eNONGQAI Vol 4 No 5 by Hennie Heymans, Nongqai Publications

SAP â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 100

THE e-NONGQAI Un-official Police Gazette for VETERANS of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in the history of our Police, Defence and our National Security April 2013; Vol 4 no 5 DIE e-NONGQAI Nie-amptelike Polisiekoerant vir VETERANE van die ou Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemag en vir diegene wat belangstel in die geskiedenis van ons polisie, verdediging en nasionale veiligheid Mei 2013; Vol 4 Nr 5

Admiral Bennet and Lt-Col Spies and son

SAP â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 100 1

Welkom Welkom by hierdie besondere uitgawe van ons blad wat fokus op ons nasionale veiligheidsgeskiedenis en ander interessante aangeleenthede. Ons belig ook lede en voormalige lede van ons veiligheidsmagte. Weens tegnologiese ontwikkeling gebruik ons Engelse opskrifte omdat dat dit makliker bv op GOOGLE gevind kan word. Die gebruik van Engels stel ook ons oudkollegas in die buiteland se kinders in staat om meer van ons ou RSA Veiligheidsmagte te wete te kom.

Welcome Welcome to our May-issue of the eNONGQAI, our magazine that focuses on our South African national security history, the history of our South African Security forces and colleagues where ever they may be. We are apolitical and look back on our national security history objectively and truthfully. We also try to focus on our comrades; here and abroad. We also place articles that we think, you the reader might find interesting.

Front Cover Our front cover features Admiral Chris Bennett (SAN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ret) and Lt-Col At Spies and his son Const Spies, then a new member in the ranks of the South African Police.

Redaksie / Editors Editor & compiler HB Heymans MA: Strategic Studies. (Ret: Brig SAP & SSSC) Assistant-editor: Johan Jacobs (Former CPO, SA Navy Instructor and SA Marine.)

Gen Johan van der Merwe

Hennie Heymans (HBH)

Johan Jacobs

Col L Els, SC

Patron • General Johan V van der Merwe Some regular contributors • Col (Dr) Len Els, SC (Legal Advisor) • Anemari Jansen, MA • Capt Charles Ross (SAN – Ret): CWGC Technical Assistance •

Bruce Jones

Some photographers • Larry Hanton • Thys du Plessis

Policy The eNONGQAI is a laymen’s electronic magazine and we try to foster an interest in our past history. Today we have so much in the line of technical assistance that it has become easy to record the past. Let’s do it now; we even do digital recordings to record our oral history. We are not publishing a literary magazine, but rather a factual magazine therefore we publish the stories with the minimum of editing. We are not going to change the language of a story teller! We will only rectify the spelling mistakes. The way we as former members of the SA Security Forces speak, or spoke, is also a matter for those interested in philology and sub-cultures. We start way back, from 1652 to the present. All things of police, military or security is of impotence to us. We like to think that we act as a reservoir to preserve some our history. People and events create history – therefore people of all ranks and stations in life and their biographical data is of great importance to us. We also like to record and preserve interesting items of mutual interest. The protection of our fauna and flora was taken for granted; today our natural heritage is being plundered; even in museums.

Contents From our Padre: Rev Bob Timms ......................................................................................... 8 Personalia vanaf 01 April tot 28 April 2013: Johan Jacobs ................................................ 9 Afsterwes.............................................................................................................................. 9 Siekboek.............................................................................................................................. 10 Verjaarswense .................................................................................................................... 12 Allegaartjie ......................................................................................................................... 13 Editorial: History is Fun! – HBH......................................................................................... 17 National Security Personalities ........................................................................................... 22 Rear Admiral Christopher Hart Bennett, SM, MMM, SA Navy (Ret) ...................... 22 W/O Hans Otto Meier ...................................................................................................... 23 No 11660 Sgt “Ginger” During: SAP Malvern 1940: Lt-Gen RP During .................. 23 Sgt Hansie Brewis (SAP): Francois Gunter (France) .................................................... 24 1974: Welkom Roits: Lt-Col Q Grobler; Capt Stony Steenkamp, Brig JL Kotze and Col IJ Fischer – Andre Grobler ........................................................................................ 24 Lt Gen LP Neethling – Nagsersant ................................................................................. 26 Ds Harpir Martins: Mev M Geldenhuys........................................................................ 27 WH Stark (Umtata): Brian Kaighin ................................................................................ 27 1956: Issued with Assegai: Lt-Col JJ “Stompie” du Pont: ........................................... 28 Piet Bester & Jan van Wyk ............................................................................................... 28 Const Pat du Toit .............................................................................................................. 29 Colonel JH Vorster (SAP) ................................................................................................. 29 W/O (Ret) WR Thomson oorlede 2013-03-26 ................................................................ 32 Medal Parade SAP Forensic Science Laboratory (circa 1991) ..................................... 32 SAP Ballistiek Eenheid FWL Medalje Parade 1991 ...................................................... 33 Brig Arpin: SA Railways Police & SA Police ................................................................ 33 Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Capt Charles Ross (SAN – Ret) .............. 34 Commonwealth war graves in the Benghazi Military Cemetery in Libya ............... 36 National Security News ....................................................................................................... 38 •

Police ............................................................................................................................ 38 4

Crime: Rhinos and the Colonel ........................................................................................... 38 237 Rhinos killed by poachers: Nuwe renostersyfers skok ........................................ 39 Koevoet Unveiling of Memorial ......................................................................................... 40 Koevoetbond: Onthulling van die Koevoetmuur van Herinnering by die Voortrekkermonument, Pretoria .................................................................................... 40 Fotoalbum & byskrifte by die foto`s: Onthulling van die Koevoetmuur van Herinnering. ....................................................................................................................... 44 SAP 100: London UK – Peter Dickens ................................................................................ 51 SAP 100: Boodskap deur genl-maj Gert Opperman, Besturende Direkteur van Die Erfenisstigting .................................................................................................................... 52 Extracts from a Residential Robbery research – Dr R Zinn ............................................ 53 Dr. Zinn's findings from his research are as follows ............................................... 53 Robbers are NOT deterred by the following ............................................................ 54 Security measures that robbers DO consider to be deterrents ............................... 54 Recommendations that came from the research ...................................................... 54 •

Defence ........................................................................................................................ 55

SAAF – More accidents: Strategypage. .......................................................................... 55 Meer vliegongelukke deur SALM: Erika Gibson: Beeld van 22-04-2013 (via Johan Jacobs) ............................................................................................................................. 55 The South African Air Force Is Fading Fast .................................................................. 56 •

Intelligence .................................................................................................................. 58

Boston Bombing via M Truter (LA)................................................................................ 58 Photo’s of Boston Bombing.............................................................................................. 60 From the Press ....................................................................................................................... 61 Russel Botman oor skuld en hoop .................................................................................. 61 Oscar Pistorius-moordsaak.............................................................................................. 65 What Britain was like before Thatcher........................................................................... 66 10 552 claims for R7.1bn instituted against SAPS in 2011/12 - Nathi Mthethwa ..... 69 Jackie Selebi yet to pay back R17.4m in legal fees - Nathi Mthethwa ....................... 70 Murdersdrift ...................................................................................................................... 71 5

How to fix the SAPS: Douglas Gibson ........................................................................... 73 Thatcher's 1985 letters to PW Botha condemning Gabarone raids ................................ 74 13 soldiers killed in CAR. 17 farmers killed in SA - Pieter Groenewald................... 77 WikiLeaks, Mbeki, Hani, Zille en Zuma........................................................................ 78 Twee van Misdaadintelligensie voor vir korrupsie ..................................................... 80 National Security History .................................................................................................... 80 Anglo-Boer War: Graves of National Scouts at Malanskraal – Hennie Heymans .. 80 Comments .......................................................................................................................... 82 Anglo Boer War: Cape Police – Lt-Col W Marshall ..................................................... 83 HQ Natal Police: Pietermaritzburg: Dana Kruger ....................................................... 83 1909 Natal Police: The Statuette - HBH ......................................................................... 84 Heroes: Who are our heroes? .......................................................................................... 84 Do you remember the Southern Cross Fund? F Gunther .......................................... 85 SA Military History Society: Cape Towm: J van den Berg (Cape Town) ................. 86 1944 Military Intelligence (UDF) WW2 – Mark Newham .......................................... 98 World War II South African Memorial Plaques – Dewald Nel .................................... 101 •

52254 Air Sergeant Andries Albertus Nel, South African Air Force - Killed in

Action 8 Jan 1941 ............................................................................................................. 102 •

13502 Lance-Bombardier JA Nel, SAA: Died of Wounds 23 Nov 1941............ 106

•

Why the Nel brothers? ............................................................................................ 109

Bush- and Border War: South African Air Force ............................................................ 109 Eerste Bostoer na Serpa Pinto, Angola: Lt-kol At Spies ............................................ 109 Police Museum; Pretoria: Ockert Fourie (Cananda) ...................................................... 112 Polisiemuseum in nood .................................................................................................. 112 SAP Alexanderbaai – “Wielstap”: Piet Bester en Jan van Wyk ................................ 114 Preserving the Choo-Tjoe – Andrew Stevens (BSAP)................................................... 116 The Choo-Tjoe ................................................................................................................. 116 Filler: The Free State – Thys du Plessis ........................................................................ 118 Militaria, Medals and Uniforms ....................................................................................... 118 2nd Class Sgt H.E. Ramsden, VC (SAP) via Capt Peter Digby ................................ 118 6

GSWA – Police Uniforms: Japie Erasmus.................................................................... 122 SA Police Reserve: Mark Newham ............................................................................... 123 SAP Reserve HBH ........................................................................................................... 123 Decorations and Medals - How, Where and What to Wear? Brig-Gen Deon Fourie 123 Guides to Wearing Honours ......................................................................................... 123 Boeke & Geneaology........................................................................................................... 128 Resensie: Regter Kees van Dijkhorst: Boeke - adv Len Els ....................................... 128 Anglo Boer War: The South African War: Its Causes And Effects J.A. Hobson. ... 128 Calling all Truters:CD Truter Family Register ............................................................... 132 Truter Family Register ....................................................................................................... 132 Genealogie Familie Oosthuizen: Nelspruit ................................................................. 133 Letters & Jottings / Briewe en skryfsels ........................................................................... 134 Japie Erasmus van Warmbad se possak ...................................................................... 134 Twee Honderd Skoene: Kol MJJ van Rensburg (SALM: Afgetree) ............................. 136 Mis in my Gesig - MJJ van Rensburg ........................................................................... 138 My Pa - Die Generaal:

Izak Van Zyl ......................................................................... 140

Hugo Hannemann [Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie - Afgetrede Lede] .............................. 141 A point to Ponder ................................................................................................................ 142 Die “dooie-perd-teorie” (via Fanie Bouwer) .............................................................. 142 Shakespearian Wisdom: Catherine Lindie Conradie (via) ........................................... 142 East is East & West is West: Major General Jerry Curry, USA, Ret. via M Truter. 143 Nice to know ........................................................................................................................ 145 Elephants and in this case Loxodonta Africana ......................................................... 145 Elephant rescue in Namibia - Jana-Mari Smith .......................................................... 146 Ollie from Koevoet .......................................................................................................... 150 Space Shuttle Endeavour last Flight ............................................................................. 151 There was this Gun... .......................................................................................................... 156 Humour in uniform ............................................................................................................ 160 Galge Humor – Dr Len Els, SC...................................................................................... 160 7

Threat Alerts in 2012 Europe: By John Cleese ............................................................ 161 Scotland the Brave! ......................................................................................................... 162 Subject: Brandweer: Jeffers (SAP / BSAP / UK ) ......................................................... 163 Stop Press ............................................................................................................................. 163 Why Zambia’s Vice-President doesn’t like South Africa – and why he might have a point ............................................................................................................................... 163 Defence Bonus Bond ....................................................................................................... 166 Identification: Help needed ............................................................................................... 167 Indemity ........................................................................................................................... 170 Next Edition ......................................................................................................................... 170 Greetings - Groete ........................................................................................................... 170

From our Padre: Rev Bob Timms Greetings to you all, Scripture: 1 Thesssalonians 5:14 And we urge you, encorourage the fainthearted, help the weak (give support to the weak) and be very patient with everybody. Everyone has got his or her issues. Everyone is dealing with something. We must encourage the fainthearted. We must help those that are weak. We must be patient with others. Challenge: Take a moment and think about the people in your circle. Is there someone you need to encourage? Is there someone who is weak and who could benefit from your support? Have you been impatient with others? Remember we reap what we sow. Therefore let us encourage, help and be patient with others and we will reap the reward. Brothers and Sisters in arms, wherever you are, may the Lord bless and keep you. May His countenance shine upon you, as we help, encourage and be patient with each other to reap His promises. God's Blessings to you all for the month. 8

Personalia vanaf 01 April tot 28 April 2013: Johan Jacobs Afsterwes

Vrydag 05 April: Cassie Jan Cartens berig; Rus in vrede oom Hondjies Fourie, oud-ao. van Maitland Honde Eenheid. Sterkte aan die familie.

Vrydag 05 April: Hennie Heymans berig; Pine Pienaar dit is met skok en hartseer dat ek julle in kennis moet stel dat Rodney Bradley (ZD) vanoggend om 07:00 by sy huis geskiet was en beswyk het terwyl hy met Frank McCarter gesels het oor hulle reis na die Monument. Ons gebed gaan uit na sy gesin!

Woensdag 10 April: Robert Brand berig; Japie de Jager laat weet dat Oom Tommie Theron,, oud speur adj.off. van Walvisbaai gister op sy 80ste verjaardag oorlede is.

Dinsdag 16 April: Sarie van Niekerk berig; Brig. Ivor Human het my nou net gebel en die baie hartseer nuus gegee dat ons ou groot maat kol. Steve Oelofse (73) gistermiddag aan 'n hartaanval dood is. Hy was die afgelope tyd op hartpille maar dit het blykbaar goed gegaan met hom. Hy en sy vrou het gistermiddag in hul huis in Villeria gestaan en kos maak toe hy net inmekaar gesak en gesterf het. Steve was verbonde aan Pretoria, Durban en Brixton moord moord-en-rooftakke. rooftakke. Hy het in 1992 medies ongeskik uit die polisie getree. Sterkte aan sy familie, ons bid vir julle

Wednesday 17 April: Billy Cox report; It is with much regret and sorry that I have to inform you today that Colonel Steve Oelofse passed away yester 16 April 2013 at his house in Pretoria. Funeral Friday 19 April. Place and Time will to be announced. R.I.P. P. SALUTE

Donderdag 18 April: Henry Beukes berig; Martiens Steyn van die Soweto blitspatrolllie oorlede in vliegongeluk met Tiger Moth in dam geval. Rus in vrede ou pel.

Vrydag 19 April: Billy Cox berig; Alfonse van Niekerk (52) van Chilly Trench Roodepoort is gisteraand - vanoggend oorlede....HARTVERSAKING...R.I.V. 9

– SALUUT. Hy was saam by die Voortrekker Monument op 6 April 2013!.

Woensdag 24 April: Tom van Rensburg berig; Dit is met groot hartseer dat ek moet sê dat Brigadier Mac McLachlan twee uur verlede nag oorlede is. Hy het lank gesukkel met 'n breingewas. Rus in vrede, Brigadier. Saluut!!

Woensdag 24 April: Dol Swart berig; Vandag afskeid geneem van 'n oudkollega en baie goeie vriend! RIP Martiens Steyn

Siekboek

Vrydag 12 April: Johan Jacobs berig; My goeie vriend van oor die 40 jaar, oud-reservis Eric van de Venter (nie op die blad nie maar baie van julle sal hom ken van die braaie) het by die dood omgedraai. Hy het gister 'n angiogram gehad en 'n stent is ook in sy hart gesit. Tydens die prosedure het sy hart 2 keer gaan staan. Hy is baie beter vanoggend en mag moon moontlik vandag huis toe gaan. Sterkte Eric en word gou gesond!

Vrydag 19 April: Tubby Myburg berig; Goeie more vriende en vriendinne, ja ek sit by broer Mossie aan huis hier in PTA vir die volgende paar dae. Ek word nou Donderdag die 25ste geopereer. (Volgens POLMED se magtiging.) Hulle haal nou al die ou skroewe uit en vervang hulle met nuwe dun sterker skroewe skroe en sit dan ook twee ekstra skroewe in met nog kunskraakbeen. Ek sal glo die vyfkamp daarna kan doen. Ek is so bly ek kon nie eers om die tafel loop nie. Malinda en Frik dankie dat julle gehelp het om die mense op hoogte te hou.

Maandag 22 April: Hennie Heymans berig; Tubby Myburg se broer Mossie laat soos volg weet: “Goeie more, Tubby het op die oomblik baie pyn. Hy maak hom nou gereed om vanmiddag 14:00 hospitaal toe te gaan. Hy kry vanmiddag pyn behandeling en word dan moreoggend geopereer vir die rug. Die werwel bokant die een wat verlede jaar vasgemaak is het verbrokkel en veroorsaak drukking op die senuwee. Ek dink hy is in goeie hande en sien daarna uit om geopereer te word. Groete, Mossie.” Ek het met Tubby gepraat en ons het lekker gelag! Ons bede is mag die Groot Geneesheer self intree en teenwoordig wees. Amen. - HBH

Maandag 22 April: Hennie Heymans berig; Ontvang e-pos pos van Este, Tiny Nortje se eggenote; Hi Hennie, Wil net laat weet Tiny is opgeneem in ICU as gevolg van Hepatitus, hy is in Bedford Gardens. Groete, Este.

Dinsdag 23 April: Nico Frylinck berig; Word moreoggend 5 uur opgeneem in die Urologie hospitaal vir verdere toetse ... Dr nie tevrede met die uitslae nie! Sitrep: Biopsie van prostaat gedoen en daar moet ‘n verdere operasie gedoen word. Druk die urienkanaal toe!

Woensdag 24 April: Terrance Schwartz berig; Sitrep – nou net met Tiny Nortje se vrou Este gepraat, diagnose nou is nierstene, en wat nie lekker klink, iets met die pankreas. Hy word more oorgeplaas na die Donald Gordon, Parktown, vir v verdere behandeling. In ons gebede Tiny.

Donderdag 25 April: Hennie heymans berig; Bulletin: Tubby Myburg “Goeie middag, Tubby is toe eergister 15:00 op 23/4/2013 deur dr Ettienne Coetzee in die Fearie Glen Hospitaal geopereer. Die operasie het ongeveer ‘n uur geneem. Hulle het nog ‘n rugwervel met twee skoewe en ‘n staaf aan die onderste rugwerwels vasgemaak. Hy was tot vanoggend 11:00 in ICU en is toe oorgeplaas na die algemene al saal. Die fisioterapeut het onmiddelik begin met haar oefeninge. Hy het reeds baie ver geloop. Hy is opgewek en stap baie lekker. Hy het gevra dat ek almal wat geskakel, ee-posse posse en sms’e gestuur het, hom besoek het en vir hom gebid het asook aan hom gedink het van harte te bedank. Hy sterk vining aan en sal binnekort begin om tuin te maak. Sy volgende besoek aan die Dr is 4/06/2013 Groete, Mossie Myburg”

Vrydag 26 April: Hennie Heymans berig; BULETIN: Tiny Nortje: Nortje Received from Terrence Schwartz: ““Tiny Tiny going in for surgery at 16h00 to remove some "stones". Saw him this morning and he is looking 75% better than he has for the last 5 days, da 11

even smiled a couple of times. Will keep you posted and thanks for your calls, concerns and prayers over the last few days..”

Saterdag 27 April: Nico Frylinck berig; Hallo almal. My vrou het my BlackBerry gelaai en nou is ek weer op volle sterkte ! Kyk lekker rugby en krieket en nog wat, heeldag lank. Lê nou al van Woensdag af in Urologie Hospitaal. Gistermiddag geopereer en hoop en bid om Dinsdagoggend ontslaan te word

Verjaarswense

Sondag 07 April: Tubby Myburg berig; Veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag Magriet Vorster Botha Botha,, mag jy die dag geniet en ek is jammer dat ek nie vandag daar kan wees om jou te bederf nie, miskien volgende jaar.

Maandag 08 April: Sarie van Niekerk berig; ‘‘n n Spesiale mooi dag aan Paul Greyling wat vandag verjaar! Ek dink hy is vandag 62. Baie geluk Paul hoop jy gaan 'n pragtie dag hê, baie bederf word, baie kersies op jou koek kry en 'n wonderlike jaar vir jou. Dinsdag 09 April: Pottie Potgieter berig; Dit is vandag Marius Morland se verjaarsdag. Marius baie geluk met jou verjaarsdag mag jy nog baie vorentoe hê. Ek hoop jy geniet vandag 'n wonderlike bederf dag en dat die toekoms jaar vir jou net die mooiste inhou.

Saterdag 13 April: Johan Jacobs berig; Ons goeie vriend Dana Kruger verjaar vandag! Veels geluk Dana,geniet die dag en die lekker bederf.

Sondag 14 April: Sarie van Niekerk berig; Dit is vandag ons oudkollega, Eric Roos op sy dae onder meer van die speurders in Kempton Park, se verjaarsdag. Geluk Eric geniet die dag en ek hoop jy gaan verskriklik bederf word.

Maandag 15 April: Sarie van Niekerk berig; Veels geluk aan Japie Jakes Erasmus wat vandag verjaar. Japie hoop jy het 'n wonderlike dag, kry baie geskenke, eet lekker koek en dat die begin van 'n pragtige jaar is. Geniet dit dit!! 12

sdag 17 April: Hennie Heymans berig; Verjaarsdag: Ons kollega No Woensdag 43607, Johan Visage by Mimi Janse van Vuuren Vuuren-Visage verjaar vandag. Baie geluk 43607 en mag daar nog baie wees! Geniet die dag van 43630.

Sondag 21 April: Johan Jacobs berig; Vriend Eric van de Venter vier sy 71 ste verjaarsdag vandag. Veels geluk Eric mag jy gou gesond word en mag daar nog vele wees!

Woensdag 24 April: Tom van Rensburg berig; Leon Crafford verjaar vandag! Baie geluk!!

Saterdag 27 April: Johan Jacobs berig; Dit is ook vandag Sharon M端nz Heaney se verjaarsdag! Veels geluk Sharon met jou spesiale dag, geniet dit en die bederf ederf wat daarmee gepaard gaan.

Allegaartjie

Dinsdag 02 April: Piet Botha berig; Luca - ons eerste kleinseun het vanoggend 03h45 gearriveer - hy moes eers Donderdag gekom het, maar hy kon nie meer wag nie! Hy weeg 3.05kg en is 47cm lank. Dankie vir almal se gebede en goeie wense.

Woensdag 03 April: Dalene Steenkamp berig; Ek kry nou die skindernuus van die SWAPOL blad af: Eddie Holloway is bevorder na Adjunk Kommissaris in 13

NAMPOL. Baie geluk Eddie, trots op jou en mag jy jou taak met net soveel eer uitvoer as wat jy tot dusver gedoen het! Saluut!

Woensdag 03 April : Sarie van Niekerk berig; Ek wil graag hier aan ons oudkollega, wat ook lid van die blad is, Wikus Weber se baie geluk Wikus. Wikus se seun, ook Wikus kry vandag graad. Klein Wikus soos ons die kind noem is 'n wĂŞreldklas driekamp-atleet atleet wat die land se naam al op menige byeenkoms oorsee baie hooggehou het. Hy het reeds etlike jare gelede al Protea Protea-kleure kleure in die sport ontvang, toe hy nog op skool was. Baie geluk Wikus en Wikus. Klein Wikus jy verdien dit en groot Wikus klop jouself op die skouer met hierdie pragtige seun van jou

Donderdasg 04 April: Lynette Spies berig; Verwelkom At Spies terug vanaf Spanje!

Saterdag 06 April: Emsie Pienaar berig; More Kollegas vanuit Nylstroom. Ons is by Weesgerus en ek is die draer van goeie nuus vanoggend! vanoggend Die chalets, ander geboue en alle geriewe, swembaddens, gronde, grasperke en diens is puik. Als is skoon,, netjies en word goed in stand gehou!!

Sondag 07 April: Tubby Myburg berig; Myburg Bondslid Oom Pieter Myburgh 89 jaar! So besoek ons toegewyde lidmate die Myburgh Bondskantoor in Bloemfontein. Oom Pieter is 89 jaar oud en woon ++-10 10 km buite die stad en verras ons vandag met 'n besoek aan die kantoor. Baie geluk Oom Pieter jy is 'n voorbeeld vir baie van ons.

Sundag 07 April: Peter Gillatt report; Capt (Ret) Albert Scott now a 14

resident pensioner at Royal Hospital Chelsea & members of the SA Legion-UK Legion yesterday at our quarterly meeting & social. It's wonderful to be able to share some of our time with Albert & some of the other pensioners at RHC. "Not for ourselves, but for others."

Maandag 08 April: Loraine Terblans berig; Goeie more almal! Hierdie ouma moet net bietjie spog. Die Here is groot en so ook Sy genade. Ons 12de kleinkind, Emma,is gister gebore!. Pragtige ou "dingetjie". Lief haar sommer baie! Vriende deel in ons vreugde!!!

Maandag 08 April: Meraai Dewet berig; Stigter van Koevoet - Generaal Dreyer lewer sy toespraak gister by die opening van die Koevoet Gedenkmuur by die Voortrekker Monument. Nog net so regop en 'n voorbeeld vir ons almal!. almal

Maandag 15 April: Gjh Lieb Liebenberg berig; Het oupa vir die eerste keer geword vandag!

Donderdag 18 April: Lynette Spies berig; Dit is vandag ons 26ste huweliksherdenking! Wow .... ons gaan vir goud!

Woensdag 17 April: Kallie Britz berig; Generaal Suiker Britz en tannie Annetjie saam met kleindogter Rina by Pretoria Pretoria-Oos hospitaal.

Sondag 21 April: Meraai Dewet berig; More, 22 April is ek en die liefde van my lewe, Johan, 18 jaar getroud. Ons het mekaar deur 'n "blind date" leer ken. Johan is nog steeds in die Korrektiewe Dienste en het ek sy naam en "magsnommer" geken voor ek hom nog gesien het. Hy was betrokke in 1994 by die onluste onlust by die Witbank gevangenis evangenis en was 'n hele klomp bewaarders, SAP SAP-lede lede aangekla van “Aanranding GBH”.. Op daardie stadium het ek met die lede se kriminele oortredings gewerk en natuurlik was Johan se naam ook op die lys van die aangeklaagdes.. Wel 18 jaar later, lat kon my ouers nooit vir 'n beter skoonseun gevra het nie.

Saamgestel deur Johan Jacobs; kontak besonderhede selnommer: 0769287320 Epos: jhnjacobs65@gmail.com GROETE TOT DIE VOLGENDE PERSONALIA!

Editorial: History is Fun! – HBH 17

As die redakteur van die eNONGQAI wil ek verklaar dat dit ons doel is om ons nasionale veiligheidsgeskiedenis na te speur en vir ons nageslag te bewaar. Die tydskrif trek in sy vierde jaar. Ons plaas gewoonlik stories onveranderd (hoogstens maak ons net die spelfoute reg) omdat ons "ARMY- en POLISIEtaal" ook deel van ons geskiedenis was.

As the editor of the eNONGQAI I have stated that our goal is to research and publish our national security history. As factually and unbiased as possible. The magazine is now in its fourth year. We usually publish stories unchanged (only the spelling errors are corrected) because our "ARMY and POLICE-parlance" is also part of our history.

Mense en gebeure is belangrik. Hoofsaaklik stel ons belang in ons magte se personeel, ons spioene en gebeure / insidente/ operasies wat van veiligheidsbelang was. Ons hanteer die geskiedenis van die gewese SAP / SAW / SSVR en ook ons nasionale veiligheidsgeskiedenis.

People and security / historical events are important. We are mainly interested in the personnel of our forces, our intelligence operatives and events / incidents / operations of security interest. We deal with the history of the former SAP / SAW / SSSC and our national security history.

