magersfontein, south of Kimberley. He was later promoted Band Sergeant. His regiment was subsequently posted to Egypt, where he was serving in early 1903. He next served in Khartoum, Sudan in 1904. He then returned to India and in October 1909 left his regiment while serving at Lucknow. He

64

returned to South Africa in 1910 where he worked on the East Rand Proprietary Mines (ERPM) in Boksburg. He shortly thereafter joined the Imperial Light Horse and became their Bandmaster. During World War I he served with the 5th South African infantry in East Africa. He was invalided home when he contracted dysentery. He retired from ERPM in 1948. For 27 years he served as Bandmaster with the Boksburg Military Band which was founded in 1912 and gave over 800 performances. The band had the honour to entertain the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) and Prince George (later Duke of Kent) during their visits to Boksburg. In addition, he was Bandmaster of the Boksburg Brass Band, which played to visitors from all over the reef during its 36 years of performances at Boksburg Lake. He married Ester Maria McNally in Aliwal North on 14th July 1902. He had three sons, John Richard “Jack”, Francis “Frank” David & Thomas James He was quite selfless: he gave up the payments to which he was entitled for his awards (£25 a year for the VC and £10 a year for the MSM). Only after 38 years of earning his own living and going on a pension which proved inadequate, did he finally begin claiming the annual payments which had been his due for so long. John Francis David Shaul died in Boksburg on 14th September 1953 and is buried in the old cemetery.

Display of medals won by Sergeant JFD Shaul (read from left to right & top to bottom):

Victoria Cross 1899 Queen’s SA Medal (1899-1902) + 3 clasps

King’s SA Medal (1901-1902) + 2

clasps

1914-1915 Star

British War Medal Victory Medal

King George VI Coronation Medal

(1937)

Long Service & Good Conduct Medal

Meritorious Service Medal

65

Koevoet Memorial Service

Koevoetparade: Voortrekkermonument

Beste Dieks Baie dankie vir 'n pragtige parade gister .... Dis wonderlik om te sien dat Koevoet omgee, omgee en nie vergeet nie ... anders as ons politici wat liefs wil vergeet van die mense (soos die swart Koevoete) wat nou aan hul eie lot oorgelaat is. (E-pos verkort.) Saluut Hennie Heymans

Bekendstelling : Ds Jan du Preez PATU

Ds. Jan du Preez het afgetree as generaal-majoor in die Polisiemag nadat hy

verskeie poste beklee het en op verskillende plekke in die Republiek van die Suid-

Afrika diens gedoen het. Hy is ook geen onbekende met die eise en ervarings van

grensdiens nie. Hy het grensdiens gedoen in die destydse Rhodesië – nou

Zimbabwe – as bevelvoerder van die Police Anti-Terrorist Unit 4, onder die

polisiemanne beter bekend as PATU. Hy het ook grensdiens verrig in Ovambo met

Ruacana as basis.

66

Ná sy aftrede het hy verder gaan studeer en sy doktorsgraad in teologie verwerf

waarna hy as predikant van die Verenigde Gereformeerde Kerk georden is.

My kennismaking met hom by ‘n ete van die Bond van oud-Polisiebeamtes het

daartoe gelei dat ek hom genader het vir die hou van die roudiens op 12 Julie 2013

van wyle majoor Daan du Toit, in lewe die man wat die radio’s van Koevoet in stand

gehou het. Ons het ds Jan du Preez daarna gekaap as kapelaan vir die Koevoet en

TIN Veterane Bonde. Sedert sy lidmaatskap van die Koevoet Veterane Bond het hy

ook die roudienste van brigadier Sakkie Van Der Merwe op 27 Februarie 2014, Jan

SMIT op 4 Oktober 2014, kolonel Willie Fouche op 29 Augustus 2015 en generaal

Sterk-Hans Dreyer op 07 November 2015 gehou.

Sy kennismaking met lede van die Koevoet Veterane en TIN Veterane het hom

onder die indruk gebring van polisiemanne en van hul gesinslede wat moeilike

omstandighede tydens die grensoorlog beleef het en dat daar steeds lede en

gesinslede is wat nog letsels van die oorlog dra wat ‘n normale lewe beïnvloed. Sy

begeesterdheid om vir hulle van hulp te wees het hom gedryf om op sy rype

ouderdom verder navorsing te doen oor hoe sulke hulp prakties toegepas kan word.

Daarom het hy begin verlede jaar vir 'n tweede doktorsgraad in post-traumatiese

stres onder leiding van prof. Wentzel Coetzer by die Noordwes Universiteit se

Potchefstroomkampus, ingeskryf en is hy voltyds besig om hom te bekwaam om van

verdere hulp te wees, nie alleen vir polisiebeamptes nie, maar vir alle mense wat

oorlogstrauma beleef het. Vir sy navorsing sal hy uit die aard van die saak ook

inligting van oud-Koevoet- en oud-TIN-lede nodig hê. Daarom word ‘n beroep

gedoen dat u hom daarmee sal help wanneer so versoek tot u gerig word.

Ons wens hom alle sukses toe met sy studie en sien uit daarna om die finale produk

eendag onder oë te kry.

Opsteller: Dicks Dietrichsen Nagesien en gekorrigeer: Ds Jan du Preez. Vir gebruik : 02 April 2016 tydens Herdenkingsdiens van Koevoet Veterane by die Koevoet Muur van Herinnering, Voortrekkermonument, Pretoria.

Bekendstelling : Mike Visagie

Matheus Jakobus VISAGIE – aan ons beter bekend as Mike - het as polisieman

diens by Koevoet gedoen vanaf Julie 1985 tot November 1988, ʼn tydperk van drie

jaar en vier maande.

Hy was spanlid by Zulu-Xray sedert sy aankoms by Koevoet tot Desember

1986.

Vanaf Desember 1986 tot April 1988 was hy tweede in bevel van Zulu-Alfa.

Daarna het hy diens in die Caprivi gedoen tot November 1988 waarna hy na

die Republiek van Suid-Afrika terug gekeer het.

67

Gedurende sy dienstydperk by Koevoet was Mike in 45 kontakte met terroriste

betrokke en het hy twee landmynontploffings oorleef.

Mike was 8 jaar lid van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie se Spesiale Taakmag.

Tans is hy ʼn man wat dobbel met die natuur – dit wil sê hy is ʼn Boer5.

Mike is die afgelope vier jaar lid van die Koevoet Veterane Bond waar hy sy kragte

inspan ter bereiking van die Bond se doelstellings. Mike is die begin van hierdie jaar

as bestuurslid van die Koevoet Veterane Bond verkies.

Mike, welkom by ons. Ons luister graag na jou!

Inligting verskaf deur Mike Visagie. Verwerking gedoen deur Dicks Dietrichsen vir Koevoet Herdenkingsdiens op 02 April 2016.

Koevoet members remember their fallen; deny atrocities Written by Chris Szabo, Tuesday, 05 April 2016

Members of the former South African Police “Operation-K” Unit, Koevoet (Crowbar) and the Police COIN Unit veterans have held their memorial at their Wall of Remembrance at the Voortrekker Monument in a service attended by former members from as far away as Namibia. Master of Ceremonies, JJ “Dicks” Dietrichsen, following the lighting of a Candle of Remembrance for the fallen,

spoke of those members who had died in the Border Conflict. Dietrichsen said: “On the Wall of Remembrance appear the names of 165 who were members of the Koevoet Unit from 11 January 1979, to the end of April 1990, for more than ten years, who paid the highest price, in fighting against a Communist takeover of South West Africa. These were men who fulfilled their duties in extreme temperatures, both high and low. These men were familiar with the clatter of machine guns, landmine and mortar bomb explosions and the whoosh of RPG missiles. These were men who were familiar with death, whether those of their comrades-in-arms or the enemy.” He went on to explain that the Wall of Remembrance was at the Voortrekker Monument because the Koevoet members who had died were buried all over South Africa as well as Namibia. The surviving members would not forget those whose names were on the wall, he added. Dominee Jan du Preez, himself a retired police major general, is a former member of

5 Plaasboer (farmer) - HBH

68

the South African Police Anti-Terrorist Unit 4 (PATU) in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He later earned a doctorate in theology. Known simply as “Oom Jan”, he was called on do the Scripture reading. Oom Jan is currently working on another doctorate, this time on the impact of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on war veterans. He spoke of all South African servicemen who died during the Border War, and, referring to the Wall, he said: “Behind every name is a mother or father, a wife or children or other relatives who paid the price of war in a different way. This is the pain inside, which must be wrestled with in another way. War leaves scars on people. And these wounds are not always visible. These are scars within.” He challenged those present to stand by those who had suffered and who still suffer from the effects of the war.

The traditional Two Minutes’ Silence was preceded by the Last Post and ended by

Reveille. This was followed by the wreath-laying ceremony. Wreaths were laid by

former Koevoet and SAP COIN Unit (TIN in Afrikaans) members, the SA Legion, a

former member of 37/102 Battalion South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF), 61

Mechanised Battalion Group Association and a former member of the Police Special

Task Force.

There were no SANDF sentries or band, nor a member of the Chaplain Corps,

because the government does not accept former Koevoet members as legitimate

military veterans.

Former Black members of the unit sang their traditional songs, led by Jonas

Kampuru. Kampuru and other Black veterans strongly criticised the government for

cutting them off from access to pensions and medical assistance, available to other

military veterans.

Koevoet is both famous and notorious, accused of having committed atrocities

during the Border War. Mike Visagie of the Koevoet League, who served for over

three years in the unit, among others as the 2iC of the Zulu Alpha Team (Koevoet

combat teams were all given the call sign ”Zulu”) who had been in 54 contacts and

survived two land mine explosions, then qualified for the Police Special Task Force

and served eight years there. He strongly rejected the oft-repeated allegations that

Koevoet had committed atrocities.

”There was a war on; it was a legally constituted war. What we did was, as

policemen, we enforced the law. That is it. We didn’t break laws, we didn’t commit

atrocities, we didn’t commit murder at all. Several members, I think about three or

four members, had committed murders. They were prosecuted to the fullest extent of

the law. One of them actually hanged for committing murder in his private capacity.

On an organised scale, nothing at all. We fought a war and we were superbly

effective.

“Professionals throughout the world do study Koevoet operations and tactics. The

core principle of relentless pursuit and absolute tactical freedom allowed to

69

combatants gave rise to superbly effective counterinsurgency operations. More

importantly, the rendition of memoirs, good and bad, are proving to be very

effectively countering an absolute deluge of the negative publicity dreamed up by

people who were nowhere near any aspect of the war.”

Jr Le Roux • 4 days ago I SALUTE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT AND ADMIRATION, IF YOU WERE NOT THERE YOU CAN NOT TALK ABOUT IT........ I WAS THERE.

Matthys Jacobs Jr Le Roux • 3 days ago I was there albeit not long. The issues started when Koevoet was starting to get stipends for every dead/alive enemy brought in. This is when some members of Koevoet saw it as a profit generator and started bringing in non aligned civilians as SWAPO. So during investigations by the UN and interviews with former members, they alluded to that of the over 3,200 SWAPO members killed or captured, around one third were not in any way affiliated to SWAPO. This does not take away from the fact that they were essentially the best at counter insurgency but unfortunately there was a small criminal element within their almost 1,000 members. Also, the number quoted above is incorrect, around 48 members were prosecuted for murders and around 117 members were given a suspended sentences. As indicated in Namibia: The Nation After Independence by Green, Sparks et al. after a external UN investigation.

Martin004 • 5 days ago KOEVOET committed atrocities and we don't expect them to own up to their evil deeds ... still living in denial

70

Matthys Jacobs Martin004 • 3 days ago It depends on what side of the fence one is on. One side will always believe its cause was more just regardless of evidence to the contrary. This is human nature and this is why South Africa more so adopted the TRC process and the constitution.

HughRobinson • 5 days ago Sad that people who killed their own get a state pension but those Angolan heroes get nothing. The same with the Bushmen still trapped on a government owned land, still unable to go back home to Namibia and denied the rights awarded to former terrorists. So it is with a DEMOCRATIC unforgiving government.

Matthys Jacobs HughRobinson • 3 days ago They're actually Namibian and mostly operated in SWA. The problem is the majority of Namibian MP's and the greater part of the population do not want them to come into Namibia even with threatening to kill them. They were allowed to stay in South Africa though because the SA Government took the position that they should be regarded as refugees. I think it's a good point to make that none of the men and women and their offspring chose to take South African citizenship because this would remove their case to be repatriated back to Namibia. I lay the blame with the former SADF as SA Government post-94 because to save their skin, positions and wealth they sold out many units to be disbanded. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4298

6:koevoet-members-remember-their-fallen-deny-atrocities&catid=111:sa-

defence&Itemid=242

71

Photos by Hennie Heymans

Vlnr: Tiny Nortje, Jeff Chatzkelowitz, “Piet-Kierie” Fourie, Henry Visagie, P van Onselen en “Wollie” Wolmarans.

Kol N Brits Mnr Toffie Risk

72

Jonas Kampuru – hy vertel dat hy al die lede wie se name op die gedenkteken verskyn geken het “want hy was by Koevoet van die begin tot die einde”.

Linda Bekker het pas haar krans gelê.

Cathy van Onselen, Petra Swanepoel en Jonas Kampuru.

73

Pipe-Major: Murray Mcgregor

Pipe-Major Murray Macgregor – He is an ex-Rhodesian. He tells Nongqai that he cannot wear his medals as they get in the way of the pipes. He only wears ribbons.

Koevoet-kenner genl-maj (dr) en mev Johan Burger en genl-maj (dr) en mev Jan du Preez sit lekker in die koelte in afwagting van die luisterryke gedenkparade. Die eenigste ander generaal teenwoordig was luit-genl JJ Viktor – ‘n ou vriend van wyle

74

genl “Sterk-Hans” Dreyer.

Herman Grobler het pas ‘n krans gelê.

Lgr Chris Szabo of the SA Legion laid a wreath.

75

‘n Flink Jonas Kampuru het pas sy krans gelê.

Meraai en Boet Meintjes van die Wes-Rand was ook daar.

76

Medals

‘n Paar interessante groepe medaljes is by die gedenkdiens opgemerk:

‘n Stel gemengde SAP en Nasionale Intelligensie medaljes:. Van links na regs: OOS

(Silwer) OOB (Brons), SAP Bekamping van Terreur, 20 jr en 10 jr NI-trouediens-

medaljes.

Martin Loubser skryf:

Hi Boet!

77

Ek gaan hulle van junior na senior op die foto (regs na links) beskryf en 'n nota in hakies agterna gee waar ek kan: 1. SA Police MEDAL for Faithful Service - 10 years (voor 2004) 2. SA Police STAR for Faithful Service - 20 years (voor 2004) 3. SAPS 30 years Loyal Service Medal (na 2004) 4. SAPS 2010 World Cup Support Medal (die lint op daardie stel is onderstebo, die rooi streep moet links en die blou regs) 5. SAPS 10 Year Commemoration Medal (2005) 6. SAPS Amalgamation Medal (1995) 7. SA Police 75th Commemoration Medal (1988) 8. SA Police Medal for Combating Terrorism (and 2 bars. Hoop dit help! Vriendelike groete Martin Laubscher

Reflection (Archive)

Namibia rules out benefits for ex-members of the SWATF, Koevet forces Written by Oscar Nkala, Friday, 30 May 2014

The Namibian government says all former liberation struggle veterans who were members of the South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) and the South West Africa Police Counter Insurgency Unit (Koevet) regiments of the apartheid-era South African Defence Force (SADF) will never be recognised as war veterans. In Namibia, the war veteran status and its benefits is accorded only to the former guerrillas of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), which was the military wing of the

ruling South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO). More than 25 000 members of the SWATF and Koevet regiments which helped the SADF in military operations against the nationalist guerrilla force want the Namibian government to recognise them as veterans of the liberation struggle and give them the same pay and material benefits as former PLAN members who were accorded the status at independence in 1990. The ex-territorial force members were made up of the local San, Khoi-Khoi, Nama, Kavango, Ovambo and Herero tribesmen who battled against guerrillas inside Namibia while the Koevoet force played a leading role in engagements inside

78

Namibia and externally in Angola. Both units were disbanded following South Africa's withdrawal from Namibia when it attained independence in 1990. Speaking at the unveiling of a statue representing the first group of ex-PLAN fighters to infiltrate the country in the Omusati region last week, President Hipikefunye Pohamba said although the former colonial government soldiers can access old age allowances from the government, they will not be allowed to get any benefits from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.

