police gazette vol 2 no 1
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Mothly Police GazetteTRANSCRIPT
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THE NONGQAI
Un-official Police Gazette
for VETERANS of the former
South African Police Force and
for those interested in the
history of our Police and
National Security
Vol 2 no 1
DIE NONGQAI
Nie-amptelike Polisiekoerant vir
VETERANE van die ou
Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemag en
vir diegene wat belangstel in die
geskiedenis van ons polisie en
Nasionale Veiligheid
Vol 2 Nr 1
The first Police Station in Cape Town under the Dutch Rule
Dis hier in Kaapstad waar alles begin het met die polisiewese in Suid-Afrika! Nadat die Hollands-Oos Indiese Kompanjie ook bekend as die VOC - Vere Oos-Indiese Kompanie – hier geland het die regspleging begin. Die ou prent kom uit een van George McCall Theal se boeke en is na bewering een van die eerste ‘polisiestasies’ of ‘wachtkantore’ aan die Kaap. Die gebou staan vandag nog in Kaapstad. Eers was almal in diens van die VOC. Later het die vryburger gekom en met verloop het daar verskillende burgermagte ontstaan gemik op huis en haard beskerming. Soos in Nederland het ons ook hier aan die Kaap ook veldwachtmeesters gehad. Die beamptes met wie die veldwagmeester in die Kasteel moes skakel was meestal offisiere. Die veldwachtmeesters – gelyk aan sersante - het oor die lae status gekla. Later is die beampte in bevel van ‘n wyk as die “veldkornet” aangestel. Die offisiersrang het die veldkornet die geleentheid gebied om met die offisiere in die
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Kasteel op gelyke voet te skakel. Die veldkornet was ‘n eenman staatsdiens, polisieman en speurder. Indien groot probleme ontstaan het, het hy of die landdros die kommando gemobiliseer. Die rang van veldkornet, kommandant en kommando is deur die Voortrekkers die binneland ingedra. Die range veldkornet en kommandant was ook vir ‘n kort rukkie SA Polisierange.
Contents Ruilverplasing na SAP Buitepos – Gawie Botha ...................................................................................... 5
Die BBP-Beskermingseenheid – Pieter Scholtz ..................................................................................... 11
W.P. Polisie vereer Kol IPS Terblanche ................................................................................................. 18
The Frontier Mounted and Armed Police – Fred Hart .......................................................................... 24
The FMAP – Moose van Rensburg – Ft Beaufort Museum ................................................................... 28
Badges and Uniforms of the FMAP – Hennie Heymans ........................................................................ 32
FMAP – Reunion Dinner – Moose van Rensburg .................................................................................. 34
Moose van Rensburg shared the following two menus with us. The first menu is from the
Polley’s Hotel, Pretoria and the dinner was held on 2nd of August 1929. This menu is of
great cultural-historical value: ......................................................................................................... 34
The second menu dates from 1941 and the Dinner was held in the Imperial Hotel, Pretoria
on the 2nd August 1941: .................................................................................................................... 35
Die Republikeinse Intelligensiediens [RI] – Hennie Heymans ............................................................... 36
Nasionale Intelligensiediens – Hennie Heymans .................................................................................. 39
Heraldiek: Nasionale Intelligensie – Louis Lubbe .................................................................................. 42
Nasionale Intelligensie: Kenteken en Vlag – Hennie Heymans ............................................................. 43
Die Handelstak van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie – genl-maj Martin Nel ................................................ 45
Die Kwartiermeester van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie ........................................................................... 46
1931 Quartermaster: Retirement of Col AE Oldridge ........................................................................... 50
1936: POLICE HORSE WITH A WIRELESS ............................................................................................... 55
Hd/Const JM "Jimmy" Shee, DCM ........................................................................................................ 55
Nuus van Verkykerskop......................................................................................................................... 57
Capt MA Kruger – Umtata ..................................................................................................................... 59
SAP Dry Goods Canteen ........................................................................................................................ 60
1956: The Price of a Haircut .................................................................................................................. 61
ZU 1B Calling ... ..................................................................................................................................... 62
Some Police Stations – ‘n Paar Polisiestasies ........................................................................................ 65
Police Headquarters – Polisie Hoofkwartier ......................................................................................... 65
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Radiobeheer Johannesburg Flying Squad ............................................................................................. 67
SAP Depot ............................................................................................................................................. 68
Umtwalumi Police Camp 1907 & 1938 ................................................................................................. 69
Paarl ...................................................................................................................................................... 70
Cape Town: Some Old Police Stations .................................................................................................. 70
The Greys – Johannesburg .................................................................................................................... 71
Umtata – some old Photos of SAP Activity ........................................................................................... 72
The Long Legs of the Law – Charles Stewart ......................................................................................... 74
“Warn-A-Brother” ................................................................................................................................. 81
1951: SAP Queenstown......................................................................................................................... 82
The Internment Camp Corps of Rhodesia ............................................................................................. 82
Lt-Col HF Trew ....................................................................................................................................... 83
Aanklagkantoorsersant: Charge Office Sergeant .................................................................................. 91
Weesfonds van die SA Polisie ............................................................................................................... 92
Botha Treks – Lt-Col HF Trew ................................................................................................................ 94
1927: The Immorality Act ..................................................................................................................... 97
“Ou” Polisiemanne ................................................................................................................................ 97
1980: Die Bankbeleg in Silverton – Dana Kruger .................................................................................. 98
Bergville: Moord op Polisie: Februarie 1956 ........................................................................................ 99
Ererol: Bergville ................................................................................................................................... 103
SAP Kultuurhistoriese Teëls ................................................................................................................ 103
Nasionale Veiligheid ............................................................................................................................ 104
1913: Die 1ste Generale-staf van die UVM ......................................................................................... 104
1913: Defence Staff / Verdedigingstaf ................................................................................................ 105
1945: Newly Commissioned Officers in the SA Police ........................................................................ 106
FIFTY-TWO YEARS A POLICEMAN ........................................................................................................ 107
New Technology: Paul Els ................................................................................................................... 110
Special forces to use strap-on 'Batwings' - MATTHEW HICKLEY, Daily Mail ...................... 110
Verdwaalde Stemme uit die Verlede – Ron Aylward .......................................................................... 112
1927: Murder of Police at Charlestown – Sandy Hanes ..................................................................... 114
Roll of Honour: Charlestown (HBH) .................................................................................................... 120
Kuspatrollie No 3 – Ron Aylward ........................................................................................................ 120
SAP Toneelgroep – Pieter Scholtz ....................................................................................................... 122
New School prayer – Gen Roy During ................................................................................................. 126
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Ratpacks: J Wepener ........................................................................................................................... 126
Johan Pieters: Gansbaai ...................................................................................................................... 128
“Really Inside Boss” – PC Swanepoel .................................................................................................. 129
OORGAWE AAN 1SAP: PUNT 207, HALFAYA EN QUALALA DEUR DIE SPILMAGTE ............................ 130
Reunie: 1961 Inname SAP Kollege ...................................................................................................... 132
Orkaan tref Vryheid-distrik: Matty van der Merwe ............................................................................ 133
Personalia ............................................................................................................................................ 134
Berigte van Heinde en Verre ............................................................................................................... 136
Slot ...................................................................................................................................................... 148
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Ruilverplasing na SAP Buitepos – Gawie Botha
Polisiediens was altyd vir my een groot avontuur en hoe verder ‘n polisiestasie van ‘n dorp af kon wees, hoe meer avontuuragtig kon dit net wees. Met die gevolg dat ek die polisie-adresboek geneem het en daarin het verskyn SAP Buitepos in SWA. Ek het Buitepos as die stasie geïdentifiseer het waar ek glo ek van sou gehou het. Ver van die naaste dorp, dit was 150km van Gobabis, geen spoorverbinding en ‘n grensstasie met Betsjoanaland, Britse protektoraat……man dit het lekker op die tong geval!
Soos die geluk dit wou hê, was daar ‘n konstabel Deon Brand gestasioneer wie se ouers op die Weskus by Veldrif vissermanne was, en Deon wou terug, nader na sy ouers. Om ‘n lang storie kort te maak, goedkeuring is van die Distrikskommandant gekry vir ‘n ruilverplasing.
Op daardie stadium het ek ‘n 1937 Plymouth kopee motor gehad, ek het gedink hy sou dit nie maak nie want dit was oor die 1200km grondpad.
Kort voor my vertrek moes ek gevangene na Malmesbury vervoer na vonnis oplegging te Hopefield. Ek moes vir een van die boere ‘n onderdeel optel by “Van Niekerk Motors” en terwyl ek daar staan en wag, merk ek ‘n voertuig wat onder ‘n seil toegegooi staan. Ek vra of ek maar kan kyk, en die persoon se, jy kan hom sommer koop ook, as jy wil! Ek trek die seil af, hier staan die 1949 Ford V/8, vlootblou en 12 jaar jonger as my Plymouth….
”Start hy?” vra ek.
Die Garage-eienaar maak sy deur oop, pomp die petrolpedaal so ‘n paar keer, met sy een voet, terwyl hy buite bly staan, ek loer deur die venster van die anderkant af. Hy druk ‘n “button-starter”. My Plymouth het ‘n “starter” gehad wat jy met die voet trap - links van die koppelaar’. Die V/8 vat onmiddelik, die dreuning van die agtsilinder “sidevalve” praat onmiddelik hier met my binneste…ek voel so ‘n tinteling deur my gaan, ek maak die deur oop ruik die egte leer sitplekke, ruik soos ‘n perdesaal
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se leer…sy bande is amper nog nuwe “retreads”! Sy “speedo” sê hy het so amper 70,000 myl op …… my Plymouth het al oorgeslaan. Garage–eienaar verseker my die kar se enjin is nog reg! Hy sal mos nie vir ‘n polisieman lieg nie, sê hy!
Die “sleepwa-maker” op Hopefield het my Plymouth gekoop, en met die geld as deposito het ek die Ford V-8 op huurkoop gekoop. Dit was so voor my verjaarsdag in Junie wat ek die pad sou aanvat Suidwes-Afrika toe, ander mense het nog gepraat van Duits-Suidwes-Afrika. Ek sou 21 jaar oud word in SWA.
Ek het toe nog nie iemand geken, wat al in daai rigting gery het, so ek kon my nie juis indink hoe die paaie loop, en sou maar op elke dorp verder pad vra. Ek het darem ‘n kaart gehad tot op Vioolsdrif op die grens met SWA, die kaart het ook maar net ‘n kronkelende geel streep aangedui wat die pad is vorentoe.
Omdat hierdie model Fords “warm geloop” het met hulle twee gegote yster kopstukke (tops) het ek op aanbeveling van ‘n werktuigkundige, Hendrik Neethling, op Hopefield, ‘n “lorry-fan”wat twee ekstra blaaie het, ingebou in die plek van die ou “fan”. Dit sou
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hom koeler laat loop. As jy nou die Ford ‘opgeref’ het dan het hy so ‘n ekstra loei geluid by die waaier laat uitkom, saam met die agtsilinder se dreuning het dit baie goed geklink!
Al waaroor ek spyt was van SAP Hopefield se weggaan was dat ons net ‘n nuwe Landrover vangwa gekry het en hy het darem wragtig lekker gery, dat ek nou die Landrover so moes los!
Maar die vooruitsigte en ‘n nuwe avontuur wat vir my moontlik gewag het, het vir die verlies van die Landrover vergoed. En ek en my twee honde het die langpad aangevat.
So twee uur die nag hier kort voor Springbok, bars die een boonste waterpyp, die masjien het vier waterpype gehad twee bo, vir elke kopstuk een en twee onder by die masjien. Stof kon die Ford, hou ingedagte altwee agtervensters is ook afgedraai, want ek het twee groot Baster-rifrughonde wat ook saam ry SWA toe. Elkeen het ‘n afgedraaide venster waar hulle uitkyk in die ry. Hulle is net so opgewonde soos ek, en hulle het lekker kos net voor skemeraand geëet toe ons uit Hopefield
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vertrek het. Die reuk kon jy maklik onderskei tussen die stofwalms in die kar. En ‘n hond kan darem mos stink skyt!
Ek het spaar waterpyp gehad …. vervang die oue, en vul die koeler weer met spaar water, wat ek genoeg het. Moet sê die grondpaaie was nie sleg nie, behalwe hier naby Springbok waar Joel’s se voertuie die myn se erts aangery het. Daar was die pad redelik vol gate en sinkplaat.
Die volgende dag so teen halfvyf die middag hou ek voor die polisiestasie te Keetmanshoop stil, die Ford is nou nie meer blou nie, maar meer vaal as blou – dis nou van die stof! Dit is warm. By elke venster steek ‘n hond met ‘n oophang-bek se kop uit met ‘n lang tong! Hulle asems jaag asof hulle heelpad saam gehardloop het. Ek is van de stof, my hare is asvaal, ek is maar blas van kleur ook. Ek hou by ‘n blanke konstabel stil, wat voor die polisiestasie die blou Ford sien aankom het. Hy is netjies gekleed in volle uniform - tuniek die lot, soos dit daardie jare die drag was! My kar se registrasie nommer is CR 51. Die polisieman verwar dit met GR 51, en GR het gestaan vir Grootfontein bo in die noorde… Ek klim uit die motor stap om na hom en steek my hand uit om hom te groet. Hy staan op ‘n trap van die polisiestasie: nou is hy langer as ek. Ek sien hy kyk af na my, met ‘n nors uitdrukking op sy gesig. Ek lees sy persoonlikheidsgedrag onmiddelik: “Ek is benede sy stand!” Ek staan met uitgestrekte hand. Dan praat hy met stem hier uit sy keel uit, amper soos ‘n predikant. Ek is half verbaas vir so ‘n jongman met so ‘n predikant stem. “Ek groet nie ‘n H#tn#t met die hand nie!” hoor ek hom sê.
Om ‘n lang storie kort te maak, nadat ek my behoorlik voorgestel het, wie en wat en waar ek is en vandaan kom en op pad is na Buitepos en na hy my aanstellingsertifikaat bestudeer het….lag hy dan so half verleë en steek sy hand uit en se met die bariton stem: “Bly te kenne, welkom in SWA ek is Eugene Terre Blanche.” Daar ontmoet ek hom vir die eerste maal en ons paaie sou nog later baie kruis.
Hier deur die rooi duine op pad deur Leonardville met twee-spoor, die Ford bly in second-gear. Die Ford het net drie ratte gehad: (vorentoe: low, second en top). Hier sien ek vir die eerste keer in die Ford se ligte ‘n
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springhaas voor my in die een spoor af hop en die honde sien hom ook, met die wat ek afslek, is die twee honde elk by sy venster uit. Met sulke kort tjankies wil hulle die springhaas van agter af inhardloop. Die springhaas wat ek geïdentifiseer het as ‘n klein kangaroe….. en nou is ek bekommerd oor waar is die ma, want ek het ‘n fliek gesien, hulle kan boks ook, lekker skop met hulle pote en wou nie graag my twee honde verloor so met die intrapslag hier in die wilde SWA nie!
Nee, wat toe die springhaas die honde agter hom gewaar, toe is sy tree drie tree…nege tree.. en so is hy onder die honde uit.
Hekke, nog nooit so baie op ‘n pad teëgekom! Dan later koedoes, gemsbokke, springbokke, ystervarke, sommer hier langs die pad in die nag. Ek moes later die agter ruite toedraai, want van banggeit dat die honde die grootwild sal aan vat wat hulle niks van weet en nou vir die eerste keer die reuk optel..
En Jakkalse? Man ek was in my element gewees ... gedink ek sien seker nou enige tyd ‘n leeu ook…!
Die volgende dag, laat skemeraand, nadat ek oral al pad gevra het kom ek voor ‘n gesluite hek tot stilstand. Aan die linkerkant van die pad is ‘n
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plaashuis en op die hek staan geskryf: “Gesluit” en ure wat hek oop is….. Nou wat nou?Dan aan die linkerkant van my voertuig sien ek ‘n blanke in kortbroek en leer sandale aangestap kom.
Ek klim uit die kar en voor ek kan groet sê hy baie vriendelik: “Ou mater die grenshek maak eers more oggend 8 uur oop!”
Ek sê-vra: “Ek dink ek is verdwaal, waar is Buitepos-polisiestasie”?
Hy antwoord: “Ons staan voor die polisiestasie.”
Ek bekyk die gebou, dan sien ek onder die peperbome voor die ingang van die “plaashuis” staan ‘n bord en daarop staan geskrywe “Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie”. Ek merk die vlagpaal, die vlag is reeds gestryk. Ek identifiseer myself as konstabel Botha van Hopefield.
Die man vra vir my nou: “Mater waar is jy op pad heen….!”
Dan besef ek dat die man seker niks te doen het met die polisie. Ek vra hom of hy my kan sê waar die stasiebevelvoerder van die stasie is? Hy vra hoekom? Ek sê omdat ek by hom moet rapporteer vir diens.
“Watse diens?” vra hy.
“Polisiedienste, maar jy sal nie verstaan nie…..!” antwoord ek.
Die man kyk my so met ‘n frons aan. Voordat hy weer praat, weet ek, dit is ‘n polisieman.
Hy antwoord: “Ek is a/o Campher en die SB van hierdie stasie…”
Die volgende oomblik spring ek op aandag en oorhandig my roetevorm aan hom. Daar hoor ek toe eers: hulle kry net elke 14dae pos, dringende pos word met toestemming op Gobabis loop haal. Dink toe het die SB my geensins so vroeg verwag, aangesien hy nog nie eers die goedkeuring van die ruilverplasing gesien het nie. En hier is ek al met my 1949 blou Ford Custom V/8, twee baster rifrughonde, my polisietrommel met my uitrusting, .303 en Webley .38 (ons beredemanne
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was in die kollege al met vuurwapens uitgereik) en ek het R1.50 in my broeksak oor.
Ek sal dit nooit vergeet nie, daardie aand het ek aan die slaap geraak van ‘n geroep van jakkals en die veraf gekug van ‘n leeu. Ek het vir die eerste keer in my lewe as polisieman tuis gevoel!
Geneem uit my dagboeke; ‘VOETSPORE IN DIE WIND.”
Die BBP-Beskermingseenheid – Pieter Scholtz
Links agter is sers Chris Ludeke, in die middle agter maj Rupert Anelich, tweede van
regs agter kapt Pieter Scholtz en lt-kdr Ters Ehlers. Voor is mnr PW Botha en mev
Elize Botha.
Nadat ek vanaf September 1978 tot Junie 1982 as veiligheidsoffisier van
die toenmalige Eerste Minister, PW Botha, diens verrig het, is ek as
Takbevelvoerder van die Veiligheidstak na Mosselbaai verplaas. Die
geografiese gebied van die tak het vanaf Witsand by die Breërivier naby
Heidelberg tot by die Bloukranspas oos van Plettenberg gestrek. Dit het
George ingesluit wat ook die kiesafdeling van mnr PW Botha was. Ons
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was dus gereeld in aanraking met hom tydens sy besoeke aan George en
die Anker,sy vakansiehuis by Wildernes.
Mnr PW Botha en kapt Scholtz
oppad na Parlement om sy
begrotingsrede te lewer
Gedurende 1983 is ek bevorder tot Majoor en is daar aan my gesê dat ek
gedurende 1984 terug verplaas word na Hoofkantoor, Pretoria. Dit het
inderdaad gebeur en ek is na die BBP-lessenaar verplaas omdat lt-kol
Rupert Anelich, wat toe die lessenaar beman het, afgetree het. Die
lessenaar het onder brig Kalfie Broodryk ressorteer wat op daardie
stadium in beheer van die Ondersoek afdeling was.
Terwyl ek my nuwe kantoor betrek het, het ek in een laai ‘n klompie
leêrs aangetref wat betrekking gehad het op beveiliging van BBP’s. Dit
was nie georden nie en was eintlik niksseggend. Daar was egter een
dokument wat my aandag getrek het. Dit was ‘n brief wat bevestig het
dat die kabinet besluit het dat die SA Polisie die taak van beskerming
van BBP’s moet verrig. BBP’s was vaagweg gedefinieer as die
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Staatspresident, Eerste Minister, ministers sowel as ”ander BBP’s”. Op
daardie stadium het die Staatspresident een veiligheidsoffisier, lt-kol
Piet Steyn, gehad en een motorbestuurder, a/o Blackie Swart. Die Eerste
Minister het twee veiligheidsoffisiere, kapteins At Kellerman en Fanie
Claassen gehad, ‘n motorbestuurder, a/o Tom van Wyk, en een geleide
motorbestuurder, sers Chris Ludeke. Geen minister het polisiepersoneel
gehad nie. Die BBP-huise was egter deur die Spesiale Wageenheid van
die SAP bewaak. Ek het dadelik besef dat ons nie ons opdrag behoorlik
uitvoer nie en dat ons die blaam sal kry as daar iets met ‘n BBP gebeur.
Ek as die betrokke lessenaar offisier was nie bereid om die
aangeleentheid op so ‘n lukraak manier te doen nie en het onmiddellik
aan die werk gespring en ‘n memorandum aan die kommissaris, genl.
Mike Geldenhuys voorberei. Ek het eerstens na die brief verwys wat ek
in die laai gekry het en dit duidelik gemaak dat ons nie ons opdrag
uitvoer nie. Die United Democratic Front is die vorige jaar in die
Weskaap gestig en dit was maar ‘n front van die ANC. Die
veiligheidsituasie op daardie stadium het meer van ons geverg as net
bloot ‘n afgewaterde diens. In die memorandum het ek aanbeveel dat
daar drie takke gestig word nl. in Pretoria, Kaapstad en Durban. Ek het
uitgewei oor die voertuie en toerusting wat benodig word en dit as ‘n
aanhangsel by die memorandum ingesluit. Daarin het ek aanbeveel dat
die eenheid uit 50 lede en 25 ses-silinder voertuie moet bestaan. Al die
toerusting was in die aanhangsel gestipuleer bv, die aantal vuurwapens,
noodhulptoerusting ens. Ek het die aanbevelings, ook die toerusting, in
een paragraaf vervat wat beteken het dat, indien die kommissaris die
memorandum sou goedkeur, al die voertuie en toerusting ook
goedgekeur sou word. Die Bevelvoerende Offisier van die Veiligheistak,
genl-maj Johan Coetzee, het die memorandum gelees, dit geteken en
aan my opdrag gegee om dit direk verder met die kommissaris te
bespreek indien hy vrae sou hê. Ek was baie in my skik omdat geen
veranderings in die memo gemaak is nie. Genl. Geldenhuys het my,
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nadat ‘n afspraak by maj. Johan Ferreira, sy Privaatsekretaris, gemaak is,
tewoord gestaan. Hy het die memorandum gelees en enkele vrae gevra
wat ek kon antwoord.
Daarna het hy die memo geteken en aan my teruggee met die woorde:
“Scholtzie, dit is ‘n netjiese stuk werk. Gaan stig die eenheid en sê as
daar probleme is.”
Ek was eerstens half uit die veld geslaan omdat dit so maklik was en
tweedens uit my vel omdat ek geweet het dat die eenheid lankal nodig
was en dat ek dit kon bewerkstellig. Ek kon nog goed onthou hoe genl-
maj Maans Engelbrecht, die Kwartiermeester, reageer het toe hy
verneem dat hy die 25 ses-silinder motors moes verskaf. Brigadier
Gouws wat op sy personeel was en vir voertuie verantwoordelik was,
was eweneens nie baie inskiklik nie. Ek het elke stukkie toerusting wat
ek as aanhangsel in die memo gespesifiseer het, ontvang.
Intussen moes ek aan die werk spring om die bevelvoerders van die drie
takke te werf. In Pretoria was my twee offisiere, kapt Fanie Claassen
wat pas van die Eerste Minister se kantoor teruggekeer het, en kapt
Royce Merton. In Kaapstad is kapt Sakkie Brand van die veiligheidstak
oorgeplaas en in Durban kapt Fanie Weyers. Ek het met die
Departement van Openbare Werke onderhandel en kantoorruimtes is
deur hulle gehuur.
In Pretoria het ek ‘n gebou in Koedoespoort ontdek wat aan ‘n
verfmaatskappy behoort het en wat deur hulle ontruim is. Dit was ‘n
groot gebou en al die voertuie kon gemaklik in die gebou pas. Daar was
genoeg kantoorruimte en personeel kon selfs daar slaap indien dit nodig
sou blyk. Ek moes die personeel en hul range so bietjie aandik om die
gebou gehuur te kry maar dit was vir ‘n goeie doel.
Brigadier Gouws het ook vir my ‘n petrolpomp by die gebou
goedgekeur omdat daar ondergronds reeds ‘n tenk bestaan het.
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Nadat die geboue beskikbaar gekom het, is opdrag aan die offisiere
gegee om personeel te werf. Ek wou verkieslik jong manne hê wat
ongetroud is, omdat die werk lang en ongewone ure geverg het. Die
meeste van die personeel het uit die veiligheidstak gekom en enkeles uit
die Spesiale Wageenheid. Die eenheid is onder direkte oorhoofse bevel
van brigadier Richard Bean geplaas wat ook in bevel van die Spesiale
Wageenheid was. Ek was die Takbevelvoerder en het weer ‘n
parlementêre beampte geword.
Ek het onmiddellik besef dat die personeel behoorlik opgelei moet word
en al instansie wat dit werklik sou kon doen was Nasionale Intelligensie.
Die personeellid in bevel van hul opleidingseenheid was Basjan
Rothman. Ek het met hom ‘n afspraak gemaak en hulle het ingewillig
om die opleiding te doen. Tien lede is genomineer om die eerste kursus
te deurloop. Ek het aan twee van die lede wat goed aan my bekend was
gevra om so veel as moontlik material, ook videos, te “bekom” terwyl
hulle opgelei word. Ek het besef dat NI op ‘n stadium dalk nie meer
mense sal wil oplei nie en dat ons ons eie opleiding sal moet doen.
Nouja, ná die eerste kursus het ons al ‘n taamlike biblioteek opgebou en
ná die tweede kursus was ons gereed om ons eie opleidingseenheid te
stig. Sers Hugo, ‘n ou Veiligheidstaklid en eerste kursusganger is in
beheer van die opleiding geplaas. Later het meer personeel bygekom.
Die eenheid het stadig begin in plek kom en ek het ‘n skakeloffisier, lt (v)
Maryna Rossouw van V/Tak, Johannesburg, aangestel om met die
privaatsekretarisse van die ministers te skakel oor hul betrokkenheid om
die eenheid en die gepaardgaande beveiliging te laat werk. Sy het ook ‘n
parlemetêre beampte geword en kon dus naby die BBP’s funksioneer.
Op die stadium het die Staatsmotorhawe alle bestuurders van BBP’s met
die uitsondering van die SP, Eerste Minister en Minister van Polisie,
verskaf. Die meeste van die bestuurders was onopgelei en/of middeljarig
of oud. Ek wou goed opgeleide, jong polisiebeamptes as bestuurders hê.
16
Sommige van die ministers het hardnekkig probeer vasklou aan hul
bestuurders maar uiteindelik het hulle bes gegee.