Daar is so baie mense - joernaliste en akademici - wat 'n verwronge beeld van ons veiligheidsgeskiedenis weergee. Ek moet bieg; ek kom mense tee wat totaal onkundig oor ons geskiedenis is en dan idiotiese uitsprake maak. Dit is hoofsaaklik te wydte aan onkunde, vooroordeel of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n gebrek aan kennis en insig. Soms hoe groter die leuen en hoe meer die leuen herhaal word, glo die mense1

There are so many people, including journalists and academics that have a distorted image of our national security history. I must confess; some people are totally ignorant of our history and make idiotic statements. This is mainly due to ignorance, prejudice or a lack of knowledge and/or understanding. The more and bigger the lies about us, the easier they are believed by the gullible public or those with a nefarious objective.

Ons taak is om die feite weer te gee. Feite is en bly belangrik. Die toets is: Is dit waar, is dit regverdig, is dit billik teenoor die ander deelnemers. Hoe vertolk ons dit en waar pas dit in, in die groot prentjie? Ook moet ons onthou dat daar ander rolspelers was: die inligtingsmanne, die operasionelemense, die polisie, die lugmag, die vloot en die leer; almal is as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n span gesamentlik betrokke. So;

Our primary task is to give the facts. Facts remain important. The test is: Is it true, is it fair, and is it fair to the other participants? How we interpret the facts and where these facts into the big picture? Also we must remember that there were other role players: the information men, operational people, the ordinary police, the air force, the navy and the army; 18

heldedade moet soms ook teen die groter agtergrond van spanwerk gesien word. Persepsies is ook belangrik; wat het ons vyand van ons gedink?

everyone acted collectively as part of the team. So, heroics must sometimes be seen and judged against the wider background of teamwork.

Ons doel is juis om vir ons nageslag te wys wat ons gedoen het. En o ja! Ek Perceptions are also important; what did moet dit ook sê: "In my oë was almal wat the enemy think of us? We need to geveg het ysters!” collect these perceptions to complete our history. Ons wil nie net ons nageslag dit bewaar wat ons ervaar het nie, maar ons wil ook Our goal is not only to show our lag, mekaar verstom en verbaas! descendants what we did; we would like Geskiedenis kan pret wees! to amaze, to amuse you and to pay recognition where it’s due. Ons in die ou RSA het goeie opleiding gekry – van wêreldgehalte. Ons In the old RSA we received training of polisiemanne is in die 1960’s deur die the highest calibre. During the 1960’s we SAW voorberei en opgelei vir die policemen were prepared and trained for “bosoorlog” bv in Durban en in the "bush war" by the SADF e.g. in Oudtshoorn. Ander polisiemanne is weer Durban and in Oudtshoorn. Other deur die Rhodesiërs opgelei. policemen were trained by the Rhodesians. Ons het uiters goeie toerusting en goeie uitrusting gehad. Dink maar aan ons We had very good equipment. Think of wapentuig. Selfs die SAP het sy eie our weapons. Even SAP has its own gewapende personeeldraer ontwikkel in armed personnel carrier; developed in samewerking met die WNNR. (SAP + collaboration with the CSIR. (SAP + CSIR CSIR = CASSPIR! Die naam Casspir het = Casspir! The name Casspir has nothing niks met spookvoertuie te doen nie. Van to do with ghost or “spook vehicles”. ons eerste voertuie in Rhodesië was Our first “mine protected vehicles” in wel“spookvoertuie” genoem.) Rhodesia literally called “spook vehicles”.) Ons inligting was goed. Ons het inligting van drie bronne gekry: Overte bronne, Our information (or intelligence) was koverte bronne en tegniese bronne. good. We received information from Mense en voorvalle laat “spore” na wat three sources: Overt sources, covert deur kundiges ontsyfer en gelees kan sources and technical resources. People word. Gevange terroriste het ook and incidents leave "tracks" which can be inligting gegee asook ons spioene. picked up “read” and deciphered by Vliegtuie het sekere lugfoto’s geneem. experts. Captured terrorists have given Inligting is soms duur en soms spot information as well information from our goedkoop! ‘n Voorbeeld van lospraatjies intelligence people, infiltrators and 19

is kroegstories – daar is altyd iemand informants. In some cases our SAAF took wat luister wanneer ander fluister! some aerial photos to substantiate information received. Information is Ons het goeie baie goeie mediesedienste sometimes expensive and sometimes dirt ervaar. cheap! An example is loose talk in bars there is always someone who listens Die gewone troep (selfs as wag by 'n when others whisper! NSP) en die gewone konstabel het ook sy taak vervul. Sonder hulle sou daar chaos We experienced excellent medical gewees het. services. En ja, ons het spesialiste gehad ... vir elke bedreiging het ons 'n spesiale mag gehad. Nog onbesonge helde is die manne van Koevoet en Spesiale Operasies, met inbegrip van daardie “ander manne” van wie ons nie sal praat nie! Hulle het ook hul kant gebring.

The troopie (even as a guard at a National Key Point) and the ordinary constable fulfilled their task. Without them there would have been chaos.

And yes, we had specialists ... for every threat we have a special task force. Other unsung heroes are the men of Koevoet Wat ek vir ons kritici wil sê, is: "Kyk na and those of the Recce’s who performed die telkaart." Die SAW en die SAP het sy Covert Special Operations, including kant gebring! Ons het ons taak getrou tot those "other guys" of whom we will not die dood vervul. talk! They also did their bit. Laastens: Die aspoestertjie van die VMe in die ou RSA. Ek wil graag ‘n lansie vir What I want to say to our critics: "Look at hulle breek: our SADF & SAP scorecard." We fulfilled our task; faithful unto death. Die ou Spoorwegpolisie was puik! Ons vergeet so maklik daardie ouens se goeie Finally: The Cinderella of the security werk. Hulle het die landwaartse forces in the old South Africa, our verdediging van ons hawens hanteer brothers in the old Railway Police: saam met die SAV wat die seewaartse verdediging gedoen het ------- en onthou The old Railway Police was excellent! We hulle het ons hawens, treine; vliegtuie en forget so easily that they did good work. pyplyne veilig gehou. They handled the landward defence of our ports with the SAN and Marines who was responsible for our seaward Hulle het ons hawens verdedig in die sin defence ------- remember our ports, dat ons vrylik kon handel dryf. Hier het trains; aircraft and pipelines were kept hulle uitstekend met die mariniers en die safe. They defend our ports making free SA Vloot saamgewerk. Ons SAL- trade possible. vliegtuie het gevlieg (en behalwe vir die kaping van die SAL Boeing in Malawi) They performed excellent work in 20

het ons geen kapings ervaar nie.

conjunction with the Marines and the SA Navy. Our SAA aircraft flew (and except Ek was gewone konstabel op die grond - for the hijacking of the SAA Boeing in later was ek bevoorreg om die Magte se Malawi) unhindered and we suffered no werk van "bo af" op strategiese en hijackings. taktiese vlak te beskou. En ek het ek diep onder die besef gekom wat ons manne en vroue hier; en in die buiteland vermag I was ordinary constable on the ground het. and later I was privileged to view the performance of our Forces right from the Die beste wat Moskou, Hanoi, Havana of "top" - both from a strategic and tactical Beijing in die veld kon stoot; het ons level. We deeply appreciate and realize getroef! Ons het ook ons mense in die what our men and women here; and Kremlin gehad. abroad have accomplished. Ons salueer u almal wat hul kant in hierdie stryd onvoorwaardelik gebring het â&#x20AC;&#x201C; soms onder protes. Ek salueer u almal maar ons moet ons gevalle kamerade â&#x20AC;&#x201C; wat die hoogste offer gebring het - altyd onthou!

The best Moscow, Hanoi, Havana or Beijing could push on to the battlefield we could beat! We also had our people in the Kremlin.

We salute all those who fought or took part in this struggle - sometimes under Onthou: Al dink u so, NIEMAND het ter duress. We will always remember our vergeefs gesterf nie. fallen comrades who paid the supreme sacrifice and we will look at our elderly Saluut brothers in need! Remember: No one has died in vain!

Salute

National Security Personalities Rear Admiral Christopher Hart Bennett, SM, MMM, SA Navy (Ret) After matriculating from Kingswood College, Grahamstown, Chris Bennett joined the South African Navy and served for over 30 years at sea and ashore. In 1964 he qualified as a Torpedo Anti Submarine specialist officer on the Royal Navy course at HMS Vernon and in 1978 successfully completed the SADF Joint Services Staff Course. In the early 1970s he was Naval Attaché in London for three years and later served in Pretoria at both Naval Headquarters and Defence Headquarters in various staff posts. He was promoted to a Rear Admiral in 1986 when he was appointed as Flag Officer Commanding of the newly established Naval Command West. Returning to Pretoria after three successful years for his final appointment as Chief of Naval Staff. • • • • •

Since his retirement he has written many articles and papers on maritime strategic matters affecting the South African Navy; He is the author of a number of Naval Digests published by the Naval Heritage Trust of South Africa; He is the author of ‘Three Frigates – The South African Navy comes of age’, a definitive history of the President Class frigates; ‘South African Naval Events Day-by-Day’ a diary of major naval events in the history of South Africa; and Co-author of “South Africa’s Navy – A Navy of the People and for the People”.

W/O Hans Otto Meier

No 11660 Sgt “Ginger” During: SAP Malvern 1940: Lt-Gen RP During Hi Hennie - Hoe het dit vanoggend gegaan (1 April 2013) - hoop daar was 'n paar foto’s? Ons was in die gees by julle! 'n Foto van die wit personeel te SAP Malvern in 1940. My pa was toe SB, sers Heath was 2de-in-bevel en Brooks die konstabel.Almal lang manne van oor die 6vt. Die vierde wit lid was 'n konst. Naude toe afwesig tydelik in die weermag. Die Zoeloe-lede was sers. Willy Shezi, konst Mbatha en 'n paar ander. Die enigste Indiërlid was konst. Paul Gopal. Daar was toe nog perde en 'n Harley Davidson met syspan. My pa en Naude was die enigste beredemanne. Groete – Roy During. 23

Sgt Hansie Brewis (SAP): Francois Gunter (France)

1974: Welkom Roits: Lt-Col Q Grobler; Capt Stony Steenkamp, Brig JL Kotze and Col IJ Fischer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Andre Grobler

Sunday Times 24/2/1974 Comments, re the above photo, by HBH: We were on a Coin-course and in those days one first spent time in the SAP College, Pretoria. I think it was about 2 or 3 weeks. When we did our training we had to remove our “pips”- as they said to improve “movement in the college”. (Om beweging te vergemaklik!) We did some training on the opposite side of the Voortrekker Monument. There we for e.g. learnt to debus while the trucks were in motion, our instructor was W/O Johnny Dreyer. In the college we got up very early and we had to run with poles to get fit. Thereafter we moved to Maleoskop where we lived under canvas. There were no buildings; only a double decker bus that served as a bar. Riots broke out in Welkom on the mines. We travelled in the back of riot trucks from Maleoskop to Welkom under the command of Col Karools Mouton. We arrived there very tired. Col Sakkie Fischer was the District Commandant of Welkom. When we arrived he was present and he gave us soup and bread: Real Free State hospitality. We were divided into two shifts – a night and day shift. We were all commissioned officers. Our sections had a more officers than men. We were issued with hard hats (see picture) issued by the mines.

I was used to Zulu faction fights in Natal; however this was a new experience to me. I have never seen buildings destroyed and e.g. the water pipes used for assaults. Gen Adriaan de la Rosa was then a young Captain in the CID. He also trained with us; he later became a very senior officer in the COIN Unit, later called the Internal Stability Unit. 16 years later I was the District Commandant of Welkom and Lt-Col Vic Stewart who was on the same COIN-course with us, was the District Criminal Investigation Officer. (DCIO Welkom)

Lt Gen LP Neethling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nagsersant

Above: A celebration 50 yrs ago of young German orphans who came to SA after the war. Gen (Dr) LP Neethling also came to South Africa as a WW2 German orphan and rose to become a senior general in the SAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Forensic Science Division. (His foster parents were Neethling.) 26

Ds Harpir Martins: Mev M Geldenhuys

WH Stark (Umtata): Brian Kaighin

Hello Hennie, came across this the other day and wonder whether it will be of use to your collection. If you identify the man, please let me know for interest sake. Kind regards, Brian Kaighin. â&#x20AC;˘

Please help if you can - HBH

1956: Issued with Assegai: Lt-Col JJ “Stompie” du Pont: Tydens polisieopleiding in 1956, het verskeie van ons troep assegaaie ontvang, omdat ons diens in Natal sou verrig. Die assegaaie was nooit terug geneem nie en lede het die hele loopbaan by hulle gehou. Hierdie foto is tydens die bek-en-klouseer epidemie gedurende 1957, geneem. Groete, Stompie & Danie du Pont

Piet Bester & Jan van Wyk Hello Hennie, ek weer ‘n Alexanderbaai man raak geloop. Hy is Piet Bester. Kan jy sy e-pos registreer daar by jou vir die eNongqai. Asook by die Afgtrede Polisiemaanse se Facebook. Groete, Jan van Wyk.

Const Pat du Toit

1942 Cape Town and as 1957 as a Traffic Officer Bleomfontein

Colonel JH Vorster (SAP)

Kolonel JH Vorster. In 1975 het die skietkoors kolonel Vossie beetgepak en neem hy in hierdie jaar aan sy eerste Bisley deel. Hy het aan al die dissiplines deelgeneem (diensskiet, grootkaliber en kleingeweer), maar op die ou einde homself toegespits op kleinkaliber (.22). In April 1976 neem hy aan sy eerste Suid Afrikaanse Kleinkaliberkampioenskap in Bloemfontein deel. Die Polisie se kleinkaliber span het ook aan liga wedstryde in Suid Afrika deelgeneem, waar daar op provinsiale vlak tussen die verskeie Provinsies meegeding was. Op 22 Maart 1986 skiet hy â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n wĂŞreldrekord telling tydens die Noord Transvaal kampioenskappe gehou in Pretoria. Die uitslag was 400 punte uit n totaal van 400 punte, maar wat die prestasie uniek maak was die feit dat die 10 proefskote ook voltalle was - 500 uit 500. In Augustus 1986 is hy lid van 'n span van 5 skuts (3 mans en 2 dames) wat die eerste Suid Afrikaanse Polisieskietspan is wat amptelik in Europa en Switserland aan 'n Bisley deelneem. 30

Hy verwerf sy Springbokkleure in 1988 asook in 1989 waar hy weer deel was van 'n span wat na Europa en Switserland getoer het. In 1995 verwerf hy sy Proteakleure en toer die Proteaspan na Kaïro, Egipte om aan die "All Africa"kampioenskappe deel te neem. Hier het hy die algehele 5 de plek besit. In 1997 is Protea kleure weer aan hom toegeken en vorm deel van die Proteaspan wat in Bloemfontein aan die "All Africa" kampioenskaps deelneem en verwerf hy die 2 de plek met 'n silwer medalje. Vir etlike jare is kolonel Vossie al deel van die Dewar-skietspan. Die span bestaan uit die top 20 kleingeweerskuts in Suid Afrika. Die span skiet in 'n posliga-kampioenskap teen Amerika, Engeland, Kanada, Australië en New Seeland. In 1997 wen die Suid Afrikaanse span hierdie gesogte kampioenskap. Kolonel Vossie het ook vir verskeie jare die S.A Veterane kampioenskap gewen. Tydens die 2012 S.A. Kampioenskappe wen hy weer die veterane klas op ouderdom 73 jaar, hy beklee dan ook die algehele 13 de plek in die kampioenskap en word vir die Dewar-span gekies. Hierdie prestasie lei daartoe dat hy die oudste skut ooit is wat op hierdie ouderdom en op hierdie vlak nog kompeterend skiet. Na afloop van die 2012 S.A. Kampioenskappe was hy gevra wanneer hy eendag, na 38 jaar se skiet, gaan ophou? Sy antwoord hierop was: "Solank daar iemand is om te help, om te gaan lê en om op te staan, sal ek aanhou skiet, ek sal die jonges eerlik hou". Die toewyding en opofferings wat kolonel Vorster in hierdie sport openbaar het, maak dit voorwaar 'n prestasie en dien dit as voorbeeld te wees vir enige sportman of sportvrou wat die hoogste sport wil bereik. Saluut Johan Vorster

W/O (Ret) WR Thomson oorlede 2013-03-26

Our condolences to his family - HBH

Medal Parade SAP Forensic Science Laboratory (circa 1991)

Fltr: Lt PJ Murphy, Lt Gen (dr) LP Neethling, Brig HF Straus & Lt DD Van Niekerk.

SAP Ballistiek Eenheid FWL Medalje Parade 1991

Were we proud of our police scientists!

Brig Arpin: SA Railways Police & SA Police

Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Capt Charles Ross (SAN – Ret) History of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (With Acknowledgement to the Unending Vigil by Philip Longworth). Part 3 In May 1922 King George V and Queen Mary went a pilgrimage tour of Belgium and France which culminated in a visit to the Terlincthun coastal cemetery. After the King had laid a wreath at the Great Cross he addressed the crowd: “In the course of my pilgrimage I have many times asked myself whether there can be more potent advocates of peace upon earth ….. than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war. I feel that, so long as we have faith in God’s purpose, we cannot but believe that the existence of these visible memorials will, eventually, serve to draw all people together in sanity and self-control, even as it has already set the relations between our Empire and our allies on the deep rooted bases of a common heroism and a common agony.” By the end of 1922 the construction of the numerous cemeteries were progressing very well and it was time for the Commission to turn its attention to the next major task, that of commemorating the numerous war dead who had no known grave. Since 1918 there had been numerous proposals on how this should be done. Australia and South Africa wanted individual headstones to be erected for each casualty. The Commission did not support this concept of “false graves.” One of the most difficult tasks facing the Commission was that of compiling accurate lists of the missing dead and where the man was the day that he died. This involved the both the Commission’s Records and the War Office and could only be completed once the War Office had completed the Regimental lists. Should those with no known grave be commemorated by Regiment or by geography? The resolve this the Commission appointed a separate committee. The sub-committee recommended that they should be commemorated near the place of death in some 85 cemeteries along the Western Front. But this plan was soon scrapped by the Commission. At the same time Regiments wanted to erect their own Regimental Memorials. In 1919 Winston Churchill persuaded the British Cabinet they it should pay for memorials to the Army at Ypres, Mons, Arras, the Hindenburg Line, on the Somme, Gallipoli and Jerusalem. A new committee, which included the High Commissioners of the Dominions, was established. The memorial at Ypres would be a priority. In 1920 the Cabinet granted £300 000 for the erecting of various memorials which included the Menin Gate Memorial and a memorial to the Royal Navy. Funds for the erecting of Dominion memorials was also included in this sum. 34

Twelve memorials spread along the battle line from Nieuport to Soissons would be erected with each commemorating between 5 000 and 50 000 casualties with no known grave. In addition New Zealand planned six memorials, the Australians at Villers-Bretonneux and Gallipoli, Canadians at Vimy Ridge and South Africa at Delville Wood. The first memorials that Commission completed was to the members of the Royal Navy lost at sea at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham. Some Australian and South African seamen were commemorated on the Plymouth memorial. Various other memorials to those lost at sea were erected by Dominions. Soldiers lost at sea were commemorated in the cemeteries nearest to their point of embarkation with the Hollybrook Memorial at Southampton which commemorates 2 300 soldiers who died at sea. Included on the memorial is Lord Kitchener and members of the South African Native Labour Contingent who died in the sinking of the SS MENDI in 1917. The Menin Gate Memorial which contains the names of 54 408 casualties who have no known grave and includes the names of 560 South Africans. The memorial was completed in time for the 10th anniversary of the Commission in 1927. A unique feature of this memorial is that still today at 8 pm every night, come rain or sunshine, a small ceremony takes place during which the Last Post and Reveille is sounded. It is a major tourist attraction. The Thiepval Memorial that commemorates the casualties from the Battle of the Somme is a majestic memorial feet high and contains the names of 72 348 casualties who have no known grave. This includes the names of 833 South Africans. Annually on 01 July a memorial service is held at the memorial to remember those who died in the Battle of the Somme. The South African memorial and museum at Delville Wood has often been described as one of the best memorials and museums in the area. The site and the buildings are maintained by the France Area of the Commission in accordance with an agreement between the Commission and the South African Government. The Battle of Delville is annually commemorated by South Africa at the memorial. End Part 3

Photo 1: The Menin Gate Memorial Ypres Belgium

Photo 2: The Thiepval Memorial with part of the Anglo-French Cemetery.

Photo 3: The Hollybrook Cemetery and the Memorial Wall where soldiers who died at sea are commemorated. The names of the South African Native Labour Contingent who died in the SS MENDI tragedy appear on the wall.

Commonwealth war graves in the Benghazi Military Cemetery in Libya Good Morning 36

In the recent past the Agency has received numerous e-mails referring to a video clip on YouTube in respect of damage to the Commonwealth war graves in the Benghazi Military Cemetery in Libya. This is an old clip referring to the initial vandalism in the cemetery that appears to be doing the rounds again. The cemetery was vandalised in February/March 2012 and 238 graves were damaged of which 22 were South Africans. The Commission is in the process of replacing all the damaged Headstones. On 22 April it was reported that the Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contractor had started with the erecting of the new Headstones without any incident. Following a recent enquiry in the United Kingdom the Commission provided the attached information. Trust this will be of assistance. Yours Aye Charles

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am writing in response to your recent enquiry regarding our cemeteries in Benghazi. As you know, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for the commemoration of 1.7 million Commonwealth casualties of the first and second World Wars. It operates in 23,000 locations across 153 different countries. The Commission tries to impose universal standards of care and, whilst a degree of flexibility is required to address climatic and geo-political conditions, it has nevertheless managed to achieve worldwide recognition for its horticultural and works-related activities. Achieving such standards across this level of scale and diversity has not been easy. In some instances, Commission sites have been subject to vandalism and deliberate desecration. Access to sites can be variable and sometimes unsustainable, particularly where a country is subject to prolonged episodes of political violence or civil war. The Commission has identified a number of countries where staff is unable to undertake normal levels of activity and where additional precautions are required. 37

The list includes Libya although it should be noted that of our six sites across the country, only those in Benghazi (Benghazi War Cemetery and Benghazi British Military Cemetery), have been affected. Operations in Tripoli, Tobruk and Knightsbridge War Cemeteries continue as normal although physical access for Western based supervisory staff has been restricted. Within Benghazi, access to Commission cemeteries has been haphazard and on occasions, severely impeded. The Commission has therefore employed locallybased contractors, supported by armed guards, to assist with a step-by-step restorative programme of basic maintenance and works. The Commission, through the auspices of in-country diplomatic staff and local government officials has also managed to engage with a number of local groups in order to ensure that its sites are secured. In addition, new notices explaining the purpose of the cemeteries have now been erected. All of the headstones damaged in last year’s attacks have been reproduced at our workshops in France and have been paid for by the Libyan Government. Subject to security conditions, which appear to be improving, the Commission hopes to proceed with their erection shortly. “

National Security News •

Police

Crime: Rhinos and the Colonel Gister staan ek weer by die karkas van 'n renosterkoei en haar kleine kalfie (die 13de slagting vir diè week) en ek wonder oor die wese van die mens? As mense dit aan diere kan doen, geen wonder daar is soveel geweld op ons kontinent nie. Ek blaai deur ons uitgebreide fb vriendeblad van etlike honderde en wonder wat ons as 'n kollektiewe groep kan doen? Ons vang, skiet en skop op grondvlak so hard ons kan, maar die internasionale swartmark en pryse groei daagliks. Weereens ‘n bewys van die Chinese Tryads en Russiese Mafia se houvas op georganiseerde misdaad. Op die oomblik is my planne op want ondersteuning uit amptelike wee is maar skraps.

(Foto): “Ek is so jammer ou kleintjie, jy wou maar net by jou mamma wees!”

237 Rhinos killed by poachers: Nuwe renostersyfers skok 2013-04-30 18:00 Johannesburg – Die aantal renosters wat al hierdie jaar gestroop is, het gestyg tot 273, het die departement van omgewingsake Dinsdag gesê. Albi Modise, woordvoerder, het in 'n verklaring gesê die Krugerpark het die ergste deurgeloop. Drie vermeende stropers is verlede week in die Tshokwane-deel van die park aangekeer ná 'n swartrenoster gestroop is. Een van die mans is in 'n plaaslike hospitaal dood ná hy tydens 'n skietery met wildbewaarders gewond is. Renosterhorings, sowel as 'n .458-jaggeweer met 'n knaldemper, ammunisie en strooptoerusting is gekonfiskeer. 'n Vermeende stroper is ook verlede Dinsdag deur bewaarders naby die Langtoon-dam in die park doodgeskiet. Twee vuurwapens, ammunisie en strooptoerusting is gekonfiskeer. Die totale aantal renosters wat in die park gestroop is, het in die laaste week van 180 tot 201 gestyg. Altesaam 41 stropers is sedert die begin van Januarie in die Krugerpark in hegtenis geneem.

Altesaam 21 renosters is sedert die begin van die jaar in die Noordwes gestroop, terwyl 19 in KwaZulu-Natal, 19 in Limpopo, en 13 in Mpumalanga gestroop is. http://afrikaans.news24.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Nuwe-renostersyfers-skok-20130430 What’s next on the crime menu when all the rhinos are gone? Piracy? Kidnapping?