The ministry is responsible for distributing financial and other social welfare benefits

to former PLAN fighters who fought the occupying South African Defence Force

(SADF). Instead, he said the ex-colonial forces members should demand recognition

and benefits from the South African government which employed them.

"I am asked to give veteran status to the [SWATF/Koevoet]. I will not give war

veteran status to killers, and if they continue to threaten as they have been, if they

want to go to the bush, we will meet them there. They talk about national

reconciliation, but national reconciliation has its borders. If you go beyond the

borders you are opening up wounds.

"We will not deny them the pension as accorded to old-age citizens, but they will not

be given this money that is administrated by [Minister of Veterans Affairs] Nickey

Iyambo. They must go to South Africa, but I will tell [South African president Jacob]

Zuma not to accept them."

Pohamba's statement is a direct response to growing demands from the Namibia

War Veterans Trust (NAMVET), an organisation of ex-members of the SWATF and

Koevoet regiments which wants its members to be accorded war veterans status so

that they can also benefit from the government-sponsored veterans grants.

The organisation has made several failed attempts to get recognition and war

compensation from the South African and Namibian government in the past few

years. It has since warned that its members are willing to wage war against the

Namibian government if their demands are not met.

In Namibia, NAMVET's struggle for recognition has been futile because the country's

Veterans Act does not recognize ex-SWATF and Koevet members as war veterans

and views them as 'enemy collaborators.' The push for recognition in South Africa

suffered a serious blow in September 2012 when the High Court ruled that

apartheid-era soldiers from indigenous groups in South African and Namibia cannot

be considered for integration into the new post-apartheid South African National

Defence Force (SANDF).

The Koevoet force served alongside the SADF's 5 Recce company in intelligence

gathering and counter-insurgency combat operations in Namibia between 11

January 1979 and 12 January 1990 under the command of Major General Sterk

Hans Dreyer. From an overall command base in Oshakati in northern Namibia, the

79

commandos also conducted hot-pursuits and staged cross-border raids deep into

Southern Angola to destroy the logistics and training bases of PLAN guerrillas.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3491

5:namibia-rules-out-benefits-for-ex-members-of-the-swatf-koevet-

forces&catid=56:diplomacy-a-peace

Mandela’s Arrest: Request for Information: Gillian Scott-Berning Dear Brigadier Heymans, I was so delighted to chat to you on the telephone this morning as I had wanted to speak to you prior to sending you an email as I always think it is important to know who one is talking to – or at the very least it does help. I have been researching Mandela’s time underground (from the time of his last public address on 25/26 March 1961 at the Manaye Hall at Plessislaer until the fateful Sunday that he was captured outside Howick on 5 August 1962) with a specific focus on his activities in KwaZulu-Natal. The Museum would like to recreate the capture scene in some form as there is not a known photograph of the occasion. As I mentioned this morning, they may well recreate the scene by using beads and the amount of detail will depend a little on the amount of information I am able to source. I would like to be as accurate as possible. I have managed to get the easy images – of Mandela, Cecil Williams and the type of car he was driving (although I don’t think the documentary The man who drove with Mandela portrays the correct model of the Austin Westminster). However, I also need to get images of the police uniforms and the motor cars they used at the time. I am not sure of the actual number of policemen who were present on the Sunday afternoon (5 August 1962) but the arresting officer was a Major, there was also a Staff Sergeant6 and the remaining policemen must have been ordinary police officers. I wondered if your records had any information or images of policemen in Pietermaritzburg at this time.

Detective Sergeant Willem Adriaan Vorster

Detective Sergeant Willem Adriaan Vorster gave evidence during Mandela’s trial and so it is known that he was present.

Major Smidt & Det/Sgt Van Rooyen

A Major Smit (sometimes spelt Smidt) is also mentioned as is a Staff Sergeant van Rooyen.

Matt Henning

On an occasion I was in Howick, I met a woman who claimed that Matt Henning, a very well-liked Howick policeman, was also one of the arresting party. I am not sure

of the accuracy of this information.

6 S/Sers = Speurdersersant or Detective Sergeant – Hennie Heymans.

80

WO WB Truter

I was also very interested to learn that Warrant Officer Truter was a member of the arresting posse. I had always believed that Mandela met him again back at the police station as Mandela records in his autobiography:

“At the police station I was led into Sergeant Vorster’s office, where I saw a number of officers, one of whom was Warrant Officer Truter, who had testified in the Treason Trial. Truter had made a favourable impression on the accused because he had accurately explained the policy of the ANC, and had not exaggerated or lied. We greeted each other in a friendly way.” (302 Long)

There are a number of ‘oversights’ in Mandela’s Long walk to freedom so I would be interested in any other recollection or records of the event. In addition all accounts mention the fact that three police vehicles stopped Cecil Williams and Mandela. The police were evidently driving Ford V8s. I thought that I would then be able to identify these easily, but learnt that there were a number of motorcar models which used the V8 engine. I wondered if you had any images of police vehicles from 1962? I would be so delighted if it were possible to find photographs of the policemen involved on this occasion.

6 August 1962 I have not been able to ascertain with absolutely certainly where Mandela was held in Pietermaritzburg on the Sunday evening before he appeared in front of a local magistrate on the Monday morning, 6 August 1962. I know that the old prison has claimed that he was incarcerated there, but Mandela’s own recollections do not substantiate their claim. He says that he was kept in holding cells at the main police station overnight. I would think this was the Police Station in Loop Street. It would be marvellous if we were able to confirm the location of his overnight stay. Mandela says that Cecil was also kept in a holding cell. I would so appreciate your kind and generous assistance and look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Gillian Gillian Scott-Berning Researcher

Enige inligting of foto’s van die betrokke lede sal verwelkom word.

81

Maritime Disaster: Jacobs Bay: Alex Faria

Jacobsbaai: Tussen Paternoster en Saldanha Hello Hennie, Gister het ek, Lizette, en drie van ons bure in die “Village” besluit om Pater Noster toe te ry en die dag daar deur te bring. Ons het vis en tjips geëet en daarna het ons Jacobsbaai toe gery. Ek was nooit tevore op Jacobsbaai nie so dit was nogal lekker om ʼn nuwe plek te sien. Twee van die bure wat saam was het voorheen op Vredenburg gebly so hulle ken al die klein, onbekende plekkies rondom. Jacobsbaai lê so halfpad tussen Pater Noster en Saldanha en verskyn eers op hierdie kaart nie. Nouja, in 2009 was ‘n Hollander besig om ‘n vragskuit (barge) van die ooste af Holland toe te sleep tor hulle sleeptou gebreek het onderwyl hulle stormagtige weer om die Kaap ondervind het. Die hele vrag het op die rotse by Jacobsbaai beland en hulle kon die sleepskuit net nie weer van rotse afkry nie. Op die ou einde het hulle besluit om die hele spul op te blaas en, terwyl hulle daarmee besig was, het een van die kontrakteurs, wat boaan die mas was, afgeval en hy is dood (sien artikel onder). Op een van die rotse het hulle ʼn kruis gemonteer ter nagedagtenis van die kêrel wat, soos jy, van Durban afgekom het.

82

Ek heg foto’s van Jacobsbaai (panorama), die kruis en ook die oorblyfsels van die wrakstukke wat nog te siene is hierby aan. Net ʼn brokkie nuttelose geskiedenis ! Groete Alex Faria

Salvage contractor dies on board the MARGARET A contractor working on board the grounded barge MARGARET, 55-year old John

Mitchell has been killed in an accident on board the vessel. Announcing this yesterday, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said that all work on preparing the barge to have its cargo of smaller barges tipped into the sea by means of a controlled explosion, has been suspended until further notice. Mr Mitchell, who lived in Durban, was employed by the company Blasting & Demolition Services and was involved in preparing the vessel for a series of controlled explosions designed to topple the cargo of river barges and floating docks into the sea. No details have been revealed about how he died but a full investigation has been ordered by SAMSA.

SMIT Amandla Marine and SMIT Salvage, which hold the contract to reduce the casualty, has extended their sincere condolences to his wife, family and friends, as well as to the salvage team based in Jacobsbaai. “John was a gentleman and consumate professional who was regarded as a highly respected and valued member of this team of specialists.” The barge Margaret ran aground at Jacobsbaai on the west coast on 24 June 2009 with a cargo of 12 river barges and two floating docks on board. The vessel was under tow at the time behind the tug SALVALIANT when it experienced heavy seas, leading to the tow being lost prior to the barge running aground onto a rocky shore. Initial efforts at refloating the barge failed and the operation was called off. The Chinese owner of the barge and cargo later abandoned the wreck, leaving any further action in the hands of the South African authorities. This week it was announced that SAMSA had appointed the firm of Smit Amandla Marine to undertake the salvage of the wreck, with the intention of using a series of small controlled explosions to loosen the barge from the rocks and tip the cargo into the sea.

83

84

Murder & Robbery Reaction Unit: Johannesburg

Gedurende 1985 het straatrowe, bank rowe en misdaad hande begin uitruk in die middestad van Johannesburg. Daar is besluit om `ʼn eenheid op die been te bring en ek getaak om met 10 man in Hillbrow te eksperimenteer. Ons was onmiddellik ʼn sukses en rowers het begin slae kry. Ons het oor ʼn honderd eerste bylae sake gevang.

85

Daar was ʼn offisiers konferensie en die Afdelingskommissaris (AK) het gesê hy het besluit op ʼn eenheid en dit sal genoem word die Roofreaksie-eenheid wat direk aan die AK gaan rapporteer. Daar was besluit dat lt Nortje die bevelvoerder sal wees en 75 man/dames moet aan hom afgedeel word. Soos dit ook gebeur het, het ʼn sekere offisier gekla en gewonder of ek die mas sou opkom. Daar was besluit dat ʼn Moord-en-Roof-lid as skakel by ons sou aansluit. Ons was gehuisves in die ou SAS & H Polisie se HK in De Villiersstraat. Met tyd het ek van die "droë hout" ontslae geraak, want baie offisiere het hulle droë hout aan my gestuur. Van daai manne was uitstaande en ander was nie geskik vir die werk nie. Maj Steve Oelofse (RIV) het by ons aan gesluit en toe hy bevorder was, is hy terug na Pretoria, en ek het alleen aangegaan. Ek het die lede, meesal uniformmanne, touwys gemaak van die belangrikheid van misdaadtonele beveilig, behoorlike verklarings en dies meer, en die manne losgelaat in die stad. Ek het geglo aan die konsep van "lead from the front" en het dikwels 30 uur skofte gewerk, en my opdragte was ek sal elke skiettoneel self bywoon. Toestemming was gekry om lang hare en baarde te dra en selfs toestemming gekry dat ons tekkies en jeans op ons klere toelaag kon koop. Natuurlik het sekeres gekla oor ons lang hare en slenterdrag en ek het by geleentheid by offisiere se kantoor ingestap en hulle goed laat weet dat ons die hele Johannesburg werk en as hulle ʼn probleem het met my manne, sal hulle my kontak, ek sal dit uitsorteer en hulle los my manne uit. Een dag was ons in ʼn geweldige skietgeveg met bank rowers op die hoek van Rissik- en Andersonstrate. Die rowers het 64 skote afgevuur van binne die bank en kliente was vrees bevange. Toe die rowers uitstorm is hulle almal geskiet. My een kar het 14 skote in gehad. Na die foto’s en ondersoeke afgehandel was het PG Glass die groot glas herstel en hulle het dit gebruik in ʼn advertensie. Jy hoor skote klap en dan sê ʼn stem: “While the police were still on the scene, we repaired the broken glass...” Ek neem toe die twee sersante saam met my na die offisiersklub om vir hulle ‘n dop te koop, en sal ʼn kolonel nie vir my sê: “Jy wil net op TV kom ...” Ek het hom aan sy baadjiepante uit sy stoel gelig en gesê: “Ek bliksem jou, ek is nie ʼn kantoor- speurder soos jy nie.....” seker maar die adrenalien wat nog gevloei het. Kyk, die manne was nie engeltjies nie en ek het hulle soms kort gevat en die wat nie wou luister nie, het die trekpas gekry. So het ek op die einde so 40 man gehad. Ek het ook vereis dat ons in ten minste 100 ernstige sake ʼn maand arrestasies moes maak. As ek die manne kort vat as ons agter raak, het die latte besluit, ʼn rower gaan voor middernag val, dan moet ek uit uitkom en een na middernag, en ek sal geen slaap kry nie. In een so geval is die skakers van die ou All Black legende, Don Clark, dood geskiet in Alex waar hulle steeds met sy bakkie gery het.

86

Ek is 1992 verplaas na ʼn ander eenheid om polisie-moorde te ondersoek en toe die eerste twee val, is ons ontbind weens vrese van nog ‘n Vlakplaas en in hulle wysheid my verplaas na die Voertuigtak teen my hewige beswaar. Ek is trots op myself en my jong manne met wat ons bereik het. Rowe is binne ʼn maand van 150 na 30 afgebring. Straatrowers by my geken as "Luitlant" en my AO Faan Sauerman as "Casanova". Hulle was vir ons so bang soos die duiwel vir `n slypsteen. Party is sommer in ʼn steeg in gevat en "the error of his ways " geleer. Van die manne, Steve Oelofse, Jaco Buys, Lou van Rensburg, Andre Gericke, Frans Nhlane en ander het ons voor gegaan. Ek Salueer julle almal. Tiny Nortje

Group Photo: Murder & Robbery Reaction Unit: Johannesburg

Voor sit l-r Charlene Anderholt, Gary Davis, Theo Pero, Andre de Smidt, Juroe Oosthuizen en Buks Venter

2 de ry: Maj Steve Oelofse, Jaco Buys, ekself, Johan (?), Riaan Fourie, agter ons Sakkie Ludick, Neville Ackerman, Robert Denton, Keith Parks, (?)

Agter Links: Swanepoel. In die middel Neels v Vuuren heel regs agter Skolla Scholtz.

Ander name vergeet - Tiny

87

Press cuttings

88

89

Tiny wat so fluit in die foto laat my dink wanneer my Moeder ‘n storie vertel het, het sy altyd afgesluit met: “Fluit-fluit my storie is uit!”

90

From our Nongqai-page on Face Book

Historical Documents: Opening of the LP Neethling Building

Glenn Elsden, a former member of the “Lab”, posted these documents on our Facebook.Have a look at them on our website – http://www.enongqaipublications.com/lp-neethling-building.html

91

Unrest: Gavin Tischendorf

Unrest victim

Gavin Tischendorf Swannieville next to Kagiso (Westrand), the last part of 1993.

We arrested 8 suspects at the scene, ages around 14 to 16 (youth league or SDU's).

The body was still burning and hot, we found the scene due to the rubber smoke. I

took this photo with a Kodak 110 (“mik en druk”).

