Nongqai Vol 11 No 8 by Hennie Heymans, Nongqai Publications

Publisher | Uitgewer The Nongqai is compiled by S.A. Police Brigadier (Ret) Hennie Heymans (HBH) and this e-magazine is published on ISSUU. Hennie lives in Pretoria, RSA. He is passionate about our police-, military- and national security history and holds a MA Degree in National Strategic Studies. Any opinions expressed by him, are entirely his own.

Die Nongqai word saamgestel deur brigadier (S.A. Polisie afgetree). Hennie Heymans (HBH), en word as ‘n e-tydskrif op ISSUU gepubliseer. Hennie woon in Pretoria, RSA. Hy is passievol oor ons polisie-, militêre- en nasionale veiligheidsgeskiedenis en het 'n MAGraad in Nasionale Strategiese Studies verwerf. Enige menings wat hy uitspreek, is uitsluitlik sy eie.

Aim | Doel Our goal is to collect and record our national security history for publication in the Nongqai for future generations.

Ons doel is om die nasionale veiligheidsgeskiedenis in die Nongqai aan te teken en so vir die nageslagte bewaar.

We publish the articles and stories as we receive them from our correspondents; we only correct the spelling mistakes. It's important to publish the stories in the form and context as we receive them from our correspondents. Policemen and defence personnel have their own language and the have their own sub-culture. We are not a scientific or literary journal. We only work with historical building blocks.

Ons gebruik die artikels en stories soos ons dit van ons korrespondente ontvang; ons maak slegs die spelfoute reg. Dis belangrik om die stories te bewaar in die vorm en in die konteks soos ons dit ontvang. Lede van die veiligheidsmagte het hul eie taal en ons moet dit ook so aanteken. Ons is nie ‘n letterkundige of wetenskaplike joernaal nie. Ons werk slegs met die boustene van geskiedenis.

Policy | Beleid

www.samirror.com/nongqai |

FEATURE ARTICLE: New in this month’s issue of NONGQAI, in honour of World Ranger Day 2020, a new section on Wildlife Preservation, with contributions from Rory Young, of Chengeta Wildlife, on their efforts in the fight against poaching—Starts on Page 145 2 ADMINISTRASIE | ADMINISTRATION 6 FOREWORD | VOORWOORD Speurder-sersant Johan de Jager, SASP en SAP. 9 VOORBLAD | FRONT PAGE Gen M van Vuuren, S.A. Spoorwegpolisie 11 ELEKTRONIESE BEDIENING | ESERVICE 12 SAP GESKIEDENIS | SAP HISTORY Dr Leon Wessels vertel 14 Genl Johan van der Merwe 17 Brig HB Heymans: Berede 22 Genl.-maj. Gerrit Murphy 24 Kol Johan Stumke 25 Mpacha 27 Konst. HB Heymans: 1964: Kyk terug met groot dankbaarheid

Leon Wessels Voormalige minister en ook oud-adjunkminister van wet en orde deel sy herhinneringe

Johan van der Merwe Voormalige kommissaris van die S.A. Polisie, wie se boek “Trou tot die Dood Toe” geserialiseer word.

Darryn Newcombe Former Durban City Police member shares history and anecdotes from the oldest Police Force in South Africa.

Mick Shaw Retired Thames Valley Police officer gives NONGQAI historical insights

29 Mick Shaw: Griqualand West Police 33 HBH: Vernietiging van Geheime Dokumente 38 Britse Lêer op Robey Leibbrandt 41 Katgriep: SAPS hondjies dood 41 Vryheid: Zarp’e & Landdrospersoneel 42 Pietermaritzburg: Borough Police Ladysmith Town Police 43 Lt.-genl. J Ferreira: Wentworth & Chatsworth Polisiekolleges 44 Kol Corrie Prinsloo: Drie keer is skeepsreg 46 Nongqai Trust 47 Farm Murders DA: Open letter to the President IPF calls for Police Visibility 48 AO Engelbrecht 49 Nico Moolman: SAP Hartebeeskop 51 Trooper Glasspoole (Natal Police) 57 Col Logan Govender: Capt Nayager Brig de Kock 58 Lt A Sparks (NP & UDF) 59 Bishop Lavis-hof 1904: Wetstoepassingsbeampte: Pretoria 60 SA SPOORWEGPOLISIE | SAR POLICE Brig R Beyl: SA Spoorwegpolisie: Sake, verhale

en staaltjies: Otjihase & Gamams 62 Keith Blake: Reminiscences of a Railways Policeman 64 Johan de Jager: Die Speurder 66 Tanya Swindon-Diedericks AO JJ Swanepoel 69 Excerpts from the SA Railway Police Memorial Album 73 SA KRYGSGESKIEDENIS | MILITARY HISTORY Gavin Tischendorf: 1990: Witch Burnings & foot patrols 74 Mark Naude: Uniforms of the SAAF 79 Mark Naude: Chiefs of the SAAF 82 Koos de Wet: The Buffel APC story 86 Philip Malherbe: Tonnelrotte 94 Wolfgang Witschas: Eben-Emael-Siege and the capture of Eben-Emael: Coup from the Air: Operation Yellow 107 HBH: Operation Blouwildebees (26.08.1966) 118 DURBAN BOROUGH POLICE | DURBAN CITY POLICE Darryn Newcombe: Point Duty 120 NONGQAI HELDESAAL | HALL OF FAME Combat-General JCC “Cheere” Emmet 121 Lt.-kol. AN Lesch 128 POLICE INTERNATIONAL Kazakhstan Police 4

129 LAASTE POS | LAST POST Capt (SAN-Ret) C Ross: SA Commonwealth War Causalities buried across the World 131 Capt A van Ellinckhuyzen (SAPS): Pvte HBJ Koch 136 Herman Labuschagne: The last Tree of Delville Wood 137 Col L Govender: Commemorating the Battle of Delville Wood 138 Capt A van Ellinckhuyzen: James Arnot Cadle: The Advocate 142 SA INLIGTING | INTELLIGENCE Gen Smuts: Intelligence Arbitrator 145 WILDSBEWARING | WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Rory Young: WAR - Wildlife Conservation at Risk

International 149 Rory Young: Our Wild World Talk Radio 155 SOSIALE GELEENTHEDE | SOCIAL EVENTS Col Logan Govender: Capt and Mrs Norman Nel 156 Col Logan Govender: Serving Police Officers Reach Out to Retired Police Officer 157 BUITELANDSE INLIGTING | FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE MI5: UK and Russia 164 LETTERS | BRIEWE Martin de Lange: Oostenryk 165 Genl George Fivaz 166 Mick Shaw 168 INDEMNITY & COPY RIGHT | VRYWARING & KOPIEREG

Meet Rory Young - Nongqaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest contributor and co-founder and CEO of Chengeta Wildlife and anti-poaching champion, shares his experiences with us.