Koevoet Unveiling of Memorial Koevoetbond: Onthulling van die Koevoetmuur van Herinnering by die Voortrekkermonument, Pretoria •

Teks: Anemari Jansen en foto’s deur Larry Hanton

6 April 2013 - Onthulling van die Koevoetmuur van Herinnering by die Voortrekkermonument in Pretoria “Koevoet het die geskiedenis geskryf deur die loop van `n geweer. Ek en jy het daardie geskiedenis geskryf. Ons was nie `n klomp kriminele nie. Ons het vir reg en geregtigheid gestaan.” Marius Brand open met skriflesing en gebed. “Wanneer ons nou na die name op die Muur van Herinnering kyk moet ons vir onsself vra hoekom staan hulle name daar? Hulle het nie verniet gesterf nie. Die oorlog was nie verniet nie. Politici het die oorlog vir ons gereël maar ons het net ons werk as polisiemanne gedoen. Hierdie manne het met hulle lewens betaal vir gereg en geregtigheid. Hulle het die mense in Owamboland se lewens beskerm. Hulle het die publiek se lewens beskerm. Hulle het die dienspligtiges se lewens beskerm.” 2 Mei 2012. Die omspit van die eerste sooi vir die Koevoet Muur van Herinnering is `n rare en geskiedkundige geleentheid wat deur drie en twintig oud-Koevoetlede bygewoon word. Verskeie eregaste is ook teenwoordig, onder andere genl. Hans Dreyer en sy eggenote, genl-maj Gert Opperman en Sonja Lombard. Die sooispit vind plaas in die Tuin van Beelde, op `n boomryke stuk veld met `n lieflike uitsig na die noorde van Pretoria. Dis `n sonnige Hoëveldse herfsdag. Ook Sisingi Kamongo (skrywer van Skadu`s in die Sand) is daar. Genl Dreyer neem die graaf op en druk hom flink in die harde bosveldgrond. Die grond is droog, stowwerig. Rondom hom in `n halfsirkel staan sy manne. Ek verbeel my hulle net so staan, in `n tyd en in `n ander land, lank gelede. Sisingi (Shorty), Petrus, Absalom en Sakkie skuif nader aan mekaar en sing. Wamboranta oshirongo

si, o Wamboranta wen je. Die sang neem hulle na hulle grootwordplek, die plek waar hulle soldate en manne geword het. “Hoe het die drome van `n Koevoetmuur van Herinnering tot stand gekom?” vra ek aan Pine Pienaar, voorsitter van die Bond. “Dis `n lang storie,” sê Pine. “Ek, Tony da Costa en Herbert Tietz het maar die ding lewendig gehou, van die eerste Koevoetbond gevou het. So drie jaar gelede het ons die Koevoetbond weer van die grond af gekry. Ons het doelwitte gestel, jy weet.” “Al die name van polisiemanne wat op die grens gesneuwel het, wat by die Polisiekollege op was, is mos verwyder. Toe het die hele idee van die Koevoet Muur van Herinnering `n werklikheid begin word. Paul Fouché is projekbestuurder vir die Muur”. 11 September 2012 Genl Hans Dreyer en sy vrou Marietjie woon `n geselligheid by die Voortrekkermonument by, om die vordering van die Muur te aanskou. Paul reël vir koffie en melktertjies by die Blikkantien. Hy is passievol oor die projek. “Die Koevoet Muur van Herinnering word in drie fases opgerig. Fase een, die bou van die muur self, is nou afgehandel. Fase twee behels die granietwerk en Fase drie die oprigting van die standbeeld. Fondse vir die hele projek word verkry uit skenkings asook die verkoop van miniatuur standbeelde, replikas van die groot beeld, almal genommer. Onverwagse uitgawes is daar maar ook, soos byvoorbeeld die lê van plaveiselpaadjies vanaf die hoofpad na die Muur. Die Koevoetbond het reeds vyf bome daar geplant: `n wildeperske, twee wilde olywe en twee bergkarees. Die lieflike tuinuitleg rondom die Koevoetmuur is gedoen deur RSA Flora. Fase twee se granietwerk word gedoen deur Peet Engelbrecht van Marble Hall. Peet het twintig panele uit Rustenburg graniet gesny, waarvan die tien bestes uitgesoek is vir die Muur. Die laaste kwaliteitskontrole betreffende die korrekte spelling van name, sowel as die korrekte sterftedatums van die gesneuwelde Koevoetsoldate, word nou gedoen. Die Bond sal saam met die skenker die name kontroleer. Daar is 165 name op die Muur.” Maart- April 2013. 41

Pine Pienaar aan die woord: “Die twee weke wat ek Pretoria gespandeer het met die finale afronding van die Muur van Herinnering het beslis ‘n paar besondere hoogtepunte opgelewer wat ek nooit sal vergeet nie. Die more toe die groot beeld by die beeldhouer opgelaai was, het ek ‘n groot sleepwa gaan huur sodat ek die beeld by die vervoer maatskappy kon kry. Ek moes met die beeld Stellenbosch toe ry waar die vragmotor gewag het. Die beeld was op daardie stadium nie in “bubble wrap” toegedraai nie en het letterlik ‘n verkeersknoop op die N1 snelweg veroorsaak omdat voertuie tot langs die sleepwa gery het en dan my spoed van so 80 km/h gehandhaaf het terwyl hulle die beeld bestudeer. Paul het my op daardie stadium geskakel om te hoor hoe ding vorder en toe ek in my truspieël kyk moes hom meedeel dat ek in die linkerbaan ry met geen voertuig wat my verbysteek nie, al twee bane van die snelweg is vol voertuie en hulle was toe vir amper 200 meter opgedam. Die montering van die beeld was ook iets besonders. Dicks Dietrichsen het met sy gereedskap opgedaag – want ek het myne in die Kaap vergeet. Die voetstukke van die beeld is presies 2 meter in deursnee, en die bouer was ook die mate gegee vir die klip voetstuk waarop die beeld moes staan. Klippe is nie maklik om mee te werk nie en die groot vraag was sou die twee pas? Die bouer was weer op bystand geplaas om reg te maak indien die twee nie op mekaar pas nie. Dit was ‘n yslike verligting toe die beeldhouer en die bouer se voetstukke presies bo op mekaar pas veral as gedink word dat die twee 1500 km uit mekaar vervaardig was!” 6 April 2013 Dit is `n dag met die lug vol helder wolke in Pretoria. In die verte is daar die sporadiese klank van pistoolskote van `n gevegspistoolskietbaan. Van ver af al lyk dit soos `n nagmaalsaamtrek by die Voortrekkermonument: dis net karre en vier by viers waar jy kyk. Mens vóél die atmosfeer aan: bonkige skouers in die baadjies, Koevoetbondwapen op die sak. Oud-Koevoetlede en hulle geliefdes staan in groepe in die skadu van die monument en gesels. Pine Pienaar is trots, baie trots. “Wat vir ons as bestuur besonders is, is die enorme steun wat daar vandag by die Muur van Herinnering is. Ons was voorbereid op 250 persone wat sou bywoon, en dit is dubbeld soveel. Dit bewys maar net weer dat ons ons gesneuwelde makkers nooit sal vergeet nie.” Dicks Dietrichsen het as seremoniemeester die moeilike taak om die name op die muur af te lees – en dit is `n emosiebelaaide dag. Dicks praat uit die hart. Hy vertel 42

van die reuk van bloed , olie, diesel, sand, sweet en lyke wat aan jou klere en jou hande kleef. Hy onthou van die verskriklike gevoel wanneer `n plek leeg is - `n kroegstoel, in die menasie, die leë bed van `n gevalle makker. `n Mens vergeet dit nooit. Dan die yl klank van `n doedelsak wat die Laaste Taptoe speel. Koevoetlede salueer en laat sak eers die arms toe die Oggend Sinjaal opklink. Generaal Dreyer lei vir oulaas van voor by die grootste byeenkoms van oudKoevoetlede ooit. Sy toespraak bevestig die belangrike rol wat Koevoet in die Bosoorlog gespeel het. Hy vermeld ook twee maal vir Eugene de Kock, wat as een van die stigterslede van Koevoet `n deurslaggewende rol gespeel het. Vars blomkranse word gelê deur die eregaste: Genl Dreyer en verteenwoordigers van die Spesmagte, 32 Bataljon, S.A. Legion, die Moths en die Suidwesmanne. Lang toue naasbestaandes en oudlede vorm. Elk wil `n blom by die Muur neerlê, `n laaste saluut gee. Soos Pine dit stel: “Iets wat natuurlik uitstaan was die Suidwesmanne met daai sakke sand en makalanipalm sade al die pad van Oshakati. Hulle was Vrydag reeds by die Muur en wou weet waar hulle die sand kon uitgooi. Daar kon seker nie ‘n beter plek gekies gewees het nie en die impak daarvan vandag is groot. Dit is voorwaar ‘n wonderlike gedagte van hulle kant, veral die storie oor hoe hulle die sand tot by die Monument gekry het.” Wanneer die swart Koevoetlede begin sing benodig heelwat oudlede hulle sakdoeke. Gesels-gesels word daar Blikkantien toe beweeg. `n Groepsfoto moet op die trappe van die monument geneem word, maar om die Koevoetmanne bymekaar te kry, is `n ander storie. Dan is dit kuiertyd, vir party bittereinders soos generaal Dreyer en tannie Marietjie, Pine Pienaar en Paul Fouché tot lánk na die son water trek. `n Getjommel by die kroeg vir Red Heart en bier. Daar is boerekos en basaarkerrie. Die atmosfeer raak gemoedelik, daar is ou en nuwe stories om te vertel. Die lewe het aangegaan. Ouer, gryser, miskien nie meer so fiks nie. Maar binne-in: dáár bly hulle soldaat. Ek dink terug aan Marius Brand se woorde: “Ek wil vandag sê: maak vrede. Dis `n nuwe begin. Hulle (die name van die Koevoetsoldate op die Muur van Herinnering) het vir die toekoms van Suid-Afrika gesterf.”

Vandag is nog `n stuk geskiedenis opgeteken. Sonder gewere en ammunisie, maar met dieselfde verbete vasberadenheid wat Koevoet so `n suksesvolle gevegseenheid gemaak het. Om `n Muur van Herinnering te visualiseer, beplan, befonds, bou en inwy in minder as `n jaar – dit wil gedoen wees. Saluut. Naskrif Pine Pienaar: “Die kranslegging by die Koevoetmuur van Herinnering sal nou ‘n jaarlikse instelling raak. Ek twyfel of dit ooit weer so groot gaan wees, maar al is ons net twee lede oor, sal ons elke jaar daar ‘n kort diens hê en ons krans gaan lê by die Muur. Dit staan natuurlik enige persoon vry om, wanneer hulle in die Pretoria omgewing kom, die Muur te gaan besoek en ‘n blom daar te laat ter gedagtenis aan dié wie se name daar verskyn.” Die laaste woord behoort ook aan Pine: “Ek het ‘n oproep ontvang van ‘n lid wat na ‘n lang gesprek vertel het hoe hy nou berusting het en die bosoorlog se boek finaal kan toemaak. Dit het my weer eens laat besef hoe bevoorreg ons as bestuur was om in die doel van die Koevoetmuur van Herinnering te kon slaag.” Argitek: Malcolm Moodie Beeldhouer: Brahm van Zyl Koevoet Veteranebondbestuur: AH Pienaar, A da Costa, HR Tietz, PS Fouché.

Fotoalbum & byskrifte by die foto`s: Onthulling van die Koevoetmuur van Herinnering. Teks: Anemari Jansen Foto`s: Larry Hanton

1. 2 Mei 2012 44

2. Fase een nader voltooiing

3. Dicks Dietrichsen, Paul FouchĂŠ, Genl Dreyer, Leon Lubbe en Larry Hanton 45

4. “Jy sien, só gaan dit lyk.” Paul Fouché

5. Genl Opperman, Sonja Lombard, genl Dreyer en Paul Fouché

6. Pure bosveld

7. Hughie McLennan, Jan Smit en Attie Hattingh. 8. Oud-Taakmaglede Taakmaglede kom betoon die laaste eer: Genl Mike Freyer, Nick Vermeulen, Larry Hanton en Blackie de Swardt Swardt.

9. Die uitgebreide Dreyergesin: Genl Hans en Marietjie Dreyer, die twee dogters en familie.

10. Byna tyd vir die verrigtinge om te begin 11. `n Waardige geleentheid

12. Dicks Dietrichsen tree op as seremoniemeester 13. `n Geskatte vyf honderd mense woon uiteindelik die onthulling by 48

14. Die Beeld 15. `n Laaste eerbetoon

16. Saluut deur Genl Dreyer

17. Sand en Makalanipalmsade al die pad van Oshakati

18. Voorsitter van die Koevoetbond, Pine Pienaar 19. Die Muur van Herinnering

20. Die Ovambomanne groet hulle makkers 50

21. Lede van die Koevoetbond en oud oud-Koevoetlede.

22. Dinge raak gesellig: Marius Brand, George Laurentz, Daan du Toit, Nella Nel

23. Dicks Dietrichsen, Dave Baker en Nick Vermeulen 24. 11 September 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; besigtiging van die vordering van die Muur van Herinnering.

SAP 100: London UK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Peter Dickens Hi Guys, Also, at the request of Brigadier Hennie Heymans (SAP Retired) we made contact with Albert Scott, who is now a Chelsea Pensioner in the Royal Hospital. Albert is also ex-South South African Police who took over the SAP band in Durban. This is a picture taken with ith Albert and two other Legionnaires who also served as Police Andrew Williams and Peter Gillatt - this photo was to celebrate the 100 years of the 51

Police on the 1st April. Albert is now also an honoury member of the SA Legion UK branch. Peter, Hennie and Andrew, if you have a little more to add to this in terms of Albert's service please feel free to do so. This is for our newsletters. Peter

SAP 100: Boodskap deur genl-maj Gert Opperman, Besturende Direkteur van Die Erfenisstigting Graag word die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie van harte geluk gewens met ‘n eeu van lojale en professionele dienslewering aan Suid-Afrika. Dit was my voorreg om op verskeie stadia van my loopbaan as ‘n lid van die SA Weermag ten nouste met lede van die SA Polisie saam te werk, onder andere gedurende die tydperk van 1979 tot 1982 as Bevelvoerder Sektor 70 (Oos-Caprivi) en van 1988 tot 1993 as Bevelvoerder Kommandement Noord-Transvaal. Hierdie samewerking is verder gevoer tydens my tydperk as ‘n student en instrukteur op die Gesamentlike Stafkursus, wat ook deur offisiere van die SAP bygewoon is, asook as lid van die Ministerie van Verdediging en in Nasionale Veiligheidsbestuurstelselverband. Hierdie kontak het plaasgevind oor die lengte en breedte van Suid-Afrika en ook in die voormalige TBVC-lande en in die destydse Rhodesië en Suidwes-Afrika.

Ek kan net met die grootste lof getuig van die absolute toewyding waarmee die lede met wie ek gewerk het, hulleself van hulle taak gekwyt het, hetsy van ‘n militêre-, paramilitêre-, inligtings- of normale polisiëringsverband. Die noue verbintenis met die SA Polisie is verder versterk deurdat my oorlede skoonvader, AO Ockert (“OJ”) Fourie, ook sy hele volwasse lewe lank ‘n polisieman was en onder andere by Tobruk gevange geneem is. Die trots en professionaliteit wat by hom gesien en beleef is, was ‘n handelsmerk van sy tydgenote en kollegas. Hulle verdien om vereer en onthou te word!

Extracts from a Residential Robbery research – Dr R Zinn Dr. Zinn's findings from his research are as follows • Eight out of 10 residential robberies are committed with the help of information from maids, gardeners and former employees. • Robbers will monitor the home for as long as two weeks. • Gangs research armed response firms' response times. • Most attacks occur between 7pm and midnight as people are relaxed, cooking or watching TV. • 97% of robbers are armed. • On average an armed robbery gang has four members. • 50% of residential robberies in SA take place in Gauteng • It is a complete myth that only white people are victims of robberies - anyone displaying any form of wealth (double story homes, expensive jewellery and fancy cars) is a target. • The average age of a house robber is between 19 and 26 years. • An average of 30% of all house robbers have either committed murder, or won't hesitate to commit murder. • Only 17% of house robbers are foreigners. • Of all arrested robbers, 90% had no matric or were unemployed. The 10% who had been employed, gave up their jobs when confirming how much they could "earn" from a robbery. • Most victims or targets are affluent persons who openly display their wealth, e.g. expensive cars, jewellery, up market homes • Most attacks occur between 19:00 and midnight as people are relaxed, busy cooking or watching TV, and the security systems and beams are not activated. But robberies continue until 04:00 in the morning. • The average robber commits 103 robberies over seven years before being caught. • Most attackers' homes or bases are a 10 to 30 minute drive from the target address. • Women are more often tortured or hurt during house robberies. 53

• The conviction rate for house robberies in South Africa is only 7.67%. In the USA it is 53%. Robbers are NOT deterred by the following •

Alarms and armed reaction services.

Security measures that robbers DO consider to be deterrents • Electric fences • Detection beams • CCTV • Small dogs that sleep inside the house - robbers consider this to be the biggest deterrent of all.

Recommendations that came from the research • Make sure all shrubs and trees are trimmed back so they do not allow a burglar to conceal himself while attempting to open a window or door. If possible, plant bushes with prickly thorns around these locations. They are a cheap deterrent. • Don't stop your security awareness at the outside walls of your house. Your yard areas (if any) also deserve attention. In general, don't leave anything around the yard that might help a burglar get into your house. Ladders, stackable boxes or any garden tools should be put away, preferably in a locked cabinet. Many burglars have used the property owner's own tools to break into a home. Don't place outdoor furniture tables nearby the house. These could become an easy stepladder to the roof. To discourage potential climbers, spread grease on any metal drainpipes if they are close to windows. Use Vaseline or clear automotive grease, depending on the color of the pipe (or replace them with plastic pipe). Yes, criminals do climb up drainpipes. Think about it, most second story windows are left un-secure and make a house easy to gain entry to. • A barking dog, changing your daily routine and the presence of closed-circuit TV (CCTV) could make your home a less attractive target to criminals. • Given that robbers tend to case-out a property and the residents' comings and goings for as long as two weeks, it is highly-recommended that you deviate from your usual routine regularly. Change your patterns every week by leaving and returning home at different times, using different routes and visiting different shops to what you typically do. • In South Africa, the importance of employing extreme caution when hiring domestic workers and other service providers cannot be underestimated. Be careful who you let into your home.

• Defence SAAF – More accidents: Strategypage. Meer vliegongelukke deur SALM: Erika Gibson: Beeld van 22-04-2013 (via Johan Jacobs)

Die Suid-Afrikaanse lugmag se kwotabeleid om regstellende aksie onder sy lug- en tegniese bemannings teweeg te bring, gaan hom net meer vliegongelukke in die sak bring, meen die internasionale militêre dinkskrum Strategypage. “Selfs met die huidige kwotasituasie gaan die meeste swart vlieëniers eerder kommersieel vlieg waar hulle baie meer kan verdien. “Daar is in elk geval bitter min swart vlieëniers om mee te begin. Op die duur gaan die lugmag se beleid dus bloedweinig beteken as ’n hoër ongeluksyfer,” sê Strategypage. Die blad ondersoek en ontleed militêre kwessies wêreldwyd. Dit het gebeur nadat die lugmag onlangs besluit het om 12 van sy 26 Gripenvegvliegtuie te stoor weens ’n gebrekkige verdedigingsbegroting en die hoë bedryfskoste. Volgens die blad is korrupsie, die krimpende begroting en politieke druk om vlieg- en tegniese personeel te transformeer die rede waarom die lugmag nou ná ’n dekade daarvan in erge moeilikheid is. “Die meeste bedrewe vlieëniers – veral vegvlieëniers – het die lugmag reeds verlaat eenvoudig omdat hulle te min gevlieg het. Baie van die vlieëniers wat oorgebly het, is daar omdat hulle hul vlerkies ingevolge die kwotastelsel gekry het,” lui die besprekingsdokument onder die opskrif “Die Suid-Afrikaanse lugmag taan vinnig.” Die regering se doelwit is dat 75% van lugmaglede swart moet wees. 55

Die wêreldwye tekort aan swart vlieëniers en vliegtuigtegnici het beteken dat dié doelwit nog ver van bewaarheid is. “Dit is dus nie verrassend nie dat die meeste Suid-Afrikaners ook glo die lugmag is reeds jare lank besig om uitmekaar te val. Die bouvallige toestand van geboue, aanloopbane en vliegtuie staaf dit.” Volgens die blad word die probleme aangevuur deur ’n moreelprobleem. Dit het ’n bepaalde afwaartse spiraal begin toon nadat die lugmag in 2005 sy drie beste vlieënierstudente, wat normaalweg gekeur sou word om vegvliegtuie te vlieg, ingelig het dat hulle helikopters en vragvliegtuie gaan vlieg. Prestasie was dus nie langer ter sprake om vlieëniers te keur om die vliegtuie wat die meeste vaardigheid verg, te gaan vlieg nie. “As hulle helikopters of vragvliegtuie wou vlieg, sou hulle in die kommersiële sektor baie meer geld gemaak het. “Gevolglik sit die lugmag met minder vaardige vegvlieëniers – wat uiteindelik ook meer ongelukke gaan veroorsaak – en minder vlieëniers op ander soorte vliegtuie ook.”

The South African Air Force Is Fading Fast (http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlead/articles/20130319.aspx) March 19, 2013: The South African government recently admitted that 12 of its 26 Gripen jet fighters had been placed in storage because they were too expensive to operate and there were not enough qualified pilots to fly them. Moreover, of the remaining 16 Gripens, only about half were flyable and there were only six qualified Gripen pilots. Corruption, shrinking defense budgets, and political pressure to find more black combat pilots and technical personnel has led to the South African Air Force having fewer operational aircraft. All this has been going on for over a decade. For example, back in 2009, the South African Air Force stopped automatically releasing data on how many hours combat pilots flew for training. When the numbers were finally obtained, it was discovered that in 2008, fighter pilots were in the air for 325 hours (less than two hours a month per pilot). In contrast, pilots on VIP flights (carrying politicians and government officials) were up there 1,932 hours. There are about fifty transports and 80 helicopters in the air force at the time, and that number has continued to shrink. In 2009, the air force had only twenty fighter pilots and only nine Gripen fighters. The remaining 17 were delivered by 2012. In 2008, the last of the 66 Cheetah fighters (rebuilt French Mirage IIIs) were retired. In 2008, the last full year that Cheetahs were operational, fighter pilots got 2,084 hours in the air and the year before that it 56

was 2,448 hours. It's believed that only six of those twenty fighter pilots were competent to handle these aircraft in combat. Most competent pilots have left the air force because of the lack of flying hours. Many of the pilots remaining got in under a quota system that attempts to add more racial diversity to the air force. Not surprisingly, many South Africans believe that the South African Air Force (SAAF) has been falling apart for years. The most obvious evidence of this is the decrepit state of aging buildings, runways, and aircraft. But the biggest problem is getting, and keeping, technical people. This is complicated by a government program to integrate previously all white institutions. This has been most difficult in areas that require a lot of technical training and education. Like pilots and aircraft maintainers. The government has set a racial goal for SAAF pilots and wants them to be 75 percent black and 25 percent white. A lack of qualified black air force personnel means that this goal has still not been met. The morale problem started getting a lot worse back in 2005, when the three top rated graduates of pilot training school, who would normally go on to fly fighters, were told that, because they were white, they would instead fly helicopters or transports. Three less qualified black pilots would go on to fly fighters. When commanders noted the morale problem, and public outcry, they declared that it was no longer the policy to send the best pilots to fighters but to spread the best pilots around to all flying communities. The problem here is that flying fighters is the technically most demanding job for pilots, and the best pilots only stay in the SAAF to fly fighters. If they wanted to fly helicopters or transports they could make more money, and fly more often, as civilian pilots. So the SAAF is ending up with less competent fighter pilots (which ultimately results in more accidents) and fewer, and less capable, helicopter and transport pilots as well. Since the SAAF pilots are currently selected more for their race than for their ability, the morale of most pilots will remain quite low. A similar situation occurs in other technical specialties, like maintaining the aircraft. Fewer whites are enlisting for these jobs, and more existing techs are quitting for civilian jobs. There is also pressure on civilian airlines to integrate, but the pressure is not as great because politicians fly those airliners and want the highest quality pilots and maintainers for those aircraft. Even with the current situation it won't be easy getting that many black pilots, as blacks with the skills to be pilots tend to prefer better paying civilian jobs. And there aren't many black pilots to begin with. In the long run, this won't mean much, beyond a higher accident rate for military aircraft and some lost aircraft. This has been the case in other African countries where most, or all, air force pilots are black. 57

South Africa has no enemies in its neighborhood and little likelihood that the SAAF would have to go to war. •

Intelligence

It would appear that all intelligence agencies these days have a hard time to speedily and correctly inform their chiefs or head of state as soon as possible. During my years as a member of the Secretariat of the State Security Council I did a short spell in the SP’s office. He also would walk into the Situation Room after seeing something on the TV and would ask for a report. It usually takes time to gather the correct information (e.g. number dead and who was responsible) and to report it through the channels to e.g. the South African police commissioner, police ministry and finally the state president. CNN and other news agencies are fast, very fast!! Sometimes they report in real time. Can you imagine testifying in court? No room for mistakes! I receveid the following from a friend whose daughter informed her: Boston Bombing via M Truter (LA) Hey mom its 6pm Tucson time. The news has been crazy ALL day. They just caught the younger brother. He was hiding in a man’s boat in the backyard. Massive cheers. He is alive but injured. I don't know how much you have seen. But this has been the craziest week ever in the news. Between the explosions in Texas and everything in Boston it’s just been crazy. Here is a timeline. Which doesn't include the capture... BOSTON (AP) — Key moments related to the search for the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, based on reports from the Massachusetts governor, the Middlesex County district attorney, Massachusetts State Police and Boston police. — At 5:10 p.m. Thursday, investigators of the bombings release photographs and video of two suspects. They ask for the public's help in identifying the men. — Around 10:20 p.m., shots are fired on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, just outside Boston. — At 10:30 p.m., an MIT campus police officer who was responding to a disturbance is found shot multiple times in his vehicle, apparently in a confrontation with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects. He is later pronounced dead. — Shortly afterward, two armed men reportedly carjack a Mercedes SUV in Cambridge. A man who was in the vehicle is held for about a half hour and then released unharmed at a gas station on Memorial Drive in Cambridge. — Police soon pursue the carjacked vehicle in Watertown, just west of Cambridge. — Some kind of explosive devices are thrown from the vehicle in an apparent 58

attempt to stop police. The carjackers and police exchange gunfire. A transit police officer is seriously injured. One suspect, later identified as Suspect No. 1 in the marathon bombings, is critically injured and later pronounced dead. — Authorities launch a manhunt for the other suspect. — Around 1 a.m. Friday, gunshots and explosions are heard in Watertown. Dozens of police officers and FBI agents converge on a Watertown neighbourhood. A helicopter circles overhead. — Around 4:30 a.m., Massachusetts State and Boston police tell people living in that section of eastern Watertown to stay in their homes. They identify the carjackers as the same men suspected in the marathon bombings. Overnight, police also release a photograph of a man believed to be Suspect No. 2 wearing a gray hoodie-style sweatshirt. The image apparently is from surveillance video taken at a gas station. — Around 5:50 a.m. authorities urge residents in Watertown, Newton, Waltham, Belmont, Cambridge, Arlington and the Allston-Brighton neighbourhoods of Boston to stay indoors. All mass transit is shut down. — Around 6:35 a.m., The Associated Press reports that the bomb suspects are from a Russian region near Chechnya and lived in the United States for at least a year. — Around 6:45 a.m., The Associated Press identifies the surviving Boston bomb suspect as Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, who has been living in Cambridge. — Around 8 a.m., Boston's police commissioner says all of Boston must stay in their homes as the search for the surviving suspect in the bombings continues. — Around 8:40 a.m., a U.S. law enforcement official and the uncle of the suspects confirm that the name of the slain suspect is Tamerlan Tsarnaev, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's older brother. — Around 10:20 a.m., Connecticut State Police say a car believed to be linked to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been recovered in Boston. They initially call it a Honda CRV, but authorities later say it was a Honda Civic. — Around 10:35 a.m., the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth says it closed its campus and ordered an evacuation after confirming that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is registered there. The school says it closed the campus "out of an abundance of caution" as the search continued. — Around 11:30 a.m., Massachusetts State Police explain that the brothers suspected in the bombings were in the Honda when they carjacked the Mercedes SUV. For a while, each drove one of the two vehicles, but then ditched the Honda and reunited in the Mercedes. — Around 12:35 p.m., state police in Watertown say officers are searching door-todoor but still have not found the bombing suspect. — Around 6:30 p.m., Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Deval announces that mass transit is resuming and the "stay indoors" order is being lifted even though one suspect remains on the lam. State police say that suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, fled on foot and there is indication he has a vehicle. They believe he is still in the state because of his ties to the area. 59

Photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Boston Bombing

Comment: A dastardly act! Our sympathy to all the victems! • I cannot forget the carnage at the Church Street Bomb explosion! After the mess was cleared up in Church Street I took two well known SADF (MI) officers home – Brig “Tolletjie” Botha and Major Elna du Toit. They could not get to their cars due to the debris. General Suiker Brits featured in this eNONGQAI played an important role in solving the Church Street Bomb explosion. HBH

From the Press Russel Botman oor skuld en hoop Sondag, 28 April 2013 06:14 Leon Lemmer Ons leef in 'n tyd waarin bevrydingsteoloë vergoed word vir die meesal nadelige gevolge wat hulle politieke dade het. Aan Desmond Tutu is onlangs die Templetonprys ter waarde van $1.7 miljoen toegeken. Die rektor van die Universiteit 61