Ek wou graag die bestuurders so goed moontlik laat oplei om enige
aanslag die hoof te bied. Ek het besef dat die SA Polisie nie op daardie
stadium so behoefte kon bevredig nie en het my tot die Transvaal
Provinsiale Administrasie in Pretoria gewend. Ek was bewus van hul
opleidingsperseel in die weste van Pretoria. Dit het ‘n glybaan, ‘n figuur
8 baan ens. ingesluit. Ek het ‘n afspraak met die Administrateur, mnr
Willem Cruywagen, gemaak en aan hom verduidelik wat ons graag sal
wil bereik en dat sy verkeersopleidings department behulpsaam kan
wees. Hy het die foon opgetel en alles was gereël. Met die inligting is ek
na brig Gouws by die Kwartiermeester. Ek wou by hom weet waarom
ons nie ‘n paar voertuie wat gekeur is, met versterkte kajuite kan verskaf
om die opleiding moontlik te maak nie. Dit sou ons lede beskerm en
onnodige beserings beperk of uitsluit. Hy het ‘n oomblik daaroor gedink
en dit goedgekeur. ‘n Paar gekeurde voertuie wat meganies vir die doel
geskik was, is voorsien van versterkings en die opleiding het begin.
Die Eerste Minister het op die stadium met ‘n gewone voertuig gery. Ek
het die aangeleentheid met sy privaatsekretaris, Ters Ehlers, opgeneem
en hy het onderneem om dit verder te hanteer. Die eerste versterkte
voertuig, ‘n groen Mercedes Benz 350, is toe in gebruik geneem.
Die eenheid het met die tyd uitgebrei en het ‘n goed opgeleide personeel
gehad wat ‘n professionele diens gelewer het. Ek het verskeie briewe
van waardering, veral van hooggeplaasdes uit die buiteland wat hier
besoek afgelê het, ontvang. Ons het mense soos Perez de Cuellar,
sekretaris-generaal van die VN, die Pous en, senator Jesse Helms van die
VSA, ens. beveilig.
Lt-kol Riaan Engelbrecht het later by my as Takbevelvoerder
oorgeneem.
17
Ek is van die BBP eenheid na die Kantoor van die Eerste Minister
gesekondeer en was oorhoofs verantwoordelik vir beviliging van SP en
BBP’s. Ek het ook onder die voormalige Staatspresident FW de Klerk
gedien.
Vlnr agter is: sers Stassen, kapt Hein Bezuidenhout en o/sers Shaw.
Voor: vlnr kol Pieter Scholtz, mnr FW de Klerk en maj Pieter van Zweel.
Tydens die inhuldiging van meneer Mandela as eerste President in 1994,
was ek as Bevelvoerder van Fisiese Dienslewering in Noord-Transvaal,
verantwoordelik vir die opstel van die beveiligingsplan en koördinering
van die beveiliging. Die BBP-beskermingseenheid was deel van die
ongeveer 17 000 veiligheidsmense wat ontplooi was en het die
beskerming van BBP’s uit die buiteland sowel as ons eie BBP’s hanteer.
Ons kan met trots terugkyk na dit wat ons as lede van die ou SAP
vermag het. Ons was nie alleen professioneel nie, maar het in moeilike
tye ons verpligting jeens ons land en sy mense nagekom.
18
Ons kon met trots dien.
W.P. Polisie vereer Kol IPS Terblanche
Sowat vyfhonderd polisiemanne en hul gesinne het op Saterdag 9
Oktober 1982 by die Terrie Terblanche-sportkompleks in Pinelands
saamgetrek vir 'n gesindag waarop 'n borsbeeld van kol IPS Terblanche
(79), voormalige Afdelingskommissaris van die Polisie in die Westelike
Provinsie onthul is.
Die gesinsdag is gereël deur die Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniging van die
Polisie (Akpol).
Toe kol Terblanche nog dienende was in die SA Polisie, het hy deur sy
versiendheid, hom beywer vir 'n SA Polisie ontspanningsklub. Vandag
spog die Kaapse Polisie met 'n terrein wat enige sportman se hart bly
maak. En kyk bietjie na die fantastiese klubhuis en sy geriewe.
Dis pragtig en van die hoogste gehalte.
Die groot saal dra dan ook die naam van kol Terblanche: die TERRY
TERBLANCHE-SAAL.
Die Bond wil ook graag hulde bring aan hierdie uitsonderlike man maar
weens ruimte gaan ek net 'n paar insidente noem.
In 1950, terwyl hy Distrikskommandant op Bethlehem was, het daar
onrus in Witsieshoek onder die Basotho’s uitgebreek. Kol Terblanche
(toe ‘n majoor) en 'n troep berede manne is in 'n hinderlaag in die berge
aangeval. Luit Jonker en nog 'n lid is doodgeslaan en kol Terblanche is
ernstig beseer met 'n slag op sy oog. Die Engelse spreekwoord se: “It's
an ill wind that blows no one some good" en so was dit ook hier.
Destyds was die Ongevallewet net van toepassing tot op die salariskerf
van £600 en 'n majoor op die kerf van £720 was dus ingesluit. Kol
Terblanche het tereg gevoel dis onregverdig teenoor die Polisieman en
het 'n geveg aangeknoop wat daarop uitgeloop het dat lede van die mag
19
vandag volle dekking onder die Ongevallewet het. Dit was beslis 'n
groot deurbraak vir lede wat daarna beseer is maar Kol. Terblanche het
'n karige £90 ex-gratia betaling gekry.
Terwyl hy in Durban distrikskommandant was het hy geslaag om ou
militêre geboue op Wentworth te bekom en omskep in polisie-getroude
en -enkelkwartiere. So was hy. Hy het altyd gestreef om die lot van sy
ondergeskiktes te verbeter.
Maar daar is 'n stukkie geskiedenis wat ek glo nog deur die owerhede in
sy leeftyd reggestel moet word. Hier verwys ek na die onluste in die
Kaap in 1960. Ek haal aan uit die boek "How long will South Africa
survive" deur RW Johnson.
Johnson skryf o.a. in die hoofstuk "The Sharpville crisis and the defeat of
Revolution.”
“On the 21st March 1960 a crowd of some 10000 Africans from Sharpeville
location gathered in a noisy demonstration, organised by the PAC, against the
pass laws. The local detachment of white police panicked and fired into the
crowd. When the volleys ceased, 67 Africans lay dead and 186 were injured."
Johnston is natuurlik verkeerd. Die polisie moes in selfverdediging skiet
maar hy gaan dan aan om uit te wys dat dit beplan was as die begin van
'n rewolusie soos die 1917 rewolusie in Rusland. Ons ouer polisiemanne
weet dat daar daarna meer optogte en skietery was – alles daarop
gemik om die polisie uit te tart om so die buiteland se hulp te verkry en
om die binnelandse swartes tot grootskaalse rewolusie op te rui. Terwyl
die parlement in Kaapstad in sessie was in 1960 word die grootste optog
in Kaapstad beplan.
Die skrywer stel dit so:
“In Cape Town, in the biggest demonstration of the disturbances, 100 000
Africans marched to the city centre. The police, unnerved, produced several
20
PAC leaders and the white radical Patrick Duncan1 to address them. They,
perhaps oddly, advised the crowd to return to their locations. The crowd, after
an initial display of derision, even more extra-ordinarily did what had been
suggested. Only with the benefit of hindsight is. It’s possible to see that this
represented the passing of the most threatening moment of the disturbances."
Kom ons kyk hoe het sake in Kaapstad gelyk op daardie dag. Daar was
100 000 swartes in die hartjie van Kaapstad. Wat sou gebeur het as hulle
die blankes begin aanval het? Wat sou gebeur het as hulle motors en
geboue aan die brand begin steek?
Wat kon die paar honderd polisiemanne doen teen so 'n oorwig in
getalle? Hoe gou en in hoe groot getalle kon die Weermag ingryp? Ek
glo dat een verkeerde stap van die polisie die massa swartes sou laat
oorgaan tot geweld maar die skrywer Johnson sê die gebruik van die
skare se leiers om hulle vreedsaam te laat uiteen gaan was 'n groot
terugslag vir die betogers en die einde van die beplande rewolusie
Kaapstad is van verwoesting gered deur Kol. Terblanche se
onderhandelinge met die leier Philip Khosane.
Maar dit is nie wat die owerhede destyds gedink het nie.
In stede van ‘n aanprysing in magsorders is hy kwalik geneem omdat hy
met die leiers onderhandel het. Met sy onderhandelinge het hy nie net
Kaapstad gered nie maar die rewolusie se nek gebreek. Dit is die oorwoë
mening van die skrywer Johnson wat nie die Polisie en die blankes
goedgesind is nie.
Ek sou graag nog meer hieroor wou se maar sluit af deur te meld dat
I.PS. Terblanche op 5/2/1983 die mooi ouderdom van 80 jaar sal bereik -
nou 'n mak tier, maar nie 'n gebreekte tier nie.
Kommentaar deur Hennie Heymans
1 Seun van ‘n voormalige goewerneur-generaal van die Unie van Suid-Afrika.
21
Bostaande berig is ontleen vanuit die Bondsnuus van 1983 en verskyn op p 8. Dit is onbekend wie die skrywer van die berig is. Vir ‘n geruime tyd is ek besig om navorsing te doen oor sekere legendariese figure van die SA Polisie en ook om opspraakwekkende gebeure waarby die SA Polisie betrokke is, aan te teken. Die geskiedenis van die SA Polisie is in ‘n groot mate ook die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika! Dit alleen, omdat die SA Polisie die primêre gesagsorgaan van die (destydse) Staat was. Op die terrein van inligting en operasies; veral mbt landsveiligheid, misdaadondersoek en -bekamping het die polisie nog altyd sy kant gebring! Kol (afgetree) IPS Terblanche is later deur minister Adriaan Vlok na die ererang van brigadier bevorder! Jong manne luister nie altyd behoorlik na geskiedkundige vertellings en -stories nie! Verskeie vriende en kennisse was ooggetuies tydens die aanval op maj Terblanche en sy manne. So bv luit-kol AJ “At” de Villiers – sy bynaam in die polisie was Jerseybul. Eendag as jong seun, luister ek hoe hy die hele storie van Witsieshoek vir my Vader vertel het! Later toe Oom At oud was, kon hy glad nie meer die feite onthou nie! Ek was destyds ‘n kollega van kaptein HS Visser te veiligheidshoofkantoor – hy was ook daardie noodlottige dag ook daar - ek het nooit die gebeure wat hy vertel het oor die aanval te Witsieshoek neergeskryf nie! Majoor Terblanche se epiese tog was die laaste klassieke perdepatrollie na die tweede wêreldoorlog wat in ‘n gewelddadige skermutseling betrokke was! Daarna het die Mag begin met meganisasie. Behalwe majoor (later brigadier) Terblanche kan ek net noem dat luit JP Jonker wat die dag so wreed te Witsieshoek vermoor is, ‘n ervare offisier was. Beide Luitenant Jonker en Oom At was lede van die SAP Brigade tydens die tweede wêreldoorlog. Dit was dus nie jong manne nie, maar ervare en deurwinterde polisiemanne wat aangeval is! Die polisie het
22
soms so ‘n moeilike taak; wat hy altyd taktvol moet verrig omdat sy bekamping hof-gerig is – hy moet altyd probeer om deur die regte prosedure te werk – jare nadat die polisie opgetree in die hitte van die stryd sit mense in leunstoele en kritiseer! Brig Terblanche het baie vermag – ek het altyd gewonder hoe die Wentworth polisiekamp ontstaan het? Hy het die Ongevallekommissaris aangevat en hy het die situasie te Kaapstad met takt hanteer – politici moet net die “wat” bepaal – die man op die grond weet gewoonlik “hoe” om sy taak te vervul!
In my argief het ek die volgende foto’s van brig Terblanche gekry:
[In die eerste ry sit speurder-konstabel Daantjie Bester – later ‘n generaal en hoof van die speurdiens.]
23
24
The Frontier Mounted and Armed Police – Fred Hart
EARLY DAYS IN THE FRONTIER MOUNTED POLICE - THE
NONGQAI - SEPTEMBER, 1936
Veteran Member Looks Back Over 60 Years When East London Was
Mostly Sand Heaps
ANNUAL REUNION
The annual reception of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, which
took place last month, is of special interest to a veteran of 84, Mr Fred
Hart, who has stirring and interesting recollections of the corps and the
early days.
Born in Essex, England, in 1853, Mr Hart left his position in the
Metropolitan Railways and came to South Africa with 16 others to join
the FAMP. They arrived by the Walmer Castle in September, 1877, at
Cape Town, and Mr Hart remembers that the Policemen there wore
top hats and carried walking sticks, and that there were still some
residences in Adderley Street.
They transhipped into the Stettin and had a rough passage, landing in
surf boats at East London, which was then on the other side of the river,
the present town then being known as Panmure, and what is now the
market square was a collection of sand heaps. From there they were
taken by wagon to Fort Murray.
After he had done a little police work, the Galeka war broke out, then
the Gaika war, and later the Basuto war and the Morosi Mountain
campaign, in all of which Mr Hart participated. Later the FAMP became
the CMR. Mr Hart became a trader in Basutoland for 15 years, during
which he visited the Rand, when it consisted only of Jeppe’s and
Ferreira’s camps, a few tents and one or two tin shanties.
25
NEVER WENT BACK.
After the South African War Mr Hart went to Ermelo and Germiston,
and he has been living in retirement in Bedford Park, Johannesburg, for
a number of years.
Although it is nearly 60 years since Mr Hart came to South Africa he has
never been back to England. He confesses to a feeling that "he would
like to go over and take a peep at the old place." When he left England
there was no electric light. Cleopatra's Needle had just arrived, and the
trees had just been planted on the Embankment in London. There was
gas but the majority of people useded candles and the first benzolene
lamp had just come in.
Here is Mr Hart’s own story of the early days when he came out to join
the FAMP:
The annual reunion in Johannesburg of the existing members of the
Frontier Armed and Mounted Police (he says) will bring back pleasant
memories of that fine old corps to the few survivors. So little appears to
be known of this old frontier force by the present generation that it may
be of some interest to revive a few particulars and some impressions.
The Force existed under different names (mostly CMR), for about 150
years, and was considered "the most famous mounted corps in the
Empire outside the British Army."
About the middle of the 1870's a paragraph in a London newspaper
pointed out that the "sons of broken-down gentlemen, who preferred a
sword to a pen, and a charger to an office stool could obtain a life of
interest and adventure on the frontiers of South Africa by joining the
FAMP of the Cape Colony." This and other similar notices led to a big
rush of the right stamp of young man to the Agent-General's office in
London, and several hundreds were enlisted and sent out in parties of
about 30.
26
GENTLEMEN’S CORPS
The "gentlemen's corps," we were called (often in derision) and we
generally lived up to that name. The advent of these healthy, fit,
educated young fellows had results which were perhaps not quite
expected by the then Cape Government, as when the men had finished
their service (three years) they drifted into all the Government services
and invariably proved themselves good officials.
Among them we can include a Cabinet Minister, three Generals, three
Knights, a number of Magistrates, in fact, in every Government
department, they could be found in good positions.
At the moment my memory goes back to Crewe, Sloley, Shervington,
Dalgetty, Cantwell, Winslow, Alan Wilson, Goldsworthy, Neylan, Scott,
Kennan, Preston among many others.
Our uniform was sombre black corduroy, ammunition boots, with laced
gaiters, and a peaked cap with a puggaree hanging over the back of the
neck. No tents, excepting a patrol tent, which was soon discarded as
useless.
There was always something missing or torn.
Each man was served out with half a tent. The other half would be
supplied by whoever one chanced to chum in with at the bivouac. Very
shortly after leaving headquarters the tents would disappear and the sky
would be the only roof for the man, and the hard ground his mattress.
Commissariat - there was none. The men bought their own rations and
carried them in their saddlebags. It was a rough, hard, but healthy life.
One compares the life of those days with the present luxuriously
equipped South African forces.
I remember my first impression of a real old Frontier Policeman. We
were off-saddled at a junction of roads between Komgha and Kei Drift,
27
where we awaited the arrival of No. 5 Troop. From there we were going
on patrol to Impetu, near the Kei mouth.
THE WANDERER
The man I have in my mind arrived alone, also to join up with No.5
Troop. He had travelled over 100 miles. He was seen leading a pony
zigzagging through the mimosa thick in those parts. On arrival he
presented a comical sight. On the pommel of his saddle was a pile of
blankets, etc., and only his head and shoulders appeared above these.
He had grown whiskers, which were very much untrimmed, and his
face reminded me of a Jack-in-the-box I owned as a small boy. It only
required him to be dragging a "life along by the hail', to complete the
picture of a real ancient.
The paraphernalia on those two ponies was amazing. A tin pannikin
was looped up under the horse's throat and patrol tin, gridiron, fry-pan,
three-legged pot and all sorts of useful odds and ends were hanging
about.
Of course this was not the everyday equipment of a Policeman on duty.
This man was shifting camp. He arrived with a friendly grin, but would
not enter our camp.
His reason, he said, was that he wanted to be off drill as long as possible.
He was still on the road and on his own.
While I was wondering how he would disentangle himself from his pile,
he threw his feet into the air, and alighted easily. Quite a circus stunt!
He refused our offer to help him unload, saying we would mix things
up, and make repacking difficult. In an astonishing short time he had
fixed things to his liking gathered some sticks and proceeded to light his
fire, using a tinder box. We offered him matches - the old sulphur sort,
usually damp and useless. He lit his fire and proceeded to knead bread
28
on the back of his macintosh2. We came to his rescue with some real
baker’s bread, which we had bought in Komgha. He said it was cake to
him. He had not tasted white bread for months. Cookies from
unleavened dough, baked in the ashes had been his lot. Indigestion was
unknown on the veld. We were a healthy skinny lot, nothing on our
bones but skin and muscle.
A SORRY SIGHT
No.5 Troop turned up later in the day. They were an eye-opener to us.
All had whiskers. No two were dressed alike. Nearly every man had a
spare pony and a native servant. Among No. 5 Troop there were a good
few Germans, mostly sons of settlers from the old German Legion, and
good comrades we always found them.
At this time the nominal strength of the FAMP was 1,200, scattered in
small parties from Kenhardt in the west to Kokstad in the East and as far
south as Peddie. There was no drill then after leaving headquarters and
very little discipline, but the Force kept order on the frontier in a
satisfactory way. This scattered condition handicapped the corps when
the Galeka war broke out, but we were soon to be re-established as the
CMR with drill, discipline, and good commissariat and as a new CMR to
whose fame there is little to add.
Nongqai 193609723-724
The FMAP – Moose van Rensburg – Ft Beaufort Museum
Moose is the curator of the Museum at Ft Beaufort. One day we were
talking and he gave me the following notes – the author thereof is
unknown:
ARMED AND MOUNTED POLICE
2 Reënjas – Rain Coat.
29
The War of 1850-1853 had begun disastrously for the Cape Colonists. To
add to the difficulties of the situation, the Orange River Farmers were in
revolt, and the Basuto War had started in 1851, besides a few British
soldiers, the only regular levies on the Eastern Cape Border were native
troops. The farmers and settlers were armed, and ready to defend their
lives and property as best as they could, but suffered from a lack of
organisation. In 1852 authority was given for the formation of the
ARMED AND MOUNTED POLICE, forces from the Border Districts of
Albany, Uitenhage, Somerset, Cradock, Albert, Victoria and Fort
Beaufort.
Each force had its separate Command, and this beginning of the
organisation proved to be a great value in stamping out rebellion in the
area. In 1852 at the end of the war, it was thought unnecessary to
continue the service of Uitenhage, Somerset, Cradock, and Albert, but
Albany, Fort Beaufort and the two Victoria detachments were retained
on a permanent footing. British Kxffrxria, north of the Amotola
Mountains was settled with military colonists and annexed to the Cape
Colony.
The Fort Beaufort detachment commanding officer was Commandant
Wynne. In 1853 Queenstown was founded and the Victoria Detachment
of police was transferred there as a garrison. Two years later of the first
acts a responsible Cape Assembly (Act no. 3 of 1855) merged Albany,
Fort Beaufort and the two Victoria detachments of police into one corps
the FRONTIER ARMED AND MOUNTED POLICE.
FRONTIER ARMED AND MOUNTED POLICE.
The Commando of this corps was Captain Walter Currie, who had
commander the ALBANY POLICE since its formation, he had
distinguished himself in two wars preceding this. Under his command
he had four inspectors, twelve sub-inspectors and approximately five
hundred NCO's and men. They were armed with double-barrelled
30
percussion guns one barrel rifled and the other barrel smooth, revolvers
and Bowie knives, arms and saddles were provided by the men, they
had to pay twelve pound ten shillings for their guns and seven pound
ten shilling for their revolvers. The men enlisted for three years. In 1857
after the Crimean War the German Legion and individual German
Agriculturists were settled on unoccupied land in British Kxffrxria, and
many of these men proved valuable recruits for the FAMP.
When Transkei was placed under British Administration, a strong troop
of FAMP under Inspector Bowker, with Major Gawlers of the "Kxffxr
Levy" was left as a permanent garrison when the rest of the troops were
withdrawn. With the advent of Sir Philip Wodehouse as Governor in
1861, changes in native affairs necessitated the employment of the
FAMP. The undefined right of the Griqua Chieftain, Adam Kok, over
white inhabitants in his territory had caused considerable trouble in the
south of the Orange Free State. It was therefore decided to remove him
and his tribe from that district and to transplant them to the north east
Cape Colony in the sparsely populated no man's land on the border of
Basutoland (now Lesotho) and Natal. Sir Walter Currie was ordered to
supervise the migration and relocation of the Griquas to the new
territory, henceforth known as Griqualand West, with a large force of
the FAMP.
When it became possible to annex British Kxffrxria to the Cape Colony.
All changes naturally caused some unrest in the Transkei, where it was
thought prudent to concentrate the FAMP in 1864. In the following three
years they were occupied with patrol work. 1868 and 1869 were busy
years for the police. In 1868 Sir Philip Wodehouse intervened in the
fourth Basuto War, which the Free State Boers were carrying on against
Moshesh. After the peace of Aliwal North troops under Inspector
Bowker, was left as a permanent police force for Basutoland.
31
In 1869 two troops under Sir Walter Currie were hurried off to the west
of the colony to suppress some Koranna marauders ensconced in the
difficult fastness of the Lower Orange. In the same year the discovery of
diamonds in the neighbourhood of Kimberly led to a dispute between
the Cape Colony and the Orange Free State Government as to the
ownership of the land. Before the point had been decided there was
considerable lawlessness in the district, necessitating the presence of the
whole of the FAMP at Hopetown to keep order amongst the miners, and
to watch the Orange Free State border. In 1873 the police again found
work on the Eastern border. Langalibalele, chief of the Hlubi tribe which
had been driven out of Natal by the Zulu, rose against the government3
and being defeated across the border.
The FAMP was consistently kept occupied during the remained of its
existence by the natives in the east of the Colony. In 1875 the police were
employed in carrying out the annexation of Tembu Chief Ganganlizwe's
territory north of the Transkei, with the district of Elliot, Engcobo,
Umtata and Maganduli being proclaimed under British Protection. In
1876 they had the same duty to perform in Griqualand East.
During these years several important changes had taken place in the
internal structure of the police. In 1870 Sir Walter Currie had retired
from service and died two years later at the age of filthy three. He had
been commander, first of Albany detachment and then of the united
police, since 1852. He was more than anyone else, was responsible for
the tradition of soldierly conduct in war and tactful in police work, for
which the corps had always been distinguished, in peacetime.
His successor was JH Bowker one of the original Inspectors appointed in
1855, who had since 1868, been acting as agent in Basutoland. In 1877
Commandant Bowker resigned and was replaced by CD Griffith, who
commanded the second detachment of Victoria Police in 1852. After the 3 In response to this threat the Natal Mounted Police was established during 1874 – HBH.
32
ninth Frontier War he returned to his old post of Agent in Basutoland.
He was succeeded by his second in command, Lieutenant- Colonel H
Garrett Moore4, VC, of the 88th Regiment.
In 1869 the government issued arms as well ammunition but officers and
men still had to provide uniforms, equipment and horses for themselves.
In 1870 the HQ of the police was removed from Grahamstown to King
William's Town. Up to 1878 the FAMP had only nominally been a police
force. It had always when the occasion arose, been called upon for
purely military duties. In that year the Government decided to
reorganise the corps as a regiment of Mounted Rifles and for that
purpose, passed an Act no. 9 of 1878, which gave them the title of the
CAPE MOUNTED RIFLEMAN familiar known as CMR and their duel
function as a police force to preserve peace, prevent crime and as a
military for the defence of the Colony.
Badges and Uniforms of the FMAP – Hennie Heymans
4 He won the VC in South Africa and is the first recipient of that medal in Colonial South Africa – HBH.
33
Cap Badge Silver NCO arm badge
34
See Nongqai 1927-10
FMAP – Reunion Dinner – Moose van Rensburg
Moose van Rensburg shared the following two menus with us. The first
menu is from the Polley’s Hotel, Pretoria and the dinner was held on 2nd
of August 1929. This menu is of great cultural-historical value:
Above: This menu dated
1929 has aged with time
and has been enhanced on
the computer – the present
colour is yellow.
The present Wachthuis –
the national police head
quarters are now situated
on this site.
35
Here is a photograph of
Col Burne the Chairman
The second menu dates from 1941 and the Dinner was held in the Imperial Hotel,
Pretoria on the 2nd August 1941:
36
Die Republikeinse Intelligensiediens [RI] – Hennie Heymans
Die ANC en PAC is gedurende 1960 onwettig verklaar. Nelson Mandela
het toe die ANC 'ondergronds begin bedryf'. Ek redeneer omdat die
37
ANC, PAC en SAKP reeds ondergronds was moes die SA Polisie ook by
die stryd aanpas en self 'ondergronds' gaan om hul te beveg; so is RI
gebore!
Dr HF Verwoerd het generaal John Keevy toestemming verleen vir die
stigting van RI. Die eerste bevelvoerder van RI was majoor MCW ‘Mike’
Geldenhuys.5 RI se hoofkantoor was in die “Withuis” in Johannesburg.
Genl Geldenhuys het vanaf die “Withuis” al die RI-manne hanteer en
beheer. RI het weer onder die direkte bevel van genl HJ van den Bergh,
die SA Polisie se veiligheishoof gestaan. RI was toe al ‘n professionele
inligtingsdiens. Toe RI oorgeplaas is na die Buro is daar reeds ‘n bewese
kundigheid en ‘n vermoë gevestig om klandestien op te tree.
Oom Pieter Swanepoel, ‘n tydgenoot van genl Johann Coetzee, vertel vir
my hoe moeilik dit was om as lid van die veiligheidstak baie sensitiewe
bronne te hanteer. Hy en genl Johann Coetzee was destyds beide
speurdersersante en was belas met die ondersoek van die bekende
hoogverraadsaak. Hulle het aan die destydse owerhede voorgestel dat
die polisie ‘n koverte inligtingsvermoë moes bekom sodat hulle onder
dekking kon opereer, met geheime voertuie en vanuit geheime kantore
kon opereer. Ou manne vertel daar was ‘n redelike mate van
verdraagsaamheid teenoor lede van die ou Special Branch – maar die ou
klante wat van veiligheidsbelang was, het al die polisiemanne geken!
Dit was nodig om ‘n koverte afdeling te stig. Oom Pieter Swanepoel
vertel hy was die hoof van RI in SWA – hy en Ben Burger.
So het RI tot stand gekom en in Durban was ook ‘n tak van RI wat onder
die vaandel van Pretoria Agencies [PA] geopereer het. Gou het PA die
aandag van ons gewone polisiemanne getrek. Die manne by PA het 5 Dit is my voorreg om gereelde skakeling met generaal Geldenhuys te hê en ons is besig om sy rol in
die SA Polisie en in die Buro aan te teken. Hy was op ‘n stadium adj-hoof van die Buro en ook
waarnemende sekretaris van die Buro.