Explosion: Randfontein

Randfontein taxi rank explosion 25-04-1994, I think it was a pipe bomb. [Kodak 110-

COIN: Rhodesia: Sheila & Derek de Beer

Ploughing with a Landrover

92

Ploeg met die Landy , Kasikili , Rhodesië. Die man wat ploeg is kst A Dames en die

bestuurder is kst. Gerrit Dekkers (Springbok atleet ) Okt. 1968.

Terror in the Long drop

‘n ou Bos-oorlog foto... Kasikili, 1968 ... Slang in die Longdrop ..!!!

93

Een longdrop vir 26 manne. Die Manne was darem bang vir ʼn klein slang..!! Hier is

die uitslag...!!

What’s this: Johannes Botha

Johannes Botha wants to know what this vehicle was called.

94

Obituary: Major Arthur Walker HCG and bar SM: Peter Dickens It is with deep regret that we announce the passing this morning of a true South African military hero - the highest decorated South African Defence Force member and the legend that was Major Arthur Walker HCG and bar SM. You will be missed by many in the veteran’s circles and beyond, may your family be embraced by the love and tender care of your heavenly father.

Major Arthur Walker HC and Bar SM was a South African military hero of which there will never be an equal, he was South African Air Force helicopter pilot who was awarded the Honoris Crux Gold decoration, not once - but twice, during the South African Border War.

The Honoris Crux Gold was the highest military award for bravery awarded to members of the South African Defence Force at that time - so his feat of obtaining two of them can never be repeated again.

Born 10 February 1953 in Johannesburg he matriculated from King Edward VII School in Johannesburg and went to the Army in 1971.

He obtained his pilot's wings in 1977 and flew for 7 Squadron, Rhodesian Air Force, before re-joining the South African Air Force in 1980.

While flying Alouette III helicopters based at AFB Ondangwa in 1981 he was awarded the Honoris Crux Gold for risking his life during a night operation in Angola, by turning on the lights of his helicopter to draw enemy fire away from another helicopter.

The citation for the Honoris Crux Gold reads:

"During January 1981, two Alouettes, with Lieutenant Walker as flight leader, carried out close air support operations resulting in the Alouettes coming under intense enemy artillery and anti-aircraft fire. He only withdrew when ordered to do so. Later Lieutenant Walker returned to the contact area to provide top cover for a Puma helicopter assigned to casualty evacuation. Again he was subject to heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire. During the withdrawal the second helicopter developed difficulties and called for assistance. Yet again Captain Walker returned to provide top cover, drawing virtually all the anti-aircraft fire to his Alouette. His courageous act prevented the loss of an Alouette and crew.

Lieutenant Walker's actions were not only an outstanding display of professionalism, devotion to duty and courage, but also constitutes exceptional deeds of bravery under enemy fire and makes him a worthy recipient of the Honoris Crux Gold".

In December 1981 he was cited for landing in enemy territory to search for and rescue the crew of a helicopter that had been shot down.

The citation for the Bar to his Honoris Crux Gold reads:

95

"During December 1981 Captain Walker was again requested to provide top cover for the evacuation of a seriously wounded soldier. On take-off with the evacuee his number two helicopter was hit and crash-landed. Without hesitation and with total disregard for his personal safety, Captain Walker landed near the wrecked helicopter and immediately searched for the crew. Eventually the situation became suicidal, compelling Captain Walker and his crew to withdraw. When he was airborne he spotted the missing crew and yet again, without hesitation and despite the fact that virtually all enemy fire was now [aimed] in his direction, he landed and lifted the crew to safety.

Through this courageous deed he prevented the loss of two men. His distinguished actions, devotion to duty and courage make him a credit to the South African Defence Force in general, the South African Air Force in particular and makes him a worthy recipient of the Bar to the Honoris Crux Gold"

Posted for The South African Legion by Peter Dickens - with sincere thanks to Arthur for sending us a full colour image of himself in uniform only just a month ago - Rest in Peace Arthur, the world is a poorer place without you, and the South African Legion salutes you sir.

Our most sincerest condolences to his family and friends in this very difficult time.

At the going down of the sun ...we will remember him.

Peter Dickens

Some pictures at the funeral by Hennie Heymans

The funeral was attended by Gen Jannie and Mrs Geldenhuys, Lt-Gen & Mrs Denis

96

Earp, Gen Mike Muller, airmen and soldiers (especially 32 Batt).

Pete Williams (32 Batt) & Chaplain Ben van der Walt

Tributes were also brought by Mike Klein (32 Batt) (left) and (right) Brig-Gen Crow Stannard (SAAF).

97

Old Policemen: Nico Moolman

Cape Police: Garrison Aliwal North

Kaapse Polisie Garnisoen: Aliwal Noord: Jamestown-Aliwal-Noord Dist

Mr Bovey: Hopefield

Mr Bovey oud-Kaapse polisieman te Hopefield. Cape Mounted Police

98

ORCP Ladybrand

Ladybrand-polisiestasie tydens kroning koning Eduard VII feesvierings.

SAP Ladybrand: Hennie Heymans

99

Informasie oor Ingrid Jonker: Petrovna Metelerkamp From: Petrovna Metelerkamp Sent: Friday, March 18, 2016 4:51 PM To: Hennie Heymans Subject: Ou "Magsorders"

Middag Hennie,

Alex het my van jou vertel, wat my laat dink het jy kan moontlik help met ’n interessante saak.

Ingrid Jonker het in die nag van 18-19 Julie 1965 in Drieankerbaai in Kaapstad verdrink. Die volgende oggend is haar lyk op die strand gevind. Die persoon wat haar gevind het, het op 19 Julie 1965 ’n verklaring by die polisie afgelê, met saaknommer Seepunt N/O, A11.

Toe ek navorsing doen om ’n boek oor Jonker se lewe te skryf, het ek by die Seepuntse polisiekantoor uitgevind die dossier met haar na-doodse ondersoek is nie meer daar nie. Gelukkig het iemand tevore ’n afskrif gemaak van die patoloog se lykskouingsverslag, gedateer 20 Julie 1965. Die verslag is vervat in Polisiedossier: Seepunt N/O, 56/65, A7. Daar is ook later ’n spesiale ondersoek gedoen: Seepunt N/O, 56/65, A9.

Nadat ek in ’n tydskrif geskryf het oor die verdwyning van die polisiedossier, kry ek die volgende bief van Jan de Klerk:

100

Ek het pas die artikel oor Ingrid Jonker in die nuutste Insig gelees ... ek is nie heeltemal met haar werk bekend nie, maar vind dit tog verfrissend. Wat my wel interesseer van die betrokke artikel is die soektog na die polisiedossier oor haar dood by die Seepunt polisiestasie. Ek was gedurende die laat 70 tot middel 80 jare as polisieman by die Seepunt gestasioneer en Jonker se dood was toe, reeds jare na haar dood, steeds 'n besprekingspunt. Die nag van haar dood was sersant Pat Pietersen aan diens en moontlik ook die laaste persoon wat met haar gesels het. Ek het die voorreg(?!) gehad om sy weergawe 'n paar keer te hoor (!) - nie omdat sy destyds so bekend was nie maar omdat Pietersen die S.A. Polisie Medalje vir Dapperheid ontvang het omdat hy haar (lyk?) uit die see gaan haal het. Destyds was hy een van baie min polisiemanne in die land wat hierdie medalje ontvang het. Hy het ook vertel dat sy skynbaar depressief, by 'n vorige geleentheid met hom (tydens 'n nagskof) kom gesels het. Pietersen was die tipe man teenoor wie vroue maklik hulle hartsgeheime uitgestort het. Die rede waarom die betrokke lêer nie by die polisiestasie is nie, is juis moontlik omdat daar daardie jare deeglike en uitgebreide ondersoeke na sulke voorvalle ingestel is om die toekenning van die betrokke medalje eksklusief te hou. Ek onthou dat 'n weergawe van die gebeurtenis in die destydse Magsorders gepubliseer is – ongeveer 12 na 18 maande na Jonker se dood. Ek glo dat sodanige lêer en afskrifte van die Magsorders iewers tussen die Kaapse Afdelingskommissaris en Hoofkantoor in Pretoria moet wees – ek verbeel my dat Pietersen destyds vertel het dat die dossier na die Kommissaris aangestuur is. Ongelukkig is Pietersen in die vroeë 80 jare (1982?) in Ovamboland noodlottig gewond. Moontlik sal hierdie inligting iemand help wat graag haar laaste ure wil navors. Vriendelike groete Jan E. de Klerk

Ek wonder of dit na soveel jare moontlik is om die Magsorders op te spoor. Ek vermoed die voorval waarna Jan de Klerk verwys, het voor 19 Julie 1965 plaasgevind. Omdat ek nou ’n uitgebreide biografie van Jonker skryf, is dit vir my belangrike inligting. Waar kan ek gaan soek, asseblief?

Dankie vir die tyd,

Petrovna Metelerkamp.

My versameling Magsorders begin by 1966. Kan die polisie in die Kaap meer vertel? Ek kry geen rekord van ‘n sers Pietersen wat die S.A. Polisie Medalje vir Dapperheid ontvang het.

101

Police in Cato Manor

Three rows of five men each. Most are young men. Some are un-armed. The young

man in the tunic is wearing the “old” black cap with the khaki cap-cover. Were the

green shirts worn in the 1950’s?

A large armed crowd facing a few SA policemen and a few Durban Municipal “Black

Jacks”. A revolver and 12 rounds, a baton, a whistle and handcuffs were worn on

routine duties. At night a torch. It was before bleepers, cell phones and GPS.

102

An African lady dancing in front of two “Black Jacks”. The “Black Jacks” were

municipal officers of the Durban Corporation attached to the African Affairs Division.

They carried Zulu-knopkieries, whistle and handcuffs. They were Zulu’s and had a

reputation of being fearless. Good policemen, indeed!

It would appear to be a light hearted moment! The policeman nearest to the camera

is not armed, neither is the Black Constable in the background.

103

Unarmed African policemen are taking a breather... In those days you have to buy

your own food – No Ratpacks! African policemen usually cooked their food under a

tree in the station’s back yard. One problem was, when dressed in full uniform one

could in such circumstances only squat on the ground or sit upon a stone. One’s

uniform – especially the blue one – easily picked up dirt. Water to drink and toilet

facilities were most times lacking. Mobile radios were scarce.

Photos received from Ms Gillian Scott-Berning and text by Hennie Heymans. Any comments will be appreciated.

Polisie-geskiedenis: Johann Visagè;

“Ek dink terug aan die dae waar ek skoolloopbaan voltooi en ek kol. Hennie

Heymans tesame met my Pa sien. Ja, die geskiedenis kan weer hersien en

oorgeskryf word met oophande. Ek sal graag met u in verbinding tree mbt

geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika Polisie. My vrou, Sonica, is gefassineer oor die SAP se

geskiedenis. Ek mis veiligheid, taakmag / Koevoet se insette. Tans aan die Weskus.

AO Johan Visagè tesame met Kol. Heymans bly 'n sterk band!”

104

Ruacana... Boykie van Onesi...

Corrie Prinsloo 9 April om 05:09 NM. Begin Januarie 1980 het ‘n kollega, sersant Petrus Sheimi, my saamgenooi Onesi toe as sy LMG-gunner op die stasie se Ribbok. Onesi is die stamsetel van die Okolongadhi stamgebied, Wes-Owambo, oorhoofs onder die beheer van kaptein Daniël Shoya, die stamkaptein. Daardie dae was dit voorgeskryf dat ons belangrike stamhofsittings moes bywoon om toe te sien dat reg en regverdigheid in baie ernstige gevalle steeds moes geskied - selfs buite die regpleging. Dié proses is 'n jaar of wat later uitfaseer. Ek moes ook aan die stamkaptein voorgestel word as nuwe polisielid op Ruacana. Ek het die waardige ou heer ontmoet volgens stamtradisie... en toe geweier om langs hom op 'n stoel te gaan sit! Ek het 'n gevlegde makalanievesel matjie nadergetrek en skuins voor hom by sy voete op die grond gaan sit... en vir die volgende tien jaar was dit my sitplek as ek in sy teenwoordigheid was...

Op daardie eerste dag met kaptein Shoya en die stamhofsitting het 'n swerwertjie my lewe ingestap... en af en aan daarin gebly tot die laaste dag voor ek vir altyd die grens verlaat het. Ná die sitting (tradisioneel 'n lang affêre, maar altyd met 'n aanvaarde uitslag vir al die partye), het ek die LMG nagegaan en die patroonband skoon en operasioneel gekry. Sersant Sheimi het iewers 'n paar koue koeldranke by 'n cucawinkel gaan uitsnuffel. En skielik was daar nog 'n ‘bemanningslid’ langs my, vreeslik belangstellend in wat ek besig was om met die masjiengeweer te doen. Die knapie was so tien jaar oud, en ek het baie gou agtergekom dat ek in geen taal wat ek ken met hom sou kon kommunikeer nie. Hy was doofstom! Die mense wat rondom die Ribbok begin versamel het uit nuuskierigheid, het met hom geraas en beduie dat hy moes afklim. Een man wou hom sommer met 'n donkiesweep bykom!

Ek het dadelik vir hom ingetree en die klomp om die voertuig kalmeer. Sersant Sheimi het met twee yskoue Fantas aangestap gekom... en myne het ek dadelik afgestaan aan die klein flentergat. Sheimi het my toe die outjie se geskiedenis vertel... of beter gestel, dit wat wel bekend was. Hy het so vyf jaar tevore sy opwagting gemaak by Onesi, niemand weet waarvandaan of waarheen sy lewenspad vir hom uitgelê was. Geen ouers, geen familie, niks! Was maar net een oggend tussen hulle by die cucawinkels. En getrou aan die Owambotradisie, het almal maar gekyk dat hy slaapplek en kos kry. Nie baie nie, maar hy het aan die lewe gebly. Hulle het baie basies met hom kommunikeer deur gebare, en hy het weer in ruil hulle siele versondig met sy stoutigheid! Veral sy voorliefde vir 'n skaal tombo (mahangobier...en wel van die sterker formaat - wat al so effens langer as gewoonlik gegis het!). Hy het nie 'n naam gehad nie...toe noem ek hom maar Boykie, en sê vir almal dat hy van daardie dag af in my skaduwee sal loop.

Ek het altyd gesorg dat ek vir Boykie lekkernye saamvat as ek weet dat ek daarlangs sou gaan. En 'n paar stukke klere. In die winter van 1980 het ek vir hom 'n dik woltrui en 'n fris kombers gegee. Boykie was altyd soos blits by as die Hippo, Ribbok of later die Buffel, in sy vallei gestop het. Dan is my sakke deurgesoek, al my kleingeld uit

105

die beursie ge-liberate... en die man en 'n string volgers is weg na die naaste cucawinkel vir sy skaal tombo en handvol sweeties. Later, met die gevegspan, het die prosedure voortgeduur... en hy het presies geweet waar my ratpacks was sodat hy sy deel daaruit kon grou! En oor die jare het ek en Boykie geleer hoe om met arm-, hand- en gesigsbewegings te kommunikeer...tot groot vermaak van almal.