Salute to all those brave Rangers on World Ranger Day! 5

Voorwoord deur Johan de Jager, voormalige speurdersersant, S.A. Spoorwegpolisie en S.A. Polisie.

Johan de Jager en sy gade, Eileen, by die “Charter Dinner” van Rotary, waar Johan vereer is met die Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) toekenning. Voorwoord deur Johan de Jager, voormalige speurdersersant in die Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorwegpolisie, ontvanger van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie Ster vir Verdienste, toegeken vir sy uitmuntende speurwerk.

Nadat die spoorwegpolisie in 1986 saamgesmelt het met die S.A. Polisie is Johan opgeneem met die S.A. Polisie, en het ook as speurdersersant daar gedien tot sy aftrede in 1988. Na sy aftrede, het Johan by die Pick & Pay-groep aangesluit as sekuriteitsbestuurder, voordat hy besluit het om vir homself te werk. Johan het ‘n ondersoek besigheid opgestel, met industriële verhouding as sy kernbesigheid. Johan is die besturende direkteur van die KRMC Groep van maatskappye geleë in King William’s Town, Oos-Kaap. Hy is met Eileen getroud en hulle twee seuns, Werner en Leon, is ook albei betrokke in die familiebesigheid. Hy is ook Oupa aan drie kleinkinders, Stefan en Simoné en Mila. Johan

was ook baie betrokke by Rotary, en tydens die “Charter Dinner” van Rotary, is Johan vereer met die Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) toekenning. Johan is ook die Outeur van die boek, Die Speurder, wat in Nongqai geserialiseer word.

(Vervolg op bladsy 7)

(Vervolg van bladsy 6)

Geskiedenis is die vertakking van kennis wat konsentreer op die kronologiese verloop van die verlede en gebeurtenisse met die doel om dit so akkuraat moontlik weer te gee. Maar hierdie definisie kan nie die volheid van daardie vervloë tye vasvang nie, want dit laat die menslike

Johan de Jager word vereer met die toekenning van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie Ster vir Verdienste toegeken deur justisie en gevangenisdienste minister, Kobie Coetzee, by die medalje en voorstellingsparade te Esselenpark, op 20 Mei 1985. ervaringe uit, gedeel en individueel, wat juis die geskiedenis verryk. Elke bron lewer bewysstukke van die verlede op en getuig van sy tyd en plek. Soos ons van een bron na die volgende beweeg, word die rekord al hoe meer volledig saamgevat om ‘n geheelbeeld te vorm. Daar is verskeie soorte getuienisse: amptelik, nieamptelik en privaat. Boeke, koerante, foto`s, geboue, standbeelde, grafstene, kaarte, monumente en werktuie skets die beeld van die verlede. Vertellinge, mededelinge, memorabilia en staaltjies kleur die beeld in. Dit is die getuienis van die mense, daardie uitsonderlike karakters en hulle elkeen se herinneringe en nalatenskap, elkeen se eie belewenis van dit waarin hulle deel gehad het, wat lewe gee aan die geskiedenis. Ek onthou nog soos gister toe ek die boek “Die Speurder” beplan, geskryf en gefinaliseer het. Ek was skoon nostalgies toe ek weer die mooi, lekker en minder goeie tye tydens die skryf van die boek

beleef het - Indiensneming, opleiding, sake wat ons ondersoek het, grensdienste en die genot wanneer sake opgelos en suksesvol in die howe afgehandel was. Ek het terug verlang na die groot familie van die spoorwegpolisie waar ek veilig en deel van gevoel het. Een van die heel grotes van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie van die betrokke era en selfs lank daarna, brigadier R.J. (Ronnie) Beyl, vertel in sy boek, “S.A. Spoorwegpolisie, Sake, Verhale en Staaltjies”: “Daar was dikwels in die verlede verwys na die groot familie wat die spoorwegpolisie was. Die egtheid hiervan was bevestig toe lede wat vyftig jaar gelede, vir so kort tydperk as een jaar, lid van die mag was, my gekontak het en hulle ervarings as lede van die mag met my gedeel het. In dié tydperk het ek drie-honderd-en-negentig oud lede opgespoor en persoonlike kontak met minstens drie-honderd-en-tagtig van hulle gemaak. Ses-entagtig van hierdie lede en vriende het hulle verhale en vertellings aan my gestuur wat ek vir die doeleindes van die bundel verwerk het. Dit is net jammer dat ek nie die gesprek wat ek met elkeen van hulle gehad het op band opgeneem het nie. Die nostalgie toe ek van die lede gekontak het, het in talle gevalle die oorhand gekry en het van hulle ŉ traan van S.A. Spoorwegpolisie Ster vir verlange Verdienste weggepik toe ek myself aan hulle bekend gestel en die rede vir my oproep bekend gemaak het“ Ander “Spoories“ het ook hulle stemme tot die menslike rekord toegevoeg, onder andere die “50ste Herdenkingsalbum van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie”, onder redaksie van AO Breedt, (Vervolg op bladsy 8)

(Vervolg van bladsy 7)

“Skiet Hom Sersant” deur brig. J.G. (Hannes) Slabbert, en my eie boek, “Die Speurder”. In hierdie kategorie vind u al die artikels in Nongqai tydskrif wat betrekking het tot die geskiedenis waarin ons almal deel gehad het en koester. Wat van kardinale belang is, dat ALMAL

iets kan toevoeg (hetsy hoe onbenullig al dan nie) tot die uitbouing van Nongqai om sodoende ŉ nalatenskap vir die nageslag te bewaar. Mag die Here Nongqai en die span seën, en mag ons almal verder die puik tydskrif aktief ondersteun en geniet! Johan de Jager

Mounted ZAR Police in Pietersburg, Transvaal Republic

bekwame leiding het veral die volgende uitbreidings in die Mag tot stand gekom: Hy is die vader van ons veiligheidsafdeling. Hy is die vader van die dwelmmiddel- en plofstofadelings asook die instelling van die vrouepolisie.