38
snags laat gewerk, die ligte het snags laat in die kantore gebrand en daar
was baie beweging rondom die plek! Kaptein Johann Coetzee was in
bevel en mettertyd het ons die meeste van die manne geïdentifiseer – so
het die een offisier van PA se eggenote in die plaaslike apteek gewerk.
Die apteker was my vriend. Sy Oupa was kolonel TJ “Burn-the-Bastard”
Byrne en gou vertel die apteker een aand oor ‘n bier vir my van die
snaakse polisieman.
Later het ek kapt Johan Coetzee by die SAP Motorhawe Wentworth
ontmoet waar ek vir ‘n rukkie as klerk werksaam was. [Dit was ‘n
nadeel dat RI sy motors na die SAP Garage moes bring!] So het ons
polisiemanne geweet en later te SAP King’s Rest het ons meer van die
manne raakgeloop. Kaptein Johan Coetzee het in Merle Court gewoon en
ek het hom dikwels by die Brightonstrand se swembad ontmoet en hy
het altyd vriendelik gesels. Eendag tydens patrollie, naby Merle Court,
het ek genl HJ van den Bergh in ‘n motor gesien op die h/v Marinerylaan
en Airlieweg. Ek het my stasiebevelvoerder daarvan verwittig.
Van Standerd sewe tot matriek was ek en dr Donald Campbell goeie
vriende en het ons baie avonture saam meegemaak. Sy Vader was die
DK van Durban-Sentraal. Op ‘n dag word sy Vader na Pretoria verplaas
en Donald vertel my Pa gaan na “veiligheid”. Later is kolonel RJF
Campbell na Taiwan waar hy Suid-Afrika se eerste konsul-generaal
aldaar geword het. Donald het in Taiwan besoek afgelê. Later is sy
Vader terugverplaas na Pretoria en het hy kwartiermeester geword. So
het ons gewone polisiemanne van ‘veiligheid’ geweet maar deur my
‘kontakte’ het ook ek geweet daar was een of ander geheimediens in Suid-
Afrika. Spoke was die woord wat in die verband genoem is. Hierdie
geheimediens was niks anders as RI nie.
Die Loginov- en die Glazer-sake is persoonlik deur genl Mike
Geldenhuys hanteer toe hy by RI in Johannesburg werksaam was. Toe
die Buro gestig is, is daar reeds ‘n goeie fondament gelê afgesien van
39
kritiek deur ander kundige lede uit die inligtingsgemeenskap. Genl
Geldenhuys vertel dat genl Keevy ‘n groot belangstelling in RI openbaar
het en het dikwels daar heimlik besoek afgelê het.
Nasionale Intelligensiediens – Hennie Heymans
Sun Tzu skryf baie jare gelede dat ‘inligting’ nie van die gode afgebid
kan word nie! Daar is slegs drie bronne van inligting: overte-, koverte-
en tegniese bronne – uit hierdie mengelmoes en warboel van mense (en
hul instrumente) wat om verskillende redes inligting verstrek, moet die
inligtingsorganisasies hul bronne optimaal aanwend om inligting te
bekom, evalueer en optree.
Veral die ondergrondse stryd - hier ter plaatse en in die buiteland - het
daartoe gelei dat die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid, Departement van
Nasionale Veiligheid en uiteindelik NI gestig is. Daar moes 'n
organisasie soos NI wees wat nie aan die SDK se reëls en regulasies
onderworpe is nie. (Ongewone en buitengewone instansies soos NI het
ander behoeftes as die res van die staatsdiens.)
Die Nasionale Intelligensiediens het op 1 Mei 1969 as die Buro vir
Staatsveiligheid die lig gesien. Die grondslag vir die Buro – soos ons
polisiemanne dit genoem het - is deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie se
koverte inligtingsinsamelingsafdeling, die Republikeinse Intelligensie-
diens (RI) gelê. Die kritici en ‘n vyandige pers het gou na die Buro as
“BOSS” verwys. Die Engelse benaming was Bureau for State Security –
BfSS.
Die Buro het tot stand gekom agv sekere behoeftes wat die regering
gehad het. Die polisie en die weermag was nie vir hierdie taak opgelei
nie. Kundiges veral in die politiek en staatsleer het die Buro gou
versterk!
Dit is mos duidelik dat die Afdeling Militêre Inligting homself bemoei
met militêre inligting vir oorlogvoering en strategiese beplanning edm
40
want in die finale analise is die weermag en die militêre industriële
kompleks verantwoordelik om die integriteit en soewereiniteit van die
land te waarborg. Die weermag moet ook sy eie departemente geheime
beskerm en darem verrig hy ook teeninligtingsfunksies. Net die
weermag kan militêre inligting vertolk – polisiemanne en siviele
inligtingsmanne kan dit nie doen nie!
Die polisie is onder meer verantwoordelik vir ondersoek van misdaad,
versekering van landsveiligheid, vir wet en ordehandhawing. Die
polisie werk uit die aard van die saak met kriminele, saboteurs,
terroriste, spioene, kommuniste, diewe, moordenaars, inbrekers,
vervalsers en talle ander tipes van mense. Daarom stel die polisie in die
bewegings van mense belang, ook wat hulle buite die landgrense doen
en beplan ten einde binnelandse veiligheid te verseker.
Diegene wat nie tydens gevegte met die polisie doodgeskiet word nie,
word gearresteer en word voor die hof gebring met feite wat die
bewerings teen die aangeklaagde staaf. Polisie-inligting het ook te make
met optrede (operasies) of om sekere planne van sekere mense in die
wiele te ry en om daardie samesweerders en kriminele voor die hof te
daag of om administratiefregtelik teen sekere op te tree bv
inperkingsbevele, weiering van reisgeriewe edm.
Alhoewel die polisie met politieke inligting werk en optredes beplan
werk die polisie nie met bona fide politieke inligting nie, ook nie met
klerikale of vakbone se inligting nie - maar met subversiewe politieke
inligting – tog kom daar gewone politieke inligting tot die polisie se
kennis. [Die polisie is ook verkeerdelik gebruik om op sekere akademici
en ook bv op Afrikaners se verregse bedrywighede te spioeneer. So ook
is die polisie ook in ‘n beperkte mate teen die HNP en wyle mnr Jaap
Marais ingespan.]
41
Politieke ondermyning veral in Afrikanerpolitiek het beslis nie by die
polisie tuisgehoort nie maar eerder by ‘n siviele inligtingsorganisasie
sonder enige uitvoerende magte.
Die voormalige NI het hoofsaaklik op ekonomiese-, staatkundige-,
maatskaplike - en veiligheidsinligting gefokus, wat 'n bedreiging vir die
veiligheid van die RSA ingehou het. NI was in staat om akademici,
ekonome, sielkundiges, geestelikes, tegnici, taalkundiges of wie ook al
nodig was, te werf en goed te besoldig. (Op my personeel was ‘n jong
sersant met ‘n MA-graad in staatsleer. Hy het in kommunisme
gespesialiseer. Ons kon op die aarde niks vir die man doen nie! Hy moes
maar doodeenvoudig jare wag om ‘n offisier te word. Ek het so gewens
die SAW of NI kon hom werf en hom dan weer aan die SAP sekondeer!
Daar was eenvoudig nie ruimte vir sy bevordering nie, behalwe deur die
voorgeskrewe regulasies.)
NI was ook oorhoofs verantwoordelik vir die Nasionale Inligtingswaar-
dering en die Nasionale Breigingsontleding wat in oorleg met die SA
Inligtingsgemeenskap en die SSVR se TNV opgestel is.
NI was ook verantwoordelik vir koverte buitelandse inligtinginsameling
en skakeling met plaaslike verteenwoordigers van die Internasionale
Inligtingsgemeenskap.
Dit is ook die sentrale inligtingsorgaan se funksie om die president in te
lig en hoe beter tegnologie ontwikkel hoe moeiliker is dit die taak van
die voorligter om die president betyds voor te lig. (Dink bv terwyl die
bomme in Jerusalem neer val is CNN besig om dit in regte tyd
wêreldwyd te reklameer. CNN en andere het vandag reeds ‘n
voorsprong, maar die waarde van die voorligter lê juis op die gebied
van vertolking en evaluasie – die wie, wat, waarom, hoe en dies meer
word deur die voorligter gegee. ‘n Goeie inligtingsdiens sal natuurlik
die president reeds voor die aanval inlig dat sulke dade beplan word!)
42
NI was ook verantwoordelik vir fisiese sekerheid in die staatsopset en in
die algemeen belas met teenspioenasie.
Ook was NI verantwoordelik vir die Sekretariaat van die
Staatsveiligheidsraad en vir die kostes wat daarmee gepaard gegaan het!
Generaals van die SAW was natuurlik almal die Sekretaris van die
Sekretariaat van die Staatsveiligheidsraad. (Daar was ‘n notulerende
sekretaris van die SVR.)
Nadat RI na die Buro oorgeplaas is, het die Veiligheidstak ‘n nuwe
koverte eenheid nl “Seksie 4” gehad.
Heraldiek: Nasionale Intelligensie – Louis Lubbe
Eendag sit Louis Lubbe en ek met Oom Pieter Swanepoel, wat by NI
afgetree het, gesels. Ons praat oor Oom Pieter se boek Really Inside
Boss. Op die voorblad pryk die kenteken van NI. Louis Lubbe merk toe
op dat sy broer, Petrus (“Peet”), verantwoordelik was vir die ontwerp
van NI se kenteken. Tydens die Desember-vakansie kom Louis kuier en
bring van die sketse saam wat sy broer ontwerp het:
So gaan die kenteken lyk!
Verspieders en “land van
melk en heuning”. Numeri 13: 23
43
1 Samuel 29: 9 – 11
Dawid en slapende Saul
– kruik en spies
Pouveer
Scientia Munit – deur
kennis beveiliging ens.
Hulp van Sokkies van
Tonder.
Nasionale Intelligensie: Kenteken en Vlag – Hennie Heymans
Wapen van Nasionale Intelligensie
Vlag van Nasionale Intelligensie
Die wapen van die Nasionale Intelligensiediens
Die wapen is ontwerp as ‘n departementele wapen en die leeumotief op
die helm is ‘n oorkoepelende embleem wat op alle departementele
44
wapens gebruik word, elke keer gedifferensieer met ‘n ander simbool
onder sy poot.
Vir die skild is onder andere van ‘n wolfshaak (veemteken) gebruik
gemaak. Dit wil sê ‘n regsimbool wat deur sy vorm maklik in ‘n boom
gekap kon word ter afskrikking van rondtrekkende en stropende
huurbendes. Die verbyganger wis dan dat hy op sy hoede moes wees
aangesien hy hom in die sg 'veemregggebied' bevind het. (Duits: Femo-
geheime geregshof). As jaggereedskap is die haak oorspronklik in ‘n
boom geslaan en ‘n stuk vleis is daarin gesteek. Wanneer ‘n wolf nou na
die vleis spring, was die kans groot, dat hy met sy kaak in die wolfskaak
(ook genoem wolfsangel) sou bly hang. Aldus het dit ‘n
waarskuwingsteken geword teen sowel wolwe as ‘n teken van die
veemreg.
Die idee van geheime kennis kan ook voorgestel word deur middel van
we drie pouvere. Pouvere woord in die heraldiek beskrywe as ‘geoog'
van wee die helderkleurige kolle daarop. In samehang met die
wolfshaakmotief verkondig die samegestelde embleem dus op ‘n
bedekte wyse: Wees gewaarsku, geheime oë is op jou gerig. Dit is ook ‘n
vergestalting van die Wapenspreuk: ‘Kennis beveilig’.
As die simboliek verder uitgebou wil word kan daarin ook die
drieledige funksie van die Nasionale Intelligensiediens gesien word:
Insameling van inligting, die verwerking en evaluasie daarvan, en die
beskikbaarstelling daarvan aan hoër gesag,
Die vlag van die Intelligensiediens
Blou en wit is simbolies van donker en lig: van die bekende en die
onbekende. Die aanwending van die Wit en Blou op die vlag kan
geïnterpreteer word as simbolies van ‘n pad van lig die donkerte in of ‘n
blik in die onbekende van die toekoms; vergelykbaar met die eie aard
van die werksaamhede van die Diens, om die toekoms te probeer
45
voorspel. Dit dui ook op ‘n doelgerigte beweging voorwaarts. Die vlag
ig by wyse van ‘n kennisgewing in die staatskoerant van 26 September
1986 aangekondig en, op grond daarvan dat geen besware of
Kommentaar ontvang is nie, geregistreer en in die staatskoerant van 3
Januarie 1987 amptelik goedgekeur.
Ander kentekens van NI:
Binnelandse Insameling
Buitelandse Insameling Teenintelligensie
Tegnologie
Navorsing Korporatiewe hulpbronne
Bron: Nasionale Intelligensiediens 25 jaar, Amptelik, 1994, Pretoria. Nota: Die SVR en die SSVR het sy eie kenteken gehad.
Die Handelstak van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie – genl-maj Martin Nel
Die Handelstak van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie is een van daardie
keurkorpse in die Mag. Deur die jare het ek goeie vriende in daardie
afdeling gehad. Genl Martin Nel het op versoek die volgende lys van
bevelvoerder van die Handelstak saamgestel:
HANDELSTAK HOOFDE:
46
POST JANUARIE 1969 TOT ?? (1992??)
NR JAAR POSBEKLEËR
1 1969 Brig AP (Alwyn) Burger
2 1970 Kol JF (Jan) Kleinhaus
3 1973 Kol PS (Shorty) van Zyl
4 1978 Kol TH (Theo) Scherman
5 1982 Brig I (Sakkie) van der Vyver
6. 1985 Brig FMA (Frans) Steenkamp
7 1985 Brig JA (Nollie) Hulme
8 1991 Brig MJ (Martin) Nel
9 1994 Brig MJ (Manie) Schoeman
10 1997 Asst Komm LJ (Louis) Estherhuizen
11 1998 Asst Komm J (Johan) Ackermann
12 ?? Asst Komm JW (Hans) Meiring
• Ons sal met graagte foto’s van hierdie offisiere ontvang.
Die Kwartiermeester van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie
Hier volg ‘n onvolledige lys tov die kwartiermeesters van die Suid-
Afrikaanse Polisie. [Op een stadium tydens die Erasmus-bewind het elke
senior posbekleër ‘-generaal’ as agtervoegsel gehad – so was daar ‘n
speurder-generaal. Die kwartiermeester was toe bekend as die
kwartiermeester-generaal.] Vandag staan hierdie afdeling as “logistiek”
bekend.
Naas finansiële administrasie is die kwartiermeester seker een van die
belangrikste afdelings in die ou Mag gewees. Veldmaarskalk Erwin
47
Rommel kon goed veg, veral in Noord-Afrika, maar hy het een
swakheid gehad – logistiek! Rommel het later ongeveer 80 – 90 % van sy
brandstof gebruik om voorraad mee aan te ry wat hom met ‘n skamele
10 – 20 % brandstof oorgelaat het om mee te veg! 6
Die Kwartiermeester het ‘n baie belangrike funksie vervul. Hy was die
kommissaris se senior stafoffisier wat betref voorraad en was die
voorlaaste rekenpligtige voor die kommissaris in die Mag. Ons het baie
tyd bestee aan inspeksies en kontrole ens. Die Kwartiermeester het ons
soms “vrot ge-‘query’” – maar al hierdie rompslomp het gehelp om die
kommissaris en die polisie ‘n goeie ouditverslag te gee!
Polisiestasies is vier maal per jaar formeel geïnspekteer. Alles moes reg
wees; van persoonlike uitrusting, van kamerinventarisse tot voertuie se
bande en die selle se komberse is nagegaan!
Hier volg ‘n onvolledige lys van al die SA Polisie se kwartiermeesters
van 1913. Dit moet onthou word dat die ZAP en die UVM aanvanklik
van dieselfde kwartiermeester gebruik gemaak het. Op 1 April 1918 het
die ZA Polisie ‘n eie kwartiermeester gekry. Twee kwartiermeesters het
later baie hoë poste beklee – genl Keevy het kommissaris geword terwyl
luit-genl JG le Roux Stemmet, na genl JV van der Merwe se aftrede, vir
die laaste ruk die SA Polisie se “kommissaris” in die oorgangstydperk
was. Dit was nadat genl George Fivaz as nasionale kommissaris van die
SAP-diens aangestel is en hulle besig was om die verskillende
polisieagentskappe te amalgameer.
Date Name REF
19130401
-
Harvey, FG Lieut-Col7 SAPS
Museum8
6 Lees: Supplying War – Martin Creveld.
7 Lt-Col Harvey serves as QM for the UDF and the SAP. An officer of the UDF.
8 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208.
48
19180331
SAP Quartermaster
19180401-
19270000
Lloyd, HN Capt9 Servamus
19970148;10
SAPS
Museum11
1928 -
1931
Oldridge, AE Lt-Col (At his retirement Capt
FW Cooper was 2i/c)
Nongqai
193105373
19310000
-
19450000
Cooper, FW Major12 SAPS
Museum13
19451200
–
19490131
Coetzee, MP Lt-Col SAPS
Museum14
19490201
–
19611100
Keevy, JM Lt-Col SAPS
Museum15
19611201
–
19630000
Du Preez, MD Brig SAPS
Museum16
9 1 April 1918 an own QM for SAP. 10 Photo taken from Servamus 19970148 11 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 12 Later Brig FW Cooper, DSO – SAP Brigade. 13 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 14 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 15 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 16 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208.
49
19630000
–
19680100
PHS Henning PHS, Maj-Gen SAPS
Museum17
19680000
–
Du Plooy, J Brig SAPS
Museum18
00000000
19710831
Terblanche, LA Brig SAPS
Museum19
19710901
–
19720700
Campbell, RJF Brig SAPS
Museum20
19701017 Kol P Kruger word ingesweer – Meganise
Ingenieur21
Sarp 1970-11-
04
Sarp 1970-11-
53
19720800
–
????????
Van Onselen, CM Brig SAPS
Museum22
19760000
of
De W Crafford, CP Brig SAPS
Museum23
17
Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 18 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 19 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 20 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 21 Hy speel groot rol in die ontwikkeling van die Casspir saam met dr V Joint. 22 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 23 Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208.
50
19790900
19791000
–
????????
Engelbrecht, CJ Maj-Gen SAPS
Museum24
19860000
–
???????
Reynecke, Frik Maj-Gen SAPS
Museum25
?????? Coetzee, JC ‘Jan’ genl-maj (8 maande) 26
Stemmet, JG le R Brig, Maj-Gen
SAP Logistic – SAP-Logistiek
198904001 Stemmet, JG le R Maj-Gen & Lt-Gen27
Coetzee, I Lt-gen28
Westraat, HJJ Maj-Gen
SAPD Logistic – SAPD-Logistiek
Westraat, HJJ Div Com29
Hasses, Colin Ass-Com30
Hlela, Hamilton Div Com – Lt-Gen
1931 Quartermaster: Retirement of Col AE Oldridge
Retirement Lt-Col AE Oldridge - THE NONGQAI - MAY 1931:373 – 374 24
Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 25
Marlene Swanepoel – 20101208. 26
JG le R Stemmet - 20101224 27 JG le R Stemmet - 20101224 28 JG le R Stemmet - 20101224 29 JG le R Stemmet - 20101224 30 JG le R Stemmet - 20101224
51
CLOSING SCENES OF HIS OFFICIAL CAREER FAREWELL FUNCTIONS
THE S.A. POLICE LOST A MUCH-
VALUED Quartermaster with the
retirement of Lt-Col AE OIdridge on the
30th April. The farewell function was an
Officers' dinner and dance at the Central
Barracks, Pretoria, on this date, when Lt-
Col Whelehan, in proposing the health
of Col and Mrs Oldridge, referred to the
long and honourable service rendered
by the former in various parts of the
Union, but more particularly to his
service as Quartermaster of the Force for
the past three years. At the outset he
said how sorry he was that, owing to
Parliamentary duties, Col IP de Villiers, Commissioner of Police, had
been unable to attend.
Continuing, Col Whelehan said he was sure that the whole of the Force
regretted the loss of their Quartermaster, who had done all that he could
for everyone. He trusted that Col and Mrs Oldridge would thoroughly
enjoy their forthcoming trip to Europe, and would return in the near
future to settle in this country.
Col Sir Theo Truter, late Commissioner of Police, also spoke, remarking
that he himself had selected Col OIdridge for the appointment of
Quartermaster, and that he knew very well, when doing so, that Col
Oldridge was the man for the job.
52
Felicitous speeches were also made by Col Godley and Major Mathews,
who stated that all the outside Deputy Commissioners and District
Commandants were truly sorry to part with Col OIdridge.
Col Whelehan then presented to Col Oldridge a wallet of notes from his
fellow-officers, and wished Mrs Oldridge and, the Colonel a very bright
and prosperous future.
Col Oldridge, in reply, stated that, when called on to reply to the
Mayor's toast at Capetown on the return of the Police from the Rand
Strike in 1922, he thought it the most arduous task of his whole thirty
years' service, but that on the present occasion he found it far harder. He
was bidding official farewell to the Force in which he had spent his adult
lifetime and breaking touch with officers with whom he had been
associated during most of that period. He trusted, however, that
although no longer one of them, he would still have a lot to do with
them, as he hoped to be a successful competitor for a lot of the business
done with the Force in certain lines of their requirements.
He appreciated all the kind things that had been said of him, although
he could not help but tell them that his task had been made more
pleasant and easy by the thoroughly efficient staff under his control and
by the spirit of good-fellowship existing between outside districts and
his Department. He proposed taking Mrs Oldridge on a trip to Europe,
and they would return in three or four months' time to settle down in
the country where the two of them had spent so many happy years.
Amongst those present were Col and Mrs Whelehan, Col Sir Theo and
Lady Truter, Col and Mrs Oldridge, Col Godley and Miss Archer, Mrs.
Lewis, Col Woon, Col and Mrs Lendrum, Col, Mrs and Miss Cilliers,
Col and Mrs Loftus, Mr and Mrs Lydall, Major, Mrs and Miss
Mathews, Major, Mrs and Miss Byrne31, Major and Mrs Morton, Dr and
Mrs Caldwell, Capt. and Mrs Long, Capt, Mrs and Miss Jerome, Capt, 31
Aka “Byrne-the-Bastard”. He grew to a very old ripe old age. He was very proud of his nick name!
53
Mrs and Miss Stanbridge, Mrs JP Coetzee, Capt Kunhardt, Capt Bryant,
Capt and Mrs Cooper, Lieut and Mrs Verster,32 Lieut and Mrs Whittet,
Lieut and Mrs Grobbelaar, Capt and Mrs Palmer, Lieut Walters, Lieut
and Mrs Wheeler, Lieut and Mrs Moss, Mr and Mrs Homfray,33 Lieut
Nicholl and Lieut Kruger.34
Earlier in the day Col Oldridge was met by his staff and presented with
a farewell gift from them as a mark of their appreciation of the interest
he had always taken in their welfare.
Lt-Col AE Oldridge, Quartermaster, S.A. Police, was born in 1880 at St
Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, and:
Joined the Rural Police, Capetown, in 1902. Supernumerary Sub-Inspector,35 Capetown,1902; Chief Constable, Jansenville, 1902; Chief Constable, Prieska, 1903; Chief Constable, Victoria West, 1904. Transferred to South African Police, 1st April, 1913. Sub-Inspector, Laingsburg, 1913; Acting District Commandant, Vryburg, 1914; Acting District Commandant, Kuruman, 1915; Acting District Commandant, Laingsburg, 1915. Promoted Inspector, 1-11-19; District Commandant, Paarl, 1919; District Commandant, Wynberg, 1925. Appointed Quartermaster, Headquarters, Pretoria, 1928; Senior Inspector,36 Quartermaster, 1928; Divisional Inspector,37 Quartermaster, 1929; Deputy Commissioner, Quartermaster, Headquarters, Pretoria, 1930. Medals 32
The Father of Lt-Gen HV Verster. 33
Editor: The Nongqai. 34
See his obituary in this issue. 35
This rank is unknown. 36
This rank is unknown. 37
This rank is unknown.
54
1899-1902 Queen's and King's.
Mrs Oldridge
At the Country Club, Pretoria, on the 22nd April, Mrs Oldridge was farewelled by the wives of Officers of the SA Police. Mrs Whelehan presided, in the unavoidable absence of Mrs IP de Villiers, who was with the Commissioner at Capetown, and was assisted by Mrs Lendrum. The function took the form of an eleven o'clock tea at which Mrs Whelehan made a charming speech (her very first) in presenting a handsome Morocco handbag to Mrs Oldridge, who suitably responded. The following ladies were also present: Lady Truter, Mesdames Lewis,
Lendrum, Lydall, Loftus, Byrne, Morton, Mathews, Stanbridge, Cooper,
Verster, Moss, Grobbelaar, Palmer, Walters, Caldwell and Homfray.
:
THE S.A. POLICE QUARTERMASTER'S STAFF
On the Occasion of the Retirement of Lt - Col AE Oldridge on the 30th April, 1931
FRONT Row (left to right): 1/Sergts WP Mostert, J Edwards, H Clem Mould38, RH Banaclough and
AW Cook, Hd-Const SJ Wilson, Lt Col AE Oldridge, Capt FW Cooper, Hd-Const NW Bates39, 1/Sergts
WF Noonan, A Earnshaw, AW Russell and WJ Smith.
SECOND Row: 2/Sergt AE Hunter, Consts TL Botha and BCF Joyce, 2/Sergts AG Webb, HB Senekal, F
Gage and JJN Hattingh, 1/Sergts J Cornish and CE Petterson, 2/Sergts W Allen, GH Marais and CR
Opperman.
38 He developed the SAP Camel Saddle. 39 He is appointed Sub-Inspector and 2i/c.
55
THIRD Row: L/Sergt BC Ie Roux, 2/Sergts J Hefferman and HV Hoey, Consts CF Rothman, HJ
Slabbert, L Hubach, JR Schoonraad, H Besaans and CE Pexter, L/Sergt F Holden, Consts DJ Scholtz,
SD de Kock and J J Wessels.
FOURTH Row: 2/Sergt H McDougall, Consts JD Viljoen and EH Venzke, 2/Sergt JJ Roey, Consts JJ vd
L Hattingh, JA Pretorius, JH Nel, CEI Christenssen, V Park, NB Burton and FA Schuster.
FIFTH Row: Consts RG Orsmond, PT Geldenhuys, AW Ortlepp, TA Louw, PJJ Schoeman, DJ Louw
and CH de Beer, 2/Sergt RO Stemmett, Consts. P Burger and JG Mostert. [Photo: Hildick's Studio,
Pretoria]
1936: POLICE HORSE WITH A WIRELESS
“Sammy," a famous Lancashire Police horse, is to be equipped with a wireless
receiving and transmitting set. The set is to be used in traffic control work. The set,
including aerial, weighs about six lbs40 and has a two-way range of three miles.
"Sammy" will be posted at busy road junctions and receive calls direct from
headquarters on his own call sign - GTL 9. If the experiment is a success further
similar sets will be used and it is announced that Lancashire's present two-way
telephone wireless equipment for cars will also be increased in the near future.
Nongqai 193609776
Hd/Const JM "Jimmy" Shee, DCM
An impressive military funeral,
attended by a very large number of
mourners, took place at the 'Vest End
Cemetery on August 18, when
Hd/Const JM "Jimmy" Shee, DCM, who
had been in charge of the Police
Remount Camp at Kamfersdam was
buried. Hd/Const. Shee's death occurred
on August 17 from injuries sustained in
a riding accident at the Camp the
previous day.