Die gemeenskapsleiers het aan die begin dit goedgedink dat Boykie by die Finse Sendinghospitaal by Ehunda, naby Onesi, moes vashaak vir 'n bietjie ondervinding en opleiding (of dalk wou hulle net 'n bietjie rus vir hulle siele gehad het!) Eendag het ek hom daar raakgeloop, terwyl ons en die Buitebasis (India 8) TIN-polisiemanne 'n weeklange voetpatrollie in die area gedoen het. Hy was besig met 'n Sondagskoolles of iets, want hy het vir my beduie dat iemand met horings onder ons bly, en iemand met vlerke iewers bo ons... Dit is bevestig deur Suster (Mother Superior), wat vir my in die klassie op die bord prentjies van Liewe Jesus en Engele gewys het, en verder laer af op die bord 'n prentjie van die Duiwel met sy horinkies en drietandvurk! En Boykie was baie trots om vir my te wys dat hy een van dié met die vlerkies was! Natuurlik in volle teenstelling met Suster se siening! Boykie is 'n tydjie later weer tussen sy cucawinkels opgemerk...

Die Owambos het 'n sekere baie sterkdrank gemaak van die sap wat hulle op die een of ander manier uit die top van die makalaniepalm getrek het. Die sap is dan gegis of iets, maar blykbaar het dit die skop van tien Arabierperdhingste gehad... gelyktydig en op een plek tussen die oë, met 'n babelas wat glo oneindig lank geduur het! Ek het nooit die moed gehad om tot by die top van die palm te klim nie, nog minder om 'n slukkie te proe van die mengelmoes. Maar nie Boykie nie...! Hy het altyd saam met 'n regular palm geklim, sap getap, en sy skaal tombo saamgevat. Die regular se naam was Tjikote, wat sambok beteken... en hy was nooit nugter gewees nie, op die grond óf andersins. Dan het almal deurgeloop, Boykie ook, as hy binne klapafstand was. En eendag toe is ek en sersant Sheimi weer oppad Onesi toe... nie stamhof toe nie, maar om vir Tjikote te gaan optel onder sy makalaniepalm. Glo onder die invloed van die sappe het hy blykbaar sy houvas verloor en neergetuimel... terwyl die verskrikte Boykie hom agterna gekyk het. Nek gebreek, duidelik waarneembaar. Nadat al die verklarings gevat en foto’s geneem is, het Boykie op die Buffel se enjinrak geklim... en vir my beduie wat eintlik gebeur het... sy vertelling was nooit op rekord gestel nie, want niemand kon hom verstaan nie! Maar Boykie laat niemand toe om sy skaal te drink nie... en die skopbeweging wat hy met sy regterbeen gemaak het, het boekdele gespreek... Toe ek opstart en hy afspring, het hy vir my beduie met die hand op sy bors en toe twee horinkies op die voorkop met die wysvingers...Ja, Boykie...!

Begin 1986 was 'n goeie reënseisoen en die oshonas het kant en wal gestaan. Dis dan ook wanneer die Cuvelai in Angola oorstoot en die vloedvlaktes van noord Owamboland voed. Hierdie vloedwater bereik ook die Onesi- en omliggende stamgebiede oos van Epalela (Concor). En in die proses kom die vis ook saam... veral babers. Dan, wanneer die waters later terugtrek met verdamping, bly van hierdie visse in klein poele en putte agter. Een so 'n groot baber het in een so 'n put by Onesi agtergebly... en Boykie het op hom afgekom! Arme Boykie was nie net doofstom nie, ek dink 'n paar van die slimselle het ook seker in die proses verlore gegaan toe hy geskape is. Met sy gewone bende meelopers (onthou, ons het fisies

106

goed vir hom gesorg sodat hy "gunste" kon afdwing wanneer nodig - teen die nodige vergoeding, natuurlik!) het hy nie aanmoediging nodig gehad om in die put te spring nie...! Daar was slegs 'n dun lagie water in, dan die baber en die res van die amper tien voet diep put was romerige wit Owamboland modder! Ek het Boykie baie dinge geleer in die lewe, maar nie om onder sagte modder asem te haal nie! Of dalk het Tjikote hom kom roep... oor daardie onbevestigde skopbeweging! Genadiglik het 'n paar mans die geskreeu van die ander kinders gehoor, en Boykie net betyds van 'n modderdood gered. Hulle het hom uit die put getrek, met die baber styf vasgeklou in sy arms...!

Ek het minute later onwetend van die hele drama naby die put gestop met die gevegspan. Boykie het ons herken en aangehardloop gekom, steeds van kop tot tone oortrek met die wit modder. Maar boeta, vir vyf minute het hy beduie hoe hy hierdie massiewe baber onder die modder gegryp, gewurg en geknoop het! Baie trots op homself. En toe omhels hy my en begin onbedaarlik huil. Sekerlik het die werklikheid toé eers ingesink. Ek dink nie daar was 'n droë oog in die omtrek van honderd meter nie. Ek het genoeg geld by die grootmense gelos sodat Boykie, sy makkers en 'n paar genooides daardie baber met pap, koeldrank en die nodige skale tombo kon geniet... ons sou nie saam eet nie, ons was oppad om by 'n opvolg te gaan aansluit.

Een aand op 'n reënerige dag met baie lae miswolke was ek, kollega “Oubaas Meyer” en die gevegspan by Epalela op 'n sending. Ons moes 'n indringer gaan arresteer by 'n woonkraal teenaan Epalela se cucawinkels. Oubaas het die nommer een en twee seksies gevat, terwyl ek met die derde seksie en Blesbok agtergebly het. Ons het reeds areaverkenning gedoen en ek was besig om die berekenings vir die hoogte ontplooiing van die beligtingsmortiere te doen. Omdat die miswolke baie laag gelê het, moes dit op die regte hoogte laag agter Oubaas en die spoorsnyers se rûens oopgaan. Ek het tien beligtingsmortiere reggekry, die ontplooi afstande ingestel en die addisionele ladings om die stertvinne by die hoofladings gevoeg. Daar was vyf minute oor voor die afgespreekte tyd, en ek het die mortierpyp finaal ingestel. Dis toé dat ek hom vir die eerste keer raaksien - hy het my die hele tyd stilswyend sit en dophou... dit was Boykie, my vondeling...!

Op die afgespreekte tyd het ek die eerste mortier afgevuur, en toe nog agt in tussenposes, sodat Oubaas en die manne hulle werk kon doen. Die beligtingsmortiere het hulle werk gedoen, en die laaste drie was nog in die lug toe Oubaas die taking voltooi het. En die hele tyd het Boykie in verwondering toegekyk - dalk het hy nou ook verstaan waar die snaakse ligte in die aande naby basisse vandaan gekom het. Ek het 'n buddy nader geroep, en vir Boykie beduie om nader te kom. Ek het die laaste mortier se ekstra ladings afgehaal en die ontplooihoogte gestel vir 'n paar honderd meter. Ek het die mortierpyp feitlik regop gestel, en Boykie het sy mortier in die pyp laat afgly... die buddy het sy hand help vashou en hom onmiddellik weggeruk toe die mortier afgly slagpen toe. Toe die mortier opwaarts trek, het ek vir Boykie beduie om op te kyk. Sekondes hierna het die beligtingsmortier ontbrand - en Boykie het sy spore as polisie-mortieris verdien...! Groot was sy vreugde... op sestien al 'n mooi, fris jongman. In 'n ander lewe sou hy seker 'n soldaat of bospolisieman gewees het. Of, as hy 'n PLAN vegter sou wees, is

107

ek seker dat hy my moedswillig sou misskiet as ek in sy korrel was, sonder om te weet hoekom...

Ek het vir Boykie nog een keer vir oulaas gesien, die dag voordat ek Owamboland verlaat het om by my vroulief Riana Steyn Prinsloo en dogter Luandri Malherbe op Komatipoort in die Oos-Transvaal te gaan aansluit. Ek vir oulaas Epalela toe gery, om sommer net tussen die cucawinkels te gaan rondstap en om almal te groet. Ons was tien jaar deel van mekaar se lewe... die groet was moeilik. En tussen die groot klomp mense wie saam met my tussen die cucas deur beweeg het, het 'n bekende gesig nadergekom... Boykie! Ek dink hy het 'n aanvoeling gehad, want toe ek vir hom beduie dat ek gaan en nie weer terugkom nie, het hy net plat op die grond gaan sit. Ek het langs hom gaan hurk en suid beduie. Met my duim en voorvinger het ek begin vingerklap (soos die Owambos afstand aandui). Elke vingerklap beteken tien of meer kilometer (of as jy tussen Himbas is, beteken een klap oor die volgende berg). Toe ek verby so vyftien vingerklappe gegaan het, het hy sy hande om myne gevou. Boykie het verstaan...

Toe ek in die bakkie klim en dit aanskakel, het ek my beursie uitgehaal en ongesiens 20 tienrandnote in Boykie se hande toegevou. Vir hom was dit 'n fortuin...en hy het dit versigtig in sy hempsak weggesteek. Toe ek ry en vir oulaas vir hom kyk, wys hy met sy regterhand eers na my en toe na hom. En toe hemelwaarts terwyl hy vlerk vliegbewegings maak... Ja, Boykie, jy sal definitief reguit daarheen gaan, my maatjie... jou soort het by geboorte 'n vrypas by die Goeie Vader gekry... julle is Engele op aarde... Ek was reeds naby Ruacana toe ek eers weer behoorlik die pad kon volg. En wie weet, dalk... net dalk... duik hy vandag nog agter babers aan iewers in Owamboland. My Boykie van Onesi...

16 Marius Morland, Hein Kilian en 14 ander Opmerkings

Gjh Lieb Koekemoer Dankie Corrie dat jy dit met ons gedeel het, dit is knop-in-die-keel leesstof.

Hennie Heymans Baie dankie - sal in die komende Nongqai publiseer - stuur asb 'n paar foto's na my om die artikel te vergesel - my e-pos = heymanshb@gmail.com

Corrie Prinsloo Hennie, ek is bietjie tegnologies gestrem met hierdie dinge...maar as jy ingaan op die stories - omtrent almal het 'n foto by. Gebruik wat jy kan, regtig.

Marianna Swanepoel Swart Wright Dankie vir die deel van hierdie pragtige verhaal! Dit het trane in my oë gebring!

Corrie Prinsloo Plesier, Marianna. Ek was tien jaar op Ruacana, op die grens met Angola. En die tien of so ware verhaaltjies wat ek op my wall gepost het, soos hierdie een oor my lewe in daardie geweste met sy mense...het baie berusting

108

gebring toe ek dit begin deel het ná sewe en twintig jaar en langer. Goeie stresontlading...�

Johan Lee Diep en great storie! Tref my ook diep....

Johann Bronn En so skep Hy engele op aarde... Jy, kollega is een van hulle, of jy dit nou wil erken of nie.. Jou skatte wag virr jou daar Bo...

Corrie Prinsloo Nederig...dankie.

Marius Prinsloo Pragtige verhaal van hoop, liefde, lojaliteit en nederigheid. Baie dankie!

Neelsie Borea Sjoe ai Corrie man!!!! Maak jou storie my bewoe. Die mooiste mooiste mens storie in 'n baie lang tyd. Pragtig vertel. Geluk! Dis beautifuls. Gaan altyd onthou dink ek.

South African Constabulary: Trp J McCreight: 5 Bob-a-day! Caitrin

Malone Good morning again, Thank you, I will start sending (photos). My grandfather was James McCreight born 17 Mar 1868 (or 1869) in Blyth, Huron County, Ontario to Alexander McCreight and Ann Nesbit. The birth date on his enlistment is 1870 and he lists his place of birth as Ireland but I have the family in 1871 in Ontario and his father in 1861 in Ontario - well Canada West. I do not know much about him. He left home fairly young. I have not found him in the 1891 census but I do know that he worked on the Crow’s Nest pass- railroad section that ran from Lethbridge, in North West Territories (now Alberta) to Kelowna, British Columbia from 1897-1898. The South African Archives listed two files for him H1053- these appear to be the records of conduct and service. From the website http://www.ancestors.co.za I have downloaded what appears to be the aforementioned record of conduct. It was not a revealing as I would hope but it says that he enlisted in Ottawa 14 May 1901 for 3 years at 5 shillings a day as a 3rd class trooper. Promise was free passage home after 5 years (boiler plate stuff).

Constable J McCreight Nylstroom

He re-enlisted in Nylstroom on 26 Feb 1904 for two years at 5 shillings 3d per day and he is now a Constable. Discharge date is 30 June 1906. There is a further note that he re-engaged for a further term of 1 year on 26 Feb 1906 at 6 d per day extra. From Clinton New Era, June 1, 1906

109

"James McCreight, son of Alexander McCreight is visiting at the home of his parents after an absence of 19 years. He resided in western Canada until 5 years ago when he went to South Africa with Baden Powel's mounted police and has been on duty in Northern Transvaal since that time. He is on six month leave of absence" I note that while in South Africa, James lost two brothers - Mathew died 15 Mar 1904 and Billy died 25 May 1906, his sister Elizabeth Jane (called Jane) died 30 April 1905. I am not certain if he returned to South Africa. Following his service he returned to Manitoba, where he had a partnership in a carriage company. It was there that he met and married Mary Keith. They farmed in Goodlands, Manitoba- he was actually a farm labourer as he wanted to learn about farming. He claimed his soldier’s portion of land in Saskatchewan-in Shamrock. He died 8 Aug 1939 and is buried in the soldier’s plots in Rosedale Cemetery, Moose Jaw. You see how little I have. I do know a few family things. He had the big vet book which he used to treat his animals. I have learned that that was part of the training in South Africa. We had for many years a rifle in the house and I suspect now it was his Enfield. We had some medals but Mom turned some of them into tie clips for my brothers and a pin for me- mine is just a bar that says South Africa. I am hoping to track down more information

Troopers McCrae; Montach, Spooner and Chogley

James McCreight, Pretoria, So. Africa. -----------Right: “McCrae”

110

Left: “Montach” [Photo taken in Klerksdorp]. ------Right: “Spooner”

Trooper Chogley SAC

111

SAC: Unknown

SAC: Nylstroom Canteen

112

James McCreight back row, 3rd from right S. Africa

James McCreight: South African Constabulary This is it for the photos. We had boxes of them when we were growing up but they were stored in the basement which was flooded in the 1970’s and all those pictures were lost. They were amazing and full of Boers and British whose names were well known. I so mourn them! Caitrin Malone

113

Book: South African Constabulary

Hennie,

I am purchasing a book from James Wallace about the South African Constabulary

and he did a bit research about my grandfather so I pass it on to you

Caitrin Malone

-----Original Message----- From: James Wallace Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 7:53 PM To: Caitrin & Paul Malone Subject: South African Constabulary Caitlin: South African Constabulary (SAC) records are possibly the most confusing and mixed up records in existence. I can give you some new information about your grandfather’s service but there will be some differences from the information that you now have. None of the differences are earth-shaking, more on the line of confusing. According to SAC records your grandfather enlisted in Calgary on February 26,1901. He was given an alpha-numeric identifier of C97, which he retained until arrival in South Africa when it was replaced by an SAC regimental number. He was a member of 14 Troop in C Division, which was recruited in Calgary, Moosomin and Medicine Hat. In a report sent by Captain Fall in South Africa to the Governor General (Lord Minto) in Ottawa he is shown on the nominal roll as C97. On enlistment he gave his occupation as “rancher” which seems more likely in Calgary than in Ottawa. As you mentioned, he gave his date and place of birth as March 17, 1870 in Belfort, Ireland. Giving false birth dates is common in the military (I did so myself to get into the Korean War). He could not have enlisted in Ottawa in May 1901. He had already arrived in Cape Town at the end of April. He was, however, sent to Ottawa immediately after enlistment where he joined with all the other new recruits for some rudimentary training before sailing to South Africa. Because the SAC was a force raised by South Africa there was a legal requirement that the men had to enlist in South Africa so they were re-attested immediately on arrival in Cape Town. Most Canadians ended up with an enlistment date of April 25th or 26th, 1901. This affected their pay, seniority etc. and led to a number of protests. Men who stayed with the force eventually had their enlistment dates adjusted to the date of their original enlistment in Canada. This would appear to have happened with your grandfather since his re-enlistment dates in 1904 and 1906 are on February 26, the day he originally enlisted in Calgary. On arrival in South Africa he was one of a number of men send to Heidelberg in the Transvaal and became a member of C Division of the SAC. SAC regimental numbers were allocated by each Division and if a man transferred from one division to another (not a common event) he got a new number with a new divisional prefix. Your grandfather was given the number C1400 and became a member of 14/C Troop, a group of about 100 men, all enlisted in Calgary, Moosomin and Medicine