Hy het die belangrikheid van akademiese studies in die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie besef en dit bevorder. He was dan ook die eerste gegradeerde in die mag. Daarna het andere in sy voetspore gevolg. Beter bewapening, opleiding, bevorderings aangeleenthede is onder andere van die projekte wat generaal van Vuuren aangepak en deurgevoer het. Vir jare was hy die hoofvoorsitter van di A.T.K.V. terwyl hy ook vir baie jare in ander hoedanighede in die A.T.K.V. gedien het.

Generaal-Majoor Marius van Vuuren, SMO Tweede Kommissaris, Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorwegpolisie TWEEDE KOMMISSARIS S.A. SPOORWEGPOLISIE Generaal-majoor Marius van Vuuren (16 Oktober 1961 – 1 Oktober 1973)

So het hy ook ‘n leidende rol in talle rade en komitees binne die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewings verband wat ook nie noodwendig binne sy werksverband geskakel het nie. Hy was, net soos ander polisie-offisiere hoofkommandant van die S.A. Noodhulpliga Wes-Transvaal, waar hy baanbrekerswerk in noodhulp in die beginjare op die S.A. Vervoerdienste gedoen het. Hy het die S.A. Noodhulpliga erelidmaatskap ontvang. Verder het hy diep spore getrap in die komitee vir Europese Emigrasie.

Op 16 Oktober 1961 word Marius van Vuuren, gebore op 2 September 1913, die tweede kommissaris van die Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorwegpolisie, met die rang van brigadier. Op 1 Julie 1969 word hy na generaal-majoor bevorder.

Op 1 Oktober 1973, bykans 12 jaar nadat hy as kommissaris van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie aangestel is, bereik hy die aftree-ouderdom. Hy word daarna vereer met die rang van luitenantgeneraal. Met sy uittrede het hy die volgende afskeidsboodskap aan sy kollegas gerig:

Generaal Van Vuuren het op 10 Mei 1935 by die S.A. Spoorweg en Hawepolisie aangesluit. Hy het vinnig opgang gemaak, en op 4 Maart 1938 is hy as onder-inspekteur (luitenant) aangestel. Op 1 Augustus 1961 is hy as adjunk-kommissaris van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie aangestel.

“My reis – ‘n lewensreis met die trein van die SuidAfrikaanse Spoorwegpolisie – het begin op 10 Mei 1953. My vrou het 4 jaar later ook aangesluit. Nou – agt en dertig jaar later – het hierdie trein vir my en my eggenote by die eindstasie aangekom, en die tyd het vir ons aangebreek om af te klim.

In 1952 het hy die graad Baccalaureus in Lettere en Wysbegeerte met lof verwerf. Onder sy

(Vervolg op bladsy 10)

(Vervolg van bladsy 9)

My reis was, glo ek, redelik suksesvol, maar dit was oneindig meer vreugdevol. Noudat ek aan die vooraand van die einde van my loopbaan gekom het, is dit vir my ‘n behoefte van die hart om aan u, wat verder sal reis, vaarwel te sê. Soos die jare gekom en gegaan het, was daar soms maer jare, ander tye het dit weer beter gegaan; ek is dankbaar dat dit my beskore was om beide die maer en die meer vrugbare jare saam met u te kon beleef, dit het vir my – en ek glo van harte ook vir u – die lewe sinvoller gemaak en ook daadwerklike rigting in die werksituasie gebring.

‘n Polisieman se vrou in inderdaad ook maar ‘n lid van die mag, want sy deel in al die vreugde en frustrasies van haar eggenoot. Daarom is dit nodig dat ons aan hulle – wat die steunpilare agter die skerms is – ook sal hulde bring vir hulle onbaatsugtige en opofferende diens aan ons en daarom aan die mag. Sommige van die kollegas wat saam gery op die trein het reeds afgeklim – soms uit eie beweging – ander het ook die einde van die reis bereik – maar vir u gaan reis voort. Dit is goed so, en u kollegas, u familie, die bestuur en u land verlang, ja vereis dit van u. Vir die lojaliteit en ondersteuning wat u almal – ook hulle wat nie meer met ons is nie – aan my betoon het, en die harde werk wat u in belang van die mag en die diens, soms onder moeilike omstandighede, gelewer het, betuig ek my innige en opregte dank.

My eggenote en ek groet u en ons hoop dat ons in die toekoms nog dikwels met u sal kan verkeer. Ons bede is dat dit met u goed mag gaan in die jare wat voorlê.”

KOMMENTAAR DEUR BRIG. H.B. HEYMANS (SAP AFGETREE) “Ek dink genl Van Vuuren het as onderwyser gekwalifiseer voor hy by die SAP-mag aangesluit het. Na die SAP is hy ‘n pos in die SASPOL aangebied. Ek het twee bokse vol van sy goed op ‘n vlooimark gekoop – ek het dit vir die Voortrekker0monument se argief geskenk omdat hy ‘n groot kultuur-man was. Die ATKV en die Voortrekkermonument het stewige bande gehad!” - HBH

PASTOOR KOOT SWANEPOEL “Ons is almal op pad” Psalm 121:8 : “Die Here sal jou uitgang en jou ingang bewaar, van nou af tot in ewigheid.” Hierdie Psalm het Israel gelees wanneer hulle op reis gegaan het. Daarin het hulle troos gevind dat die Here met hulle gaan, op hulle pad. Jy en ek is elke dag “op pad” en sonder die Here se beskerming sal ons nie veilig wees nie. In hierdie moeilike tyd moet ons kyk na onsself terwyl ons ten volle vertrou op die beloftes in Psalm 91. Ongelukkig is dit so dat vir sommige het die pad te veel geword. Miskien is jy daar waar Elia was? Dit was toe hy gevlug het vir Isébel, nadat hy oorwin het op Karmel. In 1 Kon. 19:7 lees ons: “Staan op, eet; anders is die pad vir jou te veel.” Die engel van die Here het toe vir Elia warm brood en water gegee, sodat hy vir veertig dae deur die woestyn kon loop tot by Horeb. Weet dit: God wil jou ook help op jou pad. Vir ander het die pad te nou geword. Dan is daar hulle wat hulself bevind op ‘n ompad. Dit het Israel in die woestyn ondervind. Waar dit hulle agt dae sou neem om hul beloofde land te bereik, het dit hulle veertig jaar geneem. Jy sien, dit het God veertig jaar geneem om “Egipte” uit Israel te kon kry. Tydens die “ompad” wat jy loop is die Here besig om sekere verkeerde dinge ook uit jou lewe

te verwyder. Is die pad vir jou teveel – of moontlik te nou? Glo vandag dat die Here jou uitgang en jou ingang sal bewaar. Maak seker dat God met jou is op die pad wat jy tans loop.