40
About 3 kg.
56
The cortege was nearly
a mile long, headed by
a large detachment of
Police. Not far behind
the coffin walked
“Duke," Mr. Shee's
favourite horse,
saddled, and with his
master's boots reversed
in the stirrups. At the
Cemetery the coffin
was draped with the
Union Jack, and the
Union Flag was borne by former comrades - all Head Constables -past
the Guard of Honour. At the conclusion of the Service a Police firing
party under Sergt NB Young fired a volley over the grave and the Last
Post was sounded by Sergt Bugler P Fouchè and Bugler J Fouchè of the
Kimberley Regiment.
The chief mourners were the widow and step-son, Mr C Shee, of Port
Elizabeth, and the six-year-old son. Lieut Col. G. Lloyd Lister, Deputy
Commissioner of Police at Kimberley, Major DD Morton (representing
the Commissioner of the South African Police), Major FJ Verster, District
Commandant, Kimberley, and Capt WM Osmond were among the
Police Officers who attended, and there were representatives of every
branch of the civilian community in the city.
The pall-bearers were Det/Hd/Consts WJ Markram, S Roberts, C
Erasmus and T Jackson and Hd/Consts WS Maplesden and H de Bruyn.
The late Hd/Const JM Shee, DCM, was South Africa's most brilliant
Police horseman and his tragic death is a tremendous loss to the Force.
He was a popular figure at all the Agricultural Shows in the Country. He
57
won the Open Championship at the Rand Show this year in April, and
recently secured the South African Championship at the Pretoria Show,
riding the horse which subsequently caused his death.
Mr Shee had been a horseman for fifty years and a strange coincidence
was that his father and brother were both killed in precisely the same
manner.41
The late Hd/Const. Shee was one of the 100 men who comprised General
Botha's Bodyguard in the S.-W. Africa campaign and he was also one of
the men who were chosen to represent the Police at the Coronation of
King George.
To Mrs Shee and little Jimmy we extend our deepest sympathy.
Nongqai 193609775-776
• Duke made such a lovely picture! I could not resist placing this item.
Nuus van Verkykerskop
“Dit verskaf my groot genot om kortliks iets te verhaal oor bogemelde
Pos. Laasgenoemde is 'n "B" Klas Stasie geleë ongeveer 30 myl
noordwaarts van Harrismith, met 'n personeel van drie flukse
manskappe, naamlik 'n Ondersersant, 'n Konstabel, en natuurlik 'n
swartkonstabel, wat dikwels gedurende die winternagte, terwyl op
patrollie, lief is om te sê: "Kosaan dis hels koud, ek voel of ek wille vrek."
Verder is die pos bevorig met in Periodieke Hof, wat gereeld twee keer
'n maand sit. Dan is daar gewoonlik 'n baie groot ophef; want sake,
moenie praat! Dit kom van ooste en weste, jy sien net rybroeke afklim,
en. . . . Mnr. die Aanklaer, vandag het ek maar net 20 Paswetsake.
41
Reading through the various Nongqai’s one reads that many a horseman in the police and army died while riding horses.
58
(Veral als dit van die berge is.) Julle kan glo " Van" die Publieke
Aanklaer kan prosekweer laat dit bars! Die Magistraat moet dikwyls sê:
"Steady, Mr. Prosecutor, I'm miles behind!" Daarmee was ons nie
tevrede nie, want werk ken ons en alles moet gou gaan. Ons maak toe
applikasie vir 'n ander Magistraat, waarop ons toe een kry wat
gekwalifiseer is in snelskrif, en toe gaan alles weer O.K.
Miskien is dit van groot belang om mee te deel dat bogemelde pos 'n
besonder mooi plek is. Wat die geboue betref, wil ek liewers nie my
opinie uitspreek nie. Miskien kon dit slegter gewees het. Maar dit wil ek
graag meedeel dat ek meer as een keer saam met Broeder Padda moes
gaan baai het. Maar onthou, alles het 'n beginsel en 'n einde: nou word
bogemelde pos herbou in die nuutste mode. In 'n paar maande sal dit 'n
fraai pos wees.
Laasgenoemde is geleë tussen twee taamlik hoë bulte, vanwaar 'n
pragtige kloofvormende vlei uitstrek en verdwyn in die verte. In die
somer is dit bedek met die digste, mooiste, groen gras. Die wellustige en
jong diere wat daarin wei verkondig die ewige prag van die Natuur. Die
winter is net die teenoorgestelde. Alles is vaal en kaal, koue, sneeu, en
kapok; dit affekteer jou tot in die diepste murg van jou gebeente!
Nieteenstaande al die ervarings ens, is ons altyd plesierig. Al kom dit
ook hoe moeilik, ons ontvang alles met 'n glimlag. Soos 'n Engelse
spreekwoord sê: "It’s very, very smart to carry sorrow with a smile." "
After all, friends, our duties first. And then, Hennie Kosie, bring die bottel, Laat ons nou die doppie steek, And everything is O.K. once more. J.D.R.”
Nongqai 193609374
Let op die ‘ou’ Afrikaans – Die Afrikaanse vertaling van die Bybel het
eers in 1933 die lig gesien. Geplaas met ‘n geringe verandering.
59
Capt MA Kruger – Umtata
After a gallant fight against illness
Capt MA Kruger passed away late in
August.
The news caused profound Sorrow
throughout the Territories where he
was generally respected and popular.
Capt Kruger was a favourite among
all the men who served under him,
and they feel they have lost a
splendid officer and a fine gentleman.
On the cricketing field he was very
well known and always retained his
interest in the game. He was an exceptionally good wicket keeper and a
good, sound bat.
The late Capt Kruger was born in Lady Frere 49 years ago. He joined the
Cape Police in 1909 and later transferred to the SAMR. At the outbreak
of war, on 22nd August, 1914, he proceeded as Corporal of Signallers
with the 5th SAMR to South West Africa and was there until the end of
that campaign. In 1916 he went overseas and joined an Imperial unit. He
was posted to the OTC and from there was appointed to the
Bedfordshires and went overseas with them. In April, 1917, he was
captured and remained as a prisoner of war until armistice. He did not
take kindly to captivity as he escaped three times but on each occasion
was recaptured. He was warned if he made another attempt he would
be shot.
On one occasion while in the prisoners of war camp he was presumed to
be dead and was put in the mortuary. When the burial party arrived the
next morning they found him sitting up, and he eventually recovered.
After the armistice Lieut Kruger returned to South Africa and rejoined
60
the SAMR as Lieutenant and in 1921 was drafted over to the Police as a
Sub-Inspector; he was promoted to Captain in 1928. He was awarded
the 1914 and 1915 Stars, the Victory and Service medals and the
Coronation medal.
Before the cortege left his residence in town for Lady Frere, where the
funeral took place, the Mobile Squadron and the Town Police paraded
outside where a short service was conducted by Rev W Hall Green and
Rev Mr Morran. The troops saluted the coffin as it was placed on the
hearse.
At Lady Frere over 50 Police paraded for the funeral, which was
attended by Capt Pryce in charge of the Umtata contingent.
Capt Regnart, District Commandant of Queenstown and Lieut Smith
and Col Woon, under whom Capt Kruger had served in Umtata.
Full military honours were rendered at the graveside.
Three days before he went overseas on active service, Capt and Mrs
Kruger were married. Mrs Kruger was one of the first VAD’s in the
Union and also went over with the Union Forces and was nursing in
France until the war terminated.
To Mrs Kruger and family we tender our sincerest Condolences in their
bereavement. Nongqai 193609748
SAP Dry Goods Canteen
All those who purchase their groceries from the Pretoria Police Dry
Goods Canteen will admit that the prices they pay, even with the 21/2 per
cent handling charge, are a good deal below those the ordinary citizen
has to disburse for the same articles in the local stores. The other day an
old member handed in a bill for groceries which were purchased by him
from one of our contractors sixteen years ago. Now the cost of living at
that time was certainly higher than it is to-day, but you would hardly
61
credit it, though it is a positive fact, that the identical goods which cost
£8 17s 0d in June, 1920, are now priced at £4 4s. 8d in our Dry Goods
Canteen. No wonder we have members a far afield as Vryheid on the
east and Vryburg on the west, to say nothing of others even more
remote. Mr KH Lewis, Financial Adviser, has frequently expressed at
Canteen Board meetings his surprise and admiration at the economical
manner in which our Institution enables its members to run their
household expenses, and if he doesn't know, well, no one does.
Nongqai 193609731
1956: The Price of a Haircut
(Op agterkant van een van genl Dillon se koerantberigte!)
62
ZU 1B Calling ...
ZU 1B Calling
Another Police Amateur Radio Experimental Station THE NONGQAI - SEPTEMBER, 1936 - 750
RADIO TO THE ORDINARY MAN IN THE street spells mystery but in recent years
it has developed with such rapid strides that it is fast taking up a place in every
home. In fact there are certainly very few people in this sunny land of ours who have
not as yet listened in to a radio broadcast. Much of the present popularity as well
and the high standard of efficiency reached in our broadcast stations are due to the
untiring and consistent experiment of the Amateur Radio Experimenter. It is safe to
say that were it not for the amateur, our present era would not have been possession
of such a vast and efficient network of radio, telephonic and telegraphic
communication channels. What these men have done and are still doing daily for the
advancement of radio would take volumes to describe. Radio as a hobby is
fascinating and, above all, very instructive, and it is surprising to see what
magnificent results can be obtained with rather crude, primitive or simple
apparatus.
The accompanying photo was taken in the "Shack" (as all the dens or workshops of
amateurs are called) of amateur radio ZU1B owned and operated by Const DB van
Rensburg of the South African Police at De Aar. This amateur has been an active
experimenter since 1924 and has vivid recollections of playing with spark coils and
coherers as receiving methods, and has the honour of being the first member of the
Police to be a radio experimenter and transmitter long ere the advent of the present
Broadcasting stations in South Africa. He started when apparatus was hard to obtain
and each article cost a small fortune, and he had to make most of his own parts or
components. In 1929, when stationed at Bredasdorp, he constructed a high tension
accumulator which, when completed, gave 160 volts, and, with that as a power
supply, he managed to span the globe and work other amateurs in four Continents
with a power input of just on to four watts - barely sufficient power to light up an
ordinary torch bulb. In 1932, whilst stationed in Cape Town, he constructed a
portable receiver and transmitter and no doubt many readers of THE NONGQAI
will recollect having seen a photo of them in one of the issues during that year when
experiments were carried on by him on one of the Police patrol vans in Cape Town.
63
Since those days the station has undergone main changes in both localities and
structure. The former being of necessity and the latter being a matter of course, for
no amateur who is an experimenter in the true sense of the word can afford to stop
in one position if he wishes to keep abreast with the trend of the times.
The photo on this page shows chiefly the transmitting set as it is at present and may be described as consisting of a rack and panel containing the apparatus as set out here below: Bottom rack inscribed ZU1B This is a metal-lined compartment housing all the power transformers, filter chokes, and smoothing condensers as well as the rectifying valves. In this compartment the 220 volt alternating current is transformed to various values from 600 volts to 300
64
volts, then rectified and smoothed so as to provide direct current to the various stages of the transmitter. Second rack This contains the power supply for, and the speech amplifier of the phone transmitter and is operated by a switch in centre and two controls-that of the left being for tone and that on the right for volume. Third rack
This contains a complete transmitter operating on 21.3 meters or at a frequency of 14,087 kilocycles per second and is controlled by a quartz crystal of half that frequency. Fourth rack
This contains an all band transmitter and is the one mostly in use at the station. It comprises a Type 47 valve as crystal oscillator fed into a type 46 buffer which in turn drives two type 45 valves in parallel in the final radio frequency amplifier with its input rated at twenty watts. On the top of the cabinet is the antenna or aerial coupling network which couples the aerial to the transmitter to be operated, by means of a switch located at the back. To the immediate right of this is the station monitor by which a continuous check is kept [Concluded on page 782] on all transmissions. Immediately behind and partly obscured by the body of the operator is the station receiver which, like all the other parts, is homemade and specially built for amateur communication purposes. A wave change switch enables its operation on any of the amateur bands as well as the Broadcast band.
The cards on the wall represent but a few of the many hundreds of similar cards
received from other amateurs with whom direct communication has been held in all
parts of the world. The station is operated in both Morse code and telephony and in
both the official languages. For many months the operator has kept almost a daily
schedule with station ZS4J operated by Det-Sergt Brown of Bloemfontein, and very
recently he took part with the latter station in an "All Police" communication with
stations owned and operated by Sergt. Barnard of Zululand (ZU5AL) and station
ZS5M owned and operated by Det. Somers of Glencoe.
Being a member of the Force employed mostly on outside duties, no fixed schedule
can be kept, but operation mostly takes place daily at 1.30 p.m. and after 5 p.m. Like
most other amateur stations, this one is continually undergoing changes and the
owner can never guarantee that any particular part will retain its place in the
transmitter for any length of time.
In conclusion let me add that the owner is interested in reports of any nature on his
transmissions and is willing to answer any technical questions as well as give
65
instruction to any interested person-members of the Force in particular. His chief
aim is the advancement of radio science in both reception and transmission, of radio
signals and maximum efficiency at minimum input. No letter is ever left
unanswered and no question or enquiry is considered too much or too little.
Some Police Stations – ‘n Paar Polisiestasies
Police Headquarters – Polisie Hoofkwartier
66
Heelbo verskyn ‘n foto van die eerste
‘SAP’ Hoofkwartier. Dit was eers die
Transvaal Police se HK. Kol TG Truter
het in 1910 diens aanvaar en hy was
aangestel as kommissaris van die
Transvaal Police in die plek van kol R
Burns-Begg.
Kol Truter is ook aangestel as hoof-
kommissaris van die nuwe ZA
Polisiemag.
Daarna her die ganse ZAP insluitende
die SAKB (toe bekend as die Identifikasie
Buro) en die Nongqai na die Paleis van
Justisie getrek. Later het die polisie na
Compol gebou getrek wat bekend
gestaan het as die Sentrale
Regeringsgebou. Vandaar het die SAP na
Wachthuis getrek.
67
Radiobeheer Johannesburg Flying Squad
Links die legandariese
majoor WA ‘Rooibaard’
van Zyl, KPM, BO
Radiobeheer. Regs die
ewe legandariese sersant
(later brigadier) TJ ‘Rooi-
Rus’ Swanepoel, SOO, wat
ook later ’n BO van
Radiobeheer geword het.
68
Nongqai Januarie 1949
SAP Depot
SAP Kollege – Die ou stalle
69
SAP College – the old Stables
Umtwalumi Police Camp 1907 & 1938
Nongqai 1907-12-96a
70
Paarl
Paarl - Nongqai 195104
Cape Town: Some Old Police Stations
1918 – Wells Square Police Station.
1927- Wells Court – Nongqai March 1927
71
Wale Street
The Greys – Johannesburg
72
Umtata – some old Photos of SAP Activity
73
Filler:
74
Konst CJF du Plooy was die ouer broer
van genl HJ du Plooy
Const CJF du Plooy was the elder brother
of Gen HJ du Plooy
Nongqai 1952111197
The Long Legs of the Law – Charles Stewart
Like the famous North-West Mounted Police, the Camel Police of the Kalahari "get
their man". Twenty years ago the camel-mounted Policeman had an advantage over
every fugitive from justice in the desert he could travel twice as fast and twice as far
as the horse-mounted criminal. But to-day many lawbreakers have a steering wheel
75
instead of horse-reins in their hands, and even the camel stands little chance of
overtaking the balloon-tyred cars of the Kalahari-unless they run short of petrol,
water or oil. Charles Stewart, the writer of this article, stayed with the Camel Police
at their posts at Witdraai, Ohohogorop and Rietfontein, deep in the sandy wastes of
the Kalahari, and reveals much of the life and adventures of these remote upholders
of the law.
"YES, before I was transferred to the Kalahari I was stationed at Woodstock; the
Sergeant came here from Keimoes; the other Constable was sent here from Paarl. No,
we did not ask to come here; we were just sent; and here we do not mind
remaining."
The Constable who told me this was checking up on the pack of his riding camel
while his native patrol boy loaded up the heavier water pannikins and foodstuffs on
to the pack camel that grumbled incessantly alongside.
He was off on a 20-day jaunt through the loneliest 500 miles of the Union,
accompanied only by his native boy, two mounted camels and a pack animal. Three
weeks later he would return from the loneliness of the Kalahari Game Reserve,
which stretches from the confluence of the Oup and Nosop Rivers to Union's End,
and settle down once more to the slightly less lonely life of the Witdraai Camel
Police Post.
Water and compass, flour and tea, gun
and ammunition, colic mixture for the
camels, cooking utensils and food
supplies were packed, and they were set
for their patrol. A cheery wave of the
hand and a khaki-clad camel-rider
preceded his patrol boy over the river-
bed to the first of the sand-dunes.
I had arrived at Witdraai in the early
hours of the morning and had tried to
escape from the all pervading stench of
the 60 camels by creeping into a well-
built room and closing the stout door.
There I had slept uninvited until a
reasonable hour for making my presence known to the Police.
76
The incessant complaining of the
camels at daybreak woke me
and I walked outside. Besides
the natives who were herding
the camels a heavily-built man
was also astir, pacing about
outside a small room similar to
the one in which I had passed
the night. I told him that I had
slept in the adjoining room and
hoped that he had no objections. He informed me that he really had nothing to do
with it.
He was occupying the cell next to mine because the Police demanded it. I had better
wait for the Sergeant to appear.
"I'm sorry to hear that you're a prisoner here", I told him.
"Hope it's nothing serious."
"That's why I'm up so early", he said.
"You see I'm up on a charge of murder ...............”.
But I had stepped backwards, not wishing my newfound friend to be brought up on
a double charge. From a safe distance I saw his leg-of-mutton arm swing gently in
the air.
"But why are you allowed to go free with no one watching you if you are charged
with murder?" I asked. "Aren't the Police afraid you'll escape?"
"No ..... I suppose the charge will be reduced to culpable homicide and I will
eventually get off with a suspended sentence and a fine. Even if I did escape during
the night I could not get far in the desert and the Camel Police always get their man."
UNDER the guidance of the Police Sergeant in charge of Witdraai Camel Post the
map of the Kalahari gradually began to assume shape. Little pencilled dots showed
where man had made oases in the sand country; carelessly drawn lines indicated
where the Camel Police patrolled and where the new tracks was becoming more
defined.
77
The gradual opening up of the desert made it necessary for a Police Post to be
established in the heart of the Kalahari, and a Sergeant was sent up here to start the
post.
"See over there on the opposite bank of the river; there are two caves which were the
first headquarters of the Camel Police at Witdraai. One was used as the Police Post,
and the other was the barracks. Then a couple of mud and stick shanties were built
on this side of the river and were used for a number of years, until a cloudburst
washed everything away. The Police who were stationed here had to cross the
swollen river in a camel food trough and take up abode once more in the caves. Now
we have as fine a Police Post as can be found in the Union", explained the Policeman.
The soft plop-plop of the camel’s feet accompanied by the unceasing bad-tempered
grumbling of the animals heralded the arrival of my mount for an excursion into the
sand-dunes. I was to accompany one of the Constables down to Inkbosch Pan, where
another Constable had three native youths in custody for cattle-stealing.
It was fortunate that I began gathering my information during the early part of the
ride, for after ten miles of the bone-rattling lumbering of the disjointed animal I was
as sore and as incapable of showing any interest as a seasick Table Bay tripper.
In the early morning a camel may be tolerated within smelling distance, but when
the heat of the sun liberates all its offensive stench under one's very nose, one fully
appreciates the reason for calling the camel the ship of the desert.
I will forget the horrors of that nightmare journey and tell of the tales I was told as
we wended down the camel track.
SINCE the coming of the motor car to the desert the toll of the hunter's rifle, has
increased out of all proportion to the rate of breeding and the desert is in danger of
becoming denuded of its fine herds of Gemsbok, Eland, Koodoo and Wildebeest.
Restrictions have been placed on the hunting of these animals, and hunters
discovered killing them out of season and without permits are severely punished.
One of the Camel Policemen out on patrol heard the report of a rifle shot and set off
across the dunes in the direction of the sound. It is difficult even to locate a known
spot in the desert because so many little valleys are hemmed in by sand-dunes, and
it is possible to miss one's destination by the width of a sand-dune. Luck, however,
favoured the Policeman, and from the top of a high dune he saw a motor-car spoor
leading onwards across the sand. He followed it for half a mile and then saw the car
78
standing in a hollow between two ridges of dunes. A short distance away the hunter
was cutting the carcass of a Gemsbok.
Gemsbok flesh makes the best biltong obtainable in South Africa and, therefore, in
the world. In any of the Kalahari border towns it is possible to buy Gemsbok biltong
all the year round if you know where to go for it. But the Gemsbok that was just shot
was not destined to be turned into biltong for sale in Upington. It was confiscated by
the Police; the head and the feet taken along by the Police as the corpus delicti.
The hunter's car was used to carry the rest of the Gemsbok to the Police
Headquarters, and there the lawbreaker was locked up pending his removal to the
court at Kuruman. During his spell in the cell the hunter must have thought
seriously about his position, for he had a cast-iron case to present when he was
brought before the Judge at Kuruman. This was his story-and he stuck to it. He had
been motoring to an outlying cattle ranch on business and had spent hours trying to
get over some really difficult dunes. Although he had brought along plenty of spare
petrol and a small quantity of oil, he had not made provision for much extra water,
and the gruelling work to which the engine had been put quickly used up the water
to drink and there was insufficient in his radiator to keep the engine from
overheating.
Then-so his story went-he saw a Gemsbok in the distance. He knew the stomach of
the Gemsbok always had a fair quantity of water in it-as much as three gallons at
times-so he shot the royal game in self-preservation. He was in the act of removing
the stomach when the Policeman appeared and arrested him. And, according to the
finding of the court, that was exactly what happened. So the hunter was discharged.
Naturally this led to an epidemic of illegal shooting.
Poaching became rife in the game reserve and the Camel Police had as much as they
could cope with to protect the game under their care. They really thought they had a
cast-iron case against a hunter who was caught red-handed after shooting a wild
ostrich which, in the Kalahari, is protected. Here the delinquent could not very well
claim that he shot the bird for the water in its stomach!
But in the court the hunter told a story which not only earned him a verdict of not
guilty but also caused him to be congratulated on his ingenuity.
79
His story was and he stuck to it, too-that his motor-lorry had run short of oil and the
bearings were in danger of being burnt out. He had searched among his provisions
on the lorry, but failed to find anything which, could be used as a substitute for oil.
Then there appeared on the horizon an ostrich. His wife had used ostrich fat for
many purposes when they had kept a camp of ostriches many years ago, and he
remembered that the fat could be used for many lubricating purposes. He had just
finished skinning the bird and was about to cut it up and render it over a fire, when
the Camel policeman appeared and placed him under arrest.
The motor-lorry plan aged to do a distance of about 30 miles to the Police Post
without damaging the engine - but somehow the court overlooked that point.
I was pleased to allow my camel to fold up like a picnic table when we eventually
arrived at Inkbosch Pan, and I slid off on to solid ground. A native Constable and
three dejected coloured youths awaited our arrival. The three prisoners the youngest
was about I5 had been suspected of stock theft and were also found to have killed
royal game. The skin of a buck had been brought along as the corpus delicti.
Unfortunately for the two older lads, the youngest had turned King's evidence and
had recounted a story of stock theft which was certain to earn the three of them
several months in gaol. They had been caught 60 miles away and had already
walked for three days on their way to Witdraai.
Despite their long walk, I think I was even more thankful than they were that the
Policeman decided to spend the night at Inkbosch Pan and to make the return
journey the next day. Nearly four hours on the back of a camel had been more than
enough for me for one day.
When we arrived back at Witdraai at midday I felt happy that both cells were now
occupied and that I had perforce to enjoy the soothing softness of a spring bed
instead of the unsympathetic stone floor that had been my mattress during my first
night at the Police Post.
The following day I motored down the bed of the Molopo River to the secondary
Camel Post at Obobogorop. Here there were only three camels and two Policemen,
with two native boys to look after the animals. When I said good-bye to them I little
realised that I would return to Obobogorop within the space of a few months.
The news that the forgotten waterways of the Kalahari were flowing again brought
me to a great lake now formed at Obobogorop. The two Camel Policemen were
80
busily engaged in scouring the edges of
the lake in search of the bodies of
Bushmen who had been drowned by
the waters rushing down the Molopo.
So unused were these Bushmen to the
sight of rushing water that, they failed
to appreciate its strength. Within three
weeks eleven lives had been lost-and in
the Kalahari the loss of eleven lives
makes a material alteration in the
census figures.
The whole of that day I helped the
Police to scour the lake. In the Kalahari
there are no laws regarding bathing attire, so we swam without costumes whenever
we thought we had discovered a likely place for a dead body to lodge. That night we
talked of "Scotty" Smith, who was well known to the Camel Police; and of George
Pearson, the Upington pioneer, who is now living at Simonstown.
TO-DAY the desert folk, and the Camel Policemen as well, know that the camel's
days as the chief mode of transport in the sand country are numbered, for the Police
patrols of the Kalahari will be more and more carried out by means of air-wheeled
lorries which are able to compete with the conveyances used by those adventurous
lawbreakers who make a meagre living by poaching.
An easy day's jaunt for a camel is 30 miles, and with little difficulty he can be pushed
on for 60 miles between grazing times.
About ten years ago there stumbled into Upington a camel and its rider. They had
just completed a journey through the desert of 150 miles without a break. The last 20
miles had been over hard ground which had so mangled the camel's feet that the
animal had to be destroyed.
But those 150 miles had taken the best part of a day and a night. I completed a
similar distance over the same route in a small motor car in a little over six hours.
The great air-wheeled lorries to-day average their 30 miles an hour over the desert
sands. Those few interested people who make a study of the Kalahari feel that the
Camel Police are not being used to their fullest extent during their patrols of the
desert. Information off the beaten track is very meagre, although the Camel Police
81
have penetrated to every corner of the
Kalahari. A proposal put to me was that
the Government survey department
should issue the Camel Police with
sectional maps of the desert marked off
in latitude and longitude degrees, and
filled in with all the available
information.During their patrols the
Camel Police could take notice of
prominent landmarks, jotting them
down on their maps; marking
waterholes; plotting probable routes
through the unfrequented sand wastes;
and generally checking up on the
existing information.In this way the Kalahari could be subjected to a thorough
survey which would probably throw much light on many problems involving the
welfare of other parts of the Union as well. To-night while Cape Town's Policemen
tread firmly on the asphalt of city and suburban pavements, their Kalahari
colleagues are rolling themselves up in their blankets under the starry canopy of the
desert. And on Monday a Police official at Headquarters may decide that it is time
that a Constable at Wynberg was transferred to Witdraai. And that Wynberg
Policeman will be setting out to learn what loneliness really is. Source: Nongqai
19440125.
“Warn-A-Brother”
82
1951: SAP Queenstown
Source: Nongqai 195107873.
The Internment Camp Corps of Rhodesia
83
While paging through the above book: Arniel, AJ: Badges and Insignia of the Rhodesian
Security Forces 1890 – 1980, Alec Kaplan & Son CC, Germiston c 1987, I found the
following badge: No 155 Southern Rhodesia Interment Camp Corps of the Second
World War which brings me to the question: Who guarded the internees who were
interned in South Africa? Was it the Prisons Department?