114

Hat. 14/C Troop had a pretty dull time during the war. On the positive side they had no battle casualties, although several died of enteric fever. On the negative side they troop was noted for being ill disciplined and difficult. After the war ended, when it seemed that the members of 14/C Troop were unlikely to be suitable as policemen, the SAC was ready to toss them out. Sir Sam Steele, the Canadian who commanded B Division, intervened and had the troop transferred to his division on June 1 1902, where it became 14/B Troop. At this time your grandfather’s regimental number changed to B1846. Steele thought that if he took these Canadians in hand he could make them shape up but he was doomed to disappointment. He was wrong, and large numbers of them were subsequently discharged as useless. Anyone who survived and was retained must have been doing things right so it looks like your grandfather was one of the good characters in this mess. It probably seems odd to you that he would re-enlist on February 26, 1906 then take his discharge on June 30, 1906. This has a lot to do with South African politics and the state of the economy. On July 1, 1906 the SAC was reorganized into two divisions, one for the Transvaal and one for the Orange River Colony and new conditions of service were introduced, along with a number of measure to reduce the size of the force. Men who had enlisted under the old conditions of service were offered the choice of accepting the new conditions or receiving a free discharge. Your grandfather’s discharge shows his reason as being released because of altered conditions so he was one of those who availed themselves of this opportunity. He was awarded a Queen’s South Africa Medal with bars for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. He applied for and was given a Veterans Land Grant (File in Library & Archives Canada, Vol. 127, Grant 4829). His SAC personnel file was in the South African National Archives (SANA), Transvaal Archives Bureau (TAB) in Pretoria (SANA, TAB, SAC, Vol. 144). If you want a copy of this file I would suggest you contact a researcher in South Africa. I would recommend Audrey Portman at rhino.research@icon.co.za Files in the South African Archives have not been kept as carefully as we do in Canada and it is a few years since I read this file so I cannot guarantee it still exists.

SAP WWR Atletiek Hansie Grobler

Stigters lede 18 Januarie 1980, voorsitter en sekretaris van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie Witwatersrand Landloop- en Marathonklub (vandag SA Polisiediens Gauteng atletiek klub). Die twee vriende het mekaar 11 jaar laas gesien tydens die klub se 25ste verjaarsdag, dit was goed om mekaar weer te kan sien. Planne word reeds beraam om mekaar gou weer te sien.

115

At Van Niekerk en Hansie Grobler. Wie kan hulle nog onthou?

116

SADF: Railways Police: Eastern Cape: Master Sgt Maj CS Brown

Craig Stuart Brown

Hennie Heymans a bit of police history in the Eastern Cape always worked well with our Brothers in the SAP and SARP Salute

117

South African Navy Ranks and Insignia: Part Three: Junior Officers:

Captain (SAN) (Retd) Charles Ross In our previous articles we addressed the rank insignia of the Junior Rates, Senior

Rates and warrant Officers in the South African Navy and as mentioned in the article

on the Brief History of the South African Navy it adopted the Royal Navy rank

structure. Over the years there have been minor changes to the rank insignia of

South African Navy, but it has largely remained in line with that of the Royal Navy.

The South African Navy have more uniforms than the other Arms of Service of the

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and rank insignia are therefore

adapted to each of the these uniforms. Add to this that the South African Navy also

have various branches for which each have a unique insignia worn by Warrant

Officers while there are also Warfare Type Affiliation badges for the various Flotillas,

Submarines, Mine Warfare, Surface Warfare and Combat Support Ships.

Qualification badges (commonly referred to as “Water Wings”) are worn by members

that are Bridge Watch Keeping qualified in Silver and in Gold for having or had

command at sea. There is also a Marine Officers badge. Medals are worn differently

to the other Arms of Service. All these will be addressed in later articles. The various

uniforms will also be addressed in future articles.

Junior Officers

Lowest officer rank is that of Midshipman. Midshipman,

although not commissioned yet, are treated as officers and

they live in the Officers mess. The Rank Insignia shown on

the left is that worn on dress where the rank is worn on the

shoulders. This includes inter alia white ceremonial dress

(dress 1 AW), white formal dress (dress 1 BW), service

dress (dress 2 W), semi-formal summer dress (dress 3 AW)

and service dress non-seasonal (dress 3 B and dress 3 C),

action working dress (dress 4) and mess dress (dress 5). On

the black ceremonial dress (dress 1 A), formal dress (dress

1 B) and service dress (dress 2) the rank insignia are worn

as Turnups on the lapel of the black jacket. Officers do not

wear any branch badges. The words “SOUTH AFRICA” in

blue on both arms 3 mm below the shoulder seam. The

same configuration is applicable to the winter, ie black,

uniform, except that the letters will be in gold.

118

Ensign is the lowest commission rank in the Navy. The Rank

Insignia shown on the left is that worn on dress where the

rank is worn on the shoulders. This includes inter alia white

ceremonial dress (dress 1 AW), white formal dress (dress 1

BW), service dress (dress 2 W), semi-formal summer dress

(dress 3 AW) and service dress non-seasonal (dress 3 B

and dress 3 C), action working dress (dress 4) and mess

dress (dress 5). On the black ceremonial dress (dress 1 A),

formal dress (dress 1 B) and service dress (dress 2) the

rank insignia are worn on the sleeve the black jacket.

Officers do not wear any branch badges. The words

“SOUTH AFRICA” in blue on both arms 3 mm below the

shoulder seam. The same configuration is applicable to the

winter, ie black, uniform, except that the letters will be in

gold. This ranks with Second Lieutenant in the other

services.

Next is the rank of Sub Lieutenant. The Rank Insignia shown

on the left is that worn on dress where the rank is worn on

the shoulders. This includes inter alia white ceremonial

dress (dress 1 AW), white formal dress (dress 1 BW),

service dress (dress 2 W), semi-formal summer dress (dress

3 AW) and service dress non-seasonal (dress 3 B and dress

3 C), action working dress (dress 4) and mess dress (dress

5). On the black ceremonial dress (dress 1 A), formal dress

(dress 1 B) and service dress (dress 2) the rank insignia are

worn on the sleeve the black jacket. Officers do not wear

any branch badges. The words “SOUTH AFRICA” in blue on

both arms 3 mm below the shoulder seam. The same

configuration is applicable to the winter, ie black, uniform,

except that the letters will be in gold. This ranks with

Lieutenant in the other services.

119

Next is the rank of Lieutenant (SAN). The Rank Insignia

shown on the left is that worn on dress where the rank is

worn on the shoulders. This includes inter alia white

ceremonial dress (dress 1 AW), white formal dress (dress 1

BW), service dress (dress 2 W), semi-formal summer dress

(dress 3 AW) and service dress non-seasonal (dress 3 B

and dress 3 C), action working dress (dress 4) and mess

dress (dress 5). On the black ceremonial dress (dress 1 A),

formal dress (dress 1 B) and service dress (dress 2) the

rank insignia are worn on the sleeve the black jacket.

Officers do not wear any branch badges. The words

“SOUTH AFRICA” in blue on both arms 3 mm below the

shoulder seam. The same configuration is applicable to the

winter, ie black, uniform, except that the letters will be in

gold. This ranks with Captain in the other services. Often

leads to confusion hence the way of writing is Lt (SAN).

All officers, including Midshipman in

the South African Navy wears the

same cap badge. The cap badge on

the left is the badge worn on the cap.

A similar metal badge without the

black background is worn on the Side

Cap.

120

Dress 1 A Ceremonial Dress (Black)

Dress 1 AW. Ceremonial Dress

(White)

Dress 1 BW – Formal. Dress 3 AW – Semi Formal Summer

Dress

121

Capt (SAN Ret) Charles Ross

Our correspondent is back in the navy!

Unrest: Bloemfontein: SAP on Standby: Nico Moolman

122

Detectives on the left in the picture, with the OC in front, the NCO’s and Constables

on the right, ready for action. The OC looks like Lt-Col Beer.

Above photo was published in 1946.

A photo dated 1917 with the Minister, the Commissioner and the Divisional Commisioners of the Union. Lt-Col was then i/c Free State.

1973: Soweto: New Police Division

123

ʼn Nuwe geografiese polisieafdeling naamlik Soweto is op 1 Januarie 1973 gestig. Die gedagte het reeds in die 1950’s onstaan as ʼn uitvloeisel van die Nasionale Party se beleid van afsonderlike ontwikkeling. Vir die geskiedenisboeke: Afdelingskommissaris: Soweto AK: Brig PJ Lerm7 ASO: Kol LWPD van Rensburg SSO: Lt-kol JA van Zyl SO: Maj DCJ van Noordwyk Maj JA Kleyngeld Lt HJ van der Merwe DK: Soweto-Oos Lt kol E van Niekerk DK: Soweto-Wes Lt kol T Pienaar

A Handful of Hard Men: A review: Trevor Grundy Trevor Grundy | 23 March 2016

Trevor Grundy writes on Hannes Wessels' insider account of the SAS and the battle

for Rhodesia

7 Die byskrif praat van brig PJ Lemmer terwyl die berig van brig PJ Lerm praat – HBH.

124

A handful of hard men – The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia: H Wessels

By Hannes Wessels (Casegate, 2015 pp.277)

This new book by the Rhodesia-born writer Hannes Wessels will not win any prizes from South Africa’s politically correct lobby. It’s his third book about Africa and nostalgia rules. False memory, too. The author makes no pretence about where’s he’s coming from, or where his sympathies lie. Born in 1956, he describes himself as a 14th generation African. After leaving school in Rhodesia, he became a combat-soldier in the bush-war waged against the forces of Robert Mugabe’s ZANLA and Joshua Nkomo’s ZIPRA. Married with two children, he lives in the Western Cape where he remembers and writes. This book is a brave Rhodesian’s attempt to make sense of his past, as well as that of the “hard men” of the SAS who he so openly admires –even worships. Wessels is still more than a little in love with the men he describes as being, in their days of Rhodesian military glory, covert urban operators, snipers, saboteurs and seek-and-strike experts, who engaged themselves so effectively in hot-pursuit- across-border raids into Angola, Mozambique and Zambia against guerrilla camps, and sometimes civilian targets, during a seven year war (1972-1979) that ended in Robert Mugabe emerging as prime minister of Zimbabwe in April 1980.

125

Wessels notes – with hardly hidden bitterness- that so many of the Rhodesia military men who egged the young and the naive towards the path of pain, death, isolation and sometimes penury, went on to serve the other side, the “commies, gooks and terrs” spoken about so often by soldiers in pubs in this book. It was survival for some (the survival of the fattest?) who today live in rose-leafed cottages at the edge of medieval university towns, drawing fat British pensions in the process. “A Handful of Hard Men” is a labour of love that will earn a place on the bookshelves of men and women who belong to another age, another country. It will also be useful to a new generation of African historians who will either enjoy or be repulsed by the language of Rhodesian racists, the wit, the sheer indifference to black lives that dominated nearly all white soldiers during a war that cost at least 35,000 African lives and which left a country still unresolved by a racial confrontation that shook the Commonwealth and much of central and southern Africa. Take away Wessel’s number one hero, Captain Darrell Watt and what we would have here is little more than Hamlet without the Prince. He writes: “During the long war many heroes emerged but none more skilful and courageous than Captain Darrell Watt of the Rhodesian SAS who placed himself at the tip of the spear in the deadly battle to resist the forces of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo. It is difficult to find another soldier’s story to equal Watt’s in terms of time spent on the field of battle and challenges faced. Even by the standards of the SAS and Special Forces, one has to look far to find anyone who can match his record of resilience and valour in the face of such daunting odds and with resources so paltry.” But already this book, and one written by Keith Nell who is a former SAS member and trainer of Bishop Muzorewa’s sorry band of military misfits called Pfumo re Vanhu (formed by the Rhodesian white military in the last days of the war) has caused huge upset in the SAS community. Controversy rages around Nell’s claims in a book called “Viscount Down” that he, Watt and several other SAS crack soldiers located and then slaughtered the five guerrillas who destroyed two Viscount planes flying over Rhodesia –the first in September 1978, the second in the following February. Wessels has already publicly apologised for repeating stories put out by Nell concerning the dates of the encounters with the so-called Strela Group and for that reason alone, “A Handful of Hard Men” should come with a health warning. Hopefully, all these problems about timing, dates and diaries (memories both genuine and false) will be cleared up in a second edition, if there is one. Publishers please note – * It was Zapu, not Zanu, who accompanied the SAANC into Rhodesia in 1967. * At the time of Herbert Chitepo’s murder in Lusaka (March 18, 1975) James Chikerema was president of FROLIZI, not a senior member of ZAPU.

126

In terms of background to the Ian Smith’s illegal declaration of independence on November 11, 1965 or to the escalation of the Rhodesian war in general, Hannes Wessels has little to say that’s new. I find it surprising, (considering the time lapse) that the best book so far written on these two subjects is “The Struggle for Zimbabwe“ by David Martin and Phyllis Johnson (Faber & Faber, 1981). Odd that there’s no mention of this important book in Wessel’s bibliography. Towards the end of “A Handful of Hard Men”, Wessels leads the reader to London and the Lancaster House Conference that turned Rhodesia. Again, little here that’s new. There’s much Wessels could have included. For example – • In 2002 the British journalist Fergal Keane revealed in a TV documentary (BBC One) that the British government knew all about Mugabe’s worst crimes during the Gukuruhundi that saw the deaths of an estimated 25,000 people in Matabeleland and the Midlands between 1982-1987. • In April 2008 Robin Renwick, one of the key advisers to Lord (Christopher)Soames when he was the last governor of Rhodesia, told BBC Scotland that he was aware Mugabe ordered ZANLA guerrillas to execute in public village headmen who did not support him during the election. “His forces would execute publicly any headman, or local person, who had the courage to oppose him,” Renwick said in an interview with BBC Scotland. • On April 5, 2008 Peter Carrington – many say he was mastermind behind the settlement at Lancaster House – wrote an article for “The Times” headlined: “Did we help bring a tyrant to power?” • Also in April that year, a report in Wilf Mbanga’s “The Zimbabwean” quoted Carrington saying that Julius Nyerere of Tanzania made it crystal clear that he would not accept the result of any post-settlement election unless Mugabe won it. Surely these additions should have been included in a new work about the Rhodesian War and its aftermath. Echoing the words of Ian Smith has its moments but . . . At the end of his short life, Cecil Rhodes (subject of so much controversy in South Africa) is supposed to have said – “So little done. So much to do.” Writers about the Rhodesia war, please note. http://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/a-handful-of-hard-men-a-

review?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=1bd1957b5d-

DHN_29_March_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db99-1bd1957b5d-

130042309 – taken from P/Web on 29 March 2016 – HBH

127

Die Sowjetopsie: Nuwe SA wet stuur Steve dalk tronk toe as hy ‘Die

Stem’ sing Topics: Nuwe Wet Rassisme Steve Hofmeyr

Posted by: Praag 29 March 2016

In die ou Sowjetunie kon jy weens slegs ʼn mening tot “vyand van die staat” verklaar word en gevangenisstraf ontvang. Die ANC en SA Kommunisteparty neig nou terug na hul vorige Sowjetmeesters toe want die nuwe wetsontwerp gaan inwoners van Suid-Afrika tronkstraf oplê vir polities onkorrekte taalgebruik of die verkeerde menings. Volgens die adjunkminister van justisie, John Jeffery, is die nuwe “Wetsontwerp op die voorkoming en bestryding van haatmisdade en haatspraak” reeds opgetrek en sal “binne weke” aan die kabinet vir goedkeuring voorgelê word.