Stellenbosch (US), Russel Botman, het pas die Abraham Kuyper-prys vir uitnemendheid in gereformeerde teologie en openbare lewe aan die Princetonse teologiese seminarium ontvang. Die Kuyper-prysgeld is 'n vulletjie in vergelyking met wat Tutu in sy sak steek, maar die simboliek is nie minder betreurenswaardig nie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse bevrydingsteoloog, Charles Villa-Vicencio, het die Kuyper-prys in 2005 ontvang en die Amerikaanse swartmag-aktivis, Andrew Young, in 2003. Op die US-webwerf word Botman geloof met onder andere 'n aanhaling van Martin Luther King jr, die swartmag-aktivis wat weens blatante plagiaat 'n doktorsgraad ontvang het. Dit is duidelik in watter geselskap Botman hom bevind. Dít is die mens wat na inperkings as UDF/ANC-aktivis in 2007 as US-rektor aangestel en in 2012 vir nog vyf jaar heraangestel is. Die Boston-bomontploffing het op 15 April verwoesting gesaai. Botman het op 18 April sy rede in Princeton, glad nie ver van Boston af nie, gelewer. Op 25 April het Die Burger (p 17) die teks van Botman se toespraak gepubliseer, met nie 'n woord oor die bomontploffing nie. Dit herinner sekerlik te veel aan die ANC se verlede, wat in die geweldskultuur van die hede voortgesit word. Toe op die US-webwerf aangekondig is dat Botman die Kuyper-prys gaan ontvang, het hy hom as 'n African beskryf en heel onbeskeie gereken dat sy "multidimensional leadership" bekroon word. Hy is immers in sowel die politiek as die akademie betrokke, met die klem op eersgenoemde. Daarom verklaar hy dat dit vir 'n universiteit nie net om (akademiese) uitnemendheid gaan nie, maar ook (in die US se geval, veral) om (politieke) relevansie. ANC-gedienstigheid maak deure vir die US oop. Nadat Jakes Gerwel vroeër vanjaar oorlede is, het Botman vertel hoe hy dit geniet het toe die kommunis, Gerwel, die marxis, Antonio Gramsci, in 'n direksievergadering aangehaal het. Botman se transformasiestrategie is musiek in die ore van die plaaslike hoofkommunis en minister van hoër onderwys, Blade Nzimande, wat daarvoor bekend is dat hy universiteite met die terughouding of vermindering van staatsubsidies afdreig as hulle nie maak soos hy voorskryf nie. Botman noem nooit akademiese kernbeginsels soos universitêre outonomie, akademiese vryheid en ideologiese neutraliteit (in die sin dat enige ideologie op die kampus geduld word) nie. Dit is vir Botman voldoende as hy die US ideologies aan die sorg van die ANC toevertrou. As rektor het Gerwel, met die hartlike samewerking van sy viserektor, Jaap Durand, die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland (UWK) van 'n tweetalige maar oorwegend Afrikaanse inrigting spesifiek vir bruin studente tot 'n eentalige Engelse inrigting vir hoofsaaklik swart studente getransformeer. Daarby het Gerwel en Durand die UWK tot die tuiste van linkse, spesifiek ANC-, politiek verklaar. Dit het Gerwel met staatsgeld afkomstig van die "apartheidsregime" gedoen. Daarvoor is Gerwel in sy persoonlike hoedanigheid deur die ANC en Naspers met hoogs lonende poste 62

vergoed. Hieruit spreek daar myns insiens nie net 'n anti-akademiese gesindheid nie, maar ook 'n onetiese ingesteldheid. Kader Asmal het as minister van onderwys sonder omhaal van woorde gesê dat hy die UWK en die Universiteit Fort Hare vergoed vir die pro-ANC-rol wat hulle gespeel het, gevolglik het hy hulle nie belas met sy (sotlike) beleid waarvolgens universiteite en technikons moet saamsmelt nie. Botman se beleid van totale transformasie het die UWK, waar hy student en dosent was, as model. Hiervolgens sal die blanke teenwoordigheid op die US-kampus myns insiens tot die demografiese minimum afgeskaal en Afrikaans as onderrig- en administratiewe taal mettertyd afgeskaf word. Na sy ampstermyn as rektor sal Botman sekerlik soortgelyke persoonlike vergoeding as Gerwel van die ANC en sy meelopers verwag. In die jongste uitgawe van die alumnitydskrif Matieland (somer 2012/2013) is daar 'n foto (p 8-9) wat die fotograaf Anton Jordaan in opdrag van die US in 2012 van Matiestudente geneem het. Dit vul glo die hele muur van die AmaMaties-gebou (let op die Afronaam). In sy kommentaar spreek Botman sy ontevredenheid oor die foto uit; daar is te veel wittes en te min swartes. Botman kan klaarblyklik nie suiwer akademies na 'n student kyk nie. Hy sit altyd sy ras- of kleurbril op: "Oor vier jaar [dus wanneer sy huidige termyn as rektor verstryk] wil ons nog meer divers wees" (p 9). Botman se transformasiebeleid word deur die US-studenteraad gesteun. Eintlik wil hulle vinniger "vordering" hê. Daardie uitgawe van Matieland het my finaal moed vir die US as respektabele akademiese inrigting laat opgee. Botman se Kuyper-toespraak word in die koerant onder die opskrif, "Ons skuld die jeug hoop", aangebied. "Skuld" en "hoop" is woorde wat telkens deur die bevrydingsteoloog Botman gebruik word. Die wittes het skuld en diegene wat deur die wittes veronreg of agtergestel is, moet hoop gegee word. Heel aan die begin word in swart druk na die Soweto-opstand in 1976 verwys. In ANC-geledere word dit as 'n spontane opstand deur skoolkinders teen Afrikaans voorgestel. In werklikheid was dit fyn georkestreerde onrusstoking deur volwassenes wat die propagandavoordeel wat die PAC met Sharpeville behaal het, wou uitwis. Dit is waarom die pers vooraf ingelig en verderflike berigte en foto's wêreldwyd versprei is. Afrika word deur die Afro-optimis Botman as een van die snelgroeiendste streke voorgestel. Hy noem nie die lae basis vanwaar daardie groei gemeet word nie. Daar is diegene wat droom van 'n beter, ryker en gelukkiger lewe vir Afrikane, maar Botman wil nie net materiële welvaart vir hulle hê nie. Globalisering bedreig na bewering die morele welstand van die mensdom en armes word glo deur globalisering uitgesluit en gemarginaliseer. In hierdie proses is dit die rykes wat oorleef en selfsugtige indiwidualisme wat floreer. Botman bepleit solidariteit; ongetwyfeld van die nie-wit, nie-Westerse elemente.

Die 1976-opstand is volgens Botman deur die jeug onderneem en teen onderdrukking en ongeregtigheid gemik. By die na-geskiedenis hiervan sluit Botman die Belhar-belydenis en die Kairos-dokument in. Laasgenoemde het tot gevolg gehad dat enige gewelddadige gedrag deur die "bevryders" goedgepraat en enige teenoptrede deur die "apartheidsregime" verdoem is. Botma het 'n aandeel aan sowel Belhar as Kairos gehad. Hy klop homself op die skouer: "Ons [het] namens die moedelose jeug van ons land gedroom, gehoop en opgetree." Vorentoe moet ons "eties en hoopvol" leef. Dit is nie meriete of ander kwalitatiewe oorwegings wat vir Botman as spoorslag vir die toekoms dien nie, maar die demografie. Hy waarsku teen ekstreme regse en fanatiese linkse groepe. Hy onderskei tussen groei en ontwikkeling. Ek lei af dat groei deur die ontwikkeldes bewerkstellig word en dat hulle moet sorg vir ontwikkeling by die onderontwikkeldes. Dit werk myns insiens soos ubuntu: die een groep gee (na eie inspanning) en die ander groep ontvang (dikwels/meesal sonder teenprestasie). In die retoriek oor versoening doen 'n soortgelyke situasie hom voor: die een groep moet met versoeningsgebare vorendag kom, terwyl die ander groep onophoudelik verwyte mag slinger. Ontwikkeling sluit in "om in ... ander se behoeftes en begeertes te voorsien." Let op Botman se opportunistiese insluiting van nie-lewensnoodsaaklike begeertes. Dit gee stukrag aan swartes wat sonder meer begeer en selfs eis wat die wittes het. Botman noem dit "etiese verantwoordelikheid", terwyl daar myns insiens heelwat in sy standpunt is wat eties onverantwoordelik is. Sy standpunt is ongetwyfeld sosialisties en kan dikwels kwalik van kommunisme onderskei word. Dan haal Botman kerkleiers aan wat in 1995 in Kitwe besluit het dat dit tyd is om "ons mense se drome van maatskaplike gelykheid, politieke vryheid en ekonomiese geregtigheid" 'n werklikheid te maak. Botman: "Tensy ons die bande van ons menswees erken, gaan ons 'n toekoms van toenemende marginalisering en ongelykheid tegemoet." Pleks van op industrialisasie en indiwidualisme te konsentreer, moet ons glo eerder onthou dat alle mense "ekonomiese geregtigheid verdien." Verdien? Hierna pas Botman sy geringskatting van presterende indiwidue en groepe op die universiteitswese toe. "Universiteite moenie net [akademiese] uitnemendheid najaag nie, maar ook [politieke] relevansie. Deur hul kundigheid tot voordeel van die samelewing te gebruik, kan universiteite die wĂŞreld 'n beter plek help maak." Dit is daardie relevansie wat onderliggend aan Botman se transformasiemanie is. Dit weeg so swaar dat akademiese gehalte by studentetoelating en by die aanstelling en bevordering van personeel opgeoffer word. In die ou Suid-Afrika het universiteite twee funksies gehad, naamlik onderrig en navorsing. In die nuwe Suid-Afrika het gemeenskapsdiens as 'n derde funksie bygekom; dermate dat dit onderrig en navorsing nie net deursuur nie, maar 64

ondergrawe en aan bande lê. In werklikheid is gemeenskapsdiens die verpligting van die staat. Aanvullende hulp word tradisioneel deur vrywilligers verleen, wat hulle dikwels in ondernemings sonder winsbejag organiseer. 'n Ware akademikus behoort geen beginselbeswaar teen 'n universiteit te hê wat hom by sy onderrig- en navorsingfunksie bepaal nie. Nie een van die twee hoef sosiaal relevant te wees nie. Dit mag maar suiwer om die kultivering en ontwikkeling van die vermoëns van indiwidue gaan. Dit is sulke begaafde indiwidue wat in sommige gevalle positiewe rigting vir hulle groep of selfs die mensdom in sy geheel aandui, maar nie uit hoofde van 'n verpligting nie. Die sosialistiese Botman dink anders: "Die samelewing behoort van hoëronderwysinstellings te eis dat hulle tot die openbare welstand bydra." Ten slotte lei dit Botman na sy gewildste verwyt teen en verdoeming van wittes en spesifiek Afrikaners en die US van weleer: "My eie instelling, die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US), het hierdie uitdaging ['n gewilde ANC-woord] in die jaar 2000 aanvaar toe hy sy aandeel aan die ongeregtigheid van ons apartheidsverlede erken het, en hom tot regstelling en ontwikkeling verbind het. Dié verbintenis is sedertdien uitgebou tot die US se HOOP-projek, waardeur ons personeel en studente oplossings vir vername maatskaplike uitdagings [!] in Suid-Afrika én die res van Afrika [!] nastreef." In die ou Suid-Afrika is die histories beproefde waarheid lank aanvaar dat nie met geweldenaars onderhandel word nie. Toe van hierdie gesonde beginsel afgesien is, het die beloofde politieke magsdeling in algehele magsoorgawe ontaard en daardie seëvierende geweldskultuur word tot op hede voortgesit. Ek wil 'n soortgelyke onomstootlike akademiese waarheid in die midde laat: 'n Mens stel nie 'n aktivis, van watter ideologiese aard ook al, as rektor van 'n universiteit aan nie. http://praag.co.za/index.php/leon-lemmer/13403-russel-botman-oor-skuld-enhoop.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3 A+praag+%28Pro-Afrikaanse+Aksiegroep%29

Oscar Pistorius-moordsaak April 16, 2013 Senior polisie het blykbaar beslag gelê op die selfone van ander polisiebeamptes wat aan die Oscar Pistorius-moordsaak werk. Dít blyk dat beamptes foto’s van Oscar geneem het nadat hy reeds in hegtenis geneem is. Dit is met hul selfone gedoen. Berigte lui dat Nathi Mthethwa, Minister van Polisie bekend gemaak het dat 45 polisiebeamptes se selfone gekonfiskeer is. Die voormalige ondersoekbeampte, Hilton Botha, het blykbaar te kenne gegee dat koerante aangebied het om beamptes te betaal vir foto’s van Pistorius. Die foto’s moet geneem word nadat hy in hegtenis

geneem is. Waarnemers is van mening dat dit nog â&#x20AC;&#x2122;n vorm van korrupsie is onder lede van die polisiediens https://mail.google.com/mail/?tab=wm#inbox/13e17fc51b349f7a

What Britain was like before Thatcher David Bullard: 17 April 2013: Ding Dong....the witch ain't dead None of us should be surprised at the amount of column inches and "expert" opinions that followed Baroness Thatcher's demise last week. Such is the power that a "divisive" (shouldn't that be decisive?) politician wields after death. The lefties became very excitable and decided to celebrate by giving the Wizard of Oz song "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" a new lease of life and providing some very unexpected royalties for whoever owns the song's rights. Here on the Southern Tip there was also reaction. The ghastly Mail and Guardian headlined their painfully amateurish Weekend 101 video clip (it really does look as though some spotty adolescents have been given a video camera and told to get on with it) was headlined, with suitably leftish snide contempt, "Maggie kicks the bucket". One wonders what they have in store for Nelson Mandela. "Madiba croaks" or maybe "Tata Tata"? The presenter of this abomination, one Adrian Ephraim, looks far too young to have lived through the Thatcher years but maybe he has simply weathered well. Or maybe he is just an insolent pipsqueak and knows that his job as a lowly lefty hack depends on sneering at those who have actually achieved something in life. In which case, my guess is that your job is safe Adrian. The most disgusting comments came, unsurprisingly, from the loathsome Pallo Jordan who greeted her death with the news that he had just sent a letter of congratulations. "I say good riddance. She was a staunch supporter of the apartheid regime. She was part of the right wing alliance with Ronald Reagan that led to a lot of avoidable deaths". The letter Politicsweb published last week from Margaret Thatcher to P W Botha proves that theory is utter nonsense. It is, of course, Mr Jordan's democratic right to express his view but I think we should also take into account that Pallo Jordan's main contribution to the new South Africa was the renaming of Johannesburg airport while drawing a fat salary courtesy of the taxpayer. He has never been given anything significant to do by his own party since 1994, presumably because they also regard him as a bumbling, squeaky voiced oxygen thief with a silly beard. When Mr Jordan eventually snuffs it nobody will care either 66

way. So his envy of Margaret Thatcher is quite understandable given that he is such an unpleasant nonentity himself. What is urgently required this week is some proper perspective on Baroness Thatcher and as one of the few SA commentators to have actually lived and worked in London in the decade leading up to Mrs Thatcher's election I am clearly the man for the job. First let me deal with the pre Thatcher era. I started my working life during Edward Heath's infamous three day week. Continual industrial action by the miner's unions meant that coal stocks were perilously low. So the government was forced to implement rules which meant that commercial users of electricity were limited to three consecutive days each week. Obviously this meant that British industry was much less competitive than its European rivals. Add the three day week to the constant labour unrest at firms like the motor manufacturer British Leyland, British Steel, the shipyards and the mining industry and it's not difficult to see how the UK won the unenviable sobriquet "the sick man of Europe". The frequent power cuts were unlike anything we ever experienced in SA during load shedding. It was quite common for the power to fail unannounced and to stay off for hours. This was no fun during the cold and dark winter months. Most of the seventies were characterised by economic disaster of some shape or form. After the three day week Edward Heath went to the country and held an election in 1974, which he lost to Labour. That was even more disastrous and by the time the 1979 election came around (after Labour had run its full term never daring to call an earlier election) Britain was on its knees. Inflation was rampant and in 1976 I received a 25% cost of living pay rise from my then employer. Unthinkable today but back then it just about allowed me to keep up with inflation. In 1977 the UK had to go with the begging bowl to the IMF for a bailout; just like Greece and Cyprus today. Things were that bad. Tax rates had been hiked by the Labour government who took much the same view then as the ANC take today; that businessmen need to be punished rather than rewarded. The top rate of tax was 83% and various other punitive taxes were introduced to make doing business in the UK as unattractive as possible. But it wasn't just the economy that was struggling to stay alive. The frequent strikes made our lives miserable. A very large number of people commute into London to work and some from a long distance away. I was still living at home in 1973 and travelled into London from our home in Suffolk, a train journey of roughly 70 67

minutes. On many occasions the rail unions would call a lightning walk out which during the day which meant that you couldn't get home and had to find somewhere to sleep in London. The wildcat strike might last a day or several days, depending on the mood. The only ones to benefit were the London hotels who hiked their prices accordingly. During the seventies everyone you could think of was on strike. I remember walking past rotting garbage piled high in Leicester Square during one dustman's strike. It seemed as though the whole country was falling apart and nobody could do anything about it. It's also not generally acknowledged that, apart from the industrial strife, the UK also had strict rules when it came to foreign investment and travel allowances. You were allowed to take all of ÂŁ50 per annum on your foreign holiday. Even during the worst days of sanctions the SA travel allowance meant that you could still afford a decent overseas holiday. By the time 1979 came the majority of Brits were heartily sick of being held to ransom by the unions and being heavily taxed by a grasping and anti-business Labour government. Anything had to be better and Margaret Thatcher was that anything. But she was still unproven and she could just as easily have turned out to be as much of a disappointment as Edward Heath. Thankfully she didn't and she became the greatest peacetime leader the UK has ever had. The accusation that she was callous and destroyed entire mining communities is laughable. She was honest enough to recognise that the UK was uncompetitive and had no choice but to close down inefficient industries. The miners destroyed themselves with their own ludicrous demands. Thatcher saw no merit in pouring taxpayer's money down a bottomless pit. Her rule was simple....shape up or ship out. Contrary to lefty claims it wasn't just the working class who suffered at the hands of the wicked witch. At the other end of the social spectrum she introduced deregulation (Big Bang) into the City of London in 1986 and did away with a couple of centuries of cosy collusion. The system of dealing through a stockbroker who would then deal with a stock jobber on the floor of the London Stock Exchange (a nice cosy club) was abolished as were fixed commissions. This led to foreign banks flocking to London to set up major operations rather than representative offices and contributed hugely to the UK's balance of payments through what are known as "invisible earnings". To suggest that Thatcher is responsible for the culture of greed and the collapse of 2008 is equally risible. She simply invented the game. If players subsequently chose to cheat then that's hardly 68

her responsibility. That would be like blaming the creator of the Tour de France for Lance Armstrong's errant ways. It is no exaggeration to say that Margaret Thatcher changed the face of Britain forever. The losers are welcome to celebrate her death, turn their backs on her coffin as it passes and drink themselves into oblivion before going to collect this week's welfare cheque. For the majority of Brits though Margaret Thatcher was a saviour and her death will be given the respect it is due. Thatcherism enriched far more people than it impoverished. John Stuart Mill would have approved. As John Kane-Berman appositely observed in the Business Day last Monday, we could do with a local version. The similarities between Britain in the 1970's and SA in the year 2013 are uncanny. But more of that next week. http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=37064 4&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389

10 552 claims for R7.1bn instituted against SAPS in 2011/12 - Nathi Mthethwa 36/1/4/1/201300073 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN REPLY QUESTION NO 644

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28 MARCH 2013 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10-2013) Date reply submitted: 16 April 2013 644. Mr J F Smalle (DA) to ask the Minister of Police: (1) How many claims were instituted against the SA Police Service (a) in the (i) 200708, (ii) 2008-09, (iii) 2009-10, (iv) 2010-11 and (v) 2011-12 financial years and (b) during the period 1 April 2012 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) in respect of each specified financial year, (a) what amount was claimed, (b) how many claims were (i) finalised in court, (ii) settled out of court and (iii) are still outstanding and (c) what amount has been paid to each plaintiff in each case that was (i) finalised in court and (ii) settled out of court? 69

NW803E REPLY:Question (1) and (2) Fin year Number Amount of claims claimed instituted R'000

2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012

Number of claims paid

Amount paid

Number Number of of claims claims still cancelled outstanding /reduced In Settled In Settled for court out of court out of reasons court court other R'000 than R'000 payments 4830 1 515 597 590 688 71 482 94 076 2396 1156 5172 3 266 230 706 629 63 539 82 081 2044 1793 5522 2 522 463 870 616 72 713 90 070 1652 2384 8027 3 692 193 786 560 66 069 83 195 1158 5523 10552 7 174 091 562 553 37 322 55 798 1068 8369

Note: The figures for 2012/13 are still to be audited and will appear in the annual report. The reply to question (2) relates to the same claims that were instituted in the respective financial years referred to in question (1). A large number of these are finalized for reasons other than payments. Such claims became dormant, prescribed, were abandoned, withdrawn or did not comply with the Institution of Legal Proceedings against Certain Organs of State Act, Act 40 of 2002. Reply to question 644 approved by the Minister Issued by Parliament, April 16 2013 http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=37033 3&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389

Jackie Selebi yet to pay back R17.4m in legal fees - Nathi Mthethwa Nathi Mthethwa: 16 April 2013 36/1/4/1/201300055 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN REPLY QUESTION NO 417 DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15 MARCH 2013 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 8-2013) 70

Date reply submitted: 15 April 2013 417. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) to ask the Minister of Police: Has a certain person (name furnished) paid back the R17,4 million in legal fees to the State; if so, on what date was this done? NW566E REPLY: The Department has recently received representation from the former National Commissioner Selebi's legal representatives for consideration by the National Commissioner. Reply to question 417 approved by the Minister Issued by Parliament, April 15 2013 http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=37025 5&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389

Murdersdrift Rhoda Kadalie: 11 April 2013 As I write this column, I am watching the distraught Hesti Potgieter (from Boschkop) trying to come to terms with her husband, Francois', brutal death at the hands of gun-toting intruders who broke into their home in the early hours of Saturday morning. Hesti cradled the dying Francois in her arms, incredulous that her life's partner could be wiped out within minutes, so callously for a cell phone. I look at her and know the feeling that we think it will never happen to us and then, in a flash, it does. Some depraved assailants deny a woman her husband, her children a father, and her grandchildren, a grandfather. Potgieter's death is a sequel to a string of murders that have been happening in Muldersdrift. There is no national outcry because this is just another dispensable white person. I say white because the series of killings in Muldersdrift have been predominantly of white people and in some instances their farm workers who happen to be foreign nationals. Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament, Anchen Dreyer's comments on Facebook alert us to the serial "total onslaught" against the

residents of Mudlersdrift, particularly in Clinic Road, where 93% of households have been attacked. In researching this war zone, I am gobsmacked at the number of shootings and coldblooded killings that have been going on there since 2000. Just to mention a few of the most recent, makes for horrific reading: in September 2012, 13 year old Alyssa Botha was shot dead, while her attackers shot and wounded her father and sister; in November 2012 Jacques Botha was shot and killed in the presence of his toddler and on that same night three others were also attacked; a week later, 27 year old Kirstie Adams was shot at by armed robbers, who missed, but shot and killed her dog, after tying up her 19-year old housemate; 30 November a 29 year old Malawian farmworker, Mupho Ndhlovu, was killed by a gang of robbers on the farm where he worked, and his friend, 46 year old Keston Banda, was also shot and ended up in life-support in hospital. Well-known owners of the farm, Mr and Mrs Starkey were also tied up and robbed in June 2011. Andre Jordaan who lived 500 metres from Alyssa Botha's house was also shot; and Dr Anne Biccard and her husband were also victims of robbery and shooting; more recently, the estate manager, Paul Schulze, of the Heia Safari Ranch in the same area, was also shot and killed; Schulz's father-in-law, Franz Richter, was murdered in 2007; and Liesl Botha, mother of Alyssa, was attacked again in the very house where her daughter was murdered. Ms Dreyer has been relentless in taking this crime hotspot to the police and although the police have made some arrests, the police modus operandi is not good enough. We need dedicated expert detective and forensic investigations of who these killers are and they need to be brought to book. With the BRICS summit, SAPS beefed up its security forces in ways that astounded us ordinary citizens. Where there is political will, the government can always marshal troops to safeguard the interests of the ruling party. Not so for its citizens. As taxpayers, we do not get the same treatment and capacity constraints within the police ring hollow when government is able to demonstrate capacity for rugby and soccer world cups, international conventions, political and economic summits. Despairing at SAPS' ineptitude, Anchen Dreyer, comments, fatalistically: "The Cradle of Humankind is at risk of becoming known as the Graveyard of Humankind." A tragic comment indeed! This article first appeared in Die Burger. http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=36914 5&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389 72

How to fix the SAPS: Douglas Gibson 11 April 2013 The demilitarisation debate is again raging. Commissioner Rhea Phiyega says the SAPS will be demilitarised. Minister Nathi Mthethwa told opposition shadow minister Dianne Kohler- Barnard in parliament that SAPS is not militarised. The one hand does not know what the other hand is (not) doing. The debate is because of the appalling public image of the SAPS. Successive blunders and disasters, failed prosecutions and allegations of brutality and atrocity have created that image. Some say the problem is the so-called militarisation of the police, contrary to the spirit of the constitution. We first provided for civilian control and oversight and stressed the ‘service' aspect rather than the ‘force' aspect. Hence the new name, SA Police Service. We started with a civilian Secretary for Safety and Security, Mr (now Justice) Azhar Cachalia, but Minister Steve Tshwete downgraded the position. It never recovered its prominence or its intended role. The Secretariat in the nine provinces also suffered to a greater or lesser extent. Can anyone name the current occupants? Then we changed the military ranks to unfamiliar names so that the people did not know whether they were dealing with a colonel or a general and this seems to be the extent of demilitarisation that took place. The previous Commissioner changed the rank structure back, which most police prefer. But being called a brigadier does not make a force militarised. Soldiers are, or should be disciplined. Many in the SAPS are not. Don't blame the rank structure for the current poor performance and image. If we allow that lark they will change again (voila!- demilitarisation) and only the cosmetics will change. What need: • • •

A competent, experienced, honest, crime fighting policeman as National Commissioner. A social worker was set up to fail. A capacitated secretariat at national and provincial levels to promote some civilian oversight. Parliament to get its act together and give determined oversight to the SAPS, holding it to account, even if it embarrasses the minster occasionally

• •

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to be adequately staffed and funded. The SAPS to produce a believable plan showing how and when it will implement its vision of creating a safe and secure environment for all the people of South Africa.

In the latest Annual Report the values of the SAPS are described as being to: • • • • • • •

"Protect everyone's rights and to be impartial, respectful, open and accountable to the community; Use the powers given to us in a responsible way; Provide responsible, effective and high quality service with honesty and integrity; Evaluate our service continuously and make every effort to improve on it; Ensure an effective, efficient and economic use of resources; Develop the skills of all members through equal opportunity; and Co-operate with all communities, all spheres of Government and other relevant role players."