Women who were interned in South Africa were sent to Rhodesia to be detained
there as South Africa had no camps for the internment of women. If I remember
correctly only about eight women were detained in the Union of South Africa during
WW2 and were sent to Rhodesia for internment.
I know that during WW2 the SA Police attended to a riot at Baviaanspoort where the
Germans were detained. The Germans caused trouble and Police were sent to assist.
Lt-Col HF Trew From "Jackeroo" to Police Officer: LT-COL HF TREW Formerly Deputy-Commissioner of S.A. Police.
Col Trew, who has written many vivid stories of crime and criminals for The
Nongqai based on his 28 years' service in the South African Police, relates how he
came to South Africa from Australia and joined the South African Constabulary.
"My life's ambition", he writes, "was to gain a commission in the mounted police."
The strange way in which this ambition was realised is told in the following article.
Had I not dined with Lord Hopetoun, then Governor of Victoria, Australia, on a
night in 1894, I should never have become a Police Officer in South Africa in July,
1901. On such small things one's fate turns. The Governor had taken for his winter
residence the house of Mr. Edward Lascelles, situated at Lake Corrong Station in the
heart of the Mallee scrub country of Victoria, Mr. Lascelles, who, for the Mallee
country, was the Cecil Rhodes of Victoria, had attached me to the Governor's staff,
and bid me see that he was well looked after. Lord Hopetoun (afterwards to become
first Marquess of Linlithgow, and Governor-General of Australia) was the first
English nobleman that I had met, and his great simplicity and charm soon
conquered my heart, as it did that of all my countrymen. He was only 30 years of age
at the time, tall and slight, and one of the finest horsemen I have ever seen. Although
so very young he had already held high office under Queen Victoria.
At dinner on the night in question, besides Lord and Lady Hopetoun were present
Phillip Russell (a well-known Australian squatter), Captain Wallington (afterwards
84
Sir Edward Wallington, private secretary to Queen Mary), Captain Ralston, A.D.C.
and the latter's brother who was on a visit to Australia.
During dinner a discussion arose on the Kelly Gang of Bushrangers, who, a few
years before, had terrorised Victoria and a portion of New South Wales. Phillip
Russell explained to H.E. that they owed their immunity from capture to their
mobility and system of intelligence the latter known to Australians as " bush
telegraph" .
The Governor asked what the distance was that they were known to have covered in
a day. Phillip replied that they were known to have covered 100 miles in one night,
using relays of horses.
He said: "I want to try and beat that record Trew, where can we ride to, and back so
that we will cover 100 miles?" I replied: "Tyrrel Downs Station,' also owned by Mr.
Lascelle"s, is 60 miles to the north by bush tracks; if we rode there and back in a day
we should beat the Kelly Gang's record".
"We'll do it on Wednesday", the Governor decided. "Who will come with me? It is
my wife's birthday; please make the necessary arrangements." No one volunteered,
and Lady Hopetoun then explained that she was having a duck shooting party on
that day, and that the other guests were going with her.
Next morning I sent off a stockman with a letter to the manager of Tyrell Downs
asking him to send two spare horses to meet us at the boundary gate of Lake
Corrong on Wednesday morning, and to have a light lunch ready for us. Two spare
horses were sent on to the outstation at Minapre, 20 miles away.
Thus we would change horses twice during the ride, and in the evening ride back on
those we had ridden out in the morning. The only worry was as to whether the
Governor could stand the fatigue of the ride; although a great horseman he was very
delicate.
The year before I had ridden 90 miles in a day riding one horse and leading another,
and changing the saddle every 10 miles, but that was urgent duty in connection with
a great bush fire. To ride 120 miles in a day did not, however, appeal to me as
amusing, and I expected the Governor to knack up half-way through the journey.
The present Viceroy of India, now the second Marques of Linlithgow, then a boy of
eight, was at Corrong with his parents and took a keen interest in our ride. Every
85
morning he used to go down to the stables to inspect the horses. He had a small
pony of his own and a diminutive groom named Teddy.
At last the day to beat the Kelly Gang's record arrived. Lord Hopetoun and I
breakfasted in the dark at 3.30 and left Corrong punctually at 4 o'clock. [48]
It was a cold winter's morning and the ground was white with frost, while a thick
mist shrouded the bed of the lake as we rode along its edge. We retained our coats in
the early morning, and wore beside flannel shirts, soft wide-brimmed hats, riding
breeches and boots.
Our pace generally was a canter broken occasionally by a quick trot. It was daylight
when we reached Minapre and found a boundary rider waiting with the change of
horses. Quickly the saddles were changed, and, taking off our coats, we strapped
them in front of the saddles. We cantered on through dense Mallee scrub along a
wandering wagon track.
Once a great grey old man kangaroo hopped with enormous leaps across our front,
then we came on a slinking dingo hurrying home after a night's hunting; a yell sent
him scurrying off into the bush.
As we rode H.E. explained to me the system of Roman Government and how the Pro
Consuls in charge of provinces sent their despatches to Rome by means of mounted
Orderlies who changed horses every 10 miles. On this ride I learnt more of Roman
Government than ever I did at school.
He asked me, too, what my ambition in life was.
I told him that I had been brought up to be a soldier, and had hoped to get one of the
Imperial commissions given every year to Australians. After two years' service as a
subaltern in the Defence Force I had passed the necessary examinations, but a loss of
family fortune at that time had compelled me to transfer to the reserve of officers,
and start out to earn my own living. Edward Lascelles had enlisted me in the band
of young men whom he had gathered to assist him in carrying out his dream of
turning the Mallee wilderness into a vast wheat field, dotted over with the
comfortable homesteads of prosperous settlers. My ambition was now to get to
South Africa, and, if possible, obtain a commission in the mounted police.
Greatly daring, I had written to Cecil Rhodes, asking to be allowed to join his
pioneer column to enter Rhodesia. The great man replied that he could only take
men who knew South African conditions and natives, but if I came over later on he
86
would give me a farm in the new territory, where my knowledge of sheep and cattle
would be of use.
The Governor replied that if ever he could help me with his influence I was to call on
him and he would do his best. As we talked we arrived at the boundary gate and
found the Tyrell Downs horses waiting for us. The saddles were changed and off we
cantered, soon to get into open rolling country, as we skirted the edge of the salt "Sea
Lake".
As we rode on I found that my girths were loose, and Lord Hopetoun went on while
I dismounted to tighten them. Galloping on to overtake him, I saw that he had been
halted by two men on foot. When I reached them they turned out to be two old
swagmen on the tramp. They stopped me in turn, and one said: "Who is that young
bloke in front?" I replied: "Lord Hopetoun, Governor of Victoria".
"Oh, I thought we had struck a ruddy toff; we asked for a fill of terbacca, and he
gave us cigars! ", was the answer.
After a short chase I caught up with Lord Hopetoun and told him of the swagman's
remark, at which he laughed heartily. He said: "I love those fellows they are so
independent and free; they remind me of the Gipsies in Scotland". He told me that
many years before a Gipsy woman had put a curse on one· of his ancestors, and
predicted that no holder of the title would live to be 40 years of age. It was a curious
fact that since that date, every head of the family had died during his thirties. Lord
Hopetoun himself died at the age of 39, but I am glad to see that his son, the present
Viceroy, has defeated the curse and is now well over 40.
When we reached the Tyrrell Downs homestead we found Mrs. Carruthers, the wife
of the manager, "all of a dither". She had not expected us so early and was still
cooking an enormous lunch consisting of a suckling pig, a turkey and a round of
beef. The Governor told me to break it to her gently that we must lunch at once, and
that the meal was to consist of a lightly boiled egg and some bread. She chased me
out of the kitchen saying: "Do you think I am going to let the Governor go back to
Melbourne and tell all the big folk he could not get a square meal at Tyrrell Downs?"
Back I went to the broad cool verandah where Lord Hopetoun was resting, and
reported the result of my errand. He jumped up, strode into the kitchen and said:
"Mrs. Carruthers, I am sorry; I cannot eat a big meal and then gallop 60 miles. If you
will not boil me an egg, give me a saucepan and I ·will do it myself".
This had the desired result and we soon sat down to lunch.
87
Before leaving on our journey, Lord Hopetoun asked for a photograph of the
homestead, and requested Carruthers to inscribe on the back the time of our arrival
and departure, and then sign it.
The ride back to the boundary gate was a painful experience for me, as Carruthers,
in revenge for the lunch incident, had given me the worst horse on the station. For
the first few hundred yards he proceeded in a series of jig jumps, and when he
finally settled down he would neither trot nor canter. The result was that I had to let
H.E. forge ahead, and then stand in the stirrups and send him along at a gallop to
catch up. It was a great relief to mount my old cattle pony at the gate, and canter
along with the nins hanging on his neck.
To make our record we had to reach Corrong homestead before 4 p.m.
At Minapre we changed on to our two best horses, both of them thoroughbreds and,
increasing our pace, finally rode into the stable yard at Corrong at 3.55 p.m.
As we handed our horses over to the stockman in charge, the Governor said: "Now,
Trew, let's have a hot bath, change, and walk out and meet my wife on the way back
from the duck shoot". I felt much more inclined for a rest but orders must be obeyed,
and after a long whisky and soda and a bath I felt equal to the walk. Two miles out
we met Lady Hopetoun, driving the peculiar team she fancied three horses, in the
lead and two in the pole. She was a beautiful woman and as good a rider and driver
as could be found in England. She told me that the reason she had learned to ride so
well was because she was brought up as a girl at Ventry Castle in the west of
Ireland.
When she saw us approaching she pulled up the team and said: "Ah, I knew you
would knock up and have to turn back". With a flourish Lord Hopetoun produced
the photograph of Tyrrell Downs, and handed it up to her, drawing her attention to
the signature on the back.
My 10nging to get to South Africa was increased in 1896 when two South Africans
stayed with us at Lake Corrong for a week. They were Messrs. Visser and Ralse, both
members of the Cape Parliament.
In 1899 the South African War started, and I thought I saw my chance of getting to
the Cape. Volunteering for service with the first Victorian contingent, I rushed down
to Melbourne. My name was on the Reserve of Officers of the Victorian Defence
Force and I felt certain of being chosen. I was right.
88
We sailed from Port Melbourne in January, 1900, having loaded 500 horses on the
transport "Euryalus" in one hour, which at that time constituted a record for
Australia.
One morning at daybreak we steamed past Robben Island and saw Table Mountain
for the first time.
The bay was a forest of masts for there must have been some hundreds of ships
anchored there. We steamed slowly down between the lane of ships and anchored
about a mile off the old breakwater. We soon received orders that our destination
had been changed to Beira; we were to spend only one day in Cape Town taking in
stores. About a week later we dropped anchor in the river directly off Beira and the
British Consul came on board, accompanied by, Colonel Arnold, who was the
director of the Mozambique Company which ran Beira.
It appeared that no arrangements had been made for our landing and that the
Portuguese authorities objected to it strongly. Our legal excuse for the breach of
neutrality in landing troops was a private treaty made by Cecil Rhodes with the
Portuguese Government, which stipulated that in the event of trouble in Rhodesia he
could land armed troops and supplies at Beira for transit to that country!
The crisis became more complicated in the afternoon when a German gunboat
steamed up the river and anchored about 200 yards away, with her guns, very
obviously, pointed in our direction. The Commander went ashore and called on the
Portuguese Governor and then on the British Consul. The latter came on board our
ship and informed us that the German officer had given him formal notice that his
Government object to the landing of British troops in Portuguese territory, and that
if any attempt was made to land armed men he would open fire on us. Night fell
with nothing settled, except that we had sent the nurses ashore in case of trouble, I
was Orderly Officer for the day, and one of the Sergeants informed me that there
was trouble brewing among the men. All the way over from Australia they had
worked hard at drill and musketry; their behaviour had been perfect and there had
been no defaulters. They were men, however, accustomed to a free, open-air life, and
they were tired of being cooped up on board ship. When they heard that the German
warship was trying to prevent their landing, their rage knew no bounds. It seems
that some of the wilder spirits had proposed that at midnight they would seize the
ship's boats, drift down the river and carry the German gunboat by boarding.
89
I reported to the O.C. what I had heard, and he ordered the Officers to see the men
and explain to them how hopeless was the proposal that it would mean the sinking
of the transport, and would involve England in a war with Germany. The N.C.Os
and older men soon squashed the wild idea, and everyone settled down for the
night.
At daybreak I was walking up and down the bridge with the Officer on watch when
the look-out shouted that there was a vessel coming up the river. Great was my joy
when the ship's Officer, after looking through his glasses, announced that it was a
British sloop of war. She came up and anchored about 200 yards from the German
warship, and a boat was swung out and pulled over to us bearing her Commander.
He was soon put in possession of all the facts, and cheered us up by saying: "If he
opens fire, I will sink him in 10 minutes". The Commander then went ashore to call
on the British Consul, and, with the latter, had an interview with the Portuguese
Governor. He then returned to our ship and told us that we could start off-loading as
soon as the shore people could get their lighters ready.
Fortunately the British South African Company had taken charge, and had sent
down the Quartermaster of the BSA Police, Captain Masterman, and Mr. Liversage
to superintend. We also received the greatest assistance from the great railway
contractor, Mr. Lawley, and from Colonel Arnold.
Arriving at Marendellas by the two-foot gauge railway, we were supplied with ox
wagons and began our long trek across to Bulawayo. When we arrived there I was
promptly put into the Rhodes Memorial Hospital with a temperature of 105 degrees,
having contracted malaria at Bamboo Creek. Sharing my room was Mr. Jordaan,
who had formerly been Cecil Rhodes's private secretary.
Kimberley had just been relieved, and 'one morning Jordaan received a letter, which,
after reading, he threw across to me, saying: "Isn't he a grand man?” It was a short
note and it read: "Dear Jordaan; I have just got out of Kimberley. Am so sorry to hear
that you have been very ill. I enclose a little something to help settle the Doctor's bill.
Regards, Cecil Rhodes”.
The "little something" was a cheque for £100.
Sometime later in the campaign we were trekking about the Transvaal bushveld
with Baden-Powell when we heard that he was leaving us to organise a Police Force
for the Transvaal and Orange Free State.
90
COMMISSION ARRANGED
As soon as we heard this news I asked for an interview with the General and applied
to him for a commission in his new Force. "B.P." said he would be pleased to take
me, but that I had to make written application to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies.
My application was forwarded and for months I heard nothing until at last I saw
Colonel John Nicholson, of the 7th Hussars, who was "BP's" Chief Staff Officer. He
told me that they had received 12,000 applications for commissions in the South
African Constabulary, and that only 300 Officers were required, a number of whom
had already been appointed.
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, I was told, would not appoint anyone unless he got a
personal recommendation from someone he knew. Colonel Nicholson asked me if I
knew anyone in England who would speak to Mr. Chamberlain on my behalf. I told
him "No, my family had not lived in England for nearly 100 years and I know no one
with any influence". He said he was personally sorry about it, but that he was afraid
I had no chance. Next day, riding along with my men, I heard one of them talking
about a record ride he had done, and immediately I thought of Lord Hopetoun and
our long ride together. That night, when we camped, I walked across to the field
telegraph tent and sent a cable to Lord Hopetoun at his country seat, reminding him
of his promise made six years earlier in the heart of the Australian bush. Two days
later, the Orderly from the field telegraph handed me a cable from Lord Hopetoun.
It read: "Have seen Chamberlain, commission arranged".
For some months nothing happened
and then my regiment returned to Australia. De Haviland, a brother Officer, and I
had been promoted Captains and gazetted to a new regiment, the 5th Victorian
Mounted Rifles. Before joining we ran over to Modderfontein to see what had
happened with regard to our commissions in the SAC, for De Haviland had also
applied. Colonel Nicholson informed us that Lord Kitchener refused to release us
from our duty in the field, and that our only chance was to try and get someone on
his staff to intercede for us.
We returned to Pretoria, and, with my heart in my boots, I walked past the two
Gordon Highlander sentries at Headquarter House, and asked at the front door for
Captain Maxwell, Kitchener's favourite ADC, who, fortunately, I knew. "'The Brat",
as he was nicknamed, came to the door and I explained my business. Like the good
91
fellow he was, he promised to tackle the Commander-in-Chief, and gave me a drink.
One month later De Haviland and I received orders to proceed to Modderfontein
and report for duty with the South African Constabulary.
My ambition had at last been realised. As Baden Powell once said: "The
Constabulary was a hard Force to get into, but a very easy one to get out of"'.
Nongqai January, 1944 p 47
Aanklagkantoorsersant: Charge Office Sergeant
Ja, dit was nogal ‘n problem wanneer die “Raiding Squad” so uur voor die
aanklagkantoorsersant van diens gaan, sowat 60 tot 70 prisoniere inbring! Dis die
RAA, SAP 14, SAP 22, J70 en dan partykeer nog bewysstukke ook!
92
Weesfonds van die SA Polisie
93
94
Botha Treks – Lt-Col HF Trew
JUST UNDER 21 YEARS AGO THE BRITISH Empire at stretch beneath the strain of
the world war received as tonic surprise news of our complete conquest of
Germany's vast territory of South-West Africa. And the tonic was the better by
reason of the fact that the Great War's first big victory was won by forces under the
command of a man who had proved our toughest white foe since the days of
Napoleon.
As surprising as the feat of arms itself was the attitude of this man, General Botha, in
the hour of triumph. He was given to understand that for his achievement he might
have any honour in the King's gift. He refused title, decoration, money.
Thus it was that the sole outward distinction of this farmer, who pledged his faith at
the Treaty of Vereeniging, were the rank of honorary General in the army he had
opposed, and, as Privy Councillor, the courtesy prefix "right honourable" to his
name.
BOTHA'S STRUGGLE
Such choice of distinctions with honour as common root was strangely apt:
straightness was the key to the character of a natural genius in field and council. Had
it been otherwise, it is fair to believe that the outbreak of war would have changed
the course of history. Because the South African Rebellion of 1914 on the question of
the invasion of neighbouring enemy territory would, if successful, have crippled to
an unguessed extent our resources. As it was Botha, at terrible cost to his private
feelings, took the field against his fellow countrymen in arms, restored order, and,
95
leading the campaign in person against the Germans then, completely defeated
them.
Colonel Trew, an experienced soldier in the war of 1899 - 1902, was in peculiarly
close and continuous touch with General Botha throughout this double campaign.
The Government decided that Botha must have a Bodyguard to look after his safety
in the field, and appointed Colonel (then Major) Trew, Commandant of Police, as its
head.
“Botha Treks" is the Colonel's story of those days.
Because of his very different job the soldier does not commonly shine with the pen.
This dapper and keen-eyed Australian, so well known in South Africa, here proves
himself a surprising exception, however. Of the campaign which, in common with
many others the present writer shared, he has written a plain and clear story, but
keeping the high light always on the central figure, he has so successfully introduced
conversation, incident, and pithy description that there emerges a new and lifelike
close-up of his famous subject. That this is so all who ever knew or met Botha will
agree, and, the test of such success, those who did not will be at once convinced.
IN EVERY MOOD
It is what a man says that counts, and here we get Botha in every mood and
surrounding: by camp fire, at night, in action, sad, jocular, worried; decisive,
outspoken, thoughtful, angry; often surprising as are the great, but always in
character.
Here is an incident during the Rebellion:
We came on a place where several dead were lying (after the action that
led to the final defeat of his old comrade De Wet. General Botha halted his
horse beside one and said: "This is terrible. That was Commandant ------,
he was one of my best men during the Boer War." Then with tears in his
eyes: “You Englishmen will never understand how hard this is for me."
Though he was often silent, sometimes Louis Esselen, who had been his
ADC in the SA War, would mention something that had happened in that
contest that would excite his interest. Of Lord Roberts, to my surprise, he
said: "He was a cruel man, and did not stick to his word. . . He was always
issuing absurd proclamations, and then in about a week he would
substitute another cancelling the former one."
96
Of Kitchener:-
"He is a man. If he says he will do a thing he will carry it out. If he makes a
promise, you can rely on it."
HISTORIC TREK
Here is a scene on a starlit night when General Botha and us all camped sitting on
the sand in the middle of the great Namib Desert during the historic trek before the
action that broke the German resistance: -
We discussed war generally, and suddenly Botha said: "What an
extraordinary thing a man's fate is! There is no man who hates war more
than I do. As I sat in Kitchener's saloon carriage at Vereeniging and laid
down the pen after signing the Treaty which ended the Boer War, I said to
myself, 'Thank God, Louis Botha, you will ride your horse to no more
wars, and, now, look, my duty calls me back once more "into the thing I
hate. '"
And here, finally, is a scene after the action at Jakalswater42, on the result of which
depended the capture of waterholes which ruled the fate of the whole army:-
I was awakened by someone touching my arm. Looking up, I found the
General leaning over me with a steaming pannikin of coffee in his hand.
He said, "Come all, man, drink this; it will do you good."
I replied, "General, you should not wait on me.”
"Nonsense, man," he answered; "you looked after me all night, now it's my
turn."
I reproached him for the way in which he had exposed himself the
previous day.
He replied: "I will not get hit until my time comes; then nothing I can do
win postpone my fate."
"Do you wonder," adds Colonel Trew, "that we all loved the man."
42
German South West Africa on the railway to Windhoek.
97
The question will be readily answered by the readers of a book which should find its
own definite place in the literature on a personality whose work in war and peace is
forever a part of the story both of South Africa and our Commonwealth of Nations.
Nongqai 1936-09-720.
• Botha Treks - Lieut-Colonel HF Trew (Blackie, 8s 6d).
1927: The Immorality Act
“4. Describe fully three offences defined by the Immorality Act (No. 5 of 1927).” ANSWER
• It is an offence for a European male to have illicit carnal intercourse with a native female.
• It is an offence for a native female to allow a European male to have illicit carnal intercourse with her.
• It is an offence for any person to procure a native female for the purpose of having illicit carnal intercourse with a European male. Nongqai 1936-09-765.
Comment: The (old) Immorality Act was enacted long before the 1948 election!
“Ou” Polisiemanne
98
1980: Die Bankbeleg in Silverton – Dana Kruger
Op 25 Januarie 1980 was ek Nr W80779M Konstabel Dana Kruger gestasioneer te
Radiobeheer, Silverton as hondegeleider. Ek het net van rusdae gekom. Op parade
om 14:00 het ons gestaan, toe 'n klagte van gewapende roof by die Volskasbank in
Silverton deurkom. Ons het dadelik uitgetree op parade en ons polisiehonde gelaai.
Daar was nie tyd om die honde te laat ontlas nie en sowat 4 “squadkarre” - almal
Valiants - het hulle na die bank gehaas. By die bank aangekom het ons dadelik die
strate met die polisievoertuie af geblokkeer en dmv die polisiehonde skarebeheer
toegepas. Daar was toe alreeds heelwat polisielede op die toneel en dit is ook toe dat
ons vasstel dat dit nie 'n bankroof was nie maar eerder terroriste is wat hulle binne
skuil hou met verskeie gyselaars.
My polisiehond, A1959 Simba, het nie lekker gelyk nie maar ek kon nie anders as
om op die kritieke tydstip met hom die gebied te patrolleer nie. Meer en meer
polisiebeamptes het opgedaag en die nuuskierige publiek het aangegroei tot 'n groot
skare. Koerant fotograwe het orals gestaan en foto's neem. Die bank was op 'n
straathoek geleë en die ruite van die bank was donker getint. Dit het die beweging
van die polisie aansienlik verhinder deurdat die spieël effek van die tint verhoed het
dat daar in die bank gekyk of ingeloer kan word. Die grote van die ruite het
natuurlik die terroriste weer gehelp.
Later die middag moes ek toestemming verkry om die toneel te verlaat om my
polisiehond by 'n veearts by die SA Polisie-hondeskool te neem. Ek het dadelik terug
gehaas na die toneel nadat ek my polisiehond daar gelos het. Nog steeds was die
polisiebeamptes besig met onderhandelinge ens. Wat later in die polisie se guns
getel het was toe dit begin donker raak, toe word al wat lig in die bank aangeskakel
wat toe weer die polisie gehelp het. Toe is die terroriste nie meer in staat om die
polisie, buite die bank se bewegings te monitor nie en die polisie kon toe weer deur
die groot vensters insien en dus die terroriste se bewegings gemonitor.
Op die eerste verdieping van die bank kon jy afkyk na die banksaal en dit was dan
ook die Taakmaglede se rigting van binnekoms in die bank toe hulle van bo deur
die bank af beweeg het en toe stelling ingeneem het op die eerste verdieping en toe
op die terroriste gevuur het. Daar was 'n groot geskiet en ontploffings binne die
bank en toe was alles stil. Die terroriste was dood maar een van hulle het nog daarin
geslaag om handgranate te gooi wat van die glasafskortings getref het en tussen die
99
gyselaars ontplof het. Twee bank assistente is dood waaronder 'n polisiebeampte se
eggenote en van die polisiebeamptes het skrapnel wonde gehad.
Ek onthou dat ons later in die bank in is om te help en het die lyke van die terroriste
in 'n bloed massa gesien lê. Orals was stukkende glas en koeëlmerke. Op die
toonbanke waar die bank se kliënte vormpies ingevul het, het half geëte borde kos
en blikkies koeldrank gestaan. Die kos was vroeër die middag aand die terroriste
gegee. Vuurwapens en handgranate het orals op die toonbanke gelê. Ek onthou
duidelik dat van die handgranate in tinfoelie toegedraai daar gelê het. Dit was
duidelik dat die terroriste heelwat vuurkrag gehad het om heelwat menselewens te
kon neem, maar ongelukkig het hulle nie met die SLAANKRAG van die SA Polisie
tred gehou het nie. Die gebeure die dag bly my nog duidelik by en het voorwaar 'n
indruk op my as jong polisieman gemaak .
Die dag se gebeure sal ek nooit vergeet nie, want dit was ook die laaste dag wat ek
met my eerste polisiehond gewerk het, hy is toe met bloedkanker gediagnoseer.
Simba is later uitgesit sonder dat ek hom ooit weer gesien het.
Dana Kruger, Sen Supt (afgetree); Durban; 2010-08-18.
Bergville: Moord op Polisie: Februarie 1956
100
Voetseer en moeg!
.303; 50 patrone en ‘n
waterbottel! [Talle
303’s is sigbaar op
ander foto’s.] Van
heinde en verre uit
Natal het verster-
kings kom help.
Van die DK tot by die
juniorste lid – was
almal in die veld! So
moet dit wees!
Dit is die etos wat
die polisie in daardie
uitgestraal het.
Moord op polisie was
nooit gedoog nie!
Volgens persberigte
het die SALM ‘n
Dakota (met ‘n Jeep)
en ‘n paar Harvards
gestuur. Volgens die
foto’s was die
Harwards bewapen.
Kol Els was destyds
ass-kommissaris van
polisie en het in die
Dakota aldaar
opgedaag!
101
Ook voetseer en moeg!
Die Kaptein se lyftaal en
gesigsuitdrukking spreek
boekdele!
Die Dillon-familie kom van
die plaas Waterfall net buite
Van Reenen op die OVS-
grens.
Ladysmith waar kapt Dillon
(later generaal) die DK is, is
naby Van Reenen. Van
Reenen is een van die stasies
in sy beheer gebied.
Die Dillons is van Ierse
afkoms. Sy een kleinseun
dien in die Britse Household
Cavalry (naby Buckingham
paleis) en die ander is in die
NZ ook verbonde aan die
ABM.
Genl Pat Dillon se Vader het
aan die Boere se kant tydens
die Anglo-Boereoorlog ge-
veg. Een ding is seker die
Dillons is goeie vegters!