Terwyl swartes vrylik haatmisdade in die vorm van plaasmoorde op Afrikanerboere pleeg, is die verwagting dat swartes van die nuwe wet kwytgeskeld sal wees en dat slegs blankes dit sal ontgeld. Die nuwe wet wil uitlatings soos dié deur Penny Sparrow oor swartes se geneigdheid om strande met rommel te bestrooi of die ekonoom Chris Hart s’n oor swart eiegeregtigheid met aanhouding in die gevangenis straf.

Opposisiepartye, waaronder die DA en die Vryheidsfront, het hulle insgelyks “teen rassisme” uitgespreek, maar tog gewonder of Suid-Afrika nie te vinnig teen die helling op die glybaan na totalitarisme voortsnel nie. Die leier van dié party het volgens die dagblad Beeld gesê:

“Natuurlik is ons gekant teen rassisme, maar die werklike probleem is mense se houding. Geen wet gaan mense se houding verander nie.

“Ek is bevrees dit is moeilik om die ANC se integriteit te vertrou. Dit is my gevoel dat hulle besig is om van rassisme ’n politieke kwessie te maak en dit is hoekom hulle dit voor die verkiesing na die parlement bring.”

Blykbaar is die wet ook daarop gemik om geskiedskrywers wat nie die ANC en veral SAKP se marxistiese sienings van ons verlede deel nie, aan bande te lê. Historici soos prof. Hermann Giliomee wat redelik onlangs bewys het dat Bantoe-onderwys nie bedoel was om swartes te benadeel nie, sal ook tronkstraf ontvang.

Oral ter wêreld, ook in die VSA, bestaan daar ʼn akademiese “prestasiegaping” tussen blanke en swart leerlinge of studente. Navorsers in Suid-Afrika wat dit sou wou ondersoek, kan ook van “rassisme” aangekla en in die tronk gesmyt word. Sielkundiges wat rasverskille in IK sou wou ondersoek, soos wat die Kanadees J. Philippe Rushton in sy boeke en artikels gedoen het, sal tronk toe gestuur word. Toe hy nog gelewe het, is Rushton deur linkses in die provinsie Ontario van rassisme aangekla wat geëis het dat hy deur die Universiteit van Wes-Ontario afgedank word. Ná vier jaar van hofsake het die hof egter bevind dat hy oor die akademiese vryheid beskik om sy navorsing oor rasverskille in IK voort te sit.

128

Weens die ANC se nuwe wetsontwerp sal die sluier oor swart en bruin misdaadgeneigdheid, die wiskundeprestasie in Soweto-skole en ander onderwerpe, vir altyd dig getrek word. Diegene wat in die verkeer op minibustaxibestuurders swets, mag ook afgeluister, aangekla en tronk toe gestuur word. Indien die Nobelpryswenner J.M. Coetzee nie reeds na Australië geëmigreer het nie, sou hy weens sy uitbeelding van ʼn bendeverkragting deur swartes op ʼn blanke vrou in Disgrace insgelyks gevangenisstraf opgelê word.

Aangesien linkses in Suid-Afrika meen dat dit “rassisties” is om Die Stem te sing, mag Steve Hofmeyr ook dalk in die tronk beland as die wet eers op die boeke is. Of dalk gaan hy net op Brandfort in die Vrystaat moet bly. Toe Winnie Mandela weens haar moord en terreur deur die NP-regering op Brandfort ingeperk is, het sy dit as “haar Siberië” beskryf.

http://praag.co.za/?p=37424&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_ca

mpaign=Feed%3A+praag+%28Pro-Afrikaanse+Aksiegroep%29 afgelaai 29 Maart

2016 – HBH.

Nederlandse toleransie Topics: Karl Marx, Nederland, Nijmegen, Oss, Sosialisme

Posted By: Joseph Secrève 28 March 2016

“Een koekje van eigen deeg” seg die Kaaskoppe mos wanneer iemand se vuil streek aan ander na hom terugkom, anders bekend as “boontjie kry sy loontjie”.

En dit is wat verlede week hier gebeur het. Ek verwys nou na die gebeure in Oss, ‘n middelgroot stad in die suid-ooste van Nederland met sowat negentig duisend inwoners. Met hul Brabantse dialek, gekenmerk deur die sagte “g” en brei “r”, het hulle die wêreld ore aangesit: “Daar kom geen asielsoekers in ons wyk nie!”

Ja-nee, die Ossenare is onrustig. Vergeet maar van spandoeke, protesborde en petisies. Klippe gooi deur vensters en massademonstrasies voor die deur is “echt ons ding”. Met sy negentig duisend inwoners voel hulle massaal bedreig deur die koms van ‘n hele, asemrowende vier(!) asielsoekers. Hulle is mos almal diewe en verkragters wat die netjiese wyk gaan ontsier, en vroue en kinders sal nie meer veilig oor straat kan loop nie want daar woon nou “gemors” en “ongedierte” tussen ons.

Vir diegene wat dalk kopkrap oor my ietwat sardoniese skrywe, wil ek daarop wys dat dit nie ek is wat ewe skielik in ‘n ekstreem linkse getransformeer het nie, maar die Ossenare wat anderkant toe geswaai het.

Oss, Nijmegen en ‘s Hertogenbosch vorm die Rooi Driehoek. Vroeër het dit bekend gestaan as die Katolieke Driehoek, maar sedert die opkoms van sosialisme en die ondergang van die kerk het hierdie Roomse oosterlinge besluit om hul Katolieke geloof te verruil vir Karl Marx se snert. Immers, Marx se moederlief was gebore gewees in Nijmegen, net so teen die wal van die Waalkade, vandaar meen hulle seker dat hulle historiese aanspraak het op sy ideale. Laat staan nog dat marxisme

129

die perfekte nuwe geloof was waarmee die Katolieke hul heksejagte van oudsher kon voortsit teen die “ongediertes”

Ek het daar naby gewoon toe ek in Nederland aangekom het, en die Nijmegenare het ook hierdie neiging om te praat van “’n kameraad van my” in plaas van “’n vriend van my”. Op koue winterdae sien ‘n mens af en toe ‘n Nijmegenaar verbyloop met ‘n warm Russiese sjapka op die kop met die hamer en sekel wat op die voorgewel pronk.

Vandaar dat my nuuskierigheid nogal geprikkel word as ek na hierdie nuutste tirade vanuit Oss kyk. Die ironie steek uit soos ‘n seer duim dat al Holland se groot Kommunistiese voorbokke vanuit daardie wêreld kom. Die leiers van die Socialistische Partij praat almal met daardie verdagte sagte “g” en brei “r” dat ‘n mens byna sou dink dat dit ‘n vereiste is om ‘n partylid te word.

Vir die nuuskieriges wat presies wil sien hoe die Ossenare dink oor hul moontlike nuwe bure, kan ek hulle met hierdie fragment vermaak.

Dit is nou die mense van die universele gelykheid, die mense wat glo dat geen mens onwettig is nie. Ek het tot dusver nog niks gehoor van al daardie groot linkse beterweters soos Klaas de Jonge, Hélène Passtoors, Conny Braam of ander nie. Selfs die Iraans-Nederlandse regsgeleerde professor Afshin Ellian, wat sy doktorsgraad in Boerehaat en Afro-Fascisme (“Die Waarheidskommissie was ‘n juridies-aanvaarbare verhoor gewees”) verwerf het, waarsku nou dat Salafisme “’n giftige sekte is” na aanleiding van die aanslae in Brussel van verlede week.

Dis mos lekker om bomme in iemand anders se agtertuin te gooi, solank jy maar nie aan die ontvangkant daarvan is nie, en dis wat hulle nou ten volle begin ervaar. In die politiek gewaar ek ‘n soortgelyke tendens. Niemand wil dit hardop sê nie, maar hulle het geen idee hoe hulle moet omgaan met hierdie nuwe bedreiging nie. Hulle sal ook nie Verwoerd se toesprake begin lees nie, want hierdie arme drommels is so gebreinspoel met politieke ideale dat hulle kwalik die bome van die bos kan onderskei, vandaar gryp hulle na die enigste wapen wat hulle ken, naamlik protes en massahisterie.

Hoe dit ook sy, sien ons die duidelike tendens van hierdie tyd, naamlik dat begrippe soos universalisme en gelykheid onwerkbare begrippe is. Uiteindelik beteken dit niks anders as opgehemelde kleinburgerlikheid nie, bloot omdat mense nie verby hul eie vooroordele kan kyk nie.

Ek wonder hoeveel Ossenare hierdie ook besef?

http://praag.co.za/?p=37415&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_ca

mpaign=Feed%3A+praag+%28Pro-Afrikaanse+Aksiegroep%29 afgelaai 29 Maart

2016.

130

SAP (Security Branch) Memories: Piet “Walk Tall” van Zyl

SAP (SB): VIP Protection

Die geweldige sekuriteit rondom die huidige politieke leierfigure en die bloulig

brigades.....Is dit werklik nodig? In 1981 het ek alleen vir adv BJ Vorster en sy vrou

Tini in Skukuza beveilig net nadat hy afgetree het as staatspresident. In 2002 en by

Chidunguele, in Mosambiek en tydens ʼn vakansie het die president Joachim

Chissano versoek om saam met ons diepsee te gaan visvang. Die president en sy

persoonlike arts was alleen saam met ons op ons boot en sy lyfwagte op ʼn ander

boot ver van ons af.

Saam met adv John Vorster en sy vrou Tini. Dit is kleinseun John Vorster wat ek vashou. Lekker in die aand gesit en jagstories vertel. — by Kruger National park and Chiduengele, Mosambiek.

131

Chidenquele Mosambiek met Pres. Joachim Chissano en Dean nadat Chissano die

dag saam met ons op die boot was — by Kruger Nationale park and Chiduengele,

Mosambiek.

1993: Bomb Squad: Piet “Walk Tall” van Zyl

Bomopruimingsjare.....5 Februarie 1993 het ek, George Hammond en Steve Joubert ʼn radio-aktiewe houer gaan afhaal in Maputo, Mosambiek. Pres. Chissano het toestemming gegee dat die houer deur ons verwyder word na Suid Afrika vir uiteindelike vernietiging. Swaziland wou egter nie gehad het ons moes deur hul land reis nie en ons drie het toe die laaaang .....pad vanaf Maputo na Ressano Garcia alleen aangedurf. Die reis het daardie tyd amper 7 ure geduur weens die swak pad en as gevolg van die oorlog tussen Renamo en Frelimo het ons geen verkeer hoegenaamd op die pad teëgekom nie. Was maar moeilike jare en motorwrakke langs die pad was getuie van landmyne en gewapende aanvalle. Ek het die brief wat in Portugees geskryf is steeds in my Polisie-album. Walk Tall

132

133

Contrast: Then and Now

ZARP: VIP protection for Pres Steyn: Nico Moolman

Comments by Hennie Heymans: Pres Steyn of the OFS on his way to Pres Kruger.

How times have changed, but then in the old days: “Ach, three or four Zarp’s will be

enough! The Staatsartillerie can fire a few shots! Jolly good show!”

Op 11 April was ek (HBH) dokter toe - verkeer is opgehou deur die munisipale polisie-orkes, die Gauteng verkeer en MIB (Men in Black) - miskien SAPS? 18 polisievoertuie teen hoë spoed na Kerkplein se kant. Vir drama-drama is dit net blouligte. Die publiek lag en 'n swartman vertel my 'nou gaan "hy" eet en as hy klaar is gaan hy toilet toe en almal salueer'. Ek wens iemand wil besin oor hierdie sirkus - by elke verkeerslig word die verkeer opgehou. Dis 'n vrugtelose uitgawe en geld mors! Die kommissaris van polisie is besig met 'n program van "back to basics" - laat hy ook kyk hoe het "ons" vir PW Botha opgepas en begelei het. Baie mense sal terug moet gaan na die "uniformtak" toe om bietjie straatwerk te doen. Daar is meer mense by BBP as manne op die grens ....

134

Jongste Bloulig voorval: Foto verskaf deur Trauma Net Ambulance Service

Dasversameling

2,478 Dasse: Koot Swanepoel

En so het ons Dame kollega ook woord gehou en is ek 12 dasse ryker. Totaal op 2,478 dasse. Dankie Petro Heyneke vir jou kosbare bydrae. Manne kom ons gee vir Petro asook vir Matilda ʼn lekker hande klap. Hennie Heymans en Nico Frylinck en manne ons is sterk oppad 3,000 toe. Hennie ek sal nooit vergeet toe jy eendag vir my sê jy gaan van my versameling op die Blad skryf. Nico en jy het jou verbind om te soek en te bring. Dankie aan elke lid, man en vrou. Ek waardeer julle.

135

Memories: Nico Visser

Links: Namakwaland se diamantvelde: Dit was ons patrolliestap uniform met jou

aanstellingsertifikaat, sakboek, rewolwer en flits. Regs: Die “jonge heer” Nico Visser

in sy Bond van Oudpolisiebeamptes se kleurbaadjie.

ZARP’s from Croatia : Dr Tian Schutte Hennie, Kyk wat ontvang ek van 'n Kroatiese navorser! Kyk hoeveel ZARP's was daar! Het jy enige inligting oor hulle? Groete Tian

Good day Mr. Schutte, I hope you are well and keeping busy. My name is Zvonimir Navala, and I am Croatian. Currently in California, after 23 years of work and life in RSA. The reason, I am free to send you email is the following: I am involved in one project related to the participation of Croatian in Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902, in conjunction with cultural affairs bodies linked to the Croatian government.

136

Probably you know, that, what is known, 24 Croatians took a part, as volunteers on the Boers side. One of them was killed in action, Ulrich Franick. Searching through the documents, books and other sources, on my big surprise and pleasure, I have found on GSSA Cemetery Recording News information that you done extensive research about circumstances of his death in the battle of Strydkraal and whereabouts of his grave. Mr. Schutte, please if is possible somehow to purchase the whole document. Above mentioned information I have discovered a couple of days ago, after my return from SA on the 29th of the last month. That I knew early, during my stay in SA, I would contact you personally. I am going to travel to Croatia in the second part of the year, and in the beginning of next year again to SA, all related to the research. Do you have some more information about Croatians? Regards, Zvonimir Navala

Dear Zvonimir, Great to hear from you! Attached is the all the info I have accumulated on Ulrich Franick and the exact GPS of his grave. I think it would be wonderful if your government can make a new headstone with his name and your country's coat of arms and replace the current one on which it says in Afrikaans "Burger (Boer), Carolina commando". I see he was a member of the "Edwards reconnaissance commando". I would also like to know what the names of the other 23 Croatians were that took part in the war to assist you to see if there were POW's and casualties and if we have photographs of them in our photo collections. Send me a name list and I will see what I can do for you. If you do not understand the Afrikaans notes, let me know and I will send the translations to you. Regards Tian

Dear Tian, First of all thank you very much on your response. I am very exited about the information you have provided for Franick Ulrich. I will work on your idea to mark appropriately his grave. In SA is strong Croatian community of 7000

137

people and they are capable to do this. I am sending the list of Croatians, who took a part in Anglo-Boer War. List is compiled by the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein and consist of the 24 volunteers. After this I will add some names from Elria Wessels book "They fought on foreign soil", which are not on Museums list, and some additional names from Tvtko Andrija Mursalo book "Croatians on the south of African continent"(1757 - 1997), published 2003 in Croatia. Names from War Museum list and Elrias book are written in original form, how they appear in original document. Original Croatian surnames commonly end with sound ch. Letter for this sound in Croatian is c with small vertical line on top of c', only that line has to be on top in the middle of c. It is not obvious that surname end with ch. Croatian is very difficult language.