DIE NASIONALE PARTY onder leiding van die 74 -jarige DF Malan het op 26 Mei 1948 die bewind in Suid-Afrika oorgeneem. In my grootwordjare is daar in ons huis nie ’n enkele gesprek daaroor gevoer nie. Ek kan nie onthou dat iemand, hetsy familie of vriende wat by ons aan huis kom kuier het, ooit daaroor gepraat het nie. In ons huis het my pa altyd op so ’n manier van die Natte en die Sappe gepraat dat dit my laat dink het ons gesin staan heeltemal buite die politiek. Toe ek later self die politieke arena as Nasionalis betree het, het hy dikwels vir my gesê: “Die politiek is ’n vuil besigheid. Daar is alewig ’n bakleiery. Waarom wil jy politiek toe? Is jy dan ongelukkig in jou professie?” Hy was nie opgewonde oor my politieke planne nie.

Sy houding het eers later verander en toe was hy baie ondersteunend. Die stormagtige politiek wat ná die Tweede Wêreldoorlog bedryf is, het my pa gegrief. Die polisie is altyd ingeroep om die vrede te bewaar wanneer gevegte tydens politieke vergaderings uitgebreek het. Hulle sou om die beurt die een aand die Natte teen die Sappe beskerm en deur die Sappe vuurwarm geslaan word. ’n Volgende keer is die bordjies verhang wanneer hulle die Sappe se vergadering moes beveilig en in konfrontasie getree het met die Natte. Wanneer my pa dié stories vertel het, kon jy sy renons in die politiek aanvoel.

Ek was bang vir die swart mense van Johannesburg waar ons in die vroeë vyftigerjare gewoon het. Die sekuriteitswagte in Johannesburg met hul groot oorringe en knopkieries was vir my vreemd. Daar was geen kommunikasie tussen ons nie. Tydens besoeke aan die middestad van Johannesburg was ek maar altyd versigtig vir dié vreemde mense. Al wat ek op dié uitstappies wou doen, was om aan die pragtige perde te vat wat die Flying Service droogskoonmakery se waentjies getrek het. Wanneer my ouers by vriende in die omgewing van die Melvillekoppies gaan kuier het, was ons kinders altyd bang vir die donker en ook vir die donker mense wat dalk oor die koppies kon kruip om ons leed aan te doen. Ons het dikwels by my oom Boetie op sy die plaas in die Vrystaat gaan kuier. Daar het ek baljaar, perdgery en saam met Lukas, een van die plaasarbeiders se kinders, gespeel. Ons het al die diere, maar veral die varke, met sulke kort swepies van die een uithoek van die plaaswerf na die ander gejaag. Saans wanneer ons terugry Johannesburg toe het ek stokflou maar dolgelukkig in die motor aan die slaap geraak. Vir die swart mense op die Vrystaatse plaas was ek nie bang nie. Al waarin ek en daardie plaasvriende van my belang gestel het, was (Vervolg op bladsy 13)

(Vervolg van bladsy 12)

kinderpret en kattekwaad. Toe ek een Sondagoggend tydens ’n kerkdiens rustig teen my Ma Wobbie se skouer insluimer terwyl die dominee uit die Bybel lees, het ek skrams die woord “Lukas” gehoor, onmiddellik penorent gesit en kliphard uitgeroep: “Hy praat van Lukas, die ka***rtjie op oom Boetie se plaas!” Die gemeente het uitgebars van die lag vir my geesdriftige luidrugtigheid. Ek is tot kalmte gemaan en die diens kon ordelik voortgaan. Niemand het beswaar gemaak oor die gebruik van die woord “ka***rtjie” nie. Dit was alledaagse taal.

Toe ek net mooi koers kry in die skool is my pa in die middel van 1952 van Johannesburg na Vryburg verplaas. Ons gesin het Vryburg nie geken nie. Tog was dit ’n opwindende vooruitsig. Ek kon nie wag om te trek nie, want my ouers het my vertel dat ons platteland toe trek en dat ek daar ’n donkie gaan kry. Ons het op ’n groot dorpserf gewoon en daar was hoenders, duiwe, melkkoeie, en aanvanklik ’n donkie wat in die agterplaas op stal gehou is. Ek was dol op perde. Die belangstelling het op my oom Boetie se plaas ontstaan waar ek ure lank op ’n perd se rug kon deurbring. Ek het gou moeg geraak vir die donkie in ons agterplaas en begin geld spaar om ’n perd te koop. My eerste ryperd, Frank, het twaalf pond gekos. Ek het met Frank aan springkompetisies begin deelneem en het uiteindelik ’n paar oorwinnings op my kerfstok gehad. Namate ek met die een perd na die ander in die plaaslike perdespringkompetisies presteer het, het ek ook begin perde koop en verkoop.

kamp opgeslaan, ’n groot vuur gemaak en onder die Kalahari se sterreprag geslaap. Die plattelandse wêreld was ’n kinderparadys. Ek was altyd aan die speel; bedags het ek in die veld rondgeloop, saans oor en weer gekuier en regte outydse kinderkattekwaad aangevang, soos om vrugte te steel en meisies wat saans op hul fietse rondry, skrik te maak. Vryburg-Laerskool was ’n dubbelmediumskool, maar die Engelssprekende kinders het ook vlot Afrikaans gepraat. Ek het dus nooit aan hulle as Engelssprekend gedink nie. Ek het van die kinders goed leer ken, want ons het ure saam perdgery in die dorpskampe, waar die dorpsmense se melkkoeie gewei het. Vir my was hulle “ons mense”. Die Engelse van Brittanje teen wie ons jare gelede oorlog gemaak het en van wie my ouma my sulke aaklige stories vertel het, was ánder mense, nie óns mense nie. In Vryburg was een van die hoogtepunte om Saterdagoggende saam met die ander laerskoolkinders te gaan fliek. Net voor die einde van die fliek sou almal egter opspring en in die donker uitskarrel. Niemand was lus om aan die Britse koningin eer te betoon deur “God Save the Queen” te sing nie. Ook die Engelse kinders het nie erg gehad aan die verpligte gesingery nie en het saam met ons uitgehardloop.