Moet net nie met ‘n Dillon
moeilikheid soek nie!
Kommentaar van die distrikskommandant, kapt PJ Dillon: “We will bomb them”. Dit is sy antwoord
op ‘n vraag wat die polisie sou doen indien die moordenaars oor die grens sou vlug. Volgens alle
berigte was sersant De Lange ‘n beminde en geliefde Sersant in sy Gemeenskap. Die swartmense het
hom “Sergeant Shorty” genoem. Hierdie aanval op die polisie is nie ver van die aanval op die polisie
te Witsieshoek nie. As kind kan ek nog goed onthou hoe die ou polisiemanne hieroor gepraat het!
Daar was in Die Huisgenoot ‘n artikel oor diè moord. Een foto het gewys hoe die tuit van die Sersant se
pet gekap was met ‘n panga! Gebeure soos Cato Manor en Sharpeville het snel hierop gevolg!
102
Bron: Genl-maj PJ Dillon se dokumente. Baie van die skêrsnitte is so gesny dat die
naam van die koerant uitgesny is.
103
Ererol: Bergville
No 13980 2/sers SJD De Lange – Bergville – 22 Februarie 1956 No 24820 o/sers JMJ Koorts –– Bergville – 22 Februarie 1956 No 124751 konst A Sithole – Bergville – 22 Februarie 1956 No 129389 konst P Xaba – Bergville – 22 Februarie 1956 No 136162 konst ZE Gabela – Bergville – 22 Februarie 1956
SAP Kultuurhistoriese Teëls
Bron: Sarp 1980-05-26
104
Bron: Servamus. [Datum: ???]
Nasionale Veiligheid
Die Nongqai van ouds het ook sake van nasionale veiligheid aangespreek; daarom word
besondere en waardevolle historiese foto’s van die weermag en gevangenisdiens ook
geplaas ten einde dit vir die nageslag te bewaar. Ons is maar almal voëls, maar met
verskillende kleure en geure!
1913: Die 1ste Generale-staf van die UVM
Daar is vyf oud-Boere-generaals op die foto: Maritz, Bouwer, Pienaar, Kemp en Beyers. Foto: Nongqai 194605553
105
Onder: Oud-sers-maj Paul Els en genl Jannie Geldenhuys
1913: Defence Staff / Verdedigingstaf
Adv JG Strijdom, later EM van die Unie van SA, het in 1916 klerklike werk in die UVM verrig.
Genl JC Smuts, later EM van die Unie van SA verskyn op die foto.
106
1945: Newly Commissioned Officers in the SA Police
(Continued)
Above: There was never all this fuss
when I crashed a Spitfire!
Left: I does not matter where you are,
either the Mounties or Marshall Square
will get you!
107
FIFTY-TWO YEARS A POLICEMAN
During 1996 I visited the depot of the State Library in Pretoria West. I bought a
number of books which have destined for sale.43 However this Christmas season I
read the book: FIFTY-TWO YEARS A POLICEMAN by Sir William Nott-Bowker,
KCVO, which I had bought during 1996. The book is published by Edward Arnold &
Co during 1926 (335 pages). It was a worthwhile read! Nott-Bowker started life as a
soldier and then went to the RIC as a cadet. He retired as the Commissioner of the
London City Police (Westminster). I would like to share four short excerpts:
1. ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY44 pp 26 - 27
43 Even public libraries and universities are these days selling their books at bargain prices. I have bought hundreds of such books! 44 A study of the RIC is very important to readers of Police History as they differ drastically from the London Metropolitan Police – the “Bobbies on the Beat”. They were armed and served as role model
108
Life at the Depot was very similar, in most respects, to life in the Army. The Royal
Irish Constabulary was, of course, an "armed" force, and Drill (of which necessarily I
had little to learn), Parades, Duty as Orderly Officer, Riding School, the Officers'
Mess, and Barrack Routine, made it hardly distinguishable from a soldier's life at
home. But, in addition to this military training, valuable instruction was given in
Criminal Law, and the Law of Evidence, in police methods and procedure, in the
preparation of police reports, the keeping of police accounts, etc., constituting
altogether the most complete and practical (if not indeed the only) system of
preliminary training for the duties of an Officer of Police, available anywhere within
the United Kingdom.
I cannot, however, omit to record one wonderful piece of instruction conveyed at the
Depot, by an old and disgruntled Sub-Inspector then upon the Staff. He said:
"Never neglect any routine duty. Never take any responsibility
which you can avoid. Never attempt any job which is not strictly
your own. Then you will have a happy time in the Police. But if
ever you try to do anything, you will surely be done."
One could never forget such valuable advice, and it has stuck in my memory ever
since. I can only hope I have generally managed to apply it in a negative sense.
One also learnt at the Depot to know the men (necessarily of a somewhat different
class to the average Army recruit), and to know them; was to appreciate them.
They were a magnificent body, in physique; no Guards Regiment could approach
them, in the troubled times in Ireland not one of them ever "deserted his salt," and
not a man of them ever left his Officers in the lurch, no matter how trying
circumstances might be. It is a tragedy that that splendid Force no longer exists.
At the conclusion of about six months' training at the Depot, I was transferred, as
Sub-Inspector, to the charge of a large, and widely scattered, district, comprising all
the north-western portion of Co. Limerick, and stretching from Glin, on the
Shannon, on the west, to Adare and Ballingarry, on the east. My headquarters were
at the little town of Rathkeale, and I had rooms at the small hotel of that place.
2. The Fair at Nenagh pp 31 - 32
for the NWMP and other Colonial Police Forces. RIC had a remarkable influende on the SAC and the SAP.
109
One day, during a fair held at Nenagh, after much fighting, and much whisky, many
went to sleep in the tents. A few, who were still “sober enough" wandered round the
fair, and if they saw a head showing under the canvas of an "enemy's" tent, naturally
took a "whack" at it. One of these whacks proved fatal, and the assailant, being fully
identified, was afterwards placed upon his trial. The jury found the usual verdict -
Not Guilty.
The Judge turned to the jury and said: "Is that your verdict, gentlemen?"
To which the foreman replied: “Yes, my Lord, the jury are of opinion that a man
with a skull as thin as an egg-shell had no business in the fair of Nenagh."
3. CHAPTER XV - VON VELTHEIM
A Romance of Crime - "Von Veltheim"- His Boyhood - At Sea - "Don Juan" Career-
Bust at Trieste - Interview with Barney Barnato - Capetown - Johannesburg -
"Kismet" Letters - Murder of Woolf Joel - Transvaal, etc. - Threats to S. B. Joel - Trial
at Central Criminal Court - Subsequent Career.
“Probably the most extraordinary case, with which I had to do during the whole of
my police service, was that of the man who was tried under the name of Franz von
Veltheim, at the Central Criminal Court in 1908, for demanding money with
menaces from S. B. Joel.” (p 196)
/......../
“After serving some years of his sentence, "von Veltheim" was, during the Great
War, released on licence.
He owed this mainly to his courageous conduct in defending a warder, who was
dangerously attacked during a prison èmeute. He was at first removed to an
Internment Camp, but was subsequently deported (of course with the unexpired
portion of his sentence hanging over him, should he venture to return to this
country).
I understand that he went to South Africa once more, where he again tried to exploit
"the Kruger millions," but was arrested, and deported to Germany. Finally, in March,
1925, he is said to have been sentenced, at Magdeburg, to 3t years' imprisonment for
obtaining money by false pretences. It remains to be seen whether his story is yet
complete.” (p 216)
4. “Looking back at the development of Police as an institution” (p 323 – 324)
110
The last, and in many ways the most important, question to which I would refer is
that of securing the best possible direction and control of police work. The efficient
work of any machine depends on the efficiency of its motive power. The efficiency of
the police service must depend mainly upon the quality and the attainments of the
men who fill its higher administrative offices. And yet, during the ninety years in
which Police Forces have been working in this country, no suggestion even of a
system, securing the appointment of the most highly qualified men to these
important offices, has ever been fully considered.
When Police Forces were first established there was no course open but to select men
on chance of their proving efficient, test of qualification, or experience of the work
required, being of course impossible. As a rule, choice fell upon ex-Officers of the
Army, who at any rate were men of education, with a knowledge of the world,
accustomed to discipline and to the management of men, and whose personal
qualities were generally known to those making the appointments. The progress and
increasing efficiency of the Police during the ninety years of its existence is a
testimony to the good service rendered by these Officers, and to the general
soundness of the selections made. And the system of selection was practically the
same as then existed in all public services - Army, Navy, Civil Service, etc - one
necessarily redolent of nepotism, and one which any democracy must necessarily
disapprove. It has now been discarded in all those Services, save in the Police alone,
for which no definite system has yet been substituted.
New Technology: Paul Els
Paul Els skryf: Hoog tyd om ‘n nuwe paar “wings” te kry. Mooi bly.
Special forces to use strap-on 'Batwings' -
MATTHEW HICKLEY, Daily Mail
How the stealth wings work
Elite Special Forces troops being dropped behind enemy lines on covert missions are to ditch their traditional parachutes in favour of strap-on stealth wings.
111
The lightweight carbon fibre mono-wings will allow them to jump from high altitudes and then glide 120 miles or more before landing - making them almost impossible to spot, as their aircraft can avoid flying anywhere near the target.
The technology was demonstrated in spectacular fashion three years ago when Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner - a pioneer of freefall gliding - famously 'flew' across the English Channel, leaping out of an aircraft 30,000ft above Dover and landing safely near Calais 12 minutes later.
Wearing an aerodynamic suit, and with a 6ft wide wing strapped to his back, he soared across the sea at 220mph, moving six feet forward through the air for every one foot he fell vertically - and opened his parachute 1,000ft above the ground before landing safely.
'Massive potential'
Now military scientists have realised the massive potential for secret military missions.
Currently special forces such as the SAS rely on a variety of parachute techniques to land behind enemy lines - or else they must be dropped by helicopter.
Existing steerable square parachutes can be used - opened at high altitude of 27,000 ft - but jumpers then have to struggle to control them for long periods, often in high winds and extreme cold, while breathing from an oxygen tank to stay alive.
Alternatively they can freefall from high altitude, opening their parachutes at the last possible minute, but that limits the distance they can 'glide' forward from the drop point to just a few miles.
Now German company ESG has developed the strap-on rigid wing specifically for special forces use.
Resembling a 6ft-wide pair of aircraft wings, the devices should allow a parachutist to glide up to 120miles, carrying 200lb of equipment, the manufacturers claim.
Fitted with oxygen supply, stabilisation and navigation aids, troops wearing the wings will jump from a high-altitude transport aircraft which can stay far away from enemy territory - or on secret peacetime missions could avoid detection or suspicion by staying close to commercial airliner flight paths.
The manufacturers claim the ESG wing is '100 per cent silent' and 'extremely difficult' to track using radar.
112
Once close to their target landing zone, the troops pull their parachute rip cord to open their canopy and then land normally.
Weapons, ammunition, food and water can all be stowed inside the wing, although concealing the 6ft wings after landing could prove harder than burying a traditional parachute.
ESG claims the next stage of development will be fitting 'small turbo-jet drives' to the wings to extend range even further.
According to SAS insiders, very few operational parachute jumps have taken place in recent years, with teams tending to rely more on helicopters or other means of transport.
Supporters of the new mono-wing technology hope it will give a new lease of life to parachute tactics in the special forces world.
The Ministry of Defence would not comment on any equipment used by Special Forces, but is expected to evaluate the new system for use by UK special forces.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-389357/Special-forces-use-
strap-Batwings.html#ixzz18MvkkDKe
Verdwaalde Stemme uit die Verlede – Ron Aylward
Dagsê Broers in die verdrukking,
Meegaande afdrukke was gemaak van artikels wat in 'n Amerikaanse Tydskrif,
Popular Communications gedurende 1989 en 1990 verskyn het. Ek het geen idee
waar dit oorspronklik vandaan kom nie maar, ek het dit by (T)Luit Blackie Swart
wat 'n tyd lank ons hoofklerk by Radio Hoofkwartier te Logistiek was, gekry.
Soos ek voorheen vertel het was ek my eerste klompie maande in die SAP te
Radiobeheer, Caledonplein, Kaapstad werksaam. Daar het ek onder andere saam
met konst Burnett Malherbe gewerk wat ook voorheen aan die Rand gestasioneer
was en hy het my vertel dat hulle daar in die begin jare soms, in die nag met polisie
in die VSA kontak gemaak het.
Ek het dit ook eenmaal ondervind. Port Elizabeth asook die ou Afdeling Oos-
Transvaal was op 42.8 Mhz. Op 'n dag was ek daar naby die Swaziland grens
113
onderweg en wou met die klagtekantoor Amsterdam kontak maak maar, hulle het
natuurlik nie geantwoord nie. Toe roep ek maar weer "Amsterdam! Amsterdam!
Amsterdam!" Die volgende oomblik sê 'n stem, "Jy sal nie Amsterdam hier kry nie!"
Ek vra toe wie praat nou, toe sê hy, hy ry met 'n patrollievoertuig in Kabega Park in
Port Elizabeth. Net daarna het my vriend, daar van ver af verdwyn en kon ek kon
ongelukkig nie meer verder met hom gesels nie.
• Het enigeen van julle miskien 'n soortgelyke ondervinding gehad?
Terloops! Daardie laaste afdruk het niks met die saak te doen nie, ek is net bang
julle vergeet my vriendelike ou gesiggie! Beste Pretoria Groete, Calipie.
From: "Tubby Myburg" To: "Ronnie Aylward" Date: 21 October 2010 08:56 AM
Terwyl ek ook op Sheppie was het ek ook met die hospitaaldienste Noord van Lake
Victoria gepraat. Later jare toe ek op Bloemfontein was het ons ook met hulle kontak
gehad.Ek wil dink dit was meer in die winter maande.Daar by Quasashnek grenspos
teen Lesotho weet ek ook dat hulle redelik gereeld met hulle kontak hehad het.
Wie kan onthou hoe baie keer het ons op SSB nie met iemand kontak kon maak nie
dan het Kilo Een (Kimberley) altyd jou boodskap oogedra. Kimberley was mos die
regte afstand tussen die meeste stasies. Ek kan ook onthou dat Windhoek `n goeie
afstand was vir lang afstand SSB boodskappe vanaf die SWA en Rodesië grensposte.
Mike Roos het al afgetree toe ek by V/T begin het. Tubby Myburg 0041434-4(H)
Old Skips: Kallie die scans is nie baie duidelik vir my ou oë nie maar ek het dit effe
vergroot en kon taamlik lees wat die kêrel te sê had. Interesant - en ons was deur
ons taal verloon terwyl ons met ons Afrikaans redelik kon wegkom.
Ek het mos beter gevaar. Daaglikse komunikasie op 38.1 met Kenia se ambulans
dienste en hospitale vanaf Port Shepstone. Toe ek my oe uitvee toe staan Glen
Brubaker, Mediese dokter by die Mission Hospitaal Shirati op lake Victoria se wal
voor my W/shop op Sheppie. Slaap toe die nag by my oor en is die volgende dag
weer Durban toe op sy reis. Interesant - ek maak eendag met iemand by Shirati
kontak per Epos en verneem na Glen. Hy het nooit terug gegaan Amerika toe van
114
waar hy van oorsprong is nie en het alles in die stryd gewerp met navorsing oor
siektes wat voorkom in Kenia. Ten tye van sy kuier het hy diensplig as
‘Missionary’ verrig in plaas van na Vietnam te gaan.
Ek sal weer probeer om hom op te spoor eendag. Tussen Calvinia en Nieuwoudville
is 'n leegte so 10 km voor laasgenoemde. OP hierdie plek kon jy gereeld gesprekke
uit Amerika hoor wat ook met polisie werk te doen gehad het.
Laeband tv in England (Crystal Palace) se klankbaan was presies op 41.5 wat mee
gebring het dat die Tygerberg-link op 160 heeltyd getrigger was na beheer. Hiervoor
het ek toe 'n time-out timer gebou om die arme finals te spaar op die consolette.
Groete. Kletsbek Jurgens no 41886-2.
Kommentaar deur “Em-ses-sewe; sewe-en-sestig King’s Rest”: In Durban het ons
dikwels die polisie van Texas opgevang, ook Suidwes-Afrika. Dan het beheer gesê:
“Daai voertuie moet nou ophou gekskeer!” In PMB het ons dikwels “Portugese”
opgevang en in Johannesburg op SAP-Intelligensie het ons die SAS se rangeerders
opgevang met: “Koppel-koppel, nog drie bogies!” en “Leier, is die crossing ge-
protek?” ens indien ons naby Braamfontein gekom het - 43630
1927: Murder of Police at Charlestown – Sandy Hanes
Sandy Hanes writes from London in the UK: Got the story below off the net:
In the final stop-press edition of the Johannesburg Star on Friday, 6 May 1927, the following news story appeared
NINE KILLED IN SHOOTING TRAGEDY NATAL BORDER SENSATION
EARLY MORNING FIGHT WITH POLICE
A well-known farmer in the Charlestown district named SAJ Swart, this morning ran amok
and killed 8 Europeans and a native, wounded 3 other Europeans and then shot himself.
Among those killed were his wife and the officer commanding the posse of police who went to
arrest Swart.
Stephanus Swart had always been a violent, unpredictable man. For a number of years he had displayed some of the classic symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia - extreme mood swings, hostility toward authority, and feelings of persecution - but no one could have predicted the course of events that would take place that fine autumn morning.
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Swart was wedded to a woman thirty years his senior. Many people in the district believed he had married the widow for her money - her first husband, Eksteen, had left her a number of farms. Certainly, the union appeared loveless, and Swart was resented by some of his in-laws. He was a poorly educated man, but there was one thing he had learned in his thirty-seven years, and that was that he would find no justice in the courts. Perhaps this belief had its beginnings some years earlier, when Swart lost a civil suit. He felt, as he would make clear to anyone who would listen, that he had not only been unfairly treated on that occasion, but had also been victimized. The evidence indicated quite the reverse. Nevertheless, Swart grew increasingly embittered with age, and his temper, rather than mellowing, deteriorated. In a second and much more serious incident a few years after the civil suit, Swart viciously assaulted a relative and was sentenced to imprisonment for eighteen months. As far as Swart was concerned, the judge had handed down this harsh sentence purely out of personal animosity. It was confirmation of his worst fears: that the authorities were against him. He determined that in future he would solve his own problems in his own way. On his release from prison, Swart returned to his wife, from whom he was judicially separated, and who was living at Potter's Hill. The farm belonged to Mrs Knight, Mrs Swart's daughter by her first marriage. Early in 1927, Swart was accused of committing 'a serious sexual offence', namely incest. He had some difficulty raising the £500 bail required, having ignored the suggestion from many quarters that he sell some of his livestock to make the money, because he felt it would have been unfair on the animals. (He knew he could trust no one but himself to care for them properly.) The hearing was set for 4 May. In the knowledge that he would certainly face a long prison term if he should be found guilty, and with the trial only two months off, Swart had to deal with the next problem: both his wife, and his stepdaughter's farm manager, Mr IC Visser, had been called as witnesses against him. Swart solved this complication in a simple and direct way: he threatened to kill them if they attempted to speak against him. Visser, who had managed the farm for nine months, and Mrs Swart both knew that Stephanus meant what he said, and they promised to keep quiet about the whole business. Visser even said that he would go to Worcester in the Cape to avoid being subpoenaed by the police. True to his word, he left the farm a few days later. Soon after, Mrs Swart left for Potchefstroom. She knew that her husband was having an affair with a young girl and, like Visser, she had every intention of giving evidence at his trial.
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Swart was obviously under a great deal of strain at this time. Towards the end of April 1927, he was fined 10 shillings by a local magistrate for driving an unlicensed vehicle. This seemingly unimportant episode may have been the last straw for Swart. On Tuesday, 3 May, the day before he was due to appear in the Magistrates' Court, he drove over to a neighbouring farm and, for no apparent reason, fired a shot at the owner of the farm, a Mr Lourens. He had begun to lose control. When the police learnt of Swart's unprovoked attack, they issued a warrant of arrest for attempted murder. The final act in his tragic drama was about to be played out. Accordingly, Swart made careful preparations for the grand finale. He began by summoning his attorney, Mr G Maasdorp, to Potter's Hill. He wished, he said, to put his personal affairs in order. This kind of behaviour is not uncommon among aggressive psychopaths. Such people have been known to commit crimes of violence with careful premeditation and planning and a lack of compassion that even close friends and family find hard to understand. Psychologists believe that an unbalanced emotional state is the cause of psychopathic hostility, which takes the form of remoteness and a seeming indifference to the plight of others. Before Maasdorp set out for Potters Hill, he contacted the local police commander, Captain Gerald Ashman, and asked him whether he should delay seeing his client until after Swart's arrest. Captain Ashman suggested to Maasdorp that he go to Potter Hill in order to try persuade Swart to give himself up. Accordingly, Mr Maaskop hired Mr B Plaats as a driver and, in the late afternoon of Wednesday, 4 May the two men set out for the farm. Swart turned out to be intractable. For five days he had roamed the farm planning his revenge, driving himself and his farm workers to a point of exhaustion in the process. At night he locked himself in the Farmhouse and sat with his gun primed, raging against the authorities. Maasdorp was convinced that the man was mentally disturbed. He learnt that Swart had gone to Potchefstroom a few days before in order to see his wife and reiterate his threat - only to learn that she had left for Newcastle. He followed her there but was unable to find her. On his way home Swart claimed he suddenly realised that if something were to happen to him, his car would fall into the hands of his enemies. He had to prevent this from happening at all costs, so he stopped at the side of the road and set the car alight then walked the last ten miles to his home. Swart refused to listen to reason and Maasdorp was forced to listen to his ravings until late into the night. In the end, he ordered Maasdorp to write down a statement. This last statement to the madness of Stephanus Swart was twenty- eight pages long and contained the following excerpt:
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I have arranged all my affairs with my attorney. I now give blood for blood. I will shoot them
down till I have one cartridge left. And that will be mine. But alive you will never get me.
With my corpse you can do what you please. Burn it, mutilate it and treat it in such a
manner as you think fit to best revenge yourselves. I wish this statement to be published after
my death in all the prominent newspapers in the Union and I desire a copy to be forwarded to
the Prime Minister, General Hertzog.
When Captain Ashman heard of Swart's ravings the following day, he was greatly concerned. He knew Swart to be a crack shot and a man who was more than capable of carrying out his threats. In an effort to defuse what was quickly becoming an extremely volatile situation, Ashman asked Mr Plaats to return to Potter's Hill with a message for Swart. In this note he advised the farmer to give himself up. In this way, he said a great deal of necessary trouble could be avoided. He also offered to meet with Swart alone to discuss the matter. (Courting detection and punishment is also behaviour typical of a psychopathic disposition many of the world’s most notorious killers, particularly those who commit sexual crimes, have apparently craved the attention their deeds have brought them. Neville Heath was a case point. Labelled the most sadistic sex killer of all times during his trial at London’s Old Baileys in 1946, Heath had so enjoyed the limelight that he had approached the police in order to see a photograph of the woman he had murdered.) Swart seemed in a much calmer mood when Plaats returned to the farm. He listened quietly while the letter was read out to him, then gave his reply. He was prepared to meet with Captain Ashman and Maasdorp if the two arrived on his farm before sunset. At 600 pm, he said, he intended to close the main road that ran through his property and shoot on sight anyone who attempted to cross his land. Then he gave his final instruction to Plaats: he wished to have a coffin ordered in Volkrust. The casket was to be made of oak and to be zinc-lined, and it should not cost more than £40. When Asman heard Swart's reply, he knew that the time for talking was over. He gathered together a detail of 12 policemen and before dawn on Friday 6 May, they set out in two cars and a motorcycle with a side car on the fourteen-mile journey from Charlestown Hall to Potters Hill. The police convoy halted on the boundary of Swart's property. The policeman disembarked and split into three groups. The plan was for Captain Ashman and his second-in-command, Sergeant Annes van Wyk, to direct operations from a small Indian trading store on the boundary of Swart's property, while the other two groups advanced on the farmhouse from different directions. One party would
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move in from below and the other from a point higher up the hillside. However just as the men were about to set out, one of Swart's farm labourers galloped out of the early morning mist with a warning that Swart was preparing to fight them. Captain Ashman listened to the man, then gave some last instructions: he wanted Swart taken alive if possible. What the police did not realise was that Swart had gone on the offensive. He had left the farmhouse and had gone into the fields. The first casualty was Constable Feucht, who was shot as he approached the farmhouse. In a great deal of pain he made his way back to Captain Ashman, who sent him back to town for medical attention. At this point, Ashman sent a note to Segeant Watts, who was leading the uphill party: “Carefully take cover towards house
and shoot Swart on sight. Feucht wounded with shotgun and gone to hospital. Have sent for
more men. Try to save yourselves and do not expose, as Swart is now desperate”.
Shortly after this, Swart shot and killed two more policemen - Sergeant William Charles Mitchell and Constable William Crossman. After bringing down the men he had shot both of them at point-blank range to make certain they were dead. By this time, Swart had realised that despite his success in having killed three policemen, he would ultimately be captured. He had other tasks he had to complete first. With the police closing in, he decided to make use of the thick mist to affect his escape across a mealie patch. It was while making this manoeuvre that he encountered his fourth victim, Sergeant Grove. Mortally wounded, Grove died from loss of blood after crawling hundreds of metres. After killing Sergeant Grove, Swart planned to make good his escape, but not before paying a visit to Captain Ashman and Sergeant Van Wyk in order to seize the horse, which his labourer had been riding when he first galloped out of the mist. Swart shot both men dead. Then, before setting out for Charlestown, where his wife was living, he took Captain Ashman's Webley service revolver to add to the Mauser rifle and Browning automatic pistol he was already carrying. En route to Charlestown, Swart stopped for a cup of coffee at his neighbour's farm. By this time it was eight o'clock and the day was brightening. He seemed in the best of spirits. “I've just killed five policemen,” he boasted, “and now I'm going to Charlestown to shoot three more people. If I get through that alive I'm heading for Volkrust where I intend to kill myself.” To substantiate his story, he produced Captain Ashman's Webley. Swanepoel listened in silent astonishment then, the moment Swart had departed, saddled his own horse and set out to warn the police that Swart was on his way. He was nearing Mount Prospect when an African rode up and handed him a note from Swart. In it, Swart promised to return and kill Swanepoel when he had completed his mission. This was shortly after he had killed two more people on the road - Mrs
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Knight and Mr M. Roets (who was farm manager for Mr Lourens), both of whom had recently given evidence against him. Mrs Swart was staying with the Van Vuuren family, who lived about three hundred metres from the Charlestown railway station. When Swart galloped up to the house, Mrs Swart, 17-year-old Gertrude van Vuuren, and Lucas, her crippled, 21-year-old cousin, were sitting on the stoep. Even from a distance, Gertrude was frightened by the look on Swart's face. She called to her sister and together the two girls rushed next door. Their neighbour, Mrs Thomas, seemed to know instinctively that disaster was at hand. “Run to the police station,” she shouted. The girls ran out of Mrs Thomas's yard just as two shots were fired. Behind them, Swart had walked calmly into the house and shot his wife twice, once in the forehead and once in the chest. Gertrude and her sister, along with two other women, Mrs Grove and Mrs Erasmus, locked themselves in the police station and prayed that help would come. Two hours passed before a constable came to release them from their ordeal. After killing his wife, Swart rode to the edge of town. At the main road, he tethered his exhausted horse to a fence. He tried to wave down the first car that came along. Inside were Mrs Pulford, wife of the manager of the Charlestown and District Co-operative Stores; Mr Hadley, a local farmer; and his three year old nephew. When Mr Hadley failed to stop, Swart fired at the car. Both Hadley and Mrs Pulford were wounded, but they managed to drive on to safety. By this time, the whole district was getting to know of Swart's reign of terror. The police and local farmers were mobilized to hunt him down, and a posse eventually caught up with him near Johannes Swanepoel's farm. Spotting Swart in the distance, the station foreman at Charlestown, a man named Kriel, fired three shots in rapid succession. Swart dived into the veld at the side of the road just as a contingent of regular police from Volksrust arrived on the scene. Seconds later, a fourth shot rang out. In what was perhaps Swart's final act of defiance of authority, he had shot himself in the head with Captain Ashman's Webley. He had indeed done as he had promised: returned blood for blood. Hi Hennie; The dead and injured were: Constable Feucht WIA45 #1 Head Constable 7954 William Charles Mitchell #2 shot and then executed (Grave Vryheid)
45
Wounded.