Thousands of good policemen and woman are true to the vision and the values. Far too many are not. We need to get to the kernel of the problem: how will the Minister and the Commissioner give us an SAPS that will live up to our reasonable expectations? Douglas Gibson is former Opposition Chief Whip and Ambassador to Thailand. He can be followed on Twitter @dhmgibson This article first appeared in The Citizen. http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=36914 4&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389

Thatcher's 1985 letters to PW Botha condemning Gabarone raids Margaret Thatcher: 11 April 2013 74

Letter from British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to South African President PW Botha, July 4 1985: 10 DOWNING STREET THE PRIME MINISTER 4 July 1985 Dear Mr President, In our last exchange of letters I referred to a number of positive developments in Southern Africa earlier this year. I was much encouraged by these clear signs that progress was being made in overcoming some long standing problems. I was therefore greatly concerned by the recent operations involving South African armed forces in Angola and even more so by the raid on Gaborone on 14 June. Such an attack on a neighbouring country must surely be inconsistent with your attempts to build a better relationship with your neighbours. Our strong views about it were made clear by the UK delegation during the recent United Nations Security Council Debate. The reaction in Britain was all the stronger because the target was a Commonwealth partner which has always pursued moderate policies. I have always held strongly to the view that violence and confrontation, whoever is responsible for them, have no role in resolving the problems of Southern Africa. We have instead lent Britain's support to what has been done to improve co-operation between the countries of the area, and have in particular tried to make a helpful contribution through our many links with your country. But the recent actions of your Government make it very difficult to sustain the approach which we have adopted hitherto; and were there to be another incident of the kind which we saw in Gaborone,I do not see how we could avoid taking specific steps to mark our repudiation of it. This would cause me great regret and I sincerely hope that there will be no cause for it. I should like to take this opportunity to thank you for your letter of 2 May and for your account of South African assistance to Mozambique. You suggested that *the West should be doing more to help President Machel. As you will know, we have offered, with the agreement of Prime Minister Mugabe, training for members of the Mozambican army under the auspices of the British Military Advisory and Training Team in Zimbabwe. We have also agreed to provide some military equipment, for example radios and uniforms. President Machel has warmly welcomed this offer, the details of which 75

have still to be worked out. I hope this initiative will serve to underline the importance which my Government continues to attach to the Nkomati process. I have chosen to speak frankly because the issues at stake could have a very considerable effect on our bilateral relations. I do so in the same spirit of candour which has characterized our earlier correspondence. Yours sincerely, Signed Margaret Thatcher The Honourable P. W. Botha, DMS Letter from British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to South African President PW Botha, July 10 1985: 10 DOWNING STREET THE PRIME MINISTER 10 July, 1985. Dear Mr President Thank you for your letter of 5 July. I shall reply with equal frankness. Yes, it is my Government's policy to combat terrorism wherever it may occur. My letter to you of 4 July made clear that we oppose violence whoever is responsible for it. But this does not lead us to condone an attack on a neighbouring state, in which innocent people, including children, were killed and injured. You mention the IRA. There has, as you know, been a continuing series of terrorist incidents in Northern Ireland in which some 2000 soldiers, policemen, prison wardens and ordinary citizens have lost their lives. What would the international community think if Britain retaliated by launching attacks across the border into the Irish Republic, where many of the terrorists are? Rather we believe that close cooperation with the Irish authorities is the best way and indeed esseniial to the eventual defeat of the IRA. As far as the attitude of Botswana is concerned, I can only say that President Masire, in a personal message to me, expressed his indignation at the attack. He also asked for our support at the United Nations and more widely for what he described as an unprovoked act of aggression. The fact that his Government has been ready to meet with you at regular intervals, and is even now prepared to resume the discussions interrupted by the raid, merely strengthens my view that this problem could and should have been resolved by diplomacy rather than by force. I have to say, therefore, that your perception of this episode is not shared in this country. The impact on our bilateral relations has been thoroughly unfortunate and 76

this at a time when Britain, almost alone in the international community, is attempting to resist pressure for economic measures against South Africa. This is why I was dismayed by your action and why I said that any further attack of this kind would leave us with no choice but to take specific steps to mark our repudiation of it. Yours sincerely, Signed Margaret Thatcher The Honourable P. W. Botha, DMS Source: Margaret Thatcher Foundation http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=36933 9&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389

13 soldiers killed in CAR. 17 farmers killed in SA - Pieter Groenewald Pieter Groenewald: 03 April 2013 More die in farm attacks than in defence operations The slaughter on South African farms are continuing unabated and despite the numerous calls of the Freedom Front Plus on government to declare farm attacks a priority crime, no finger is being lifted to give attention to the matter. In contrast with this, billions of rand are spent on defence equipment and personnel to assist African countries to protect their interests. To date this year, 17 people have already been murdered in 44 farm attacks in South Africa. These figures were obtained from media reports which have been collected by the Transvaal Agricultural Union's unit for farm murders, as no other official statistics on farm attacks are being kept. According to these figures, 685 people have been murdered in 1 234 farm attacks in the past ten years. In the latest incident, Mr. Paul Schulte, the manager of the popular Heia Safari Resort in Muldersdrift, West of Johannesburg, was shot dead on Tuesday morning

while he was on his way to his house. The founder of the resort, Mr. Franz Richter, was also murdered on the farm in 2007. On Sunday, Ms. Liesl Botha, also from Muldersdrift, was overpowered in her home and robbed. Her daughter, Alyssa (13), was shot dead on the plot last year. After the tragic death of the 13 South African troops in the Central African Republic (CAR), the government intervened on the highest level and president Jacob Zuma and a senior cabinet minister delegation this week flew to Chad for urgent talks. The official reason given for South African troop's presence in the CAR is to help with "training, disarming and demobilising". The assistance will last until 2018 at a cost of R21 million a month, which would amount to a total of R1,26 billion over five years. Mr. Pieter Groenewald, the Freedom Front Plus' chief spokesperson on Police and Defence, says that government will have to account for the exact reasons for its presence in Africa. "It is understandable that South Africa is involved in other places in Africa for strategic reasons. But is the country's farming community not one of its biggest strategic interest resources? "The time has come for government to pay as much time, effort and money to their (the farmer's) safety and protection as it is paying for its interests abroad," Groenewald says. Statement issued by Mr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus chief spokesperson: Police, April 3 2013 http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=36763 9&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389

WikiLeaks, Mbeki, Hani, Zille en Zuma WikiLeaks se mees onlangse vrystelling, wat geen wette in die VSA oortree nie, sluit ook diplomatieke kabelgramme oor Suid-Afrika in. Dit werp lig op verskeie onderwerpe wat tans onder bespreking is, soos die verhouding tussen Chris Hani, Thabo Mbeki en die DA. In 1991 was die spanning tussen Mbeki en Hani glo tasbaar. "As Mbeki en Hani (48) nog steeds 'n hegte vriendskap het, sal ons verbaas wees," sĂŞ een kabelgram. "Hani se hantering van die gewapende aksie-werkgroep, waarin hy was, het veel te wense oorgelaat - al het hy - toegegee - 'n baie moeilike taak. Hani daag nie op vir 78

gesamentlike werkgroepvergaderings nie, selfs nadat sy omstrede vrywaringstatus opgelos is. Sy ANC-kollegas kan nie sy afwesigheid aan ons verduidelik nie." Die kabel gaan voort om die twee mans se politieke style te kontrasteer: "Mbeki het 'n onbewoë, beredeneerde benadering tot kwessies ... Hani is meer 'n man van die mense." Die gewildheid van die laasgenoemde kan lei tot 'n magstryd, waarsku die skrywer : "Baie waarnemers glo dat Hani Mbeki sal kan klop indien daar 'n populêre stem onder ANC-ondersteuners gehou word." Tydens 'n vergadering met die Amerikaanse ambassadeur in April 1993, enkele dae ná die sluipmoord op Hani, spreek Mbeki sy kommer uit "oor oordrewe mediafokus op die "woede" van die ANC ná Hani se moord. "Oliver Tambo en hy het na Hani se huis gegaan, na die moord en het nie mense kwaad gesien nie, net woedend en ontsteld," lui die kabelgram. In Mei 1995 word die State Department ingelig dat die man wat president sal word, se styl van leierskap kommer wek. "Mbeki kom nie afsprake na nie, en dokumente lê in sy in-mandjie vir weke," lui dit. "Hy kan nie besluitneming delegeer nie, en put homself uit deur oormatig betrokke te raak in die fynste besonderhede oor 'n verskeidenheid sake." Die kabelgram neem ook kennis van meer persoonlike aspekte van Mbeki se karakter: "'n Gerespekteerde vroulike joernalis en jarelange ambassadekontak het vertroulik vir ons gesê dat sy een-tot-een-sessies met Mbeki vermy, want hy soek seksuele toenadering." Die kabelgram gaan verder waar die opsteller sy verligting uitspreek dat niemand weet hiervan nie. "Maar sulke stories is relatief skaars [in die media], en Mbeki het die reputasie van 'n 'rokjagter' nog vrygespring." Die opposisie in Suid-Afrika kom ook onder die loep. Bio-notas oor DA-leier, Helen Zille, wat in Oktober 2007 geskryf is, verwys na Zille se hoof van personeel Paul Boughey wat Zille beskryf as 'n "impulsiewe besluitmaker, wat dit moeilik maak om haar te bestuur". Ander bronne, sê die kabelgram, gebruik woorde soos "obsessief en kompulsief". Die opsteller in 'n ander kabelgram dink duidelik niks van die Afrikanersteun wat Tony Leon vir die DA kon monster met sy 'Fight Back'-veldtog nie. Die opsteller meen dat Zille aan die party 'n "skoon lei" kan bied want na die leierskap van Leon het Suid-Afrikaners 'n beeld van Leon in hul kop van iemand "kinders in 'n dorp uit 'n helikopter skiet, selfs al het dit nooit gebeur nie". Die negatiewe konnotasie met Afrikaners is duidelik uit die kabelgram. Julius Malema se naam verskyn gereeld in die kabelgramme van 2005 af. Sy opgang as katalisator word in Desember 2008 beskryf as "Die Einde van die ANC Intellektuele?". Die skrywer is bekommerd oor "die toekoms van die regerende party as 'n plek van idees". Die kabel kla dat die dae van Angelsaksiese invloed oor Sisulu, Tambo, 79

Mandela, Mbeki, Slovo en Hani verby is. "Die ANC is steeds die standaard-draer van intellektuele denke vir bevrydingsbewegings, maar die party het gesukkel om in die afgelope jaar baie van sy tradisies in stand te hou." Onder Zuma, spreek die skrywer sy vrees uit oor hierdie afname van invloed. "Sonder 'n sterk intellektuele sentrum, sal die party waarskynlik sukkel en kwesbaar word vir die verskynsel van persoonlikheidskultus en toegang tot staatsbegunstiging," kom die skrywer tot die gevolgtrekking. Kennelik nie 'n toestand wat die VSA graag wil sien gebeur nie, aangesien dit hulle invloed verder sal verminder. http://praag.co.za/index.php/nuus-magazine-402/suider-afrika-magazine-400/13342wikileaks-mbeki-hani-zille-en-zuma.html

Twee van Misdaadintelligensie voor vir korrupsie DONDERDAG, 11 APRIL 2013 07:20 SAPA Twee polisiebeamptes wat daarvan beskuldig word dat hulle geld van misdaadintelligensie gesteel het, sal Donderdag in die Pretoria-landdroshof verskyn. Genl.maj. Solly Lazarus, geskorste finansiĂŤle hoof van die misdaadintelligensieeenheid, en kol. Hein Barnard, logistieke hoof, staan tereg op aanklagte van diefstal, bedrog en korrupsie van sowat R1,1 miljoen. Hulle is verlede jaar Desember op borgtog van R10 000 elk vrygelaat, en is uit die polisie geskors. "Die beskuldigdes het gedurende die periode van 2006 tot Desember 2011 naby Pretoria... verkeerdelik en wederregtelik, direk of indirek betalings ter waarde van R1 144 086 ontvang, of daartoe ingestem," luidens die klagstaat, het City Press berig. http://praag.co.za/index.php/nuus-magazine-402/suider-afrika-magazine-400/13315twee-van-misdaadintelligensie-voor-virkorrupsie.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed %3A+praag+%28Pro-Afrikaanse+Aksiegroep%29

National Security History Anglo-Boer War: Graves of National Scouts at Malanskraal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hennie Heymans While doing genealogical research I visited Malanskraal, near Heidelberg (T) with my friend the late Rick Searle. He knew the area very well. My mother is a Malan and we were looking for Malan-graves. We found no graves of the Malan family;

however we found graves dating from the Anglo Boer War. Oom Ric referred me to Ian Uysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; book:

The following graves of Hensoppers or Joiners were found on the farm Malanskraal:

The following objects were seen in the veldt and photographed. A rusted part of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;voorlaaierâ&#x20AC;? and a one round of a Maritini Henry round which was found in the vicinity of the graves.

Comments I strongly urge that these graves of Boers who fell for the sake Great Britain during the Anglo Boer War be kept in good order.

Anglo Boer War: Cape Police â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lt-Col W Marshall

HQ Natal Police: Pietermaritzburg: Dana Kruger

1909 Natal Police: The Statuette - HBH

I was very fortunate to view a copy of an historic NP statuette, based on the photograph on the left. Originally there were two statuettes, one mounted and one foot Trooper – HBH.

Heroes: Who are our heroes? “We have a very daring and skilful opponent against us, and, may I say across the havoc of war, a great general,” said Winston Churchill, in acknowledgment of the formidable gifts of Nazi Germany’s greatest general, Erwin Rommel. His skillful implementation of Heinz Guderian’s blitzkrieg enabled the Wehrmacht to swiftly overrun France, and nearly drive the British from North Africa. It was in the latter theatre, far from the meddling interference of Hitler, that Rommel earned his nickname “The Desert Fox”, for his daring and innovative tactics. But by the time of the Allied invasion of France in 1944, Rommel was disillusioned with the war, and with Hitler. He was implicated in the July plot on Hitler’s life, but was too popular with the public to move against openly. When he was injured in an Allied strafing attack on his car, the Gestapo gave him an ultimatum: to commit suicide or he would be tried publicly along with his family. He chose suicide, and his death was 84

attributed to the airplane attack. He was given a fallen heroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s send-off that made excellent grist for the Nazi propaganda mill. http://listverse.com/2010/06/27/10-generals-who-got-in-trouble-with-their-chief/

Do you remember the Southern Cross Fund? F Gunther

SA Military History Society: Cape Towm: J van den Berg (Cape Town)

NEWSLETTER NO 40 408, APRIL 2013 Our speaker on 14 March 2013 was fellow fellow-member Mr Robert Buser whose topic was The Story of the Bismarck, May 1941 – The Life and Times of World War Two’s most famous Battleship Battleship. Capt. Piet Botha (SAN ret.) was invited to display his working model of the Bismarck at the night’s meeting, which proved to be an excellent idea as it drew an appreciative audience both before and after the lecture. INTRODUCTION In May 1941, a series of naval engagements took place in the North Atlantic over a period of nine days. In size, it was a small campaign. Some 3 800 men died and this in only three ships – Hood Hood, Bismarck and Prince of Wales.. This short campaign, however, had an extremely important effect upon the strategic situation, both generally and insofar as it affected the war at sea. GENERAL STRATEGIC SITUATION From the British point of view, the situation was pretty gloomy. Britain and her Commonwealth and Empire stood alone against the Axis powers, which controlled most of Europe, directly and through alliances. In North Africa, Rommel was advancing on Egypt and British counter offensives had either failed or were in the process of failing. Malta was under heavy attack from the air. Operations in Abyssinia and Somaliland were coming to an end. New campaigns were starting in Iraq and Syria, and also in Persia. Greece was lost – the troops had been evacuated with th heavy losses in men, equipment and ships. Crete was being invaded. From the German point of view the position was far brighter. They controlled most of Europe, apart from some neutral countries. A major attack on Russia was planned. Trouble was being st stirred irred up in Iraq, Syria and Persia. The campaign in 86

North Africa was progressing well. Malta had been subdued, the British defeated in Greece and the Royal Navy’s dominance in the Mediterranean had disappeared. The campaign against British merchant shipping in the Atlantic was going well. THE SITUATION AT SEA Britain had few of the raw materials necessary for conducting a war. Ample supplies of coal were available but the oil fields that provided the fuel were in the Americas, Iraq, Persia and South East Asia. Russian and Romanian oil was not accessible to the British. Oil and the minerals required to produce the metals used to build the ships, aircraft, tanks, guns and everything else needed to carry on a war, as well as food, cotton, wool, timber and many other commodities had to be imported, as Britain was not self-sufficient in these. Ammunition, vehicles, aircraft, guns, et al, and especially, men had to be sent from Britain to the Mediterranean and East African fronts and to South East Asia. All of this required lots of merchant ships – tankers, freighters and liners for the men. They were in short supply and were prime targets for sub-surface, surface and air attack. The British convoy system To protect their ships, the British introduced the convoy system, not something new – it had been used in the days of sail and in WW1. The convoys were escorted but, in mid-1941, the numbers of escorts were inadequate – a well-escorted convoy might have an old V/W class destroyer or an American 4-stacker, a sloop and three to five corvettes. In 1941, the German submarines were sinking ships almost at will off the American eastern seaboard – known to the U-Boat crews as the “happy time”. The Wolf Pack system had been introduced and was working well. There had been some losses of submarines, but were viewed as an acceptable rate of attrition. Air cover for convoys was inadequate – the only long-range aircraft was the Sunderland, but the Americans had started to supply the highly versatile and popular Catalina flying boats. Bomber Command refused to hand over any of their long range bombers to Coastal Command. Long range fighters, to defend convoys, and strike aircraft, to attack submarines at sea or in harbour, were absent. Squadrons based in the UK, Iceland and Canada provided limited air cover, but there were huge gaps in mid-ocean that were not covered.

In addition to submarines and surface ships used against the convoys, there was the added threat of mines in all waters, including off the Cape, and, as the convoys neared the UK, air attacks could also be expected. The German response to this The German strategy was to use U-boats, the Luftwaffe, disguised surface raiders and the Navy’s capital ships in coordinated fashion to destroy as many merchant ships as possible. Disguised surface raiders were sent out to attack the individually-routed ships, especially in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean areas, helped by a network of supply ships and tankers. In May 1941, six raiders were at sea. They had many successes. The Admiral Scheer had sunk the AMC Jervis Bay and 16 merchant ships, Hipper had sunk 7 and Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had sunk 22 ships. The German Navy had been ordered to attack convoys but to avoid damage that could not be repaired at sea. All of this activity had dislocated the convoy system and the RN had to provide heavy ship escorts to the convoys, usually in the form of an old battleship or heavy (E or County class) cruiser. They were weak ships and were there to give the convoy time to scatter and nothing more. In addition to the close escorts, the RN set up Home Fleet, based at Scapa Flow. In 1941 this was commanded by Vice Adm John Tovey. His command consisted of King George V, Hood, Nelson, Rodney, Repulse and a while later, Prince of Wales. There were also cruisers and destroyers and sometimes an aircraft carrier. Some of these could be withdrawn if other priorities arose. Its function was to stop the Germans from getting into the North Atlantic. BATTLESHIPS – ROYAL NAVY AND KRIEGSMARINE In May 1941, the Royal Navy battle line consisted of the following 16 ships – King George V, with Prince of Wales working up - good, well-armed and modern ships Nelson and Rodney – well-armed and -armoured, 1920 vintage Queen Elizabeth, Warspite and Valiant – 1916 vintage, but updated Six old ships – 1911/1916 vintage, not updated Two battle cruisers, 1920 vintage, not updated. Renown – updated and rebuilt battle cruiser. 88

The Kriegsmarine had the following 5 ships in May 1941— Bismarck with Tirpitz nearing completion – with a full load displacement of 49,000 tons, the most powerful battleships in the world at the time Scharnhorst and Gneisenau – modern, fast, long-ranged, well-armed and -armoured Lützow and Admiral Scheer – pocket battleships, well-armed and -armoured. Of the Royal Navy ships, four were in the Mediterranean (Queen Elizabeth, Warspite, Valiant and Barham) and one (Renown) with Force H at Gibraltar, Nelson with a convoy south of Freetown. The old ships were relegated to convoy duties. This left only King George V and Rodney, along with Prince of Wales to slog it out with Bismarck, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Hood was well-armed but her armour was too weak to fight a battleship. So the two sides were rather evenly balanced.

THE BISMARCK CAMPAIGN – DAY BY DAY Preamble Bismarck was commissioned on 24 August 1940. Bismarck was probably the most powerful battleship in the world in 1941, well armed, fast with a three propeller arrangement, with double rudders between the propellers. Her critical spaces were well-protected by high quality, heavy armoured steel. The main side armour stretched from forward of A turret to aft of D turret. The steering compartment was not well protected. She was well-protected against plunging fire, her main turrets and the conning tower and sighting equipment were wellarmoured. The superstructure was only lightly-armoured. Her main armour belt did not extend very far beneath the waterline, leaving her vulnerable to deep running torpedoes and underwater explosions. She had state-of-the-art electronics and three of the excellent German stereoscopic systems each with two directors, optical range finder and gun control radar. Bismarck sailed to Gotenhafen (Gdynia) for her sea trials and to train her crew. Finally, in May 1941, she was judged to be ready for operations. In Berlin the Germans were planning the next foray into the North Atlantic, to consist of 3 battleships and the cruiser Prinz Eugen, the nightmare long feared by Vice Adm Tovey, but two were under repair. It was finally decided to go ahead with the operation with only two ships. So they prepared for sea. Tankers, supply ships and weather ships set sail to pre-determined positions and an escort of destroyers and minesweepers was assembled. 89

19 May 1941 At 0200 Bismarck and Prinz Eugen sailed from Gotenhafen, with three destroyers, for the Baltic and through the Great Belt, which splits the two parts of Denmark. The Germans had banned all shipping from this area and the Kattegat and Skaggerak - in the parts they controlled. As they were powerless to exert control in Swedish waters, it would have been better to slip through the German Kiel Canal into the North Sea. 20 May 1941 At this point the Swedish cruiser Gotland appeared and, staying in Swedish territorial waters, shadowed the German force on its way up the Kattegat for some hours. She sent sighting reports to Swedish Naval Headquarters in Stockholm. After the fall of Norway, a number of senior Swedish officers decided that an all-powerful Germany would not be good for a neutral Sweden and they worked with the Norwegian underground, via its Swedish office which, in turn, worked in close liaison with the British naval attaché in Stockholm. He received a copy of Gotland’s sighting report that evening and transmitted it to London immediately. The German force turned into the Skaggerak and passed Kristiansund on the Norwegian south coast on the evening of the 20th, in full view of people strolling along the coastal promenade. One of them was a resistance member who saw warships sailing fast towards the North Sea and arranged for a message to be sent to London that same night. Adm Tovey had available at Scapa Flow King George V, Hood and Repulse, Prince of Wales with faulty turrets and dockyard technicians on board. Rodney was on her way to America for a refit. The new carrier Victorious, carrying 45 aircraft for Malta and part of her air group, was available. Force H at Gibraltar had Renown, Sheffield and Ark Royal. 21 May 1941 Bismarck arrived at Grimstadfjord, south of Bergen at 0900. Prinz Eugen headed to Kalvanes, NW of Bergen. Bergen was within range of RAF aircraft. They should have gone further north, to Trondheim or Narvik. Prinz Eugen filled her tanks to the brim but Bismarck did not – a crucial mistake. At 1200, a PRU Spitfire from RAF Wick arrived, flying at 25,000 feet to photograph Bergen and the nearby fjords. The pilot, F/O Suckling, saw some ships below. At RAF Wick, the ships on the photographs taken were assessed as a battleship and 90

cruiser. The Admiralty, Coastal Command and Adm Tovey were informed. At 1930, the German ships sortied, heading for the Denmark Straits. Tovey ordered Norfolk to sail for Hvalfjord, refuel and join Suffolk in the Denmark Straits. The Faroes/Iceland gap was covered by Manchester and Birmingham. Vice Adm Lancelot Holland with the Hood and Prince of Wales headed for Hvalfjord. Tovey kept the King George V, Repulse, the carrier Victorious and four cruisers under his command. 22 May 1941 Of the five access passages from the Arctic/North Sea to the North Atlantic, the Faroes/Shetlands, Shetlands/Orkneys and Orkneys/Scotland gaps were near to British bases and patrolled. The Faroes/Iceland and Iceland/Greenland (or Denmark Straits) gaps were covered by Cruiser forces. The North Sea at that particular time was under fog with a very low cloud base. A squadron of Marylands was stationed at Hatson, near Scapa Flow. At 1630, a Maryland took off and crossed the North Sea just below the clouds. With some difficulty, they found the coast and scouted round Bergen and its fjords. The Germans had gone. At 2215, Tovey sailed with King George V and four cruisers. Lutjens decided to head for the Denmark straits without refueling from the tanker Weissenburg – a fatal mistake. He sailed into heavy seas and thick fog. At 2300 he turned SW to make his run through the Denmark Straits. 23 May 1941 In the afternoon the weather in the Denmark Straits was beginning to clear. The job of patrolling the Denmark straits was not popular with the crews of the Norfolk and Suffolk, both 10,000 ton, lightly armoured County class cruisers, fast and armed with eight 8inch guns. The weather was usually stormy, cold and icy but on the 23rd it was quite pleasant. Capt Ellis of Suffolk used his newly updated radar set with a range of 14 miles as he patrolled the Greenland side of the Straits. Norfolk watched the Iceland side. Able Seaman Newall was the starboard after lookout on Suffolk – the “Mark One, Eyeball” was still a most useful tool. He was bored and waiting for the end of his watch as he swept his arc from midships to the stern when at 1900, about seven miles away, the massive bulk of the Bismarck appeared out of the mist. “Ship bearing 91

green 140” he shouted then “Two ships bearing Green 140”. Capt Ellis ordered hard aport and full ahead to get back into the fog. Suffolk fell in behind the Germans, using its radar to track the ships. Norfolk came hurtling out of the fog, almost close enough to board the Bismarck, which opened fire. Norfolk was soon back in the fog shadowing the German force. The cruisers sent out sighting reports all night. Lutjens tried to shake off his pursuers but to no avail. Bismarck’s radar was damaged, so Prinz Eugen took the lead. 24 May 1941 The Hood and Prince of Wales were now on an interception course with the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen, thanks to the reports from Suffolk. The Germans hurried south-west at 28 knots. By midnight on 23/24 May, Holland was only 100 miles from the Germans. He turned away so as to reach the German force at dawn. He planned to engage Bismarck with his battleships and let the cruisers take on Prinz Eugen but, with his policy of radio silence, never told them this. At 0028 Suffolk lost radar contact, but by 0247 regained contact again. Holland was now 35 miles NE of Bismarck, abeam of the German force. AB Knocker White, the lookout in the Prince of Wales, sighted Bismarck at approximately 0535. The ships slowly converged with the British steaming WSW at 28 knots and the Germans on a course of SW. At 0537 Holland ordered a course change of 40 degrees to starboard. This would bring him within firing range in 5 minutes but the line of approach meant his rear guns would not bear, but on the plus side it meant that the time Hood was vulnerable to plunging fire, was also reduced. At about 0500, the German hydrophones picked up propeller noise. Action stations were sounded. The course changed to 265 degrees, due west. Holland went to 300 degrees to approach his opponent faster and, at 0553, Hood opened fire on Prinz Eugen in the lead. Capt Leach of Prince of Wales ignored the order to fire at the lead ship and opened fire on Bismarck. The British were in close order with no freedom of manoeuvre. German retaliation came swiftly. At 0553, Prinz Eugen fired at Hood after a course change, hitting her twice, starting a fire amidships. The German course of 200 degrees meant that they were in a position to cross the British T. They could use all of their guns while only the British forward guns could be brought to bear. On top of 92

this, Prince of Wales had problems with her A turret. Bismarck opened fire at 0555. Hood saw her mistake and changed target. Holland ordered a 20 degree to port course change. A straddle on Hood was achieved by the third broadside and Prinz Eugen was ordered to fire at Prince of Wales. A slight turn and Holland could bring all his guns to bear. Bismarck’s 5th broadside at about 0600 straddled Hood. One shell, a direct hit, plunged through the deck, exploded in the rear secondary magazine and touched off the rear 15inch magazine. A huge column of flame leapt up from the Hood’s centre, followed by a mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke. She sank at 0603. Prince of Wales had to alter course radically to avoid hitting the wreckage and steamed past the bow section which towered above her, going on a course of 260 degrees, more or less parallel to Lutjens. Prince of Wales was now under fire from both German ships and was hit by four 15inch and three 8inch shells. Much of her superstructure had been smashed. 400 tons of sea water had leaked in and her gun turrets were giving trouble. Her fire had been quite accurate and she hit Bismarck with three 14inch shells but, at 0613, Capt Leach turned away on a course of 150 degrees SSE, made smoke and withdrew. HMS Electra found only three survivors, out of the Hood’s crew of 1,419. Three 14inch shells had hit Bismarck – one forward causing flooding, one amidships, severing fuel lines and damaging bulkheads and the third which wrecked a boiler room and the boats. She was down 5 degrees at the bow and had a 9-degree list to port. Worse, she had lost 1,000 tons of bunker oil. Her speed was down to 24 knots and Lutjens decided to head for France. Adm Wake Walker continued to shadow Bismarck as the latter turned south. Adm Tovey was 350 miles to the SE. Force H was ordered north. Rodney ordered to leave her convoy and head north. Victorious was sent with four cruisers to close for a torpedo attack with her nine Swordfish and six Fulmars. Adm Holland’s tactics had been bad - a line ahead approach, no use of radar, no orders to Wake Walker, no use of air reconnaissance. Wake Walker’s force followed the Germans some 30,000 yards back and Coastal Command aircraft made their appearance. The German force split at 1840. Prinz Eugen continued on the same course and Bismarck turned west, and then north.