ANGLO-BOER WAR MUSEUM LIST (ABWM)

1. Amidel, Josep – wounded 2. Barac, Franco - wounded near Paarderberg 3. Bartolovi, J – wounded 4. Brajewiech, Jan Jeroliem 5. Danevi, Juraj 6. Danev, Ivan Groselj – Slovenian 7. Delic Nicolo (Deli Nikola) - Same like 14 8. Dobritch, Stephan 9. Ekalovi, Mate 10. Frani, Ulderik - killed in action Carolina. (That is original info. from ABWM) I have regular contacts with ABWM. After my research, I have plan to approach them with proposal to widen list, and update info. In my evidence I have put - killed in action Strydkraal, Wakkerstroom, thanks to your research. 11. Horvath. F 12. Komodani, Ivan – wounded 13. Martisch 14. Mrsic, Lucca (Mrai Lukka) I presume that in the this case existing two sources with different spelling, but same person, Mrsic' Luka. 15. Niloserich, Anton ( Miloaevi, Antun) - Same like 14. 16. Opoti Louis (According to Mursalo, he was also policemen in Johannesburg). 17. Ovi, Baki - wounded (I will return to this name later in the search. Ovi

Baki in no sense is a Croatian name. Like you say Lin Yu Win is

Boer. But this words are very similar to the name of town where is born Croatian whose name is not on any list and I have information on his participation in the war on Boer side ). 18. Papi, M – wounded 19. Potonjak, August – wounded 20. Potopa, Mate 21. Rattice, August – wounded 22. Simich, Simai 23. Sinovi, Juraj (unconfirmed) 24.Stepani, Ivan

138

ELRIA WESSELS LIST

Croatians volunteers from Elria Wessels book are noted in ABWM list, but she quotes one who participated in German Corps, and is not on ABWM list.

25. Brasich, John

TVRTKO ANDRIJA MURSALO LIST

Tvrtko Andrija Mursalo was Croatian consul in RSA middle of 90is. In his book

he is quoting following Croatians, they are not on ABWM list:

26. Bakicovich (c'), - wounded, treated in Jhnb hospital 27. Dekovich (c'), Ivan - wounded, treated in Jhnb hospital 28. Grbich (c'),Anton, policeman Jhnb 29. Levanat, Nikola, policeman Jhnb 30. Matulovich (c'), Jakov, policeman Jhnb 31. Garzanich (c'), Franjo, policeman Jhnb 32. Spaleta, Niko, policeman Jhnb 33. Vidas, Pavle, security on the mines 34. Vukovac, Vicko, security on the mines

In Elria Wessels book in German Corps are two names (pages 118 and 119)

Petrowitz, Franz and Piotrowiez, Frans, what can be same person. Petrovich (c') is Croatian surname to. In Russian Corps, page 197, same book,

is surname Savich, what can be Croatian, Serbian, Ukrainian or Russian surname.

That is all, I have up to date. My main focus is to find as much as I can about

each person from the list, preferably from ABWM, and others as well. Tian,

please would you help me any way. What can be done from your side, or

you can introduce me with other people they can provide some answers. If

is any expense involved, including personal work, I am ready to compensate.

I am again grateful for information about Franich (c’). Please would you

provide me with English translation? By the way i am using slowly facilities on

my iPad for Afrikaans translation. I would like to know more about Carolina-

Commando, and Edwards’ Reconnaissance Commando, and maybe how

Franich end up there. I see that Mr Grobler wrote this in his Master degree

work.

I am waiting for your response and suggestions. Regards from Sonoma, California, Zvonimir Navala

So is daar elke dag iets nut oor die Zarps!

139

Zarps: Nico Moolman

Zoutpansberg (Soutpansberg)

Zarps: G Coetsee, Hendrik Conradie en Jahn Sales

Konst G Coetsee, Lid van die Dorps-polisie Pretoria

Hendrik Conradie en Jahn Sales van die Pretoria Polisie

140

Uniforms: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek Politie (1870-1902): Johan

Wolfaardt

The Boers have always had a traditional aversion for uniforms and

military regimen. But to assume that the Boers were all bearded

burghers in corduroy is false to the extreme. The Boers had amongst

them small professional units that did sterling work during the Anglo-

Boer War (1899-1902).One of these units were the Zuid-Afrikaansche

Republiek Politie or ZARPs.

The Author's great-grandfather, SPFS Kruger, the last ZARP to die in 1957

History

Community policing in the early years of the Transvaal was done by the field cornet

(a rank equal to lieutenant). Each Boer Commando was centred on a town, and the

district of the town was divided into wards, each commanded by a field cornet. Apart

from the responsibility of policing the ward, the field cornet was responsible of

141

providing his men with rifles, calling them up at the outset of a campaign and also

collecting taxes.

In the 1850’s up until 1870, the fieldcornet was responsible for policing the state. In

1862, a call was raised for a regular police force that could also serve as soldiers in

war time. The solution, according to many, lay in volunteer corps raised by private

individuals, but paid by the state. The first such unit was the Rustenburg

Schutzencorps, formed in 1863. But the outbreak of the Transvaal Civil War (1863 –

1865), disrupted this system completely.

The first police unit specially designated as such was an informal Border Police

founded in the 1870’s. They were responsible for looking after the border hot-spots

like the Swaziland border, the Northern Transvaal border and the Zululand Border.

Records show that they apparently were dressed in a russet-brown Bedford cord

uniform. However, they did not regard themselves as professional soldiers, only

commando members. This unit succumbed to the scourge of the volunteer militia:

coming and going as they pleased. They were therefore unable to guard against

border incursions from the Pedi, the big cause of a war between the Transvaal and

the Pedi. This war did go ill early on. The Transvaal was unable to win this highly

inventive foe. The inability of the Transvaal to contain the war was cited as a reason

for the annexation of the Transvaal by Sir Theophilus Shepstone in 1877. As a point

of interest, Shepstone’s escort was a detachment of Natal Police when he marched

into the Transvaal. A month before Shepstone’s annexation of the Transvaal, the first

town police unit was formed, namely the Transvaalsche Jagers, commanded by

Captain van Deventer.

Needless to say, they went the same way as all the other Transvaal volunteer units

and was disbanded. During the British rule, no less than 5 individual police units

were raised for the Transvaal. They were the Provincial Armed and Mounted Police,

the Zulu Border Police, Transvaal Mounted Police, the Protective, Preventative and

Detective Police and the Transvaal Police. After the Transvaal War of Independence

(1880-1881), all these units were disbanded as well

In 1881, the Transvaalsche Rijdende Politie (Transvaal Mounted Police) was

formed. It was about a 100 man strong. It was further divided into two troops

commanded by a lieutenant each. The unit was commanded by Captain Ignatius

Ferreira, a veteran of the Zulu War (he was a lieutenant in the Transvaal Rangers

and wounded at Hlobane Mountain).In 1882 the Police and Artillery Corps merged

as the Transvaalsche Artillerie Corps (Transvaal Artillery Corps). The Artillery wing

was commanded by Captain Barend Pelser and the Police wing by Ferreira.

But things did not run smoothly for this unit. Pelser and Ferreira disliked each other,

the impoverish Transvaal did not spend any money on the unit and general discipline

was appalling. To make matters worse, the uniforms purchased for the unit was

142

firstly allocated to the artillery wing. Whatever remained went to the police.

Commandant Winterbach of Barberton wrote to the Commandant- General in 1888:

“Most of my men, out of pure need, are wearing civilian clothing, as there are no

uniforms.”

The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886 led to an influx of diggers from

all over the world, but especially from the British Empire. The town of Johannesburg

sprang up haphazardly around the diggings. The Transvaal new from experience

with the Barberton and Klerksdorp goldfields that were ever gold was to be found,

lawlessness would follow. At first a special mine police was formed, but the

government soon send a small squad of regular police to the diggings. But this tiny

squad was not up to the task.

In September 1887, State Advocate JC Juta pleaded for an integrated command

structure and the enlargement of the police force. Up till then, the police was the

stepchild of the government and officers and men was appointed at will, some even

had criminal records. The criminal activity in Johannesburg escalated and the

government assumed that a strict rule was needed. But like most things in life,

assume is the mother of all disasters. The man they assumed would bring order was

AJ De La Rey, known as Groot Adaan. Shortly after his appointment, facts emerged

showing him to be guilty of at least 3 murders! His cantankerous nature and furious

temperament made him unpopular with not only the diggers, but the government

officials as well. He was replaced by DE Schutte in October.

From about 1888, the size of the Johannesburg police increased dramatically. In

January of that year, there were 111 men and 20 officers and NCOs. The changing

nature of Johannesburg forced the government to employ more men to police the

diggings. But strangely enough, the police was still apart of the artillery. Furthermore,

each town operated basically on its own. There was no integrated command

structure, not even a separate department of police. In 1890, a semi-autonomous

police department was formed and JJH Wolmarans was appointed as the first

commissioner of police. Although it was a huge step forward, the appointment of

Wolmarans was not. Wolmarans disliked the job and after several severe mistakes,

was relieved by the government. NJ van Niekerk was appointed, but died shortly

afterwards, to be followed up by the man that would surely do the job credit DE

Schutte.

In late 1895 anti-Republican feelings in Johannesburg reached fever pitch. The

Uitlanders or foreigners, of Johannesburg was busy arming themselves and was

waiting for Dr Jameson and a force of British South-African Police to come their aid.

The raid of Dr Jameson was a fiasco for Britain, but was the best things that could

have happened to the Transvaal. It opened the eyes of the Transvaal government to

its appalling organization. The handful of policemen in Johannesburg could do little

to extinguish the anti-Boer flames and for most part of the Raid was confined to

143

barracks. Only the detective branch had some success in pinpointing troublemakers.

The Raiders and the Uitlanders were arrested and guarded by the police in the goals

at Pretoria and Johannesburg. The Johannesburg police was however so small in

number that artillerymen and volunteers were called in to guard the prisoners.

In 1896, the Police Law was accepted and finally the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek

Politie became an effective force. It expanded at a great pace, that by 1897 there

was about 2500 policemen doing duty in the Transvaal. For the first time in its history

regular discipline reigned, policemen was well paid, received good serviceable

firearms and decent uniforms. Furthermore under the guidance of Schutte, the

Secret Police, Detective Branch and Native Police became more effective. The

police salaries were so good that the old scourge of bribery was made a thing of the

past. Crooked coppers were a thing of the past.

The anti-Boer sentiment in Johannesburg did not disappear, in fact it escalated to

such levels that the police was hated by the Uitlanders. Some Uitlanders found it

even more difficult now to make money from shady deals as the detective branch

and the police was ever vigilant. A particular impressive coup-de-grace was the

exposure and closing down of an illegal prostitution and human trafficking ring in

1897.

The police was however still not exempt from military service. In 1898, the police

was called up to defend the rights of the Swazi king from a renegade prince. The unit

was so well trained and supplied by now that they effectively quelled the revolt in 2

weeks.

In the same year occurred an event that gave rise to the most furious political attack

on the Transvaal by Britain and in the long run, one of the causes of the Anglo-Boer

war. In a drunken brawl TJ Edgar severely beats up one Foster. The police are

called to the scene, but Edgar attacks Constable Bart Jones, who shoots him in self-

defence. Jones is arrested for murder, pending an investigation. Foster later dies of

his injuries. Edgar went, overnight from a drunken troublemaker to Imperial hero.

This incident caused the Uitlanders to furiously petition the Queen and led to

diplomatic crisis after diplomatic crisis. Edgar, a British Subject was shot down by

Jones, a Transvaal subject. The incident was greatly criticized by the media, and the

police became even more disliked, making their already difficult task even more

difficult.

144

Left: Ignatius Ferreira. Right: Lt De La Coer Schroeder8 in a police officer’s tunic, 1883

Left: Lt De Witt Tossel9 in undress tunic 1897. Right: Mounted Police

8 If I remember correctly he was in the Secret Police (Geheime Politie) – Hennie Heymans.

9 An assumed name. He was an Englishman and a very good policeman – Hennie Heymans.

145

Traffic Police for Johannesburg 1896

Left: Two foot police armed with Lee Metfords. Right: Artilleryman in field dress 1886, the same that police would have worn.

146

Special Mine Police 1899 Captain Commandant De Korte

ZARPs at Fort Hendrina10, Louis Trichardt in 1895. Note the swords are still the Austrian type 1864.

10

I believe that Fort Hendrina became Fort Edward? – Hennie Heymans.

147

A rare photo of the Pietersburg police in 1882. Note the mixture of civvies and uniforms.

A group of Mounted Zarps on parade, 1897. Note the Swords are the Pat. 1821.

148

A foot policeman on guard duty. Note the non-regulation belt. Right: Artilleryman in full dress 1885, the same uniform that the police was issued with

Commandant van Dam and ZARP officers for Johannesburg 1899. Note that Van Dam is wearing the seni11

11

The officer front left is a mounted officer – note the spurs – HBH.

149

Detective Branch preparing to go to war 1899

Dutch12 Volunteer Police for Pretoria, 1899.

12

Dutch as in Hollander, not Boer – Hennie Heymans.

150

ZARP's Johannesburg 1900

A Mounted ZARP in full parade dress

151

Sergeant Hunt and a friend13, 1890. Note the buttonhole galloons, peculiar to sergeants.

The ZARPs carried on regardless, but in October things changed irreversibly. On the

11 October 1899, war broke out between Britain and the two Boer Republics of the

Transvaal and the Free State.

The ZARPs was called on to do military service and under the command of

Commissioner Schutte, they entrained to go to war. Small detachments of ZARPs

were left in the rural districts, but the major cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg was

13

The friend could be a Sgt Major? – Hennie Heymans.

152

now without police. In Johannesburg a Special Mine Police and volunteers police

force was formed to keep order. Their job was made easier by the fact that most

Uitlanders were deported before the war. In Pretoria the Vierkleur Corps (Four Color

Corps) and Dutch railway workers formed the police force. The President, usually

guarded by ZARPs, was now guarded by a small unit known as the Staatspresident

Wacht (State President’s Guard). They did not serve alone as there was about 200

ZARPs that was left in Pretoria.

The ZARPs that went to war accompanied the Transvaal invasion of Natal. The unit

was present at the battle of Talana (20 October 1899), although they did not actively

take part. They also formed part of the force that besieged Ladysmith. They were

further put in action at Nicholson’s Nek and Colenso. In November the remaining

ZARPs was sent south to the Colesberg front. They joined up with the rest of the

ZARPs just before Colenso. With the collapse of the Boer offensive in 1900, the

ZARPs accompanied the Boer forces into the Free State and fought at Driefontein

and Poplar Grove. With the capture of Bloemfontein and the Boer retreat into the

Transvaal, the ZARPs was usually given the difficult task of covering the Boer retreat

as they did at Klipriviersberg. After the fall of Pretoria, the British pursuit of the Boer

forces was checked by the ZARPs at Diamond Hill were their fire kept the British at

bay long enough for the Boers to escape. Afterwards at the battle of Dalmanutha, the

ZARPs received the job of keeping the crucial hill situated on the Boer flank. The

British Army, in an attempt to drive the ZARPs of the hill, concentrated all their

artillery on it. The artillery bombardment was the heaviest in the Southern

Hemisphere before the Falklands War. But even this was not enough to drive them

of. With great difficulty and brutal hand-to-hand combat was the hill taken. The

ZARPs, as a unit, was destroyed here. (As a point of interest, the author’s great-

grandfather was one of the ZARPs wounded and captured here) Singular ZARPs

continued to fight on in the Eastern Transvaal. The last remaining ZARP contingent,

the Boksburg and Pietersburg Police was engaged in the guerrilla phase of the war

in the Eastern Transvaal up until 1902.