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1/C Constable 10738 William Hunter Crossman #3 shot and then executed (Grave Heidelberg) 2/C Sergeant 8363 Jan Antoine Grove #4 (Grave Vryheid) 1/C Sergeant 4831 Annes Heyns Van Wyk #5 (Grave Heidelberg) Captain Gerald Colin Ashman #6 (Grave?) Mrs Knight #7 Mr M Roets #8 Unknown black #9 Mrs M. Swart (wife) #10
Roll of Honour: Charlestown (HBH)
No Rank Name Date Place 58 Capt Ashman, GE 6 May 1927 Charlestown 7954 Head-Const46 Mitchell, WC 6 May 1927 Charlestown 4831 1/Sgt Van Wyk, AH 6 May 1927 Charlestown 8363 2/Sgt Grove, JA 6 May 1927 Charlestown 10738 1/Constable Crossman, WH 6 May 1927 Charlestown No Photos
of Capt Ashman, Sgt Grove or Const
Crossman.
H/Cst Mitchell Sgt V Wyk Unknown if erected!
NB. Once on a visit to Charlestown the then Station Commander told me nobody wanted to bury Swart. His body lied on a slap of cement in front of the cells. The SAP buried him, nearby. However since then the station has been plagued a ghost.
Kuspatrollie No 3 – Ron Aylward
46
W/O Class 1
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Die mistiek van die ewigbewegende see, met sy malende skuim op die bollende
dynings so vroeg op ‘n mistige oggend, tower beelde op van harde seemanne uit die
verlede, wat op grond van hul liefde vir die see, heel dikwels die swaard moes opneem
om hul lewens te verdedig teen ewe geharde moordenaars en diewe – ja-nee, teen die
seerowers van destyds ….. en nog steeds langs die kus van Ethiopië ….. by die horing
van Afrika.
Dat hebsug die ou mensdom so kan vasgryp in sy kloue en dat daar deur al die eeue
nog geen oplossing daarvoor gevind kon word nie, slaan mens totaal dronk. Die
versugting na rykdom en mag het al menige mens tot ‘n posisie van heerskappy oor
menigtes verhef, om hulle net weer so in hul selfopgelegde strewes vas te vat en te
vernietig deur ‘n ewe bedorwe siel. Dit is tog net so jammer dat daar altyd ‘n menigte
onskuldige bystaanders is wat ook betrek word en dan in die slag moet bly. Daar is
van die magtigste koningryke tot die kleinste mafia groepe wat al so deur hul eie
strewes verslind was …. Daar breek die son nou
deur die miswolke en verdryf gelukkig hierdie
drogbeelde, sodat ‘n nuwe, skoner realiteit van hom
gewag maak.
Dit is asof die sonlig skielik die massiewe rotswand
wat uit die see sowat ses verdiepings hoog ten
hemele strek, skielik sommer so tien meter nader
aan die wal getrek het. Elke eienskap staan nou
duidelik afgemerk teenoor mekaar, en selfs die
halfmaanvormige gat in die sowat sewentig meter
lange muur van tussen drie en ses meter dik, het al sy meerminne en see-elwe verloor,
terwyl sy naakte waarheid jou byna met geweld aan jou drome ontruk. Die grotagtige
gat van nagenoeg tien meter wyd en drie meter hoog, wat dwarsdeur die rotsmuur
strek, bied ‘n blik op die wye oseaan se branders in aantog, maar wat andersinds van sig
afgeskerm is deur die massiewe obstruksie, en nogtans poog om ploffend deur die gat
en rondom die twee kante te dwing, met strepe wit skuimvlakke wat aanlandig na
mekaar toe vervloei. Die ruwe skoonheid van hierdie omgewing gryp verseker die
verbeelding aan, en het waarskynlik ook die gees van die meer romantiese herders van
die stamme van weleer aangeroep en tot diepe denke gedwing.
So het inheemse volke hierdie verskynsel met allerhande mistieke – romantiese
verbeeldingsvlugte verbind en ingevoer en gekoppel aan die etos en lewensversugtinge
en -eise van die lewens van hierdie stamme, sodat dit in ‘n nuwe kultuur vasgevang is.
Van hierdie droombeelde was bes moontlik ook aan die stamlede voorgehou om
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dissipline en morele waardes af te dwing. Een legende wou dit hê dat die hoofman se
seun en die dogter van die see-god op mekaar verlief geraak het. Sy kon uiteraard nie
aan land gaan nie, en hy kon eweneens nie sondermeer die dieptes van die see aandurf
nie, en het hul dus heimlik vele gelukkige uurtjies saam, verskuil agter die muur,
deurgebring. Toe die see-god van hul verraad te hore kom, was hy ontsettend
woedend en het hy die muur met ‘n bliksemstraal getref wat albei van die oortreders
gedood het, en toe ook die gat in die muur gelaat het, en het die beeld geskep waaraan
hierdie hele gebied sy naam kon ontleen. Die gees van die prinses van die see besoek
steeds die omgewing op die wieke van die malende misnewels, in ‘n soeke na haar
verlore liefde, terwyl die geloei van die windjie deur die gleuwe die pyn van haar ouers
vertel.
‘n Ander weergawe van die ontstaan van die gat in die muur lui dat ‘n beeldskone
Xhosa meisie en ‘n hooggeplaasde lid van die see-mense verlief geraak het, maar die
mense van haar stam het haar gewaarsku dat die mense van die see op sout
grootgemaak is, en dat hulle net so onheilspellend, wreed en onvoorspelbaar soos die
see is. Sy het haar egter nie laat beïnvloed nie. Die vader van die see-mens wou sy
welwillendheid met die verhouding toon deur die weg na die strand te vergemaklik om
die verliefdes tegemoed te kom. Hy het toe die dienste van ‘n see-monster bekom en
hom beveel om ‘n gat deur die muur te bewerkstellig. Die monster het toe sondermeer
kop-eerste op die muur afgestorm en ‘n gat dwarsdeur die rotsmuur gemaak. Die see-
mense het toe deurgestorm en die skone dame weggevoer, en sy was nooit weer gesien
nie. Sederdien en tot in ewigheid sal die gat in die muur daar bly.
Ons het, sterk onder die indruk van hierdie majestueuse verskynsel, probeer om aan die
land-kant van die muur te hengel, maar op daardie stadium was daar slegs ‘n paar klein
vissies en krappe wat die aas afgevreet het. Deur toe tot naby die muur in te gooi het
ek ‘n kleinerige hotnot en ‘n ‘king-klip’ gevang, wat ek albei teruggegooi het. Laat die
middag het ek en ‘Piet-Kantien’ du Toit elk ‘n paar mooi elwe links van die ‘muur’
gevang. Ons het ook later dieper ingegooi in ‘n poging om ‘n kabeljou te probeer vang,
maar sonder sukses. Ek het wel ‘n sandhaai gevang, maar hy is teruggegooi en ons het
toe opgepak vir die aand. By die kamp ‘n ‘Slasto’ brandewyn aangetree om die groot
‘klip met die gat’ te vereer!
SAP Toneelgroep – Pieter Scholtz
Gedurende 1968-9 was lt- kol Kobus Visser (later lt-genl) die werwingsoffisier by
Wachthuis. Tydens een van sy besoeke aan Suidwes-Afrika (nou Namibië), het hy
Eugene Terre Blanché onmoet wat as sersant in die SAP aldaar gestasioneer was. Hy
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het in gesprekke met Eugene en ook ander lede verneem dat Eugene ‘n kranige
toneelspeler en skrywer is. Nadat kolonel Visser met hom onderhandel het, het hy
ingewillig om ‘n verplasing na hoofkantoor te aanvaar. Hy is toe op kolonel Visser se
personeel by werwing geplaas. Hy en die kolonel het dadelik ingespring en in ‘n
omskrywe gevra of daar lede is wat belangstel om ‘n toneelgroep op die been te
bring. In die skrywe is ‘n datum en tyd bepaal waar lede en hul gades kan aanmeld
vir ‘n oudisie asook om die toneelgroep te stig. Ongelukkig kan ek nie die presiese
datum onthou nie maar weet dat ons die betrokke aand by hoofkantoor byeengekom
het. Ek en my vrou, Christine, asook enkele ander lede en hul gades het in
teenwoordigheid van kolonel Visser en Terre Blanché die groep gestig.
Ons eerste eenbedryf waarvoor ons ‘n oudisie afgelê het, was Sybrand die Boorman.
Die stuk is deur Terre Blanché geskryf en het oor ‘n plaas gehandel wat onder
droogte gely het ens. Terre Blanché was die regisseur en die rolverdeling was
Sybrand – Eugene Terre Blanché, sy vrou Debora was sers Verster van die SAKB se
vrou, die twee seuns – Pieter Scholtz en Dirk Kotzé. Ons het saans geoefen en bedags
natuurlik gewerk. Daarna het ander stukke soos’n Diener en ‘n daggaboom, “Die
Jammer Hart en Die hand wat Hy eenmaal geneem het gevolg. Die bekende aktrise Milla
Louw het ook met die regie gehelp. Ons het op verskeie dorpe ten bate van die SAP
Weduwee en Wese fonds opgetree. Ons het gedurende 1971 vir die ATKV toneelfees
in Bloemfontein ingeskryf met drie eenbedrywe. Ons het verskeie toekennings
ontvang.
Op die stadium was daar ‘n nuwe politieke party, die HNP47, gestig wat aan die
komende algemene verkiesing sou deelneem. Terre Blanché het al meer politieke
uitsprake begin maak en was duidelik baie simpatiek jeens die regse party. Hy het
dikwels die regering van die dag aangeval en daardeur die aandag van die senior
offisiere op hom gevestig. Die uiteinde was dat generaal Joubert, die kommissaris op
daardie stadium, hom ingeroep het en aan hom ‘n ultimatum gestel het. Hy was op
die punt om disiplinêr verhoor te word, of hy moes bedank. Hy het laasgenoemde
verkies en is uit die SA Polisie om as kandidaat vir die HNP in Heidelberg te staan.
Hy het later die leier van die AWB48 geword.
47 Herstigte Nasionale Party 48 Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
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Sers Kobie Fourie, kolonel Eddie Oosthuizen en sers Pieter
Scholtz in Die jammer Hart
“Die diener en die daggaboom”
Sers Pieter Scholtz in Die hand wat Hy eenmaal geneem het.
Die toneelgroep het voortgegaan. Kolonel Eddie Oosthuizen van veiligheids-
hoofkantoor het by genl Visser oorgeneem as beskermheer. Sers Will Roberts van
veiligheidshoofkantoor se vrou, die bekende aktrise Annette Engelbrecht, het by ons
aangesluit. Sy en ek het die regie verder hanteer. Ons het ook dikwels saam met die
SAP-mannekoor opgetree wat ook gedurende dieselfde tyd as die toneelgroep gestig
is.
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Sers Scholtz en Christine
Scholtz in die Jammer Hart.
Christine Scholtz, Anina Venter en Kobie Fourie in Die
Diener en die daggaboom.
Nadat ek in 1973 ‘n offisier geword het, is ek en Christine uit die toneelgroep en dit
het kort daarna ontbind.
Kommentaar deur HBH: Gedurende 1969 is ek ’n deeltydse-student aan die
Universiteit van Natal, Durban, in my finale jaar. Eendag woon ek klas by en daar is
groot plakkate orals by UND opgeplak: “Graduates join the SA Police – Room 110”.
My belangstelling is geprikkel, want ek weet my (Engelse) vriende sal nie juis in die
polisie belang stel nie! [Daar was juis sulke wrede stories in die media, ek dink dit
was in die Sunday Times, waarin gewys word hoe die polisiekollege die manne
opkeil onder leiding van luit-kol Louis Snyman!]
Ek gaan toe na die lokaal en ek word dadelik “tee” aangebied en diè twee offisiere
wil my net vir die polisie werf! Ek verneem toe dat ek die eerste persoon is wat toe
kom navrae doen het!
Daardie dag het ek luit-kol JC Visser – ’n vriendelike innemde man met ’n sterk
persoonlikheid – ontmoet. Hy wou toe hê ek moes “Werwing” toe kom. Hy het my
tyd gegee om daaroor te dink. Ek het vasgeskop want ek was gelukkig by die see!
Later het my gebel en gesê hy werf vir ene Eugene Terre Blanche na Werwing en ek
kan in Durban bly!
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New School prayer – Gen Roy During
New School Prayer by a 15 yr old school kid in Arizona. New Pledge of Allegiance (TOTALLY AWESOME)! Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most Public schools anymore because the word 'God' is mentioned..... A kid in Arizona wrote the attached New School prayer: Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this great nation under God Finds mention of Him very odd. If scripture now the class recites, It violates the Bill of Rights. And anytime my head I bow Becomes a Federal matter now. Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.. The law is specific, the law is precise. Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. For praying in a public hall Might offend someone with no faith at all.. In silence alone we must meditate, God's name is prohibited by the state. We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks... They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible. To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King. It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong, We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.. We can get our condoms and birth controls, Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.. But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, No word of God must reach this crowd. It's scary here I must confess, When chaos reigns the school's a mess. So, Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot; My soul please take! Amen
• Certainly food for afterthought!
Ratpacks: J Wepener
Food and Rations.
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A Ratpack was made for a troop's survival for the entire day in the bush or while on patrol. They were numbered 1 to 5 and the number on the box reflected a particular combination of contents. During the mid-1980s there were three tins in a ratpack; however this was changed to 2 larger tins closer to 1990 when the vegetables were incorporated into one of the meat tins. A vigorous trade was done as soon as Ratpacks had been distributed, but one would usually find that Dog Biscuits would be discarded immediately. All food items were pre-cooked, although they did always taste better heated. The rest of the items such as tea and coffee would be mixed with boiling water in your fire bucket (like a mug). Cold drink and milkshake was mixed in a plastic sachet akin. And there was always the risk that it would burst! There was also at one stage a small can opener in the ratpack, but most troops either brought their own can opener with, or used the rifle's bipod to cut a hole in tins. One problem that was experienced on the Border was that quite often the Ratpacks had passed their expiry date. But you didn't complain as there would be no alternative - other than starving.
Contents Flavours/Types Quantity
Meat
Pickled Fish, Steak & Onions, Viennas & Tomato, Curried Fish, Corned Beef Hash, Viennas & Baked Beans
2 Small tins
Vegetables Peas, Mixed Vegetables, Diced Carrots
1 Small tin
Dessert or Milkshake Chocolate, Strawberry, Lime,
1 Sachet
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Vanilla
Coffee n/a 2 Sachets
Tea n/a 1 Sachet
Colddrink
Lime, Naartjie, Orange, Cola
3 Sachets
Porridge Banana 1 Sachet
Dog Biscuits Thin or thick 1 Pack
Cheesies n/a 2
"Super C" Sweets Pineapple, Orange, Tangerine
1 Roll
Fruit Bars n/a 2 Bars
Raisins n/a 1 Packet
Energy Bars Mint, Choc Nut, Rum & Raisin
2 Bars
Chewing Gum n/a 3 Pieces
Sugar n/a 4 Sachets
Salt n/a 2 Sachets
Matches n/a 1 Pack
Esbits n/a 1 Strip
The fruit bars and the packet of raisins were sometimes interchangeable though. The "Super C" sweets could also be made into a refreshing cold drink by dissolving them in water.
Johan Pieters: Gansbaai
Genl Westraat skakel en berig dat (kol?) Johan Pieters opgeneem is in ‘n
versorgingsoord te Gansbaai. Ek onthou Johan Pieters baie goed, ons het saam
gewerk op dieselfde seksie onder kol MJ “Jackson” van Zyl.
Eendag vertel Johan vir my, toe hy ‘n speurder in Durban was, woon hy ‘n
moordsaak, in die Overport-wyk, by. Hy en sy swart kollega besoek die toneel. Toe
hulle stasie toe ry – dit was in die aand - ry hulle in ‘n straat daar naby die toneel en
hulle merk dat ‘n tuinhekkie oop is. Hulle hou op die ingewing van die oomblik stil
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en besoek die woonkwartier in die agterplaas. Hulle klop aan die deur en die
swartman maak die deur oop en toe hy die speurders sien, erken hy dadelik dat hy
die moord gepleeg het ....
Eenmaal, het ek sy pyp kort voor etenstyd, met ‘n klein bietjie dagga gestop. Almal
het daarvan geweet en later toe ons by sy kantoor instap, om veerpyltjies te speel,
vra hy of ons ook sien die al geboue staan skeef ...?
Hermanus, die dorpie, waar Johan Pieters vandaan kom se oorspronklike naam is
Hemanuspietersfontein ...
“Really Inside Boss” – PC Swanepoel
Oom Pieter het vir die Oud-SAP-lede Trust ‘n paar van sy boeke geskenk en ons het
die boeke aan ‘n paar vriende verkoop.
1. Alex Faria wat by ons ‘n uitgawe gekoop het, was met Oom Pieter in verbinding
en het ‘n afskrif van sy brief aan Oom Pieter vir ons gestuur. Alex skryf:
“Môre oom Pieter, Ek wou ‘n geruime tyd terug al vir u skryf en sê hoeveel ek u
boekie Really Inside BOSS geniet het!
Voor ek te vêr gaan wil ek, soos u, net meld dat Afrikaans nie my eerste taal is nie so, verskoon maar as ek die taal soos ‘n Engelsman praat! My moeder was ‘n ware Afrikaner (‘n Meiring van Oudtshoorn) maar my pa was van Portugese afkoms en kon nie Afrikaans praat nie, so ons is Engelssprekend opgevoed.
Een ding wat vir my uitgestaan het in u boekie was hoe die Weste – en dit is ook duidelik dat ons te doen gehad het met die liberales van die weste – eintlik ons vyand was en nie die Kommunisme nie. Die Kommuniste wou wel “hegemony” in die streek hê, maar eintlik was dit die liberale element in die VK en die VSA wat ons geforseer het om die handdoek in te gooi (om ‘n Engelse uitdrukking te gebruik).
Nadat ek u boekie klaar gelees het, het ek begin lees aan ‘n boek met die naam Suicide of the West – The Meaning and Destiny of Liberalism – deur James Burnham (ek is seker u ken hom goed !) en dit is tragies hoe die liberale alles net weggooi omdat hulle ‘n soort van ‘n skuldgevoel het ....
Dit is ook interessant dat James Burnham ‘n stigter van The Congress for Cultural
Freedom was – wat, volgens u boekie, deur die CIA gefinansier was. Dit klink vir my asof hy wel aanvanklik ‘n liberaal was, maar êrens langs die pad verander het.
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Die hoofstuk (in Burnham se boek) oor Amerikaanse buitelandse beleid werp veel lig op dinge wat in Afrika en Asië, asook Suid-Amerika, gebeur het en hoe die Weste daarop gereageer het. Al praat Burnham nie veel van Suid-Afrika in sy boek nie, is dit duidelik hoekom diegene, wat veronderstel was om ons geallieerdes te wees, ons in die rug gesteek het.
Maar soos u in u boekie self gesê het, “…but we all know whose version of the history (of Blood River) will prevail” (of woorde tot daardie effek).
Totsiens en goed gaan, Groete, Alex Faria” [Kaapstad].
2. Chris van Vuuren van Saudi-Arabië het tydens sy vakansie in Suid-Afrika gou
ingeloer om sy boekie wat hy lank gelede gekoop het, te kom af haal.
Chris van Vuuren
Chris is ‘n “ou” polisieman wat in die SAP Kollege
groot geword het. Sy Vader was ook polisieman.
Hy is tans in Saudi-Arabië woonagtig. Hy is in bevel
van die somerpaleis. Daar waar hy is, is dit baie warm
en vogtig die temperatuur wissel van 420 tot 590 met ‘n
gemiddeld van so 480 met ‘n humiditeit van 80%.
Hy vertel dat prins Saud al Faisal alreeds 36 jaar lank
die minister van buitelandse sake is!
Sy broer Rudi is woonagtig in Charlotte in Noord-
Carolina in die VSA.
• Ons wag vir ‘n paar foto’s van Saudi-Arabië!
OORGAWE AAN 1 SAP: PUNT 207, HALFAYA EN QUALALA DEUR DIE
SPILMAGTE
Brig Frik Nel het eendag vir my ‘n ‘n fotoalbum en ‘n “lap” persent gegee. Ek het die foto’s
afgetas en toe die “lap” onder oë geneem. Die lap was niks anders as ‘n witvlag van WO2
nie! Onder geplaaste foto’s vertel hul eie storie! Een van die handtekeninge op die witvlag is
die van luitenant WA Wessels – later brigadier WA Wessels die Afdelingskommissaris van
die Wes Rand. Hy is ook die Vader van dr Leon Wessels, wat self polisieman was! Die
witvlag is om sentimentele redes aan Leon Wessels geskenk.
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Die hemp is seker in die hospitaal geneem of van ‘n Arabier geleen? Dr Leon Wessels, self ‘n oudlid (troep 7 berede: 1964) neem die
“witvlag” in ontvangs waarop sy Vader geteken het.
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Oorgawe 17 Jan 1942
Handtekeninge van lt-kol RJ ‘Bobby’ Palmer en sy
opvolger lt-kol PL Grobbelaar toe nog majoor.
Lt WA Wessels se hantekening. Leon
het dit onmiddellik herken!
Reunie: 1961 Inname SAP Kollege
Beste Hennie, Is dit moontlik om asseblief hierdie berig te plaas in ons volgende
Polisiekoerant?
Ons beoog om ‘n re-unie te hou in Mosselbaai gedurende September 2011 vir alle
student/rekrute, asook personeel wat verbonde was aan die SA Polisie Kollege tydens die
opleiding van lede in die jaar 1961.
Verdere besonderhede sal later verskaf word. Alle lede wat belangstel kan vir my;
Matty van der Merwe, 082 876 8727, of
Louwtjie Loubser, 082 828 3091, kontak sodat ons hulle kontak besonderhede kan verkry.
By voorbaat baie dankie.
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Groete: Matty van der Merwe.
Orkaan tref Vryheid-distrik: Matty van der Merwe
Hallo Hennie, Gegroet hier vanaf Vryheid, KwaZulu Natal. Eerstens moet ek verskoning vra
dat ek nou eers weer van ons laat hoor, maar dinge gebeur maar waaroor ons nie beheer het
nie!
Sondag, 24 Oktober 2010, om 17h00 tref ‘n hewige orkaan ons plaas asook dié van my seun
wat aan ons grens. Beide huise se dakke word afgewaai, bome word ontwortel en val op die
dakke. My motorhuis word platgevee, swaar reën val en veekrale word platgedruk. Ek en
my vrou was in die huis, maar deur die genade van Bo kom ons ongedeerd daarvan af.
Boomstompe lê in die een slaapkamer en ons loop enkeldiep in die water. My seun was in
Irak, maar sy vrou en hulle drie kinders kruip onder die kombuistafel weg en spring ook so
beserings vry. By van ons bure agter Leeunek se berg waar ons bly, is verskeie plaaswerkers
beseer deur vlieënde sinkplate en drie persone is gedood. Skade is baie erg, maar danksy ons
versekering en twee maande se ongerief tydens die herstelwerk, woon ons nou weer in lekker
in ons huis. Ons kan net dankie sê aan ons Hemelse Vader wat ons beskerm en bewaar het.
’n Manne-naweek Hennie, ek wil jou ook vertel van ‘n byeenkoms wat ‘n klomp van ons oud lede elke jaar hou te Kosibaai. SedertOktober 1999 kom alle oud lede wat vroeër jare op die Makatini Vlaktes gestasioneer was, of daar diens gedoen het bymekaar by Kosibaai vir ‘n naweek. Daar word lekker gekuier, gebraai en stories vertel. Dit is ongelukkig net ’n manne-naweek, want die geriewe is maar primitief. Ons is ongeveer so 30 lede wat op die volgende stasies was nl: Ingwavuma, Ndumo, Muzi Grenspos, Maputa (nou Emanguzi), Jozini, Ubombo, Mbazwane, asook enige oudlid, al het hy nou net daar verbygery, of al was jy ook nog nie daar nie, almal is welkom om dit by te woon. Ons gebruik die ou Veiligheidstak se huis langs die meer. Van die manne wat die naweek gereeld bywoon is onder andere Johan Gijsbers, brig Theuns du Plessis, brig Abrie le Roux, Daan Calitz van Richardsbaai, Bill Fourie, Gerhard Herbst en Rassie Erasmus. Wat het van Bill Clark geword? Hy was Stasiebevelvoerder te Maputa in 1967. Ongelukkig moes ons ‘n paar groot manne aan die dood afstaan en on seer hulle nagedagtenis. Vir verdure navrae kontak Matty van der Merwe by 082 876 8727.
Hennie, as jy weer hierdie kant toe kom, moet jy asseblief by my aankom.
Groete, Matty van der Merwe.
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• Matty, baie dankie vir die uitnodiging – ek sal eendag weer daar
verby ry! Sterkte met die opruiming edm!
Personalia
Afsterwe49: Dit is met innige leedwese dat die bvolgende onder u aandag gebring word:
49 Etiketshalwe moet hierdie berig, soos in magsorders, heel eerste in die polisiekoerant verskyn, maar
agv uitleg probleme word sekere artikels aan die einde geplaas sodat “laat berigte” ook gedra kan word.
135
Tinky Jones (SALM): Daan Nel (SAW) berig: Tinky Jones is 'n legende! Hy was die professionele vlieënier wat altyd vriendelik was, maar wee jou as jy nie sy bevele as kaptein gehoorsaam nie. Ek het die voorreg gehad om saam met hom, nogal voor in die kajuit, in Vic Valle af te vlieg met 'n C130; let wel! Nie 'n C160 nie, maar 'n C130 en ek sal liefs nie die gesprek hier herhaal toe die "stall hooters" aanmekaar huil nie en nadat Tinky die vlug ingenieur "aangespreek" het, was hulle skielik stil. Ek het ook die voorreg gehad om seker honderde vliegure in sy vliegtuig deur te bring. Geniet die rus Tinky! Daan Nell.
• Ja Tinky Jones was ‘n legendariese figuur wat ook baie polisiemanne
rondgevlieg het in die ou grotes! Ons eer sy nagedagtenis! - HBH
Afsterwe: Brig Trevor Baker: Nottingham Rd • Dit is met groot leedwese dat ek moet ek u verwittig dat brig Dave Baker
(vanoggend) oorlede is. Hy was 'n "groot polisieman" en het diep spore in die veiligheidstak getrap. Sy seun, (Lt-kol) Dave, het geskakel - verdere besonderhede volg later. Ons eer sy nagedagtenis!