Op Potchefstroom, my ou alma mater, het die studente lustig saam “God Save the Queen” aan die einde van ’n fliek gesing. Maar die woorde van ons “Mislied” het heelwat verskil van die Britse volkslied se woorde: “Ou vriend sal jy vir my/ ’n wavrag mis laat kry?/ Ek sal betaal./ Ek sal die Ons het in ’n stadium ook ’n kort rukkie op ’n plaas prys betaal/ as ek die mis kom haal/ maar dit moet in die Vryburgdistrik gebly. Trekker ry, beeste in kraalmis wees, goeie mis en droog.” Die “Mislied” die veld met die perd aanja, duiwe skiet met die het ’n bekende studentelied geword en windbuks was my kos, en so tussendeur moes ek studenteraadsvergaderings is altyd afgesluit met vaak- vaak probeer huiswerk doen. ’n Mens kan die sing daarvan. My generasie studentevriende maar sê skool het ingemeng met my sing dit steeds wanneer ons saamkuier en buitelugbedrywighede. Regdeur my skooljare het ontspan. Dit is ook altyd ’n groot treffer wanneer ek baie tyd in die buitelug deurgebring. Vakansies ons saam rugby kyk en die Springbokke teen die het ek saam met my pa en een van sy kollegas, Engelse Rose speel! oom Terreblanche, en dié se seun Monty diep in die Kalahari inbeweeg wanneer my pa-hulle besoeke moes bring aan afgeleë polisiestasies. Soms was daar geleentheid om springbokke en ...word vervolg gemsbokke in die Kalahari te jag. Dan het ons 13

EERSTE ERVARINGS AS POLISIEMAN NÁ my opleiding het ek diens by die polisiestasie op Sutherlands, nou Plessislaer, naby Pietermaritzburg aanvaar. Ek kon dit kwalik beter getref het: dit was ŉ berede stasie waar ek kon perdry en myself na hartelus uitleef. Die personeel het bestaan uit ŉ sersant as stasiebevelvoerder, 3 ander sersante en 13 konstabels. Ons het ons weinig aan ure gesteur en dikwels ná ons diensbeurte met ondersoeke en ander werk gehelp. Ons stasie was ons trots en ons was bereid om dag en nag te werk indien nodig. Die swart woonbuurt Edendale met sy meer as 40 000 inwoners het onder ons stasie geval. Ons het dikwels met plofbare situasies te doen gehad waar geweld tussen verskillende faksies in die buurt gedreig het, maar dit was nooit nodig om versterkings in te roep nie. Danksy ons goeie verhouding met die inwoners kon ons alle probleme self hanteer.

Al die Polisie se werk is deur die Staande Orders en die Regulasies beheer. Dit is onverbiddelik toegepas en enige afwyking is in ŉ ernstige lig beskou. Kort ná ek op Sutherlands begin het, het ek een oggend om 5.30 aan diens gekom en die roetine-inskrywings in die Voorvalleboek gedoen. Alle sake van belang is volledig hierin aangeteken, een maand in Afrikaans en die volgende maand in Engels. Sers. Biggs, die stasiebevelvoerder, het om 7.30 aan diens gekom en begin om die Voorvalleboek na te gaan. Tot sy groot ontsteltenis het hy opgelet dat ek om 5.30 ŉ inskrywing gedoen het dat die verhoorafwagtende gevangenes gevoed is – ek

was nie bewus daarvan dat die Staande Orders bepaal dat verhoorafwagtendes om 6.00 kos kry nie. “Ou Vênnie, dit gaan groot moeilikheid veroorsaak, ons moet dit regmaak,” het sers. Biggs opgemerk. Ons het ŉ rukkie gesit en dink en toe besluit om tussen hakies te skryf dat hulle nog gevoed gaan word. Die inskrywing het toe gelees: “Verhoorafwagtende gevangenes gevoed. (Hulle gaan nog gevoed word.)” Die inspekterende offisier het later net droog opgemerk: “Ek hoop die verhoorafwagtendes het tussen gevoed en gaan nog gevoed word darem kos gekry.” Ongeveer ses maande later stap ek op ŉ dag by die aanklagkantoor in terwyl sers. Biggs en die ander somber daar rondstaan. Ek kon onmiddellik agterkom iets is verkeerd. Sers. Biggs het gewigtig aangekondig: “Vênnie, jy is verplaas.” Verbaas stotter ek: “Verplaas? Waarheen? Waarom?” Sers. Biggs aarsel. Die nuus is te skokkend om eensklaps bekend te maak. Toe kom dit uiteindelik: “Johannesburg-Sentraal.” In polisiekringe was Johannesburg-Sentraal soos Siberië vir die Russe. Ek is onmiddellik in opstand: “Ek sal nie gaan nie!” Sers. Biggs verduidelik geduldig: “Vênnie, in die Polisie gaan jy waar hulle jou stuur; jy het nie ŉ wil nie.” Ek het later gehoor dat my ouers, wat intussen na Springs verhuis het, my nader aan die huis wou hê en die afdelingskommissaris aan die Oos-Rand gevra het om met my verplasing te help. Dit het hoofkantoor in Pretoria goed gepas, want daar was ŉ vakature in Johannesburg-Sentraal. (Vervolg op bladsy 15)

(Vervolg van bladsy 14)