By 2200, Victorious, 120 miles from Bismarck, launched her eight serviceable Swordfish. The aircrew was, with the exception of three, inexperienced. Some had never taken off from a carrier before. They were launched in vicious weather and flew off into fog and cloud. The Swordfish got lost, found Norfolk, got a new course and had nearly attacked Modoc, a USCG cutter. Under heavy fire they attacked Bismarck at 2330 and scored one hit. All of the aircraft had landed back safely. The hit had caused no damage. Bismarck waited her chance, utilizing the low visibility, turned sharp west and increased speed. 25 May 1941 This was done at 0300. Bismarck made a huge loop round her pursuers then headed south-west towards the Bay of Biscay – and Force H. She had shaken off her pursuers. At 0500, Adm Wake Walker reported “lost contact with enemy”. At the time the RN had forty ships at sea, all looking for Bismarck. Adm Tovey was 100 miles to the south east. The Admiralty transmitted some bearings which had been picked up on HF/DF. This was at 0800, when Lutjens had sent a long transmission to Berlin. These were sent to Tovey and his staff, who miscalculated Bismarck’s position and turned north. Later Tovey redid his calculations and turned south again. He was now 150 miles behind. Force H was ordered to move north to block access to Brest. Repulse left to refuel. Rodney was 350 miles SE of Bismarck. She headed north, but Adm Wake Walker headed towards France as well. 26 May 1941 During the previous evening (the 25th) Coastal Command and Admiralty had planned the next day’s aerial recces. Air Marshall Bowhill felt that Bismarck might be south of where she was estimated to be, so a Catalina was sent into that area, in addition to the other areas. The aircrew had just had their breakfast in aircraft Z/209 when, at 1030, they found and identified Bismarck, 690 miles west of Brest. Home Fleet was running low on fuel but Force H was 112 miles ESE. Ark Royal had been sending out Swordfish and one of these arrived over Bismarck some 12 minutes after aircraft Z/209. Sheffield arrived at 1824 and Dorsetshire, Norfolk, Rodney and King George V were approaching – the only ones with fuel. Adm Tovey contacted Force H and ordered them to slow Bismarck. 94

Ark Royal’s flight deck was rising and falling some 60 feet and the wind speed was 40 knots. A Swordfish’s top speed is 95 knot. At 0845 the strike took off, some of the aircraft nearly hitting the sea. This strike returned without finding the enemy and a fresh strike of 15 aircraft took off. They had not been told that the Sheffield was up ahead. They attacked Sheffield which avoided all the torpedoes. At 1740 Sheffield picked up Bismarck on her radar. The planes all returned safely and Adm Tovey, now really short of fuel, was informed “attack made no hits”. He asked for a further strike. Bismarck was now also running short of fuel, with barely enough to reach Brest. A second strike was launched at 1915. Ark Royal was only 38 miles from Bismarck, with Renown to protect her. The planes sighted Sheffield which signalled “B 12 miles dead ahead”. Cloud level was 200 feet and it was decided that each sub-flight would attack individually and from all sides. The target was reached at 2030, with no hits. About this time U556 sighted Ark Royal launching its strike, with Renown and NO destroyers. The U-Boat, alas, had no torpedoes left and powerless to strike. Then Sheffield reported “B course 340 degrees” or NNW, straight towards Home Fleet. A Swordfish signalled “enemy steering due north”. Sheffield and another Swordfish reported “course NNW and due N”. The attack had gone in but one aircraft had got lost, returned to Sheffield, again set course with the correct bearings and chanced unexpectedly upon the Bismarck. His tinfish hit Bismarck’s stern, flooding the steering mechanism and jamming the rudders. Bismarck was now trying to steer on main engines with a jammed rudder. With the heavy seas, she could only steer NW. 27 May 1941 Morale was dropping on Bismarck – the constant attacks, jammed steering, lack of fuel and the knowledge that Home Fleet had arrived had had their effect. At 0800 King George V and Rodney were sighted coming up fast. Battle stations were ordered on the Bismarck. At 0843 Rodney sighted the Bismarck 12½ miles ahead. The British approached as fast as possible, in line abreast to allow each ship to operate individually. Rodney opened fire at 0847, followed at 0848 by King George V. Bismarck opened fire at 0849, achieving a number of straddles but no hits. Norfolk opened fire at 0854 and Dorsetshire at 0901.

Rodney was shooting superbly with a hit in the third broadside. King George V was scoring hits as well and Bismarck, which was virtually dead in the water, was pounded to pieces at very close range. By 1000 she was a blazing wreck. All firing ceased at 1016. Only a couple of shells had pierced her main armour belt covering her magazines and engines. King George V, Rodney, Norfolk and the destroyers left for Plymouth as their fuel was dangerously low. Dorsetshire stayed behind to fire its torpedoes into the wreck. A scuttling order had been issued at 1000 and at 1036 she rolled over and sank. Dorsetshire and Maori started rescuing survivors. Some 110 had been saved when a submarine periscope was sighted and rescue attempts had to be aborted. U74 was in the area. She saved three and the weather ship Sachsenwald another two. Wreck of the Hood Hood sank at 0600 on 24 May 1941 and the wreck was discovered by an expedition led by David Mearns on 19 July 2001. A diving bell was used to examine the wreck and a submersible fitted with a camera took numerous photographs. It has always been assumed that Hood broke in two as a result of an explosion in a magazine. The wreck is, in fact, in three pieces and there is considerable evidence of more than one explosion. The theory is that Bismarckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shell penetrated the deck and exploded in the aft secondary armament magazine. The explosion also set off the main armament magazine just aft of this and the explosion also spread through the engine room, wiping that out. This then set off a huge explosion in the two forward magazines. This would explain the triple breakup and the evidence of multiple explosions. There were only normal steel plate bulkheads between the various magazines and the engine room. Wreck of the Bismarck Bismarck sank at approximately 1036 on 27 May 1941 and lies at a depth of 15700 feet. She was found by an expedition led by Dr Robert Ballard in 1989 and subsequently visited in June 2001 by two other expeditions. Bismarck turned turtle as she as she sank and her main armament turrets broke away and sank independently, as did her mast, stern and other parts of her superstructure. There were many penetrations in the less well armoured portion of the hull but only very few in the area of the main 14inch armour belt. There were many large openings beneath the armoured belts on both sides of the ship. These 96

were caused by torpedoes. Bismarck’s side armour belt did not go far enough below the surface. There was massive damage to the superstructure. The British short range fire did not penetrate the hull but wrecked the superstructure. This is why Tovey at 1016 ordered the use of torpedoes. The torpedo hits were a major contributing factor in sinking the Bismarck, although the scuttling charges, flooding and counter-flooding counter also would have played a major role in bringing about the demise of the Bismarck. Conclusion The British had been very fortunate that the Germans had used their battleships and other heavy ships in penny packets. Had they not done this Home Fleet would have been very hard pressed to stop them from decimating the convoys. This would have had a disastrous effect on the war effort – Britain could well have lost the war. The RN now knew that a network of tankers and supply ships must be lurking in various parts of the Atlantic. Within six months, nine had been sunk. This meant that the surface urface raiders had lost their logistical backup. The most important threat remaining was now the U-Boat Boat campaign. The Home Fleet with its five battleships – King George V, Duke of York, Prince of Wales, Nelson and Rodney – could have been used more productively ively elsewhere, e. g. on escorting the Malta Convoys. There was a large reduction in the pressure on the Royal Navy and the sinking of Bismarck had an effect on the war at sea out of all proportion to the loss of a single battleship. But on 7 December 19 1941, 41, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour. At war now with all three of the Axis partners, it just served to dilute the Royal Navy’s strength in Home Waters and the North Atlantic still further - and more shocking losses to follow.

The presence of a working model of the Bismarck in 1:128th scale (that translates into a model all of two metres long) really served to enhance the quality of our speaker’s 97

lecture. The impact of events more than seven decades ago was highlighted by Capt Botha, pointing out to the audience all the features of the Bismarck and areas where damage occurred, at the same time as our speaker covered it in his talk. The chairman thanked both our speaker and our guest for their contribution in combining to turn an excellent lecture into a memorable evening, to which the audience most certainly will heartily concur. He presented both our speaker and visitor with the customary gift. FORTHCOMING LECTURES 11 APRIL 2013: THE WESTERN FRONT: A FAMILY ODYSSEY by Dr James Tunnicliffe Dr Tunnicliffe will present an illustrated talk on the results of his research into the military career of his great-uncle who participated in the “Great War” of 1914-1918. Our speaker only recently discovered that his great-uncle served with distinction on the Western Front and participated in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. He has visited the battlefield to follow in his relative’s footsteps and will illustrate his talk with some vivid and evocative pictures of the battlefields as it was then, and now. Being a medical doctor, he is greatly interested in the medical aspects of the First World War. 9 MAY 2013: THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG by Stan Lambrick The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the American Civil War. After this battle which was the largest ever fought on American soil, the Confederate hopes of establishing a separate nation dwindled. After those momentous three days - 1st to 3rd July, 1863 - the Southern cause went into decline. Gettysburg would forever be known as the "High Tide of the Confederacy". Bob Buser: Treasurer/Asst. Scribe Phone: 021-689-1639 (Home) Email: bobbuser@webafrica.org.za

Ray Hattingh: Secretary Phone: 021-592-1279 (Office) Email: ray@saarp.co.za

1944 Military Intelligence (UDF) WW2 – Mark Newham Introduction and comments by Hennie Heymans: As a former member of the Security Branch, I have over the years studied 1000’s of reports in our files on the activities of the South African Communist Party / Communist Party of South Africa. It was indeed an interesting experience to read the files dating back to the days even before the “old” Special Branch. (The days of Bill Andrews.) The SAP had very old and historic intelligence files. The old Suspect Staff in the various police divisions reported on the activities of the Communists and other people. During WW2 when 98

the Russians entered the war on the side of the Allies. We had a Russian Embassy in South Africa. It was soon found that the SACP had infiltrated the Union Defence Force and even officers of the UDF became members of the SACP. SA Government departments were also infiltrated. The Commissioners of Police both Maj-Gen IP de Villiers and Maj-Gen RJ “Bobby” Palmer were keenly interested in the dangers of communism. During 1948 some officers went to Scotland Yard and MI5 to study “police methods”. 1

Mark Newham says: “This MI report was handed to me by a source”:

There was a form of camaraderie between the SAP and the SACP; they knew one another well. At meetings they would stop to allow “Sgt Van der Merwe” to put new reels in his tape recorder. Det/Sgt PJ Coetzee - later Commissioner - was a shorthand writer and he told me that he present when the Russian Embassy was vacated – HBH.

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World War II South African Memorial Plaques – Dewald Nel South African memorial plaques or “death plaques” as they are commonly referred to, were given to the next of kin of Union Defence Force (“UDF”) personnel who lost their lives while on active service during World War II (“WWII”). It was intended as recognition and also in remembrance of those UDF servicemen and women who lost their lives during WW II. The plaques carry the force number, rank, initials surname, unit as well as the cause of death. A numbered brooch of similar design as the Maltese cross featured on the death plaque below, but of smaller size, was also given to the next of kin.

A pair of death plaques Death plaques carrying the Star of David rather than a “Christian” Maltese cross were given to the next of kin of servicemen and women of the Jewish faith and are considerably rarer than those bearing the Maltese cross.

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A Jewish death plaque2 Almost 12 000 UDF servicemen and women lost their lives during WWII3. As with WWII medals, death plaques to South African Police members can be identified by the prefix “SAP” appearing before their force numbers.

• 52254 Air Sergeant Andries Albertus Nel, South African Air Force - Killed in Action 8 Jan 1941 Andries Albertus Nel was born on 22 November 1916 and lived at 41 Princess Alice Avenue, Brooklyn, Cape Town prior to attesting to the Union forces on 9 April 1940. He was a drill sharpener and driver prior to signing up4. He started as a private at the Central Training Depot on 5 December 1939 and was posted to the South African Air Force (“SAAF”) on 13 January 1940. On 21 May 1940 he was posed from 2nd School for Technical Training to Electronic and Wireless School5. At 13:35 on 8 January 1941 a Junkers 52 No.688 arrived at the airport in Mbeya, Tanzania. Here the aircraft took on an additional 160 galls. of fuel, filling the tanks to overflow. By this time the aircraft’s tanks held 420 galls. of fuel.

http://pixel-renoster.blogspot.com/2010/10/ww2-south-african-jewish-death-plaque.html South African Roll of Honour WWII 4 WWII service card 5 WWII service card 2 3

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Junkers 52 No. 668 in the background6 A satisfactory weather report for Dodoma was obtained and at 14:05, and Air Sergeant Nel as well as fifteen other passengers took off from the airport in Mbeya. At 14:13 the radio operator at Mbeya received a call from aircraft P.Y.81 (the call sign of the aircraft in question). He answered, but received no reply. The wreckage of the aircraft was later found in a deep ravine in the mountain range at right angles to the aircraftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intended course from Mbeya to Dodoma, about seven miles north east of Mbeya aerodrome. It was assumed that the aircraft crashed at approximately 14:15.

Courtesy of SAAF Museum

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Wreckage of Junkers 52 No. 668 after the accident7 According to the findings of the inquiry, the accident was caused by pilot error whilst flying in cloud. The relatively inexperienced pilot turned left off course from low-lying country into the ravine. However, a secondary cause for the accident is also mentioned: the aircraft was overloaded by some 1750 lbs above the load specified in the certificate of airworthiness8. Below is the death plaque which was sent to Air Sergeant Nel’s father and which is in my collection. Although Air Sergeant Nel was to supposed to have received a 1939 – 1945 Star, an Africa Star, a War Medal and an Africa Service Medal for his period of service, this was never dispatched and this death plaque is therefore his only “entitlement” for his WWII service.

7 8

Courtesy of SAAF Museum Court of Inquiry relating to aircraft accident JU52 3/M No. 688 near Mbeya, Tanzania

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Interestingly, the death plaque indicates that he died of wounds. This does not agree with the contents of the official inquiry which clearly indicates that: â&#x20AC;Ś 3.

The sixteen occupants who were instantly killed [my emphasis] were on

The aircraft was almost totally destroyed by fire (80%).

duty.

I only presume that the reason for stating that he died of wounds, would have been that it sounded better than having died in an aircraft accident due to pilot error. As a result of this accident and in particular the severe fire, it was inter alia recommended by the Court of Inquiry that: 2.

That military personnel travelling in aircraft should be provided with identification discs and attachment chains which are not susceptible to destruction by fire. In the present accident the only identification disc which survived the resultant fire was a home made one belonging to A/Cpl Martin R.S. which had his name and number stamped on a penny attached to his keys

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Air Sergeant Nel was laid to rest in the Dar es Salaam War Cemetery located east of Bagamoyo Road, which runs along the coast next to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Dar es Salaam War Cemetery9

• 13502 Lance-Bombardier JA Nel, SAA: Died of Wounds 23 Nov 1941 Jan Abraham Nel was born on 23 October 1910 and lived at 41 Princess Alice Avenue, Brooklyn, Cape Town prior to attesting to the Union forces on 9 April 1940. He was the elder brother of Andries Albertus Nel who died on 8 January 1941 in Tanzania, in the aircraft accident dealt with above. Prior to WWII he had three years service in the Cape Garrison Artillery, but unfortunately I do not have any further information regarding his service during this period. What is known is that at date of attestation he was widowed and had one child, eight years of age, and that his trade or calling was that of a handyman. It appears that on Sunday, 23 November 1941 Lance-Bombardier Nel of 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery was attached to 5 South African Infantry Brigade in the area of Sidi Rezeg and that it was on this fateful Sunday known to the Germans as Totensonntag or “Sunday of the Dead”, that Lance-Bombardier Nel was killed in action. Although I was not able to locate any reference to Lance-Bombardier Nel as forming part of the dead, or to specifically to have taken part in the action, I have found the following unsigned report on operations of 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery in the forward area dated 10 December 1941: 9

http://www.cwgc.org/

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The following details are given from memory.

Written accounts of all

engagements were sent direct to my Bty Capt at B Ech for incorporation in War Diary, verbal statements only being made to me. All records have been lost and no survivors have reported in from B Ech party or from “G” and “H” Tps. 6.

…. On Sunday 23 Nov my Bty Capt (Capt Campbell) reported that 4 German tanks had entered B Ech lines and that a number of vehicles had made off towards Bde HQ. One German tank came alongside one of his vehicles and one of the crew stood up firing a revolver at my men, one of whom shot the German from behind. The tank made off and all were engaged by our Arty. There was heavy shelling by the enemy all that morning but up to midday my Bty had suffered no loss to equipment. I returned to Bde HQ at about 1400 hours and had with me 1 European driver, 1 gun tiffy, 1 M.T. mechanic and 3 C.C.’s I received no orders or warning that an attack was likely and only observed the tanks just prior to the attack which commenced at about 1430 hours. We were under very heavy fire of all descriptions, including mortar bombs, during the attack which lasted for about 45 minutes. Observation was almost impossible during this period but I could see some of my guns in action, but was quite unable to see how effective their fire was. After the tanks had broken through and passed my position, I collected my party and managed to get away. After travelling a short distance I stopped and spoke to Capt Terr who informed me that he had counted the tanks that morning and that there were 180 of them. …

Below is the death plaque which was sent to Lance-Bombardier Nel’s father and which is in my collection. Although Lance-Bombardier Nel was to supposed to have received a 1939 – 1945 Star, an Africa Star, a War Medal and an Africa Service Medal for his period of service, this was never dispatched and this death plaque is therefore his only “entitlement” for his WWII service. 107

Lance-Bombardier Nel was laid to rest in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery in Acroma, Libia and is approximately 750 metres south of the main road from Benghazi to Tobruk.

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Knightsbridge War Cemetery10

â&#x20AC;˘ Why the Nel brothers? I am a freelance military researcher and I have been collecting medals, decorations, various other awards as well as certain paperwork to anyone with the surname Nel or Nell for more than a decade. During this time I have acquired items from the Zulu War (1879) to the modern day and I continue to seek out items to add to my collection. Anyone requiring assistance in researching South African military records from the Anglo-Boer War up to the Korean War (1953) is welcome to contact me at dewald@nelantiques.co.za.

Bush- and Border War: South African Air Force Eerste Bostoer na Serpa Pinto, Angola: Lt-kol At Spies Hennie, Toe ek flossies gevlieg het was dit natuurlik 28 Eskader maar met daardie bostoere (1973-74) was ek deel van 42 Eskader. Dit was ook met daardie klein vliegtuigies wat ek in SAP-uniform gevlieg het (natuurlik SAP-kamoefleerdrag in RhodesiĂŤ.) Later het ek ook op die grens gevlieg as lid van 44 Eskader en weer ook as lid van 28 Eskader. Ook het ek diens gedoen as lid van 86 MMVS. At.

http://www.cwgc.org/

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At (middel) in Portugese uniform Soos seker almal van ons wat daar was, kan ek my eerste bostoer baie goed onthou, dit was vroeg in April 1973. Ek was eintlik meer voorbereid daarop as die meeste ander vlieëniers want ek het al oor die bos gevlieg vanaf 1968. Sien, ek was eers ‘n navigator en het as bemanning van C-130’s en C-160’s ‘n legio kere na al die groot bestemmings op die grens gevlieg; maar dit tel nie. Wanneer jy ‘n bemanningslid van die “Flossies” is, is jy altyd in die geselskap van die res van die bemanning (gewoonlik 6 of 7 man) en dan natuurlik al die passasiers (wat gewoonlik uit gewapende soldate bestaan). Wat ek eintlik hier wil sê is dat daardie groot getalle saam met jou, die perspektief heeltemal verander. Maar dit is heeltemal anders wanneer dit slegs jy alleen in daardie cockpit is, “almost scary at times.” Nou vir die eerste keer is ek op pad grens toe waar dit baie kere slegs ek, en ek alleen, in die Cessna 185 se cockpit sou wees. Hoe sou ek die situasie hanteer? As jong manne het ons almal gedroom en gefantaseer oor heroïese dade in gevegsituasies in die operasionele gebied. Ons het mos almal groot geword op ‘n dieet van Sailor Malan’s, Douglas Barder’s en selfs ouens soos Biggles en Kie. Om in ‘n oorlog te vlieg, het menige van ons vas geglo, was die “ultimate adventure”. Hierdie gevoel is natuurlik aangeblaas deur die “veterane” van ons eie tyd. Hulle was jong manne nes ons; maar hulle was al daar, het al ‘n grenstoer gedoen. Van die stories wat hierdie ouens vertel het, baie stories natuurlik hoogs oordrewe, het ons wat nog nie daar was nie, se oë laat water. 110

Sou ons ook eendag so vreesloos kon optree? Wat my toer vir my nog erger gemaak het was die feit dat ek vanaf Potch met ‘n Cessna via Keetmanshoop na Rundu moes vlieg. Ek is weg uit Potch om 06:15 op die 5de April 1973. Op daardie trippie het ek baie ure alleen in daardie vliegtuigie deurgebring. Baie ure wat ek kon dink of ek ook so “dapper” sou wees, soos die ander voor my. In kort, ek was bang, nie vir die grens of die vyand nie, ek was bang dat ek sou bang voorkom. To loose face in front of your peers. Daardie selfde aand in die “Jakkalsgat” is meeste van my vrese besweer. Die kameraderie wat ek daar ondervind het was iets wat ek nooit sal vergeet nie. Ek was nou deel van die regte “bosmanne” en het nooit weer terug gekyk nie. Dankie aan die manne soos Polla, Bakkies, Ferdie, Mac, JP, Struis, Rassie, Coppen, Piet en ‘n legio meer. Baie van daardie legendes is nie meer met ons nie maar ek sal hulle nooit vergeet nie. Weereens kan ek net sê: Dat al is ek vandag ook al ‘n oom, sekere van daardie dae is nog vars in my geheue! Ek beskou myself as uiters bevoorreg om te kon dien in wat sekerlik, pond vir pond, man vir man, die beste Lugmag in die wêreld was, al het ons ou vliegtuie gevlieg. Ek smeek dat al daardie manne van daardie tyd wat nog met ons is, hulle stories op papier sit. Dit is belangrik vir ons nageslag dat hulle verstaan waar het ons vandaan gekom, en mense, ons het nie meer baie tyd nie! Ek dink maar aan die Coen’s, die Polla’s en die Bakkiese wie se tyd by ons uit gehardloop het. Die bos raak dun. Saluut, At Spies.

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Father and Son in Blue: Constable Spies (SAP) and Lt-Col At Spies (SAAF)

Police Museum; Pretoria: Ockert Fourie (Cananda) Beste Hennie: Ek stuur graag vir jou die artikel van die Tshwane-Beeld. Dit het onlangs onder my aandag gekom deur die Suid Afrikaanse Genealogie gepreksgroep SA-Gen. Ek weet nie of jy dit reeds gesien het nie. As iemand wat in die verlede met jou goeie hulp inligting oor my Pa se diensrekord by die museum kon bekom, bekommer dit my dat al die waardevolle inligting dalk verlore kan gaan. Dit is moontlik iets vir jou tydskrif eNongquai! Groetnis Ockert Fourie

Polisiemuseum in nood Sylvia van Zyl / Foto: Mariska Batt / 2013-04-10 00:00 Die pragtige en geskiedkundige ou Compol-gebou in Pretoriusstraat huisves die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemuseum. 112

Menige misdaadskrywer kom doen navorsing in die stowwerige stoorkamers en argiewe van dié historiese ou gebou in die Pretoriase middestad. Nuuskierige lede van die publiek kom loer ook daagliks hier in om navorsing te doen oor ’n swart skaap in hul familie wat dalk ’n tydjie in die tronk moes deurbring. Pretorianers sal die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemuseum vir sy dramatiese uitstallings, interessante geskiedkundige bewyse en opspraakwekkende sake onthou. Die museum, wat op sy dag een van die gewildste museums in die stad was, is in 2000 gesluit vir restourasiewerk aan die Compol-gebou en die aanliggende Volkstem-gebou in Pretoriusstraat. Tshwane-Beeld het in 2011 berig dat die museum egter nie ten volle kan funksioneer nie weens ’n personeeltekort. Daar is glo sowat 40 personeellede nodig om die museum ten volle te laat funksioneer. Tydens Tshwane-Beeld se onlangse besoek aan die museum het ons verneem dit kan steeds nie ten volle funksioneer nie. Daar werk tans net 18 personeellede. Net vyf van hulle is egter kundiges in hul veld. Baie van die kundiges is glo na bewering naby aftree-ouderdom en daar word niemand opgelei om hul skoene eendag vol te staan nie. Volgens die skrywer en sielkundige dr. Micki Pistorius, wat die navorsing vir al haar boeke in dié museum gedoen het, is die inligting wat daar bewaar word van onskatbare waarde. “Dit sal baie hartseer wees as daardie inligting eendag tot niet moet gaan. Daar werk tans kundiges wat moeite doen om hul argiewe bygewerk te hou. Hulle is vriendelik en behulpsaam. Dit sal my werk beslis moeiliker maak as hulle eendag nie meer daar is nie,” sê sy. Talita Fourie, adjunk-direkteur van Ditsong-museums van Suid-Afrika, sê dit is hartseer dat die versameling in die museum se besit eendag kan vergaan. “Dit is ook ontsettend hartseer dat sulke geskiedkundige versamelings in stoorkamers vergaan. “Die eindresultaat is geskiedenis wat vol gate is,” sê sy. http://www.tshwaneb eeld.com/ 58155/news/ article/polisiem useum-in- nood Wish upon a Star! ... I wish, I Museum !

wish

could

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the

Police

Hennie

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SAP Alexanderbaai – “Wielstap”: Piet Bester en Jan van Wyk More Jan, Die volgende foto’s kan jy seker aanstuur wie belangstel: 1. Punt by HMS by die see binnekamp. 2. Ouens eet harders een Sondagaand; ken nog vir Fanie Kruger en Noekie Strydom. 3. So het ek gewerk; hond was Wulf. My oorle pa het die Gunsak gemaak. 4. Ouens by die swembad in Buitekamp. 5. Ou kaart van Alexanderbaai. Seegroete Piet Bester

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Preserving the Choo-Tjoe – Andrew Stevens (BSAP) This item is also appearing in the BSAP Newsletter. We thank the BSAP for taking an interest in ferro-enquinology! Our SA Railway Preservation is sadly in a state of despair

The Choo-Tjoe Many readers and their friends will be familiar with the Knysna Choo-Tjoe and some will remember the storm flooding and wash-aways a few years back with disastrous results. One of the victims was the Choo-Tjoe; it stopped running, leaving wagons and carriages behind at Knysna and the locomotives at George. The Choo-Tjoe is a classical steam train sometimes referred to as the ‘Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe’ running between George and Knysna. The railway line served a dual function as it conveyed logs, bales of rubbish and cargo between the two towns and further afield. The goods trains were mostly powered by Diesel Electric locomotives.

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The picture above shows a steam locomotive on the turn-table at the Knysna station. The turn-table was built to replace the extensive turning triangle with its three sets of points some years ago to make way for the development of the ‘Quayside’ which is an attractive commercial and residential development including moorings, hotel and yachting harbour adjoining the Knysna yacht club. George is the main railway junction with one line to Mossel Bay, Swellendam and Cape Town, and another following the Montague Pass to Oudtshoorn. The spectacular mountain route is presently served by a trolley wagon. Not far away is the narrow-gauge Apple Express connecting to Port Elizabeth and a disused line to Calitzdorp from Oudtshoorn. George is also home to a Railway Museum which any train enthusiast should visit. So in many ways, the area is a railway man’s treasure and a great tourist attraction. During the years that the Knysna to George Choo-Tjoe has been out of commission, another has been running between George and Mossel Bay which unfortunately, now also seems to have stopped. The main reason that nothing is being done is put down to economics and lack of funding. Friends of the Choo-Tjoe have meantime purchased and renovated an inspection trolley which can be viewed at the Quayside. They have several engineers giving up their time, working hard to get the project going. They support ongoing talks between the Minister of Tourism of the Western Cape, Alan Winde and others with a view to taking the project over. A decision by Transnet and the Department of Public Enterprises is being awaited. The project has attracted international interest. Steam trains hold a fascination for many people and enthusiasts travel the world to see them. The same might be said of ships and even airplanes. The Choo-Tjoe used to cross the Kaaiman’s River Bridge

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Interested persons can contact Friends of the Choo-Tjoe to check on progress and the latest news. They have a web site at: www.friendsofthechoo-tjoe.co.za . More about the Choo-Tjoe can be found in Garden Route Travels and on our blog: http://blog.wanderlust.co.za Andrew Stevens

Filler: The Free State – Thys du Plessis

Militaria, Medals and Uniforms 2nd Class Sgt H.E. Ramsden, VC (SAP) via Capt Peter Digby The parts below have been compiled by Capt Peter Digby for Stephan Welz & CO’s Anglo-Boer War Centenary Sale – HBH. Note the VC and the humble Police Good Service Medal.