• Genl Johan van der Merwe: Ek is so jammer. Trevor was een van die baanbrekers. Dit is ‘n groot verlies. Groete, Johan van der Merwe.
Afsterwe mev Carine Susan Myburg (gebore Van Viegen) 20/11/1944. Ons is getroud die 9de Mei 1981. Geen kinders nie. Oorlede die 5de Desember 2010 om 22 : 25 in die Bayview Privaat Hospitaal Mosselbaai.
Die roudiens?/treurdiens? vind plaas die 18de Desember 2010 uit die
N.G.Kerk Reebok om 11:00. Met aftrede was sy `n rekenmeester in die Dept Onderwys, Pretoria.
Tubby Myburg: Baie dankie aan al my familie en vriende wat vir my boodskappe van bemoediging gestuur het met Carine se dood.Dit word baie gewaardeer en het ook vertroosting gebring. Ek het my rekenaar bietjie op gegradeer en die e-pos versendings funksie het iewers vas gehak. Alles is nou weer in orde en kan ek nou weer met julle gesels. Alles van die mooiste ook vir die nuwe jaar wat ons reeds begin het , mag daar baie vreugde ook in die nuwe jaar vir ons almal wees.Groetnis EKKE.
Ongesteld
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• Ons korrespondent Hennie Westraat skakel van Hermanus(pietersfontein): Hy berig dat JH ‘Johan’ Pieters – voorheen van Durban, Vryheid, Kompol X302 en ander plekke tans in Gansbaai in ’n versorgingseenheid opgeneem is.
• Rudi van Vuuren in die VSA sterk ook aan na ’n operasie – Chris van Vuuren,
Jeddah, Saudi Arabië.
Berigte van Heinde en Verre
Beste Hennie, Graag verneem ek of ek mag inteken op bogenoemde. Ek is nie ‘n SAP
Veteraan nie maar het as reservis in die vorige SAP diens gedoen (1970 tot 1980) en
verrig tans aktiewe diens as SAPD reservis te SAPD Hoofkantoor (NATJOINTS), Bev
Kol Louis Dafel. As lid van die Militêre Veterane Vereniging skryf Kol Johann
Vorster altyd van Hennie Heymans van die ZARP’e, en ek het op die internet op u
webtuiste toegang verkry wat baie interessant is, veral die destydse SAP tydskrif
die NONGQAI. Ek het baie jare gelede hierdie tydskrif as jongman gelees tydens
vakansie kuiers by my oom en gesin nl daardie tyd Sers Theuns Scheepers, Goud-
Tak te Barberton. Tydens my diens tydperk by Afd Mil Inl nou bekend as Verd Inl
het ek ook nou saamgewerk met die voorheen SAPV. Dankie, PJ vd Merwe (Cobus).
Hallo Cobus! Natuurlik mag jy "inteken" op die polisiekoerant! Kliek op die skakel: http://issuu.com/hennieheymans/docs en dubbelkliek op enige polisiekoerant en siedaar! U kan ook "subscribe" (inteken) tot die polisiekoerant op ISSUU - dis gratis! Kyk net vir die blou skakel "subscribe" op ISSUU. Hierdie stelsel laat ons toe om "groot" foto's edm te laai ens ens teen geen koste vir ons lesers nie. Stuur ons die polisiekoerant as ‘n word.doc uit, dan is hy baie groot en weier verskeie ontvangers se bediener om die koerant te ontvang. Op hierdie wyse kos hy niemand iets! Baie dankie vir die belangstelling. Groete, Hennie Heymans.
Johan Jonker (1): Beste Hennie, Ek loop vandag toevallig die "polisiekoerant" raak! My oorlede pa, Michael (Mike) Adriaan Jonker was sy hele lewe 'n polisieman en ek wil baie graag sy loobbaan en stories navors en vir die nageslag opteken. Dalk is daar lesers wat hom nog onthou en nog staaltjies en fotos het…. Hy het op George skool gegaan en moes ongeveer in die 1940's (dink ek) in die depot gewees het en was daarna in Calizdorp, Ladismit, Knysna, Stilbaai, Mosselbaai en Hofmeyr gestationeer. Hy was in die 1970's op offisiers en boskursusse. Hierna was hy stasiebevelvoerder op Middelburg Kaap, en is uiteindelik in 1976 medies ongeskik uit die diens (met die rang van Kaptein). Gedurende die 1960/70 was hy aktief betrokke by die SWD atletiek span se afrigting. In die 70 was hy twee maal in die Rhodesiese bos. Twee van sy jonger broers; my ooms "Toel" en Louis was ook in die polisie – gestationeer in Soweto en Middelburg – beide al afgetree. Ek sal dit baie
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waardeer as enigeen van jou lesers wat hom onthou (of fotos het), my kan kontak by die epos: [email protected] dankie en voorspoedige 2011. Johan Jonker.
• Hallo Johan, Lekker om van jou te hoor - ek plaas jou brief in die nuwe polisiekoerant wat so teen die einde van die maand verskyn. Stuur asb foto van u vader! Groete, Hennie
Johan Jonker (2): Baie dankie – sal eers 'n foto moet soek …. Ons bly lank in die buiteland!
Piet van Zyl: Goeiemôre en ‘n baie geseënde en voorspoedige Nuwejaar aan al my e-pos vriende. Onthou ek is nou permanent terug in Nelspruit.
Good morning and a very happy end prosperous new year to all my e-mail friends. Remember I’m now permanent back in Nelspruit and on address and mobile as per below. Walk Tall, Piet Van Zyl.
• Welkom in die RSA!
Why the Police harass people: Steve Seargent (UK)
To all my Police mates serving and non this is great! I nearly didn't read this but am
so glad I did!! I'm sure you will see the message.
Recently, South Australia Police ran an e-mail forum (a question and answer
exchange) with the topic being "Community Policing."
One of the civilian email participants posed the following question,"I would like to
know how it is possible for police officers to continually harass people and get
away with it?"
From the "other side" - the law enforcement side - Sgt Kym Webb of Mount Barker
police, a policeman with a sense of humour, replied:
"First of all, let me tell you this...it's not easy. In the Adelaide Hills we average one
cop for every 600 people. Only about 60% of those cops are on general duty (or what
you might refer to as "general patrols") where we do most of our harassing.
The rest are in non-harassing departments that do not allow them contact with the
day to day innocents. At any given moment, only one-fifth of the 60% general
patrols are on duty and available for harassing people while the rest are off duty. So
roughly, one cop is responsible for harassing about 5,000 residents.
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When you toss in the commercial business, and tourist locations that attract people
from other areas, sometimes you have a situation where a single cop is responsible
for harassing 10,000 or more people a day.
Now, your average eight -hour shift runs 28,800 seconds long. This gives a cop one
second to harass a person, and then only three-fourths of a second to drink a
Farmer's Union Iced Coffee AND then find a new person to harass. This is not an
easy task. To be honest, most cops are not up to this challenge day in and day out. It
is just too tiring.What we do is utilizing some tools to help us narrow down those
people which we can realistically harass.
The tools available to us are as follows:
PHONE: People will call us up and point out things that cause us to focus on a
person for special harassment. "My neighbour is beating his wife" is a code phrase
used often. This means we'll come out and give somebody some special
harassment. Another popular one is, "There's a guy breaking into a house." The
harassment team is then put into action.
CARS: We have special cops assigned to harass people who drive. They like to
harass the drivers of fast cars, cars with no insurance or no driver's licences and the
like. It's lots of fun when you pick them out of traffic for nothing more obvious than
running a red light. Sometimes you get to really heap the harassment on when you
find they have drugs in the car, they are drunk, or have an outstanding FINS
warrant on file.
RUNNERS: Some people take off running just at the sight of a police officer.
Nothing is quite as satisfying as running after them like a beagle on the scent of a
bunny. When you catch them you can harass them for hours.
LAWS: When we don't have PHONES or CARS and have nothing better to do, there
are actually books that give us ideas for reasons to harass folks. They are called
"Statutes". These include the Criminal Law Consolidation Act, Summary Offences
Act, Road Traffic Act and a whole bunch of others ... They all spell out all sorts of
things for which you can really mess with people.
After you read the law, you can just drive around for a while until you find
someone violating one of these listed offences and harass them. Just last week I saw
a guy trying to steal a car. Well, there's this book we have that says that's not
allowed. That meant I got permission to harass this guy. It is a really cool system
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that we have set up, and it works pretty well.
We seem to have a never-ending supply of folks to harass. And we get away with it.
Why?
Because for the good citizens who pay the tab, we try to keep the streets safe for
them, and they pay us to "harass" some people.
So the next time you are in the Hills, give me the old "single finger wave." That's
another one of those codes. It means, "You can harass me." It's one of our
favourites. "
Ger en Jos Sevink: Vars uit Nederland, of is dit Frankryk? voor de nieuwsgierige ... jammer dat de bijlage verviel. met een dikke kus van ons beiden, Ger en Jos (Sevink)
Er is 1 afbeel-ding naar u verzonden. Verjaardag van Jos op 21-11-2010 [Van al ons lesers baie geluk!]
Jean van der Rul (Belgie): Hierbij, in bijlage enkele foto’s van onze meest geliefde bezigheid in deze winter. Liefs van Lydia en Jean.
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141
Battle of Cuito Cuanavale: Jacque Wepener
"If defeat for South Africa meant the loss of 31 men, three tanks, five armoured vehicles and three aircraft, then we'd lost. If victory for FAPLA and the Cubans meant the loss of 4600 men, 94 tanks, 100 armoured vehicles, 9 aircraft and other Soviet equipment valued at more than a billion rand, then they'd won." (Colonel Dean Ferreira, CDR SADF in Angola, Paratus (SADF Magazine), March, 1989, p.14.)
Johann Kotze: Hallo Oom Hennie, Baie dankie vir al die e-mails met die polisie koerantjie. Ek waardeer dit baie en wag elke maand in spanning vir die volgende een. Hier by my gaan dit goed. My wêreld het intussen so ‘n bietjie verander en groot aanpassings is gemaak, maar ek lê nie. Die koerantjie wat ek af en toe kry is darem iets waaraan ek kan vashou as iets wat nie verander het nie, amper soos ‘n lig huis vir my. Stuur tog groete aan die Tannie en ‘n Geseënde Kersfees en voorspoedige Nuwejaar aan Oom, die familie en vriende. Gedurende Kersfees werk ek nagskof en sal ek seker maak dat die presente onder die boom daar bly vir wie dit bedoel is en nie pad vat na ou skelm se plek nie. Johann
Bart en Marie Vosloo: Hennie, dankie vir die Kersboodskap man. Lekker om altyd die koerant te lees. Beste wens ook vir jou en die familie vir Kersfees en die jaar wat voorle. Wanneer jy weer in hierdie wereld kom, maak n draai. Sal lekker wees om jou weer te sien. Groete. Johan Nel: Wil net vir jou en geliefdes n baie Geseende Kersfees toebid met n voorspoedige en gesonde 2011!!!!! Baie dankie ook vir jou onbaatsigtige harde werk en ywer waarmee jy ons deurlopend op hoogte hou van gebeure en interesante brokkies van die verlede. Servamus et Servemus !!! Groete uit die pragtige Kaap, Piesang.
Jan van Wyk: Hello Hennie, Baie dankie vir jou Kersboodskap. Ek hoop jou familie dag is geseënd, en 'n voorspoedige nuwe jaar vir jou. Ek boer met my Wartlemoene in Moorreesburg, en sal so klein artikel vir jou skryf volgende jaar. Groete Jan van Wyk.
Linden Coetzee: Baie dankie vir jou groot bydra! Groete, Linden Coetzee
Andre (België): A little card sent early for you to enjoy before the hustle and bustle of
Christmas sets in. Enjoy!! Wens U en alle vrienden Prettige Feestdagen en een
allerbest gezond 2011
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Toffie Risk: Baie dankie. Geseënde Kersfees en Voorspoedige Nuwejaar, Groete,TR
Gabriël en Hester Smit: Met liefde van Gabriël en Hester. Marius Swart: Harrismith: Uitstaande Medaljes: Hoop oom is gesond en dinge gaan voor die wind. Skuus ek's so skaars, maar ek het te veel ysters in die vuur. Daar is 'n ex polisielid wat wonder of hy nog sy bekamping van terrorisme medalje in die hande kan kry wat nooit aan hom uitgereik is nie? Ek reken nie. Maar weet oom dalk van iemand wat sal kan help? Bly Veilig, Marius. Ron Aylward: Hallo Hennie, Tag, ou kollega, daardie nuwe naam en die Grafiese Werk lyk darem goed op die PVK! Hiermee nog so ietsie. Groetnis, Ron
Dr Anthony Turton, Dear Friend, I am pleased to announce that my latest book - Shaking Hands with Billy - is now available for online ordering. Should you be interested in this topic, please click on the link beneath my signature and browse at leisure. If that fails please cut and paste the link into your browser. I would appreciate it deeply if you would consider circulating this within your network, should the contents of the book be of interest to you. Many thanks for your support and apologies to those uninterested in this topic for cluttering your inbox. Apologies also for cross postings arising from an earlier bulk mail attempt that went wrong. (I was never gifted in the IT department!) Best wishes, Dr Anthony Turton
Environmental Advisor | Speaker | Author South African Environmentalist of the Year 2010 +27 11 665 3645 (Work) +27 82 450 7967 (Mobile) www.shakinghandswithbilly.com
• Dr Turton het ‘n interessante loopbaan agter die rug – mense wat in nasionale veiligheid belangstel sal die boek waardeer. (Ek het nie die boek gelees nie.)
Shaking Hands with Billy by Dr Anthony Richard Turton has just been published by Just Done Productions @ R350.
Dr Turton’s work is the record of a personal journey, through one man’s experiences of various branches of the South Africa Security infrastructure. It is a detailed recollection, and almost obsessively footnoted and cross referenced. It provides a surprisingly intimate glimpse into a hidden world, the subterranean part of the ice-berg that was “The State”. The book takes us beyond this personal narrative however, leading us to explore in our memories and
experiences the way that the personal relates to the communal; how the miracle of
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the 1994 elections had many precursors in some of the most secretive aspects of the National Party created apparatus, and how those experiences could, or should, inform our journey onward as both a society and a country.
Dr Anthony Turton says in the introduction to this book “I pen the hidden history of South Africa’s transition to democracy as I experienced it, for no reason other than to seek to understand it myself. It is with considerable pride and a deep sense of humbleness that I commit a piece of the as yet unknown history of the Chief Directorate Covert Operations (CDCO) of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to writing. This is done, not with the intention of engaging in an orgy of kiss-and-tell self-aggrandizement, but rather as a humble record for those interested in such things, in order that they may know about the hidden world that was shrouded by intense secrecy that pervaded the very best years of my entire generation.“
“I dedicate this work to the memory of my comrades-in-arms in the three Security Force formations that I had the privilege to serve in – the Light Horse Regiment (LHR), 81 Armoured Brigade of the South African Defence Force (SADF); the Chief Directorate Covert Operations (CDCO) of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), also known as Chief Directorate “K”; and the South African Secret Service (SASS) of which I was a founding member, specifically serving within the Chief Directorate Covert Collection and Counter Intelligence (CDCCCI) – in a sincere attempt to explain our complex history as accurately as I am capable.”
The title, Shaking Hands with Billy, refers to a code-phrase used during a special operation, designed to bring the planner of the Pretoria car bomb to justice. I experienced this event as a turning point in the Armed Struggle, because I saw a major shift in Security Force response as a direct result, in a way that is remarkably similar to the contemporary American-led War on Terror. Using this analogy, the Pretoria car bomb was our mini 9/11 and nothing was the same afterwards, including the angry response by government that was hell-bent on finding a culprit to hold accountable. As an intelligence officer in that special operations team, I was confronted with many contradictions, so over time the notion of Shaking Hands with Billy came to symbolize to me the political transformation that occurred in South Africa, when we faced our darkest hours. I later came to respect the operative who we code-named “Billy”, and was pleased to see him take his rightful place as a democratically elected Member of Parliament. We never brought Billy home to trial as intended, because the peace negotiations aborted all aggressive operations, allowing us to give our full attention to sustaining the momentum towards peace instead. Thus, for me, Shaking Hands with Billy came to eventually represent the transformation in our own society, as we moved from endemic violence to what appears to be a stable peace. I believe that is a noble pursuit and so I share it.
“On its surface Shaking Hands with Billy is the story of one man’s odyssey. And odyssey is, I believe, the correct word, neither overstatement nor misrepresentation. To be sure, many chapters in Anthony Turton’s personal narrative describe the recruitment and work of a Cold War soldier – instilling in him a sense of detachment, manifest in that chilling, if necessary, “thousand yards stare”. Yet it is
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less a tactical, macho, warrior epic like the Odyssey than an alienated veteran’s dragged-out struggle, his repeated attempts to reconcile himself to a political landscape that is both strange and at times uncomfortable, and then to embrace the chaos and complexity as, for better or worse, his only home.” - James G. Workman
WJ Meintjes: Brig, baie dankie vir die insiggewende en baie interessante koerant. Ek het die koerant sien groei en deel dit met vriende in die magte. Hulle is ook lief vir ons geskiedenis. Dit is baie belangrik dat ons geskiedenis vir ons kinders bewaar bly. Hulle word gebombardeer met soveel negatiewe "inligting" dat hulle later 'n minderwaardigheidskompleks oor hulle voorsate gaan ontwikkel. Weereens baie dankie vir al die harde werk, Groete, WJ. Beste WJ – Baie dankie! Ek hou van die stertjie aan die einde van jou epos: “History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon. In politics stupidity is not a handicap".Napoleon Bonaparte .
Billy Cox: Hennie; All the Best to You and Yours this Christmas and a Most Pprosperous 2011. Billy
Dr PA Rousseau: Dagsê Hennie; Ryke seën van bo vir die Christusfees en
oorvloedige voorspoed vir die Nuwejaar, heeljaar lank. Baie dankie vir die
Koerant - dit is telkens 'n belewenis om te lees en het my lewe vanjaar regtig
goed gedoen ('n hele ruk terug het iemand gesing "you light up my life",
nouja, so lekker is die ontvangs en die lees van jou [liefdes]werk vir my).
Groetnis,Pieter
Mara Drury: Goeiemiddag. Wil ook net vir julle ook n geseende Kersfees en n
voorspoedige nuwe jaar toewens. ‘n Gesonde jaar vir julle en julle geliefdes.
Van Hilton en Mara.
Derek Brune: Dear Hennie, Greetings from Northern Namibia. In my new guise, as a businessman, working hard, and enjoying it. Everything of the very finest for Christmas and the New Year!! May God bless you and yours richly. You have done a fantastic job, to keep us all informed, and make us proud to have been members of the SAP. Whenever we old-members, and we as whites, get blamed for everything that goes wrong these days, I always remember your message - be proud, we did the best we could!! That makes me think of the Chinese proverb, actually a curse: "May you live in interesting times".
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I dearly wish to see you again, and to be able to talk about things on a more personal level. Best regards, Derek Brune.
Pieter Scholtz: Beste Hennie, Eerstens, baie dankie vir die baaaie moeite wat jy doen om die geskiedenis van die SAP te bewaar. Ek geniet elke uitgawe. Ek weet nie of jy sou wou hê dat ek die geskiedenis van die BBP eenheid van stigting af vir jou moet skryf nie. Ek wil dit nie doen as dit onnodig is nie. Miskien ook van die Polisie Toneelgroep en so iets van die Mannekoor. Mag jy en jou familie ‘n wonderlike kersfees geniet en mag jy 2011 as jou beste jaar ooit beleef! Vriendelike groete, Pieter Scholtz
Maritz Spaarwater: Beste Hennie, Baie dankie vir jou onvermoeide, uiters waardevolle werk ter verryking van ons almal se kennis en begrip van waar ons vandaan kom en hoeveel ons uit ons verlede het om op trots te wees. As oudlid van die SAW en Nasionale Intelligensiediens, waardeer ek dit te meer dat jy jou net 'n bietjie wyer span as die polisie, maar lg. interesseer my ook geweldig. Uit die Polisiekoerant het ek uitgevind van André van Ellinckhuizen van Vryheid, wat my op die spoor geplaas het van my grootoom Hendrik Johannes Spaarwater se storie in die Anglo-Boereoorlog en sy episode met Winston Churchill op die trein na Pretoria nadat dié by Chievely gevange geneem is, soos ook deur jou in die koerant gepubliseer. Dit het my weer gelei na onskatbare bronne van navorsing oor my familiegeskiedenis, soos veral Gert van der Westhuizen en sy verstommende plaasmuseum op Roodedraai naby Perdekop, Martha Bam van daardie omgewing en oom Gert Reyneke (94) van Ermelo (seun van my groottante Lizzie, weduwee van die gesneuwelde grootoom Hendrik, en haar tweede man Johannes Reyneke), wat nog helder eerstehandse herinneringe het van my pa se kleintyd op Amersfoort, en van dié se pa (Pieter- bittereinder)) en oom (Hendrik - gesneuwel). Ek het vele stories van hierdie mense gekry, asook uiters waardevolle foto's. Ek meen dat veral Gert van der Westhuizen alle moontlike steun verdien wat hy kan kry vir sy wonderlike projek, en het dit so oorgedra aan Riette Zaaiman, argivaris van die Voortrekker Monument-museum. Miskien sal genl Gert Opperman dit wil oorweeg. Ek skuld hierdie en ander wonderlike mense my ewige dank dat hulle dit moontlik gemaak het vir my om darem 'n redelik sinvolle familiegeskiedenis van die Spaarwaters kon bymekaar hark, sodat my nageslagte ook sal weet hoeveel hulle uit die verlede het om op trots te wees. Ek het veral een tergende oorblywende vraag:
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Hoe het oom Hendrik se naam op die gedenkmaal by Bergendal/Dalmanutha beland? Hy was nooit 'n polisieman nie en daar word hy as van Carolina aangeteken, terwyl hy sy lewe lank in die Amersfoort-omgewing gewoon het en tot sy dood in 1901 in die Wakkerstroom-kommando gedien het. Sy naam verskyn dan ook op die ABO-gedenktekens in Amerfoort en Wakkerstroom. As iemand dalk meer hiervan weet, sal ek baie graag daarvan hoor. Nogmaals dankie vir jou wonderlike werk. Doe zo voort! Alles van die heel beste toegewens vir 2011, Maritz Spaarwater.
Pierre van Rensburg: Baie dankie Hennie.Dieselfde vir jul almal. Ek sien uit na die uitgawes van die Polisie koerant in 2011.Groete.Pierre van Rensburg
HUMOR
Calipie Calitz: Dagsê, Sukkel nou al ‘n geruime tyd met my neukenaar. (Dit is wat Jurgens se Kleinseun dit op ‘n stadium genoem het). Kan e-posse ontvang maar wil dit om die dood nie stuur nie. Neem die apparaat toe in sodat die eksperts dit kan herstel. So ‘n jong klong help my toe. Ek verduidelik my problem en hy beduie ek moet so ‘n rukkie wag. Hy neem toe die neukenaar daar in hul agterkamer in.
Na so tien minute kom hy uit en sê, “Daar’s hy Oom. Hy’s nou reg!”
“Wat was verkeerd?” vra ek.
“’n Meganiese problem, Oom!” sê hy.
“Hoe kan dit ‘n meganiese problem wees! Dit ding is net van elektronika aan mekaar gesit!” sê ek.
“Is Oom ‘n taxi-drywer?” vra hy.
Ek skud my kop.
“Nou-ja” sê hy “Oom het seker al gehoor hulle sê die ding met die al die taxis se probleme is meganies en dit is die moer wat die stuurwiel vashou? Hierdie rekenaar se problem is ook meganies! Dis die MOER WAT DIE MUIS VASHOU!”
So ‘n blêrrie klein snotkop om so met ‘n ouman te praat?
Humor in Uniform: The commanding officer at the Russian military academy (the equivalent of a 4-Star general in the U.S.) gave a lecture on potential problems and military strategy. At the end of the lecture, he asked if there were any questions.
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An officer stood up and asked, "Will there be a third world war? And will Russia take part in it?" The general answered both questions in the affirmative. Another officer asked, "Who will be the enemy?" The general replied, "All indications point to China.” Everyone in the audience was shocked. A third officer remarked, "General, we are a nation of only 150 million, compared to the 1.5 billion Chinese. Can we win at all, or even survive?" The general answered, "Just think about this for a moment: In modern warfare, it is not the quantity of soldiers that matters but the quality of an army's capabilities. For example, in the Middle East we have had a few wars recently where 5 million Jews fought against 150 million Arabs, and Israel was always victorious." After a small pause, yet another officer - from the back of the auditorium asked, "Do
we have enough Jews?"
JURIE: GRAPPIE VIR DIE DAG: Archaeology: After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, British scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 200 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 150 years ago.
Not to be outdone by the Brit's, in the weeks that followed, an American archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story published in the New York Times: "American archaeologists, finding traces of 250-year-old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 50 years earlier than the British".
One week later, The Cape Times, in South Africa, reported the following: "After digging as deep as 30 feet in his backyard in Thabazimbi, South Africa, Lucky Simelane, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely sweet-all. Lucky has therefore concluded and stated categorically that 250 years ago, Africa had already gone wireless."
Just makes you just bloody proud to be from Africa, what...!
‘n Man moet ‘n sin vir humeur hê!
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Slot
Wat my betref, ek beleef ’n wonderlike tydperk vandat ek ook diep betrokke geraak
het by die navorsing van die Koevoet-boek! Ek het al talle oudkollegas opgesoek en
met besluitnemers en meningvormers van vervloë se dae gesels. So bv het adv Pik
Botha het my ontvang en hy het sy inset gelewer oor wat gebeur het op die vooraand
van 1 April 1989 nèt voor en nadat Swapo oor die grens gestroom het! (Oorlog is
maar die voortsetting van politiek met ander middele ens.)
‘n Punt wat mnr Pik Botha baie ferm beklemtoon is dat geen onderhandeling in
Suid-Afrika ooit kon plaas vind indien (1) die Kubane nie Angola verlaat het nie en
(2) die verkiesing moes vry en regverdig in SWA plaasgevind het.
Nadat die skandmuur in Berlyn “geval” het, is wêreld-kommunisme nie meer ‘n
bedreiging gewees nie en kon die politici onderhandel. Ek het met dapper manne
gesels wat aan verskeie operasies deelgeneem het. Daar is selfs dapperes onder die
dapperes te vinde! Veral met fiskale beperkings ontbreek dit ook nie aan
vindingrykheid onder ons mense nie! Genl-maj Piet Kruger en ander kan
onderhoudend gesels oor die ontwikkeling van die Casspir! Nog ‘n ding, die
oorgrote meerderheid van die polisiemanne het net hoë lof vir die SAW en wat hulle
veras in Angola vermag het. Dit maak mens trots om ‘n Suid-Afrikaner te wees
nadat mens met al hierdie mense gepraat het!
Baie dankie vir almal se insette en foto’s – dis ons almal se plig om ons geskiedenis
aan te teken en dit vir die nageslag te bewaar! Luister ook na “Vleuels” op
Maandae-aande – die voormalige SAP kom nou ook een maal per maand onder die
soeklig. Die manne in die buiteland kan Radio Pretoria op hul rekenaars opvang.
’n Goeie en ‘n mooi jaar word almal toegebid.
Next issue DV: 3rd week in February 2011
Volgende uitgaweDV: 3de week van Februarie 2011
Greetings / Groete
Salute / Saluut
Your Van Driver & Section Sergeant - U wabestuurder en wyksersant
No 43630(B) Hennie Heymans. © 2011