BY Johannesburg-Sentraal is ek dadelik in die aanklagkantoor by Marshallplein op nagdiens geplaas. Die sersant in bevel het lankal sy ideale laat vaar en sy toevlug tot drank geneem. Ek word beveel om die “PEK” te skryf: om mense wat gearresteer is, se eiendom in ontvangs te neem en kwitansies daarvoor uit te reik. Die sersant gee my ŉ leë blikkie en verduidelik dat dit die “kitty” is en dat ek moet toesien dat daar geld in kom. Ek snap nie wat van my verwag word nie. Die sersant is geïrriteerd met my klaarblyklike traagheid van begrip en ek hoor hom onderlangs mompel: “Hulle het vir ons ŉ dom donder gestuur.” Hy verduidelik toe dat wanneer iemand weens dronkenskap gearresteer word, ŉ sjieling of ander klein bedrag in sy besit in die “kitty” gegooi moet word. Ek wou eers protesteer dat dit diefstal is, maar besluit om liewer niks te sê nie. Die nag word ŉ nagmerrie met meer as 200 gearresteerdes – in Sutherlands het ons hoogstens 20 per nag gearresteer. Ek skryf teen ŉ spoed, tel geld en doen alles moontlik om by te bly. Die “kitty” bly egter leeg. Ongeveer 4 vm. is daar ’n blaaskans en ek begin die geld tel en met die bedrag op die kwitansies vergelyk. Dit is die meeste geld wat ek nog gehanteer het. Wonder bo wonder klop die geld. Een van die ander lede aan diens kom bied aan om my te help om die geld te kontroleer net om dubbel seker te maak. Ek is maar te dankbaar. Toe hy klaar is, kom die slegte nuus: daar is vyf pond kort. “Die een vyfpondnoot was dubbel gevou,” verduidelik my kollega. Ek is platgeslaan. Wat nou? Ek het nie vyf pond om in te betaal nie. Die kollega bied goedgunstiglik aan om my vyf pond te leen tot aan die einde van die maand. Maande later is dieselfde kollega weens diefstal van prisonierseiendom gearresteer en het ek met ŉ skok besef wat van die vyf pond geword het.

moedeloos. Die toekoms lyk maar donker. Gelukkig het ek kort daarna op ŉ ander aflos beland waar die sersant bekwaam en toegewyd was. Foute is glad nie geduld nie. Ek is menige keer ná nagdiens uit droomland wakker geskud om foute te kom regmaak. Lt. W.J. Burger (later brigadier), beter bekend as Staal Burger, was in bevel van Marshallplein. Hy het die bepalings van die Staande Orders op die punte van sy vingers geken en toegesien dat dit stiptelik nagekom word. Staande Orders het bepaal dat verhoorafwagtende gevangenes om 6 vm. kos moet kry en om 7.30 vm. by die hofselle moet wees. By kleiner stasies was dit geen probleem nie, maar by Marshallplein, wat die meeste verhoorafwagtendes in die land gehanteer het, het dit broekskeur gegaan. Nadat die gevangenes geëet het, moes hul besittings aan hulle oorhandig word. Elke item moes nagegaan, die geld getel en met die kwitansie vergelyk word. As ŉ gevangene kon skryf, moes hy sowel as ’n getuie teken vir sy besittings. Duimafdrukke is van ongeletterde gevangenes geneem en twee getuies moes teken ter bevestiging. Om tyd te spaar, het ons gewoonlik nadat ons vir diens aangemeld het, begin om as getuies te teken. Ongelukkig het ons soms op ’n verkeerde plek geteken. Staal Burger het dit gou agtergekom en gedreig dat dié wat hulle daaraan skuldig maak, departementeel vervolg sal word. Ons het verduidelik dat dit in die praktyk onmoontlik is om die bepalings na te kom en hom genooi om self te kom kyk wanneer die besittings oorhandig word. Dit het hom egter min geskeel. Staande Orders bepaal so en só sal dit wees, buig of bars.

Ons het so versigtig moontlik voortgegaan om vooruit as getuies te teken. Een oggend ná al die besittings oorhandig en die boek met die prisonierseiendomskwitansies terug in die aanklagkantoor is, merk ek dat ek op ŉ verkeerde plek geteken het. Ek besef dat tugstappe my Aan die einde van ons skof is die “kitty” steeds voorland is. Ons het met inkpotlode geteken en ek leeg en die sersant woedend. Ek hoor hoe sê hy besluit terstond dat die handtekening uitgevee vir een van die ander lede: “Ons het ŉ sleg donder moet word. ŉ Gewone uitveër wou nie werk nie. bygekry.” Ek word toe aangesê om voortaan die Daarna probeer ek ŉ tikmasjienuitveër. Terwyl ek register waarin die aanklagte teen gearresteerdes nog met mag en mening uitvee, sien ek skielik aangeteken word, bekend as die “RAA”, by te hou. gedrukte letters wat nie voorheen daar was nie. Een van die ander lede wat meer bedrewe is om Met ’n skok besef ek dat ek dwarsdeur die bladsy die “kitty” aan te vul, sal die “PEK” hanteer. Toe ek uitgevee het. O wee, nou is die ellende eers groot! om 6 vm. van diens gaan en met Marshallstraat na (Vervolg op bladsy 16) die kwartiere vir ongetroudes stap, voel ek baie 15

het en waar ek trouens geen ander keuse gehad het nie. Ek besluit daar en dan die kwitansieboek Al uitweg is om ŉ bietjie vingerafdruk-ink daaroor moet verdwyn. Ek gaan verbrand dit toe in die te smeer. Ek teken daarna op die regte plek en kombuis. Gelukkig was daar honderde hoop desperaat Staal Burger kom nie agter wat kwitansieboeke en die boek se verdwyning is nooit gebeur het nie. opgemerk nie. Ongelukkig het die boeke daarna Ondersers. Willem Steytler het die teen ŉ spoed begin verdwyn en Staal Burger het prisonierseiendomskwitansies nagesien voor Staal dit agtergekom. Gevolglik is elke boek vooraf van Burger dit met ’n valkoog deurgegaan het. ŉ reeksnommer voorsien wat in ŉ register Ondersers. Steytler was ŉ fors geboude man met aangeteken is en saam met die kwitansieboeke ŉ yslike snor en effens doof, ’n regte sersant- nagesien is. majoor. Sy rang was vir hom baie belangrik en hy Toe daar 52 jaar later tydens ŉ poligraaftoets het dit met groot status gedra. Hy het so ŉ hû-hû- aan my gevra word of ek al ooit ŉ leuen aan laggie gehad. Nie lank ná die uitveërpoging kom iemand in ŉ gesagsposisie vertel het om my eie hy na my met die betrokke kwitansieboek. “Ou bas te red, het die voorval my skoon ontgaan en Vênnie, wat het hier gebeur?” Ek verduidelik dat ek het “nee” geantwoord. Ek het die toets geslaag. ek per ongeluk vingerafdruk-ink op die bladsy Op ’n keer het ondersers. Steytler voor by die gemors en dit toe probeer uitvee het. “Hû-hû,” lag bestuurder in ŉ toegeboude vragmotor gesit ondersers. Steytler, “ek glo jou, maar Staal Burger waarmee ŉ klomp manne op pad was na ŉ sal nie.” klopjag. Hulle was laat en die bestuurder het (Vervolg van bladsy 15)