Organization

In the early 1880’s, the towns of the republic was policed by foot police, while the

rural districts was manned by mounted police. Each town and district had its own

independent commander, responsible only to the State Secretary. There was no

central chain of command or structured bureaucracy. Each town, furthermore, had

each to put in their own request for uniforms and fire arms. There was no guiding

orders or regulations concerning uniforms, legal rights of the policeman, firearms,

nor was salaries fixed.

The major problem was further that places with high crime rates had policemen,

while the rest of the country had none. Pretoria, for example, was policed by the

artillery. The safety of the President was also the problem of the artillery. Smaller

153

towns, like Klerksdorp, also had to take its place in a bureaucratic pecking order.

Johannesburg always was the first to receive money and supplies, seeing as it was

the bigger police district and smaller towns got whatever was left. Sometimes they

got nothing at all. In 1890, Commandant Van Dam in a personal report to the State

Secretary complained that policemen in Boksburg was going about their beat in

civvies and hadn’t been paid in months.

The 1895 Police Law provided a central police department, as well as structured

orders and regulations, laid down the legal rights of the policeman and provided the

police with a budget and expense system. Furthermore, salaries, pension and

medical benefits (believe it or not!) was fixed. All districts were now under the

command of the Commissioner of police. Each district was, depending on its size,

commanded by a lieutenant or a captain. Each district had its own set of NCOs and

a NCO responsible for discipline. All districts were furthermore provided with

mounted as well as foot police.

Although Natives has been employed from the 1880’s to police black areas and

mining compounds, this service was also expanded in 1895. Each district received

native police men and one court interpreter. The native policemen had one black

NCO (usually a sergeant) to keep order amongst them, but fell under the command

of the district commander.

In 1895, a detective branch and secret police was formed. The Detective branch

operated mostly within cities, but some bigger rural towns also had a few. The secret

police was formed mostly to counter Uitlander threats in Johannesburg, but was also

employed in spying activities before the Boer War. The members of the secret police

were drawn from foreign nationals, mostly ex-British and Irish Bobbies and

Americans. There were even some ex-Pinkerton Agency men in the secret police!

The guarding of prisoners also fell to the ZARPs, but volunteer guards were also

employed by the Prison Service of the Transvaal. This freed a great number of

policemen for services elsewhere. The execution of prisoners was still done by the

ZARPs (the death sentence was only passed 7 times from 1854 till 1900 in the

Transvaal) Not only criminals were guarded by the ZARPs but the mental insane as

well. The Pretoria Kranzinnig Gesticht (Pretoria Lunatic Asylum) was guarded by

ZARPs and the ZARPs were also responsible for keeping these poor unfortunate

inmates under lock and key.

The police, like I said was commanded by the Commissioner of police. He, in turn,

was responsible to the State Secretary, who was responsible to the State president.

The police was furthermore commanded by an officer of administration with the rank

of Captain, a Lieutenant – Inspector and a Corps Sergeant-Major. Like I already

said, each district had its own CO and NCOs. As a matter of interest, Johannesburg

had a Lieutenant in charge of the mounted police and a Chief Constable in charge of

154

the foot police.

Uniforms and equipment

In the 1880’s the police was apparently wearing a blue uniform. Seeing as they were

still part of the artillery, the uniform most likely was the single breast tunic of the

artillery. This tunic was of dark blue wool, with lighter blue Swedish cuffs and collar,

piped down the front with light blue piping. The buttons were silver. The headdress

was a white pith helmet, slightly flatter than the British pattern and a dark blue

Austrian cap. Trousers were for full dress also dark blue, piped down the seams with

light blue and for undress of a light brown Bedford cord. The native police of the time

was apparently issued with white canvas suits edged with red cord.

In the early 1890’s, photographs begin to show a unique police uniform. It’s most

probably the same pattern as those of 1895, but rank indication is not standard.

Officer’s tunics of this period show a plethora of styles. The headgear of the time

was the British pattern Foreign Service helmet in white with a brass chin chain, brass

spike and police helmet plate. Two photos however show policemen in blue British

Home Service helmets. Trousers remained the same since the 1880’s

In 1895, a contract was drawn up between Gordon Mitchell of London and the

Transvaal to deliver uniforms. The tunic was of dark blue serge wool edged all

around with black mohair braid. It fastened down the front with hooks and eyes. The

shoulder straps and collar was black edged with the same braid. On the side was

two small slits, also edged in black braid. On the right collar of the tunic was the

letters ZARP in brass. The trousers were blue with black braid down the seams for

the foot police and light brown Bedford cord riding breeches for mounted police.

Headgear for parade was the white British Foreign service helmet as described

above. In undress, only the mounted police retained the white helmet, while the foot

police received forage caps, very similar to the British pattern 1871 forage caps. The

cap had a band of black mohair braid. On the front was a brass monogram that was

made of the letters ZAR. The uniforms of sergeants were slightly different, in that it

had flat braid buttonhole galloons on the front. The rank of NCO was indicated by

means of broad gold braid stripes on the upper right hand sleeve. The rank of

sergeant major was indicated by means of four stripes and the wearing of a white

leather cartouche belt, complete with a lion head boss, whistle and chain.

The foot police received black ankle length hobnail boots, while the mounted police

received lace up field boots. The native police received the same uniform, sans the

helmet. The natives received the forage cap and a hat. Boots were rarely issued and

most black policemen went barefoot.

It would appear that shortly before the war in about 1898, some changes occurred.

The mounted police also received the forage cap, as well as a black felt hat with a

pugaree made up of 5 ribbons of red, blue, white, green and yellow. The hat was

155

turned up on the right side and pinned in place with a green cockade with a gilt brass

Transvaal coat-of-arms. The foot police seem to have received single breast blue

tunic that buttoned down the front with seven brass buttons each stamped with the

monogram ZAR. The ZARP letters were still on the right collar, but on the left the

policeman’s force number in brass was worn. When on guard duty, the foot police

wore the white pith helmet. A black or brown leather belt with an ornate brass clasp

was also issued to the foot police. Some photos of this period shows some foot

police wearing non-regulation snake buckle belts.

The officers’ uniforms were also standardized in 1895. Before hand, some officers

wore a British style patrol jacket in blue cloth. The 1895 officers tunics was of dark

blue serge with black braiding on the chest and black braid trefoil knots on the cuffs.

The shoulder straps were twisted cords. Rank was indicated by Austrian style 5

pointed stars in brass. Foot and mounted officers each wore the headgear and

trousers prescribed for their branch of service. In undress, officers wore a British

pattern 1871 forage cap with a gold band with out and further badge. Captains and

other more senior officers wore the British pattern 1897 forage cap with a gold band.

On the front was an embroidered wreath with the ubiquitous ZAR monogram

between its branches.

During the Boer War the enlisted men and NCOs retained their patrol jackets in the

field, but most officers are seen wearing khaki jackets of a civilian design, simply

sporting their ranks on the collar. The issue hat described above was worn. Later on,

when the blue patrol jacket wore out, many ZARPs started wearing civilian khaki

jackets or civilian clothing. The men captured at Dalmanutha were wearing a mixture

of issue uniforms, civilian garb and privately purchase quasi-uniforms. The detective

branch and secret police, seeing as they had no uniform to start with, proceed to the

front clad in sand coloured khaki tunics and trousers.

The detective branch and the secret police wore no uniforms, being strictly speaking

CID. The detective branch men wore a leather armband with a brass plaque on

bearing the Transvaal coat of arms and their force number. The secret police wore a

distinctive badge on the back of their coat lapel or inside their jacket. The badge was

3, 5 cm in diameter and made of brass. On it was an enamel ZAR coat of arms and

the words “Geheime Politie nr…” (Secret Police followed by the persons force

number).

The weaponry used by the foot as well as the mounted police until 1895 was the

Martini-Henry .455 rifle and carbine. When on guard duty, the foot police proudly

sport a “lunger” bayonet with it. The Webley revolver was carried by the foot police

on patrol. After 1895, the police was issued with Lee-Metford .303 rifles and pattern

1888 Mk II bayonets. The foot police still carried Webley revolvers.

The mounted police was further issued with bandoliers, firstly the 1873 Mounted

156

Infantry bandolier for the Martini Henry and then the 1895 Mounted Infantry bandolier

for the Lee-Metford. The foot police also wore these bandoliers when on guard duty.

The foot police, when carrying the Webley seem to have a locally produced holster

and ammo pouch slung over the right shoulder. In 1898, the ZARPs began receiving

Mod 1896 Mausers, although one rarely sees a pre-war or wartime photograph of a

ZARP with one.

Officers, mostly as a symbol of rank carried swords. The first swords issued to the

ZARPs were artillery surplus Model 1869 Austrian cavalry sabers. In 1897 178

British pattern 1821 Light Cavalry sabers were imported for officers and for the mine

police (the mine police asked for swords as the native labourers apparently had a

bigger fear of a sword than of a rifle!). These swords were made by Wilkinson & Co

of London. The blades were acid etched with a trophy of arms and in the centre of

the blade was the ZAR monogram. The hilts were of white metal and the grips of

black shagreen bound with silver wire.

The native police was not armed with firearms, but with knobkieries, which according

to the police report of 1897, they yielded with great effect. The secret police and

detective branch was armed with Webleys as well. Regulations did stipulated that

batons or billy clubs were issued as well to foot police, but from where isn’t known.

In addition to firearms, the foot police, detective branch and secret police was issued

with a small black leather bound pocket book with the words “Politie ZAR” tooled in

gold on its cover.

The 1897 Police Regulations are interesting as it lists the complete kit of a

policeman, and reads as follows:

Commissioner of police, all officers and senior NCOs received a uniform tunic with

long trousers, riding breeches, helmet with badge and chin chain, waterproof cover

for helmet, cap, waterproof cover for cap, greatcoat, rain coat, woollen shirts, riding

boots, ankle boots, socks and spurs. The enlisted men received broadly the same,

except the boots for foot police was the British Army pattern “ammunition boots” and

the mounted police received only riding boots. The men also received a waist belt

with a clasp bearing the ZAR monogram. NCOs received golden stripes to indicate

rank, and was as follow: 4 stripes for Sergeant-Major, three for Sergeant and two for

Corporal. In the regulations lanterns, wooden batons, hand cuffs are also mentioned.

The amount of soap and polishing equipment issued suggests it was the brightest

and cleanest police force ever!

Of interest, the Boers never issued medals to its forces, but some ZARPs did receive

a medal. In 1898 after the Swaziland campaign, the CO of the Johannesburg

Volunteer Corps, Staas van Diggelen, struck at own expense a silver medal to

commemorate his unit’s involvement in this war and in the Jameson Raid. This

157

medal bore the Transvaal coat of arms on the front with the words “Johannesburg

Vrijwilligers Corps”. It was suspended from a ring bar. Its ribbon was of petersham in

the colors of the Transvaal flag. It had two bars to it namely “Swaziland 1898” and

“De opstand in Johannesburg 1896”. It was never officially issued, and therefore

could not be worn in uniform. Members of the Johannesburg Volunteer Corps, the

Staatsartillerie and the ZARPs could obtain these medals at own cost, providing they

could prove they took part in the aforementioned actions.

Epilogue

During the war the regular policing in the now conquered republics was done by the

locally raised South-African Constabulary. The ZARPs, together with the Boer

Republics ceased to exist on the 31 May 1902. A great many of these ZARPs again

joined the newly formed Transvaal Police Department. The last gathering of the old

ZARPs was in 1904 when they stood guard of honour at the funeral of President

Kruger.

The last old ZARP to “fade away” was Sarel Petrus Frederik Stefanus Kruger in 1957 aged 96.

Sources Primary Sources - First Volksraad Minutes (VRN), Transvaal Archives Depot. - State Attorney Papers (SS), Transvaal Archives Depot. - Van Dam Collection, Transvaal Archives Depot. - Photo collection, South-African Police Service Archive, Pretoria. - Photo collection, War Museum of the Boer Republics, Bloemfontein. - Lokale Wetten van de Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek voor 1895, Staatsdrukkerij, Pretoria. - Rapport van den Commisaris van Politie (1896, 1897) (ZAR 134), Transvaal Archives Depot. - Regulaties voor de speciale politie tot bescherming der mijnen (ZAR 34), Transvaal Archives Depot. - Staande Orders (KG 471), Transvaal Archives Depot. - Clothing Regulations for the Army and Militia, HM War Office, 1890 – 1900.

Secondary sources - Argief jaarboek 1975 – Polisie diens in die ZAR, GN van den Bergh, Die Staatsdrukker, 1980, Pretoria. - The Hall handbook of the Anglo-Boer War, Darrel Hall, University of Natal Press, 1999. - Die Boere Offisiere 1899-1902, Jacques Malan, JP van der Walt, Pretoria, 1990. - The Anglo-Boer War: A chronology, Pieter G Cloete, JP van der Walt, Pretoria 2000. - Ons Suidafrikaanse Militaire Tradisie, Majoor JL Pretorius, Die Brandwag, 1910. - The Times History of the War in South-Africa, LS Amery, London, 1900 – 1903. - The Nonqai, South-African Police Magazine, various dates. - Men-at-arms series 303, Boer Wars 1898-1902, Ian Knight, Osprey Military,1997. - The military badges and insignia of South-Africa, Colin Owen, Chimperie Agencies, 1990. - Small arms of the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, Ron Bester, Kraal Publishers, 2003.

For further information on the subject, or for any queries, please contact the author: Johan Wolfaardt, President Pretorius Museum, Potchefstroom: JohanW@tlokwe.gov.za

158

Request for Information Ons benodig in verskeie gevalle genoem verdure inligting, veral oor die

polisiemanne betrokke by mnr Mandela se arrestasie en die geval van Ingrid Jonker.

Ons moet ons geskiedenis en erfnis bewaar. Stuur asb vir ons stories en foto’s van

die grensoorlog, onluste, sabotasie en terreur. Weermag – dit is leër lugmag vloot en

SAGD – julle is ook welkom.

Die geledere van die “ou” spoorwegpolisie raak ook uitgedun. Julle kan ook gerus

plan maak en stories en foto’s aanstuur.

Ons hoor feitlik nooit van ons ou speurder-kollegas nie! Hulle het dan soveel

roemryke en verstommende sake opgelos.

We require information in a few cases. If you could assist please share the

information with us. Photos and anecdotes about our intelligence and security forces

are welcome. Croatians in the ZARP’s – who would have believed that, I must admit

it is the first time that I have heard about this!

Murder of Dr HF Verwoerd: Request for Information Do you have any information in this regard?

Any information regarding the murder of Dr HF Verwoerd would be appreciated.

Please share any press clippings, news paper reports and memories. Gen J van der

Merwe is currently ‘on leave’ when he is back we intend to sit down and compile a

report on the assassination of Dr HF Verwoerd. If you think there was a conspiracy

to murder him, please tell us about it.

Greetings & Salute

From Hennie Heymans & The Team.