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Comments by HBH Terry King lists RAMSDEN as No 1645(M) Const HE Ramsden, a member of Hartiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Horse, a former POW who returned to normal police duty on 6 August 191511. The 1916 SAP List12 shows that RAMSDEN was the District Clerk of the

King, 2000 p 247

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Umtata, No 48 Umtata District. RAMSDEN joined the “police” on 30-12-1904 and was promoted to L/Corp on 1 January 1915. He had knowledge of both official languages. Hartigan’s Horse was raised by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, LtCol MM Hartigan, two weeks after being raised for duty in GSWA the regiment was “fighting fit”. According to the notes received from Capt Peter Digby, Ramsden was a 2/Sgt when he received his Good Service medal.

GSWA – Police Uniforms: Japie Erasmus

Japie Erasmus kindly compiled the above sketch (left); based on the above sketch (right) found on the internet. Does anybody know who the original artist was?

Govt. Printer, Pretoria: 1916.

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SA Police Reserve: Mark Newham

Comment by HBH: Must have been worn before 1957.

SAP Reserve HBH

During the the 1960’s an armband was used at our station marked “ SAP” and the badge on the right; was worn on the breast with a SAP uniform.

Decorations and Medals - How, Where and What to Wear? Brig-Gen Deon Fourie Guides to Wearing Honours. This note is a summary of principles to help when you want to know what to wear and when. Various regulations and instructions regulating the acceptance and wearing of honours apply to members in all the Services and others. Once you are a civilian, your respect for the Presidential office and for tradition and your personal discipline should ensure you continue to observe the rules.

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Source of Honours. South African honours (Orders decorations and medals) are awarded by the President as head of state in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, 1996, not by Ministers or Heads of Departments. Only official decorations and medals, South African or foreign, may be worn.

Discretion as to Wearing. Military personnel do not have the discretion as to whether or not to wear honours bestowed on them. They must wear the ribbons and the insignia as the occasion warrants.

Only Full-size Insignia. The Presidential Warrants leave no doubt that only the full-size badges of orders, decorations and medals are the authentic insignia of honours. Unless the dress ordered is Mess Dress or black tie, the full-size badges (insignia) must be worn for all ceremonies, eg, parades or commemoration services. •

Full-size insignia are presented at investitures.

•

Full-size insignia are marked with serial numbers or the names of recipients.

Order of Precedence. The correct order of precedence is from the centre of the wearer’s chest to the left shoulder. The first or senior honour must be fully visible. Medals are worn to show the obverse i.e., face or front. Except for Die Medalje vir Troue Diens - Medal for Loyal Service our medals for the SANDF have the coat of arms on the reverse. This seniority of all official South African honours is published in one consolidated list, known as the Official Table of Precedence, in the Government Gazette. The current Official Table of Precedence was published in Government Notice No. 27376 dated 11 March 2005. All medals from the President must be worn as indicated in the Table - whether or not they were earned in different Services.

Miniatures. Miniature badges of orders, decorations and medals and buttonhole replicas are not the insignia proper. They are not named or numbered. In the past they had to be bought by recipients. They are concessions for convenience in wearing on mess dress or in civilian evening dress and their separate status is implied in Presidential Warrants. Miniature decorations and medals are only worn during evening functions, i.e., after 18:00. They may be worn at a suitable formal civilian event when the invitation specifies “formal” or “dinner jacket: decorations” (i.e., dinner jacket and black tie for civilians).

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Manner of Mounting. Decorations and medals are to be worn side by side, suspended on the left breast from a single line brooch. Brooches vary from one to five ribbonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; width. The standard and court methods of mounting are customary in South Africa. When mounted, the ribbon and medals should measure 100 mm from the top of the ribbon to the bottom of each medal (the drop). For miniatures, the drop is 55 mm.

Width. The custom for South African and Commonwealth medals is that the group is no more than five (5) medals wide. Miniatures are generally 10 medals wide. If you have more medals than those to mount, then the medals overlap from first to last, with the first entirely visible.

Width of Brooch. The width of the brooch depends on the number of medals worn, but the maximum width is 160 mm, ie, the width of five ribbons of 32 mm each. It must not extend under the left lapel, nor cross over the shoulder seam of the jacket.

Overlapping. When insignia exceed five they are to overlap one another with the senior honour completely visible, ie, the first over the second, the second over the third.

Bottom Edges. When two or more decorations or medals are worn, they must be arranged so that their bottom edges are in line.

Dress No.2 or lounge suit. Standard size decorations and medals are worn when members attend mess dinners in Dress No.2, or a civilian lounge suit.

Wearing Miniatures. Wear miniature decorations and medals, on a medal brooch, on the left lapel in a horizontal line through the point of the lapel of a dinner jacket. Beckets (loops) may be sewn to the lapel for convenience.

Emblems. The various emblems of Bars, Miniature Replicas, Rosettes and Clasps are affixed so that they are equidistant from the top and bottom of the ribbon. The first bar or clasp awarded is nearest to the medal. There is no restriction on the number of bars or clasps worn with a medal.

Hints for Wearing Medals. When you are invited to attend dinners, wreath laying and other ceremonies or reunions arranged by veterans associations or the members of a particular unit the following may help.

Occasions for Wearing. Occasions for wearing honours are determined by the type of event, i.e., formal ceremonial parades or other ceremonies.

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Invitations should specify dress and the wearing of decorations and medals to avoid embarrassment.

Which Medals on Ceremonial Occasions? Former members and members of veterans associations, e.g., the SA Legion, SAMVA or the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTHs), wear their standard size decorations and medals, on appropriate civilian dress when attending ceremonial occasions, memorial and wreath-laying services. Miniature insignia may not be worn as an alternative at such occasions.

Wearing Medal Ribbons. Do not wear medal ribbons alone on civilian dress on formal occasions.

Order Rosettes. When decorations and medals are not being worn people admitted to orders may wear the rosette of the senior order in the buttonhole of the left lapel of a civilian suit jacket.

Wearing on Civilian Jackets. Often people complain about the difficulty of wearing medals on civilian jackets because the medals distort the cloth. The problem is that some time ago people started wearing medals above the pocket as is done on tunics. It is much easier if you use the previous style of pinning the medal brooch along a line through the lapel to the shoulder. The strain is then taken by the stronger part of the jacket which is braced by the shoulder padding. A useful alternative to holes in the cloth is to sew three or four beckets (small loops) onto the jacket through which to pass the brooch pin.

Next-of-kin's medals. The next-of-kin of the fallen or any other heirs are only permitted to wear the decorations or medals of deceased personnel at commemoration parades and services, e.g., on Remembrance Sunday in November each year. On those occasions only, the direct next-of-kin may wear the awards on the right breast to commemorate their dead. The decorations and medals of only one person may be worn in this way.

Foreign Honours. No foreign honours may be accepted and worn until permission has first been obtained from the President.

Permission. Permission for acceptance and wearing will only be considered if the honours have been offered by foreign heads of state or governments, according to the particular countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usage, or by recognised international, e.g., the United Nations, the African Union or NATO.

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Private Organisations Medals. Medals awarded by private organisations may not be worn on a military uniform or with official honours. However, the medals of some Life-Saving Societies have been given limited official recognition, enabling recipients to wear them when official honours were worn, usually on the right breast - after permission has been granted through official channels. Two examples are the Medal of the Royal Humane Society, and the Medal for Life Saving at Sea of the German Society for Saving the Shipwrecked. Medals awarded by recognised private associations, such as the Scouts or military veteransâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; associations, are not to be worn in uniform. If they are worn in civilian dress or the association uniform they are worn them after official SA honours or on the right breast as prescribed.

False Orders. There are numerous false orders on sale. Many resemble genuine orders whose names have been adopted wrongly or illegally. The only orders recognized are those subordinate to heads of state or governments. They are not to be worn with official honours.

Commercial Medals. Various commercial ventures sell medals called commemorative medals. These have private origins and have no official sanction. Many are advertised and sold. They include medals for former Prisoners of War, for various campaigns and engagements for which no official medals have ever been instituted or for National Service. Periodically rumours are put out that they have been accorded official recognition. It is essential to be aware of these spurious medals. To wear them with official honours lowers the status of earned South African honours. Do not wear them with official honours in any circumstances.

Mounting Medals. There are two ways in South Africa of mounting decorations and medals. NOTE: The mounting shown is called court mounting. This means that behind the medal there is a ribbon extending to the middle of the medal.

Court mounting of medals means fixing the medals to a backing. The backing is itself covered with the medal ribbons and looks very attractive look while keeping medals firm and prevents damage from their banging against each other. Standard or swing mounting of medals means they are threaded through the medal brooch hanger or ring and then hang loosely from the medal brooch. They may then bang against one another as they swing free. Some people prefer the look of ordinary mounting and it is very much a case of personal choice except in the SANDF.

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Boeke & Geneaology Resensie: Regter Kees van Dijkhorst: Boeke - adv Len Els Beste Len, Dit was 'n aangename verrassing om sommer twee boeke uit jou pen te ontvang. En om op die koop toe as aanstigter van Aquila aangemerk te word. Dit is goed dat ons, 'n verbygaande geslag juriste, aanteken en publiseer wat vir ons wetenswaardig, amusant en van historiese waarde in die regspleging soos ons dit ondervind het, was. En dit vind ook in wyer kring byval, het ek self ondervind. Dus: Spoor jou oudkollegas aan om hul deel te doen. Ek het Aquila geniet omdat die (opsetlik) swak vermomming van die karakters my dikwels toegelaat het om in my geestesoog die karakter in lewende lywe te sien. Met vratte en al. 'n Paar van die staaltjies het ek geken. Jou vertelstyl is bondig en gevat. Dankie. Wat die digbundel "Bosbundel" betref: Ek het 'n mate van wrewel ondervind by die gedagte: Wat het ons die destydse geslag jongelinge aangedoen dat hul so in futiliteit gedompel kon word. Die bundel maak 'n sterk stelling. Dankie daarvoor. Groete Kees van Dijkhorst

Anglo Boer War: The South African War: Its Causes And Effects J.A. Hobson. With new introduction “South Africa 1899, Iraq 2003: The Awful Parallels” by Arthur Kemp BA (Intl. Pol., Pol. Sci., Pub. Admin.) John Atkinson Hobson’s prophetic book, first published in 1900, describes in clinical detail the lies, deception, underhanded maneuverings, false propaganda—and the ubiquitous Jewish lobby—which lay behind the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1889. Hobson’s book reveals the trail of lies in the build-up to that war. These included faked “atrocity” propaganda, faked allegations of Boer barbarity, corruption, maladministration, and the deliberate distortions and double-crossing in the “negotiations” which preceded the war. 128

Hobson even shows how the lies also included fake stories of “Boer armament buildups” which were portrayed as evidence of the “Boer threat” to British interests. He also spends time explaining how these allegations were spread across the English-speaking world. They were generated, he proves, in the newsrooms of the anti-Boer “newspapers” in Johannesburg, and sent by telex to London, from where they were fed into the major English language newspapers, conservative and liberalaligned alike, where they were faithfully repeated without question. In this way, Hobson proves, an atmosphere of hatred against the Boer Republics was engendered, and the British public were incited into supporting armed intervention in a nation on another continent which posed no threat to Britain at all. Finally, Hobson reveals the true source behind the anti-Boer agitation and incitement to war: the powerful Jewish lobby in South Africa, who he openly calls the “JewImperialists.” This Jewish lobby, Hobson shows, owned not only the mineral and trading wealth of the Transvaal Boer republic, but also the major media outlets in Johannesburg, which generated the false propaganda against Paul Kruger’s isolated and ultimately inoffensive state. “A few of the financial pioneers in South Africa have been Englishmen, like Messrs. Rhodes and Rudd; but recent developments of Transvaal gold-mining have thrown the economic resources of the country more and more into the hands of a small group of international financiers, chiefly German in origin and Jewish in race. “Before I went there, the names of Beit, Eckstein, Barnato, &c., were of course not unknown to me; the very ship in which I crossed bore many scores of Jewish women and children. But until I came to examine closely the structure of industry and society upon the Rand I had no conception of their number or their power. I thus discovered that not Hamburg, not Vienna, not Frankfort, but Johannesburg is the New Jerusalem. “It is not too much to say that this little ring of international financiers already controls the most valuable economic resources of the Transvaal. The first and incomparably the most important industry, the gold-mines of the Rand, are almost entirely in their hands. “When it is borne in mind that this great confederation of press interests is financially cemented by the fact that Rand mining magnates are chief owners of at least two important London daily papers and of several considerable weekly papers, 129

while the wider and ever-growing Jewish control of other organs of the press warrants a suspicion that the direct economic nexus between the English press and Rand finance is far stronger than is actually known, we shall have a clear comprehension of the press conspiracy which has successfully exploited the stupid Jingoism of the British public for its clearly conceived economic ends.” Hobson also provides the casus belli why this Jewish lobby wanted the war: not to seize the mineral wealth of the Boer republic (they already owned that) but to ensure that its political masters were brought under control to ensure a steady cheap supply of black—and white—labor to toil in the dark mines. He is also biting about South Africa’s racial policies, pointing out that the reliance on nonwhite labor would ultimately cause the death of white rule in that country: “The presence of large supplies of available Kaffirs has simply converted the entire white population into a parasitic class living upon black labour by methods which resolve themselves, when properly considered, into ‘force.’ “The fact is, that South Africa is not in any true sense a white man’s country, for though white men live they do not work there save in the capacity of overseers of serf-labour. No satisfactory civilisation can possibly arise where two races live together without blending, one superior in cerebral development and using this superiority to impose all the burden of directly productive labour upon the other, while it despises this inferiority. “This essentially parasitic life visibly impairs the moral fibre of the white peoples, and inevitably tends to the mental and even physical degeneracy which develops in all slave-owning communities.” This book, first published by MacMillan in New York and London as the Second Anglo-Boer war was already underway, was highly popular, but its open naming of the Jewish Randlords as the source of the lies and agitation raised an outcry from those so named, and the work quickly disappeared down the memory hole. This brand-new edition has been completely reset and updated with annotations to inform present-day readers of all references to persons and events mentioned in the book. In addition, it also contains a new short history of the course of the Second Anglo-Boer war as a backgrounder. Finally, it contains a brand new introduction “South Africa 1899, Iraq 2003: The Awful Parallels” by Arthur Kemp, which details the Jewish lobby’s role in inciting the Iraq War, using forgery, lies, deception and mass media—following the exact pattern used in the run-up to the Boer War. 130

Fully annotated and indexed. Contents South Africa 1899, Iraq 2003: The Awful Parallels — Introduction to the 2013 edition by Arthur Kemp The Second Anglo-Boer War: A Potted History Author’s Preface (1900) Map of South Africa Prior to the War PART I: The Boer Republics in 1899 Chapter I: Political Position in the Cape Colony Chapter II: Johannesburg in the Summer of 1899 Chapter III: Personages and Parties in the Transvaal Chapter IV: The Personality of President Kruger Chapter V: Other Forces in Transvaal Politics Chapter VI: The War Spirit in Pretoria Chapter VII: The Race Conflict in South Africa Chapter VIII: The Helots in Johannesburg Chapter IX: The Demand for the Franchise Chapter X: Official Corruption and Incompetency Chapter XI: The Need of Financial Reform Chapter XII: The Dynamite Monopoly Chapter XIII: A General Estimate of Grievances Chapter XIV: The Alleged Dutch Conspiracy Chapter XV: The Dutch Feeling in the Colony: An Interview with Olive Schreiner Chapter XVI: Transvaal Armaments Chapter XVII: The Case of the Free State Chapter XVIII: The Suzerainty Issue Chapter XIX: Why Did the Boers Issue the Ultimatum? Chapter XX: Diplomacy Leading Up to the War PART II: The Policy of Rand Capitalists Chapter I: For Whom are we Fighting? Chapter II: The Political Methods of the Outlanders Chapter III: A Chartered Press Chapter IV: For What are We Fighting? PART III: Towards a Settlement Chapter I: Dutch and British in South Africa Chapter II: The Agricultural Outlook Chapter III: The Probable Industrial Future of South Africa Chapter IV: The Natives in South Africa Chapter V: Federation of States 131

Chapter VI: The True Line of British Policy Index Pages: 277 Dimensions (centimetres): 15.24 wide x 22.86 tall Paperback edition ÂŁ11.95, hardback edition ÂŁ16.95 (plus shipping. All shipping is local). www.ostarapublications.com

Calling all Truters:CD Truter Family Register

Truter Family Register I am grateful to Hennie Heymans for allowing me to put this message in the Police Magazine. I am Margaret E. Truter, Author of the Truter Family Register (email: margaret_truter@hotmail.com ) As many of you may know that our history was compiled and published in March 1993. I continued working on the Tree Section of our history due to my frustration 132

of so many bits and pieces I couldn't link in, and my desire to add new generations of children still being born. So here were are in 2013 and our history is still growing. It is no longer available in printed form, but on CD to be purchased through me. I'm always willing to share with family members their page so they can see what I do have on their family, but my objective in doing this is to update their section. For those who do assist, it's greatly appreciated. Thanking you, Margaret E. Truter 10012 Pali Avenue Tujunga, California 91042 United States of America â&#x20AC;˘

I am currently visiting in Durban till end of June.

Genealogie Familie Oosthuizen: Nelspruit Hennie Heymans, Ek is Gerhardus Frederik (Gerrit) Oosthuizen van Nelspruit en doen navorsing oor die Oosthuizen familie boom. Ek het u e-pos adres op die internet verkry op die webtuiste ISSUU waar ek van u insiggewende artikels gelees het. Het daar kon sien dat u 'n groot belangstelling in die genealogie, die ABO asook die geskiedenis van die S.A.P. het, en al baie navorsing daaroor gedoen het. Ek het dus die vrymoedigheid om u te kontak en te vra of u dalk oor enige inligting van kommandant Philip Oosthuizen beskik wat aan bevel was van die 74 dappere ZARP's met die slag van Berg en Dal op 27 Augustus 1900 naby Belfast gedurende die ABO. Enige inligting wat ek kan opvolg om hom aan die Oosie stamboom te koppel sal opreg waardeer word. Ek heg ook hierby aan een van die foto's wat ek by die monument geneem het. Groete GerritO 133

Gerhardus Frederik (Gerrit) Oosthuizen Nelspruit Navorsing - Die volledige Oosie van S.A. stamboom (alle spelling variasies)

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Aangenake kennis – sal bly wees indien ander lede vir “GerritO” kan help

Letters & Jottings / Briewe en skryfsels Japie Erasmus van Warmbad se possak More vriende. Hoop die naweek was rustig. Mooi dag vir almal. Nou wil ek oor iets anders praat. Wonder of ek nie moet vrou soek nie? Sy moet dan in my bed slaap, sy moet ook hoor wat maak my wakker. Jy weet, daardie elmboog so in haar ribbes: ”Dit is nou jou beurt om te gaan kyk… “ Jig, ek word seker nooit heeltemal verveeld nie. Net snags as ek wil slaap, dan moet dinge nie eintlik gebeur nie. ‘n Man wil mos slaap. Verlede jaar, wintertyd, seker hier twee- of drie-uur een nag, blaf die brakke my wakker. Ek steur my net aan hulle as hulle saam blaf. Alleen blaf is niks, kan net vlooie of die maan of so iets wees. Dit is die saamblaf wat beteken daar is nou regtig iets. 134

Ek skreeu toe vir hulle, maar hulle blaf net erger. Dis winter en koud. Nou moet ek uit die warm bed klim.

Verdomp. Die blawwery was daar ver voor die kamer. Vat my pistool en dwaal in my nagkabaai soontoe. Daar anderkant die swembad, teen die muur, het hulle ‘n ystervark vasgekeer. Die arme ding. Ek wou hom nie skiet nie, en wou hom ook nie pla nie. Bietjie baie penne. Hulle is nie aggressief nie, maar ‘n pen kan per ongeluk beland waar hy nie moet nie. Die storie so gekyk, en ek gaan bel toe maar die dierekliniek. Hulle noodlyn skakel my sommer deur na ‘n veearts op bystand. ‘n Vroumens. Arme mens. Sy was diep deur die slaap, en die vriendelikheid was nie baie nie. Ek wil toe net weet wie dink sy sal die vark wil kom vang, of wie dink sy wil een hê. So ongeskik weet sy nie wie wil ‘n ystervark hê nie , en weet ook nie wie wil ‘n ystervark vang nie. Ek dink sy het gedink ek is simpel, en ek groet toe maar. Terwyl ek egter nog in die huis is, gee eers die een brak en toe die ander een sulke jolige gille. Nou ja. Wat nou nog. Met my aankoms daar op die toneel, was die vark weg, en die honde het my so jammerlik beloer en gekreun. Hy het net ‘n paar penne om elke hond se bek en borskas gelos. Toe ruk ek maar gou elke hond se penne uit, en almal was tevrede. Mens kan sê daar was darem weer stilte. 135

Twee Honderd Skoene: Kol MJJ van Rensburg (SALM: Afgetree) TWEE HONDERD SKOENE Eina eina! Hoe brand my bas, ek sit maar sommer op my skooltas. Moeder gryp my arm vas, met haar skoen slaan sy my binne in die ou hangkas. Hoekom het jy twee honderd skoene? Ek kniel in die kerk en mense sien gate in my skoene. Jammer meneer, ek het nie ander skoene. Ek gee nie om , al is hulle versoolde skoene. Kyk na my skurwe voete en my lang omkrul tone. Sien jy, ek het verslete skoene, dit wat so uitsteek is hul tonge. Jy het twee honderd pragtige skoene, outydse skoene en vandag se moderne skoene. Jy het `n paar goedkoop skoene, maar die meeste is duur mode skoene. Ek het altyd my Oupa se kerk skoene gepoets, dan ry ons almal in die perde koets, Die perde het ook nuwe yster skoene, ja, hulle noem dit hoewe. `n Rusie in die huis is soos `n ompaar skoene, opinies soos omgeruilde skoene. Die een trek regs en die ander links, net soos `n steeks hings. Toe ek in die klaskamer stry, sĂŞ my Onnie , kry jou ry. Skoenmaker, hou jou by jou leuse. As die skoen pas , dra hom want die hele lewe is jou eie keuse.

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Die Boesman loop sonder skoene al maak die skoen fabriek miljoene, Boesman is `n kind van die natuur, sy voete is bevriend met die Kalaharie kultuur. Op die see van Galelea dra die visser manne sandale. Die Meester leer hulle die skoene van geloof want dit is hulle wat Hom loof. Kan ek my in jou skoene sit? Nee, ek moet alleen in Getsemane bid. Waar kry ek skoene vir my voete van klei? Skoenmaker, O Skoenmaker, dink aan my. Jy het twee honderd skoene, pantoffels vir jou slaap kamer, dans en ballet skoene, al die reĂŤnboog kleur skoene. Party is sommer net inglip skoene. Ek het gedink daar`s net plastiek en leer skoene. Die Eskimo loop op sy draad skoene. Die Hollander klop soos `n tok tokkie met sy hout skoene en dik sokkie. In jou deftige kas is lang-punt skoene, stomp neus skoene en tekkies. Met die spyker skoene hardloop jy die hekkies, maar vanaand dra jy weer hoĂŤ hak skoene. Skoene word verguld vir die nagedagtenis. Skoene stap honderde, duisende kilometers. Soms kry hulle nuwe skoen-veters. Hoeveel skoene dra ek in my lewe? Die polisieman ry te perd met kammaste en steuwels, die soldaat voer oorlog in sy steuwels. Die brandweer man dra dik rubber skoene, die bank bestuurder dra net duur leer skoene. Skoene, skoene , ons is met hul getroud. Sonder hulle kry ons voete seer en koud. 137

Skoene aan ons voete is beter as goud, al word hulle gemaak van goud. Hulle sê my motor het briekskoene. Die ou ossewa het ook rem skoene. Die stoom trein het ook yster skoene. Ai! Dink net `n wêreld sonder skoene? Stukkende skoene is soos gebreekte harte. Skoenveters hou hulle nie meer aanmekaar. Hy sleep sy sandale deur die rasende skaar, dis blasé sere en dorings. Vir die Koning, nie mooi skoene, net smarte. MJJ van Rensburg April 2013

Mis in my Gesig - MJJ van Rensburg MIS IN MY GESIG As jy alles om my toeverf, My wegsteek van die werklikheid, voel ek die fynste van fynste dou druppels wat my gesig kus met vogtigheid. Ek is `n wyle getroos in my eensaamheid, omvou deur `n vaal, grys, grou blindheid. My wese is verstrengel in jou wese van rustigheid. As ek sou roep, sal jy splinter soos glas. Misbank! Jy kom aan soos `n gees, soos `n spook. Jy sing nie, praat nie, raas nie. Jy skakel die son af met jou reuklose rook en trek die gordyn toe oor hierdie verhoog. Jou heilige kleed skuur geruisloos, jou voetstappe onhoorbaar en onsigbaar. Hier teen die berg is jy in volmaaktheid gebaar, `n kuier gas wat hier verby vaar.

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Niemand hoor as jy kom en niemand luister as jy gaan, want mis het sy eie weivelde, sy eie getye en sy eie baan, Mis se karakter is stilte. Hoe raak ek mis se siel? So fyn, so duur, feetjie asem, Engele stof kom uit hulle wasem. Jou spierwit hare bedek Tafelberg, `n linne doek vir die gode se maal, Nou is jy geklee in `n wit pak, die misbank in sy prag en praal. Soms is jy dik , so werklik dig en ek voel jou teen my gesig. My oĂŤ is oop maar ek is blind want jou suurdeeg bly net aan die rys. Die mishoring kreun benoud deur die ingewande van mis. Hier is mens se ore sy behoud en die skepe is veilig teen die kus. Dis `n seisoen van mistige as. Mis lĂŞ teen elke berg, bankvas. Ek sit op die berg en skryf hierdie gedig my vriend die mis, is mis in my gesig. MJJ van Rensburg Mrt 2013

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My Pa - Die Generaal:

Izak Van Zyl

Amper leweloos lĂŞ hy daar Harde Hande op sy bors Spierwit grys sy baard lippe droog van dors sal iemand vir die generaal bietjie water gaan haal! Terwyl ek nostalgies na hom kyk langs sy hospitaal se bed is die gisters helder...beelde wat nie wyk Sal iemand vir die generaal bietjie water gaan haal! Met vinnige tree kom hy ingestap 'n warrelwind wat volg Uniform wat pynlik pas staan die offisiere op- soos in 'n klas Hy groet formeel - almal groet terug Sal iemand vir die generaal bietjie water gaan haal! Ruk ek terug na my pa op die bed Ouderdom is nie 'n man se maat Ek sien hoe hy hom verset Soveel nog om deur te praat Sal iemand vir die generaal bietjie water gaan haal! Besef ek die tyd stap te vinnig aan Ek sukkel om te aanvaar Here maak toe die horlosie se kraan Sal U hom asseblief nog lank bewaar Sal iemand vir die generaal bietjie water gaan haal! Dankie Jesus vir die voorreg Om so man se seun te kan wees Help my om waardig en opreg Sy behoeftes te kan lees Kan ek vir pa bietjie water gaan haal?