Die saak lê swaar op my. Elke keer as ek by Staal Burger se kantoor verbyloop en hy is nie daar nie, glip ek gou in en gaan die stapel kwitansieboeke na. Uiteindelik het hy die kwitansie onder oë gehad ... en die ergste het gebeur. Hy het ŉ aantekening in rooi ink gemaak dat die saak ondersoek moet word met die oog op tugstappe. Ek besef dit beteken ŉ gewisse departementele veroordeling vir ŉ daad wat in goeie trou geskied

gejaag om betyds te wees. Ondersers. Steytler het droog opgemerk: “Jy jaag nou so, nou-nou gooi jy die vragmotor om en dan is julle almal dood, behalwe ek wat oorbly om te explain.” Dit weerspieël die gees en humor wat in die Polisiemag geheers het. ...word vervolg

Brig. HB Heymans (SAP – Afgtr.)

Gedurende circa 1989 het die kommissaris van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie die De Witt-komitee van ondersoek1 onder leiding van genl HG de Witt, aangestel. Daar is vir voorstelle gevra om die polisie voor te berei vir die nuwe bedeling wat aan die kom was.

Die berede-eenheid in Londen doen baie om die beeld van die “Metropolitan Police” te poets. Die polisie in die VSA het my vertel dat ‘n beredeman hoog sit en alles rondom hom kan besigtig. So sal twee manne byvoorbeeld met ‘n patrolliemotor met ‘n perdesleepwa by bofbalwedstryde op die parkeerterrein en omgewing diens doen. Hulle is dan met radio’s toegerus. By die bofbalbaan hou hulle stil en haal hul perde uit die perdesleepwa en patrolleer tussen die skare mense.

Inleiding

Na my eerste buitelandse besoek het ek my eerste voorstel ingedien vir ‘n berede-eenheid.

Ek was nog altyd lief vir perde en was ‘n beredeman tydens my basiese opleiding in die SA Polisiekollege. Wat ‘n voorreg was dit nie! Dit was in die dae van “Fleur”, majoor LG Snyman (Vingers), sersante Otto, Tulleken en Coetzee.

Dink net hoe pragtig sou dit lyk as ons perde gehad het in Pretoria-Sentraal, Kaapstad, Hillbrow en Durban. Ek het my eie perde op my hoewe gehad en my buurman was maj. Alwyn Kotze van die SAP-kollege—’n gesoute ruiter.

Ek is gedurende 1979 vir die eerste keer na die buiteland. Ek het die polisieperde in Londen en in die VSA beskou en het gewens dat ons in die SAP ook weer perde kon terug bring. Destyds het ons perde in die polisiekollege en ‘n paar perde by die veediefstal-eenheid in diens gehad.

Verslag aan die De Witt-komitee

1989: Berede-eenheid: Voorstel: De Witt-komitee:

Die De Witt-komitee het per omsendbrief vir voorstelle gevra. Ek het vier voorstelle ingedien – vandag kan ek egter net drie onthou: (Vervolg op bladsy 18)

“The De Witt Commission: During 1988, … General De Witt was appointed to head an investigation into the re-structuring of the SAP. The Commission reported in 1989, and its recommendations have been gradually implemented since then. The re-structuring of the SAP which followed the De Witt Commission is probably the most significant change to the force since its formation in 1913”. Kyk Rauch, J. (1991). Deconstructing the South African Police. Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the Association for Sociology in Southern Africa, Cape Town, July.

gemotiveerde verslag opgestel.

(Vervolg van bladsy 17)

(1) Polisie-attachés.

Genl Johann Coetzee het my aangestel om met SNASP (die veiligheidspolisie van Mosambiek) te skakel terwyl kol Gawie Richter ons man was wat met die Malawi Polisie geskakel het. Ons het ook ‘n man in Rhodesië gehad. Ek het gevoel ‘n mens behoort permanent daar gestasioneer te wees om beter skakeling te bewerkstellig. Ons het baie werkers van hierdie lande in Suid-Afrika gehad en daar was baie oorgrens-misdaad. Maar wat jy nie van weet nie, mis jy gelukkig nie. (2) ‘n Geografiese inligtingstelsel.

navorsingafdeling

Ek het gevoel die polisie het ‘n leemte wat navorsing en algemene overte inligting betref. Ek het geglo: “Don’t work harder, work smarter!”

Op latere besoeke het ek vir my nagraadse studies ook na polisieperde gekyk in België (Rijkswacht) en Nederland (PIOV). Ek het na die perdestalle in Amsterdam en in Brussel gekyk. Ek was ook genooi na ‘n Nederlandse polisieinstelling waar perde en hul ruiters vir die bestryding van onluste opgelei word. Ter illustrasie het die perde ons bestorm en ek kan getuig dat dit ‘n vreesaanjaende gesig is. Die vonke spat van hul hoewe en die perde is doelgerig en glad nie bang om te storm nie. Ek het ook met genl Wandrag gesels en voorgestel dat ons perde vir onluste ook moet aanwend. Hy as glad nie daarvoor te vinde nie!

Lt.-genl J Ferreira Kommentaar deur lt.-genl. Johan Ferreira

[Eers in Soweto het ek die geleentheid gekry om saam met ‘n Krygkor-affiliaal so ‘n program rekenaarmatig te ontwikkel. Ongelukkig het die SAP destyds nie die program aangekoop nie.]

Gedurende 1989-90 was ek ‘n lid van die De Witt -komitee wat die opdrag ontvang het om die Suid -Afrikaanse Polisiemag voor te berei vir die nuwe staatkundige veranderinge wat aan die kom was.

(3) ‘n Landswye polisie.

‘n Aanbeveling is deur brigadier Hennie Heymans gedoen dat die berede perde-eenheid weer in die Mag tot stand gebring word.

berede-eenheid

vir

die

In daardie dae moes mens nog in ‘n biblioteek gaan sit en navorsing doen met boeke en akademiese artikels raadpleeg! My kollega, Steve du Toit, was by Unisa ingeskryf en so het ons baie inligting oor die internasionale aanwending van polisieperde daar bekom. Ons het gesien hoeveel Britse stede polisieperde aangewend het en vir watter doeleindes. Ons het na Europa ook gekyk: Nederland, België en Duitsland en natuurlik in die VSA. Ons het ‘n goed

Sy voorstel is deur genl. Mike Bester, wat destyds aan die hoof van een van die werkkomitees van die De Witt-komitee was, aanvaar. Genl. Bester het toe saam met (destyds kaptein of majoor) Salie Kriel begin soek na ‘n geskikte perdestoet wat deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie aangekoop kan word. Hulle het uiteindelik ‘n stoet perde by ‘n dame bekom wat besluit het om dit aan die SuidAfrikaanse Polisie te verkoop.