ÂŠ 2013 - Kolaiah 140

Hugo Hannemann [Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie - Afgetrede Lede] Terwyl ek nou vir my vrou in die Jakaranda sentrum sit en loop my gedagtes terug na my jong Polisieman dae. Ek onthou wat my Troepsersant aan my so 'n paar jaar gelede gesĂŞ het. En dis waar. Die Polisiekollege soos ons dit ervaar het, het 'n soort staal in jou ingebou. Genade, dinge uit daardie tyd het dwarsdeur my dae afgesteek. Simpel goed soos die manier om my skoene se veters te ryg. Die dag toe ek gebord was, het ek nog steeds my skoene so geryg. Nou wil ek nie iemand te na kom nie, as jy nie daar deur die jou loopbaan as 'n PolisieMAN gegaan het nie, sal jy nie nou seker kan saampraat nie, maar dis nie jou skuld of myne nie... maar ek respekteer jou. Om 'n Polisieman te wees, het baie van jou ge eis. Toe ek begin het, kon ek eers in die charge office begin, totdat ek dit GOED geken het. Toe was ek op voetpatrollie gepos. Eers daarna kon ek mobile raak... maar op daardie op gatsaag fietse. Eers daarna, nadat jou skofbevelvoerder tevrede was, kon jy van crew word. So het dit aangegaan... maar dit het my goue ervaring gegee. En die opofferings... soos om tot drie uur in die nag 'n baie ernstige ongeluk by te woon... net om ses uur weer oggendskof oor te neem. Dink jy gaan rus?... nee dis of grensdiens of onlustediens. Maar... baie van julle weet wat dit was. En ook wat dit is op die verre Grensbasis te sit, of iewers in 'n swartwoongebied en die swaarkry daaraan verbonde ervaar het en ken, sal weet waarvan ek nou praat. Dit het ons nie gebreek nie ... nee dit alles saam met daardie kollegeopleiding het ons net sterk gemaak. Alles te danke aan daardie STAAL wat die Polisie in ons ingebou het. Daarvoor salueer ek julle!

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A point to Ponder Die “dooie-perd-teorie” (via Fanie Bouwer) Hierdie wysheid van 'n Noord-Amerikaanse Indiane-stam word van geslag tot geslag deurgegee. "As jy ontdek dat jy op 'n dooie perd ry, is dit die beste om af te klim en 'n ander perd op te saal." In Suid-Afrika se korporatiewe-, onderwysmeer gevorderde strategieë gebruik, soos:

regeringsinstansies

word

"As jy ontdek dat jy op 'n dooie perd ry ..... • Koop 'n sterker sweep. • Verander die ruiter. • Stel 'n komitee aan om die perd te bestudeer. • Stel 'n kommissie aan wat ander lande besoek om te kyk hoe hulle dooie perde ry. • Verlaag die standaarde sodat dit 'n dooie perd kan insluit. • Herklassifiseer die dooie perd as "lewend gestremd." • Stel kontrakteurs aan om die dooie perd te ry. • Span verskeie dooie perde saam in om die dooie perd se vertoning te verbeter. • Verskaf bykomende fondse en/of opleiding om die dooie perd se prestasie te verbeter. • Doen 'n produktiwiteitstudie om vas te stel of ligter ruiters die dooie perd se prestasie sal verbeter. • Verklaar dat aangesien die dooie perd nie gevoer hoef te word nie, dit goedkoper is, laer omsetkoste vereis en dus 'n aansienliker bydrae lewer tot die eindresultaat van die ekonomie as wat met sommige ander perde die geval is. • Hersien die verwagte prestasievereistes vir dooie perde. • Promoveer die dooie perd tot 'n toesighoudende posisie. As jy dit alles verstaan, is jy beslis 'n Nuwe Suid-Afrikaner en dalk gatvol vir Arbeidswetgewing.

Shakespearian Wisdom: Catherine Lindie Conradie (via) William Shakespeare said: I always feel happy, you know why? Because I don't expect anything from anyone Expectations always hurt... 142

Life is short... So love your life... Be happy and keep smiling Before you speak, Listen Before you write, Think Before you spend, Earn Before you pray, Forgive Before you hurt, Feel Before you hate, Love That's Life! Feel it, Live it & Enjoy it

East is East & West is West: Major General Jerry Curry, USA, Ret. via M Truter By Major General Jerry Curry13, USA, Ret. 01/28/2012 The great British poet Rudyard Kipling, understanding today's situation in Afghanistan better than our State Department wrote, "I have eaten your bread and salt. I have drunk your water and wine. The deaths ye died I have watched beside. And the lives ye led were mine." There are two points the President and the Secretaries of State andDefense may want to keep in mind as they evaluate future problems in the Middle East and how to successfully address them. Both are easiest illustrated by real life happenings. Many years ago I attended the Infantry officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Probably ten percent of the students attending that ten month course of Instruction were from foreign countries. For about half of the course my table-mate was an Arab. We studied together, completed homework assignments together, got to know each other's families and generally enjoyed each other's company. Part of that time we students were immersed in reading about, researching and discussing wars and problems of the Middle East. By this time my Arab classmate and I had, I thought, become close friends. A question popped into my mind and

I have Googled Maj Gen J Curry and he exsists - HBH

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without evaluating it I said, "I have a question to ask you, but you may find it a little impertinent or, perhaps, offensive." "That's quite alright," he replied. "We know each other well enough to be honest with each other. So go ahead and ask your question." "Well," I began. "Each time you Arabs start a war with Israel, they beat your socks off. Why don't you learn your lesson and quit making war on them?" The words hadn't passed my lips before I knew that I shouldn't have asked that particular question. But I was wrong. My Arab officer friend didn't get angry. He didn't even think before replying. "My dear friend," he said in his British accent, "You are absolutely right. Each time we attack the Israelis they whip us. But have you noticed that with each loss we get better. We get whipped not as badly as in the war before." Then he got a faraway look in his eyes, pounded on the table and said, "Sometime in the next thousand years, we will win!" Up until then I had never thought in terms of a thousand years, and I don't think I'm very good at it today. But for those formulating foreign and defense policy for the nation, it is worth making the effort. It is difficult to think in terms of the immediate future while negotiating with a nation whose leaders are thinking in terms of hundreds or thousands of years. Point two: During the first Gulf War, U.S. and Arab forces fought side by side and some of the officers became close friends. When the war ended in victory there was a Celebration in the officer's club with everyone congratulating each other. A lot of handshaking andhugging was going on. It was a time of displaying real brotherly love. Seeing this, one of the senior Arab generals felt the need to set the record straight. "Look," he said to a small cluster of American generals. "We have fought together and some of us have died together. I know you feel that makes us brothers. But that is not the way it is in my world." He looked around the circle making eye contact with all of them. "I don't want to see you hurt so I need to share this with you. There will be no tomorrow for us jointly. No matter how much you have helped my country - and you came and helped us when we desperately needed your help - and no matter how friendly you feel toward us, we are still Muslims and you are still Christians. That means that in our eyes, we can never be brothers. I'm sorry but, to us, you will always be Infidels!" 144

And so we Infidels have liberated Iraq and Afghanistan, but we have not made their countries nor their people depositories of freedom and liberty. No matter how hard we work to rebuild their governments, infrastructure, educational and medical institutions, and no matter how desperately they need our help - as the Arab general pointedly noted - we can never be brothers to each other. Also, I learned what Kipling meant when he wrote, "East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." He was pointing out to the western world that to Muslims, we Christians will always be infidels!

Nice to know Elephants and in this case Loxodonta Africana

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The SA Police had two elephants “on the pay roll” and just to show how big and African elephant really is in comapason to his Asian cousin, cousin see the above illustration.

Elephant rescue in Namibia - Jana-Mari Smith “Images of an elephant being rescued from a potentially fatal set of circumstances in Damaraland on Sunday 17 February have captured the hearts and minds of Namibians and animal lovers the world over.

Stuck A few brave souls struggled for hours under the searing African sun to rescue an adult female elephant trapped for more than 11 hours in a drain at a campsite in the vicinity of the Burnt Mountain. “It was clear that she realised we were helping her,” said Archie van der Merwe, one of her rescuers, after the time. The T elephant remained calm for most of her ordeal, patiently going along with the game plan devised to release her from her predicament.

Archie cools her off

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Fears that the elephant would die from heat and stress spurred the Good Samaritans on, despite several obstacles, such as waiting for officials from Windhoek to arrive and come to her rescue. When the Samaritans realised that the officials would not arrive in time, and that the elephant would have to be shot if she remained caught in the drain, in, they dug their heels in and began the long process to free her. As told by Archie, a sea safari guide at Laramon Tours in Swakopmund,, a herd of o elephants had entered the White Lady Lodge at about midnight the previous night. night

Digging to fill up the hole Several campers reported the next day that they had heard a commotion around that time, but thought it had been caused by one of the donkeys roaming the area. The next morning, at around seven, an employee told Archie about the elephant trapped in the drain. On inspection, it emerged that she had stepped onto a drain cover, which had broken under her weight. Her body was stuck solidly in the 1.6-metre 1 hole and she could barely move. By that time she had already been trapped for seven hours.

First step to freedom 147

Despite nature conservation personnel saying they were unable to help until assistance from Windhoek arrived, Archie and other campers from South Africa and Namibia decided to take action immediately, knowing full well that on a Sunday the likelihood of help arriving in time was slim. Their plan was to gradually fill the pit with sand and stones, 20 centimetres at a time, to enabl enablee the elephant to manoeuvre herself step by step onto higher ground.

A little bit weak Once she had eased her large body onto the higher elevation and had calmed down, they would add the next layer of sand and rocks. Every few minutes, someone would carefully arefully hose water over the pachyderm, to ensure that she remained hydrated. In view of the searing heat, the stressed animal was most certainly kept alive by these thoughtful actions. And so they continued patiently under the blazing sun for the next three ee hours, the distressed elephant only centimetres away from them. Eventually, when she was standing about 70 centimetres deep, she was able to heave her tired body completely out of the drain that had become her living hell.

Just a little rest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which lasted an hour 148

Archie said she was clearly exhausted and deeply stressed by the circumstances. At one point, with two legs out of the hole, she sat down and rested for an hour. Her rescuers remained close to her, dousing her with water every now and then. Then, a mere two steps later, she was free! A member of the Elephant Humans Relations Aid (EHRA) organisation, Wayne, who had also assisted with the rescue operation, later told Archie that the herd had remained in the vicinity.

Almost there They saw her standing on her toes – an elephant’ smoke signal’ – to let her family know she was fine. These foot foot-induced induced ‘smoke signals’ can be heard up to 10 kilometres away.

Oops

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In the afternoon, before Archie and his family returned to their home in Swakopmund, they took a last photograph of Ollie standing peacefully in the nearby bush, grazing as if her ordeal had never happened.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Travel News Namibia

Freedom! Ollie from Koevoet

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Space Shuttle Endeavour last Flight Submitted by Tubby Myburg and compiled by Johan Jacobs Space shuttle Endeavour completed its final flight in September 2012 and landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport atop a Boeing 747. Endeavour departed Edwards Air Force Base at 8:17 a.m. to tour Sacramento and the Bay Area before heading back down to Southern California.

The shuttle passed by Malibu, Santa Monica and Venice and looped around downtown Los Angeles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; over its future home at the California Science Centre â&#x20AC;&#x201C; before heading back toward the Getty Centre.

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Inside Orbiter Processing Facility Facility-2 2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, a United Space Alliance technician on a Hyster forklift guides replica shuttle main engine 2 toward space shuttle Endeavour as USA technicians in the aft area monitor the progress, on July 13, 2012. The work is part of Transition and Retirement of the remaining space shuttles, Endeavour and Atlantis. (Photo: NASA/David Lee)

At the Shuttle uttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, guests arrive by bus to view the space shuttle Endeavour, as preparations continue for the ferry flight to California. (Photo: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis)

Space shuttle Endeavour, mounted atop NASA's SCA, takes off from the Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, on September 19, 2012. (Photo: NASA/Tony Gray and Robert Murray)

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The space shuttle Endeavour, atop the SCA, flies over Houston, Texas, on September 19, 2012. (Photo: Reuters/Sheir ters/Sheir Locke/NASA)

The Space Shuttle Endeavour atop NASA's SCA at Dryden Flight Research Centre at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on September 20, 2012. (Photo: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) 153

Space shuttle Endeavour and its modified 747 carrier aircraft soar over the Bay Bridge that connects San Francisco to Oakland during the final portion of its tour of California, on September 21, 2012. (Photo: AP Photo/NASA, Carla Thomas)

Media personnel and hundreds of spectators wait with their cameras camera for space shuttle Endeavour to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport, in El Segundo, California, on September 21, 2012. Hundreds of people turned up as early as 6 am to secure a good viewing spot for the arrival of Endeavour. (Photo: Reuters/Gene Blevins)

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Endeavour conducts a flyover before making its final touchdown at Los Angeles International Airport, on September 21, 2012. ( Photo: Reuters/Gene Blevins)

A crew member waves a U.S. flag as the SCA carrying Endeavour taxis to an airline maintenance hangar, at the conclusion of its last flight at Los Angeles International Airport, on September 21, 2012. (Photo: AP Photo/Reed Saxon).

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There was this Gun... Submitted by Tubby Myburg and compiled by Johan Jacobs

It was developed by Genera Generall Electric, the "We bring good things to life" people. It's one of the modern-day day Gatling guns. It shoots very big bullets. It shoots them very quickly. Someone said, "Let's put it in an airplane." Someone else said, "Better still, let's build an airplane around it."

So they did. And "they" were the Fairchild Fairchild-Republic Republic airplane people. And they had done such a good job with an airplane they developed back in WWII...called the P-47 P Thunderbolt, they decided to call it the A10 Thunderbolt. They made it so it was 156

very good d at flying low and slow and shooting things with that fabulous gun. But since it did fly low and slow, they made it bullet proof, or almost so. A lot of bad guys have found you can shoot an A10 with anything from a pistol to a 23mm Soviet cannon and it just keeps on flying and shooting. When they got through, it looked like this...

It's not sleek and sexy like an F18 or the stealthy Raptors and such, but I think it's such a great airplane because it does what it does better than any other plane in the world. It kills tanks! Not only tanks, as Sadam Hussein's boys found out to their horror, but armoured personnel carriers, radar stations, locomotives, bunkers, fuel depots ... just about anything the bad guys thought was bullet proof turned out to be b easy pickings for this beast. See those engines. One of them alone will fly this puppy. The pilot sits in a very thick titanium alloy "bathtub." That's typical of the design. They were smart enough to make every part the same whether mounted on the left side or right side of the plane, like landing gear, for instance. Because the engines are mounted so high (away from ground debris) and the landing gear uses such low pressure tires, it can operate from a damaged airport, interstate highway, plowed field field, or dirt road. Everything is redundant. They have two of almost everything. Sometimes they have three of something. Like flight controls. There's triple redundancy of those, and even if there is a total failure of the double hydraulic system, there is a set of manual flying controls.

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This is the closest I could find to showing you just what this cartridge is all about. What the guy is holding is NOT the 30mm round, but a "little" .50 Browning machinegun round and the 20mm cannon round which has been around for a long time. The 30mm is MUCH bigger.

Down at the bottom are the .50 BMG and 20x102 Vulcan the fellow was holding. At the bottom right is the bad boy we're discussing. Let's get some perspective here: The .223 Rem (M16 rifle round) is fast fast.. It shoots a 55 or so grain bullet at about 3300 feet/sec, give or takes. It's the fastest of all those rounds shown (except one). When you move up to the .30 calibre rounds, the bullets jump up in weight to 160-200 160 grains. Speeds run from about 2600 to 33000 fps or so. 158

The .338 Lapua is the king of the sniper rifles these days and shoots a 350 grain bullet at 2800 fps or so. They kill bad guys at over a mile with that one. The .50 BMG is really big. Mike Beasley has one on his desk. Everyone who picks it up thinks it's some sort of fake, unless they know big ammo. It's really huge with a bullet that weighs 750 grains and goes as fast the Lapua. I don't have data on the Vulcan, but hang on to your hat. The bullet for the 30x173 Avenger has an aluminium jacket cket around a spent uranium core and weighs 6560 grains (yes, over 100 times as heavy as the M16 bullet, and flies through the air at 3500 fps (which is faster than the M16 as well). The gun shoots at a rate of 4200 rounds per minute. Yes, four thousand. Pilots typically shoot either one one- or two-second second burst which set loose 70 to 150 rounds. The system is optimized for shooting at 4,000 feet. OK, the best for last. You've got a pretty good idea of how big that cartridge is, but I'll bet you're like me an and d you don't fully appreciate how big the GA GAU-8 GAU Avenger really is. Take a look...

Each of those seven barrels is 112" long. That's almost ten feet. The entire gun is 1919 1/2 feet long. Think how impressive it would look set up in your living room. Oh, h, by the way, it doesn't eject the empty shells but runs them back into the storage drum. There's just so dang many flying out, they felt it might damage the aircraft. Oh yeah, I forgot, they can hang those bomb and rocket things on them too, just in case. After all, it is an airplane! Like I said, this is a beautiful design.

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Humour in uniform

Galge Humor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dr Len Els, SC Regter Zurti (skuilnaam) was effens van 'n cowboy op die bank en het soms growwe mistastings begaan. Bygevolg het sy ampsbroers nie veel van hom gedink nie. Hy vind 'n beskuldigde skuldig aan moord en vel die doodvonnis. Alvorens die beskuldigde gepleit het, het die verdedigingsadvokaat 'n aansoek om verwysing vir 30 dae observasie geloods. Hy het aangevoer dat die besku beskuldigde ldigde geestes ongesteld was en dat psigiaters te Weskoppies Hospitaal eers moes bepaal of hy sy verhoor 160

kan staan al dan nie. Zurti het die aansoek in vlamme afgeskiet en met die verhoor op die meriete voortgegaan. Op appel verskyn ek namens die Staat. Ek gee in betoog onmiddelik toe dat Zurti 'n growwe mistasting begaan het, en stel voor dat die skuldigbevinding en vonnis tersyde gestel moet word. Appellant moet vir observasie verwys word, en as hy compos mentis is, versoek ek 'n verhoor de novo (van voor af). Ek sluit af met die woorde: "M'Lords, I therefore request that he be referred for observation." Heel sarkasties vra appelregter Calgot (skuilnaam): "Mister Deputy, are you referring to the appellant or the trial judge?" My repliek:"M'Lord, I have the right to remain silent."

Threat Alerts in 2012 Europe: By John Cleese The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Libya, Egypt and Syria and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada. The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years. The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides." The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress

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in Uniforms and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose." Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels. The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy. Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level. A final thought - "Greece is collapsing, the Iranians are getting aggressive, and Rome is in disarray. Welcome back to 430 BC". -- John Cleese - British writer, actor and tall person

Scotland the Brave! An 80-year old Scotsman went to the doctor for a check-up. The doctor was amazed at the great shape the old fellow was in and asked, “How do you stay in such great physical condition?” “I am Scots and I’m a golfer,” said the old fellow, “and that’s why I’m in such good shape. I am up well before daylight and out golfing up and down the fairways. I have a wee nip of whiskey on each hole, and that’s it.” “Well,” said the doctor, “I’m sure that helps, but there has to be more to it. How old was your dad when he died?” “Who said my dad died?” The doctor was amazed. “You mean you are 80 years old and your dad’s still alive. How old is he?” “He’s a 100 years old,” said the old Scottish golfer. “In fact he golfed wi’ me this mornin’… And then we went to the topless beach for a walk, and that’s why he’s still alive. He’s a Scot and a golfer, too.” “Well,” the doctor said, “that’s great, but I am sure there’s more to it than that. How about your dad’s dad? How old was he when he died?” “Who said my grandad is dead?” Stunned, the doctor asked, “You mean you are 80 years old and your grandfather is still living! Incredible, how old is he?!” “He turned 118 last month,” said the old Scot. The doctor was getting frustrated at this point: 162

“So, I guess he went golfing with you this morning too?” “No. Grandad couldn’t go this mornin’ because he’s getting married today.” At this point the doctor was close to losing it – “Getting married?! Why would a 118year old bloke want to get married?” “Who said he wanted to?”

Subject: Brandweer: Jeffers (SAP / BSAP / UK ) Ja nee ! Waarom is brandweerwaens rooi? Omdat hulle agt wiele het en vier mense wat daarop ry en vier plus agt is twaalf en daar is twaalf duim in ‘n voet en een voet in ‘n liniaal en ‘n liniaal word gebruik om ‘n streep te trek en Koningin Elizabeth het Charles ‘n streep getrek om hom nie koning te maak nie en Koningin Elizabeth was ook ‘n skip en die skip het op die see geseil en in die see is daar visse en die visse het vinne en die Finne het geveg teen die Russe en die Russe is rooi en daarom is brandweerwaens rooi. Hoe moeilik kan dit nou wees? •

Getting Afrikaans jokes from the UK! What?

Stop Press Why Zambia’s Vice-President doesn’t like South Africa – and why he might have a point

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So Zambian Vice-President Guy Scott doesn’t like South Africa, or South Africans. In an otherwise hilarious interview with the Guardian, Scott flouted the rules of diplomacy to launch a full-fronted assault on our foreign policy, our president and our general disposition (arrogant and overbearing, apparently). Should we be insulted? Absolutely – but only because, like all the best insults, Scott’s are very close to the bone. By SIMON ALLISON Interviewing politicians is, as a rule, not particularly exciting for journalists. Interviews can be a nightmare to schedule, and when they finally happen it’s hard to get politicians singing from anything other than their tightly-scripted song sheet. At times, the whole exercise feels like a glorified press release, and we have to work really hard to fill in the gaps and find an interesting angle. Every now and then, however, someone will come along who wanders so far offscript that the headlines practically write themselves. Right now, that someone is Zambian Vice-President Guy Scott. In an astonishingly frank and frequently hilarious interview with the Guardian’s David Smith (worth reading in full), Scott dispensed with all diplomatic niceties to offer his opinion on Robert Mugabe, gay rights, his government’s human rights record and – most interestingly for us – South Africa and South Africans. He’s not very impressed with us. Try this for starters: “The South Africans are very backward in terms of historical development,” he told Smith. “I hate South Africans. That's not a fair thing to say because I like a lot of South Africans but they really think they're the bees' knees and actually they've been the cause of so much trouble in this part of the world…I have a suspicion the blacks model themselves on the whites now that they're in power. 'Don't you know who we are, man?’” He continued in this vein: “I dislike South Africa for the same reason that Latin Americans dislike the United States, I think. It's just too big and too unsubtle.” Ouch. Arrogant, unsubtle trouble-makers who haven’t quite got over apartheid – surely he’s got us all wrong? Doesn’t he know we’re the rainbow nation? But much as I want to be offended, my inclination to argue with Scott is tempered by the fact that I’ve said nearly the exact same thing myself. “The rest of Africa doesn’t like us very much,” I wrote in an analysis last year. “Being a South African in Africa is like being an American in the rest of the world. We’re looked upon with a mix of 164

envy and resentment, our wealth and power relative to the rest of the continent ensuring that most of the time we get our way.” Alright Scott, we’ll cede this point to you – we can be a little overbearing when it comes to our interactions with Africa. And yes, our current leaders may have learned a few tricks from their apartheid-era predecessors, specifically the one about running an entire country for the benefit of a privileged minority (for ‘whites’ insert ‘Guptas’). But Scott’s not yet finished with his South Africa-bashing, going on to question the holy grail of South African foreign policy: our BRICS membership. “They think in Brics that the 's' actually stands for South Africa whereas it stands for Africa. Nobody would want to go in for a partnership with Brazil, China, India and South Africa for Christ's sake.” Again, we must reluctantly concede that Scott has a point. South Africa’s addition to BRICS has always been contentious, precisely because we do not wield anything near the kind of economic or political power of the other nations in the group (including Russia, which Scott failed to mention). As the Economist explained in March, our primary qualification was geographic. “There was just one problem with the BRICs: no African countries were included. This was a little embarrassing. Overlooking Africa suggested that the continent was an economic irrelevance, good only for providing raw materials to the rest. It also cast doubt on the group’s claim to speak for the emerging world. Two African countries might have been candidates, Nigeria and South Africa. But only one would keep the acronym intact. And so, in 2010, the club of BRICs became the BRICS.” Scott’s final attack was even more personal, and won’t make him any friends in the Union Building. He compared President Jacob Zuma to another South African president – and no, it wasn’t Mandela. “He's very like De Klerk,” Scott said. “He tells us, ‘You just leave Zimbabwe to me.’ Excuse me, who the hell liberated you anyway, was it not us? I mean, I quite like him, he seems a rather genial character but I pity him his advisers.” Again, this taps into a gnawing resentment from other African countries about South Africa’s at times bull-headed foreign policy. The mediation efforts in Zimbabwe may formally be under the SADC banner, but Pretoria is setting the agenda, and has been since Mbeki’s time in office. This is clearly beginning to rankle with our regional neighbours. And the barb about Zuma’s advisers is disingenuous, and is the only nod to diplomatic courtesy in the entire interview. For Zuma, ultimately, is responsible for appointing his pitiable advisors; to criticize them is to criticize him. 165

But perhaps Scott’s most telling point is his position on who liberated South Africa. A number of factors went into the dismantling of the apartheid state in 1994, and a major one was the support of other African states for the anti-apartheid movement. Zambia in particular played a hugely significant role, hosting the ANC’s head officein-exile where, for a time, a certain Jacob Zuma found a home. For this, South Africa owes Zambia a debt of gratitude, but it’s a debt that Zambia’s vice-president clearly feels has not been paid. This might be the underlying cause of his resentment, with our sometimes brash behaviour only making things worse. Either way, it’s clear that the South African government has a few bridges it needs to build with its Zambian counterpart, and it will be interesting to see how our top politicians react to Scott’s frank, if insulting, assessment – which, like all the best insults, is just a little too close to the bone for comfort. DM Zambian vice-president: ‘South Africans are backward’ on the Guardian PHOTO: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon (L) talks to Zambia's VicePresident Guy Scott shortly after his arrival at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Mackson Wasamunu http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-05-02-why-zambias-vice-presidentdoesnt-like-south-africa-and-why-he-might-have-a-point/#.UYNfDrXLqZB Thanks – Dave Baker!

Defence Bonus Bond

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Identification: Help needed

Photo 1 1. JR van der Hoven 2. Duifie vd Heever 3. FG van Zyl 4. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5. XX Joubert 6. HJ vd Bergh

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Photo 2

1. Van der Bank Muller 2. JJ Viktor 3. JG Dreyer 4. Kalfie Broodryk 5. XX Schnetler 6. XX Laas 7. Q Grobler

Filler: George lll While on foot chasing a suspect high in the mountains Robert Brand picked up this George lll penny. Looking at the reign of George lll one wonders how long it has been lying there until found?

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George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 1738 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. He was concurrently Duke and prince-elector of Brunswick-LĂźneburg ("Hanover") in the Holy Roman Empire until his promotion toKing of Hanover on 12 October 1814. He was the third British monarch of the House of Hanover, but unlike his two Hanoverian predecessors he was born in Britain, spoke English as his first language,[2] and never visited Hanover http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III_of_the_United_Kingdom Photo 3

1. JC van Niekerk 2. HJJ Smit 3. JCB Harmse 4. Sephus Theron 5. CA Beukes 6. AN Heuer 7. BF Kotze 8. J Coetzee? 9. Duifie vd Heever 10. JR vd Hooven 11. Van der Bank Muller

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Photo 4

1. HJJ Smit; 2. Joey van Heerden; 3. XX Schnetler 4 CA Wernich; 5. JJ Viktor; 6. JG Dreyer; 7 EE Oosthuizen.

Indemity Die e-Nongqai bevat die uiteenlopende en diverse persoonlike menings van verskillende korrespondente en die opsteller van e-Nongqai kan nie vir enige deel van die inhoud daarvan in sy persoonlike hoedanigheid verantwoordelik gehou word nie. The e-Nongqai contains various and sundry personal opinions of different correspondents and the compiler of e-Nongqai cannot be held responsible for any of their comments.

Next Edition Next edition some time, Deo Volenti, during June 2013.

Greetings - Groete Salute! Saluut! Hennie Heymans No 43630 ÂŠ 2013

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