Lys van aanwend

lande

wat

polisieperde

42 Lande en bykans veertig state in die VSA gebruik vandag polisieperde vir seremoniële diens, patrollies, bestryding van onluste, beeldbou en vele ander take.

Uitpassering 2de semester 1984, Berede peleton 66. Bron: https://www.facebook.com/groups/106961325994922/

Loer gerus na: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_mounted_police_units (Continued on page 19)

(Vervolg van bladsy 18)

Polisieperde in Mumbai, IndiĂŤ (Bo) en Ottawa, Kanada (Onder)

(Vervolg op bladsy 20)

(Vervolg van bladsy 19)

Londen, Engeland (Bo) en Skotland (Livingston, West Lothian en George Square, Glasgow)(Onder)

(Vervolg op bladsy 21)

(Vervolg van bladsy 20)

Amsterdam, Nederland (Bo) en Central Park: New York, VSA (Onder)

Fotos: Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mounted_police_units & Frans Bedford-Visser 21

Genl.-Maj Gerrit Murphy (Afgetree) 1984 – 1988: SA Leër: Berede Aanwending : Soweto Agtergrond. Baie min mense het werklik besef hoe groot Soweto werklik is, op daardie stadium was die grondoppervlakte van Soweto ongeveer 150 vierkante kilometer. Soweto was die vertoonvenster na die buiteland en daarom was die regering altyd baie sensitief teenoor rewolusionêre en teenrewolusionêre aksies wat in Soweto plaasgevind het. Kyk aangehegde kaart van Soweto. Aanwending van plofstofhonde.

perde,

patrollie-

Die aanwending van patrollie- en plofstofhonde in Soweto was ̓n groot sukses. Die troepe was baie deur die jeugdiges in die gebied geterroriseer, omdat hulle met klippe en ketties geskiet was. Vir ̓n troep met sy mondering aan om dan n ̓ jeugdige te voet te vang was onmoontlik, hulle het te vinnig weggehardloop.

Foto deur Willem van der Heever. Bron: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oudSAP.groep/

losgelaat om die kwaaddoeners te vang, party van die honde was so goed dat hulle twee tot drie jeugdiges op ̓n slag vasgekeer het. Hierdie metode was so suksesvol dat ons later net die Buffel-voertuig se sykant laat val het, die jeugdiges het uit vorige ondervinding of a.g.v. die bostelegraaf geleer om liewers te bly staan, dit was dan nie nodig om die hond los te laat nie. Die plofstofhonde was net so suksesvol met die opsporing van wapenopslagplekke wat gewoonlik tussen mynhope versteek was. Dit was ook nie altyd moontlik om met voertuie tussen die mynhope te beweeg nie en ons het toe die perd-hond kombinasie aangewend. Om ̓n plofstofhond vars in die gebied te kry het ons hom in n ̓ mandjie saam met die ruiter boop die perd geplaas. Die enigste nadeel van die kombinasie was dat hondehanteerders nie ̓n perderuiter was nie en ons hom eers moes leer perdry of ̓n hondehanteerder kry wat kon perdry. Toe ons begin het met die aanwending van perde en honde in WIT-GBS se gebied was die SA Polisie baie skepties, hulle het my laat verstaan dat die perde met byle gekap en honde aan die brandgesteek gaan word. Uit ondervinding het ons geleer dat die swart stedeling bang was vir perde en ons weet dat swart mense oor die algemeen vir honde bang is. Ons het geen perd of ̓n hond gedurende my dienstermyn in enige onrus of onluste situasie verloor nie. Die aanwending van perde was baie suksesvol omdat die ruiter hoog sit en hy goed kan sien en vinnig by ̓n insident kon uitkom om die nodige beheer te kon uitoefen. ̓n Groot pluspunt was dat die logistiek in ̓n stad redelik maklik was omdat ons die perde in die aand na Doornkop Militêre-basis, wat langs Soweto geleё is, teruggetrek het waar ruiter en perd kon rus en die volgende dag skoon en vars op sy pos kon wees. Die perderenbaan eienaars het met hulle perdevervoerwaens, teen ̓n lae tarief, waar nodig ons perde in die gebied help vervoer. Aanwending van veldmotorfietse.

Ons het toe patrolliehonde met hul hanteerders in Buffel-voertuie geplaas en wanneer so ̓n insident plaasvind was die sykant van die Buffel-voertuig laat val en die hond was

Om die N1 snelweg langs Soweto te beveilig het ons gebruik gemaak van veldmotorfietse (Vervolg op bladsy 23)

(Vervolg van bladsy 22)

wat die snelweg 24-uur per dag gepatrolleer het en ̓n verdere doel was om motoriste wat voertuig probleme daar ondervind te beveilig en die nodige hulp te ontbied. Sou die snelweg blokkeer word kon die veldmotorfietse maklik langs die snelweg in die veld beweeg om by die probleem uit te kom om vas te stel wat die oorsaak was. Ons het ook die Swartraad van

Soweto oortuig om n ̓ sement paleheining tussen Soweto se grens en die N1 snelweg op te rig, ons motivering aan hulle was om kinders, honde en diere van die snelweg af te hou. Die SA Leër se berede sentrum was in Potchefstroom geleё wat die aanwending van die berede vermoë en kundigheid vir ons vergemaklik het. Gerrit Murphy

Foto deur Gawie Botha. Bron: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nongqai/ 23

Kol Johan Stumke 1972: Ekstra-Swaargewig Polisie Stoeiers Goeiemore Brigadier Die stoeiers op meegaande foto, behoort aan u bekend te wees. Die foto is in September 1972, tydens die SA Polisie Stoeikampioenskappe, in die polisiekollege, Pretoria, geneem. Die stoeier in rooi, is Gys Viljoen, bekende Springbokstoeier en Noord-Transvaal rugbyspeler. Die stoeier in blou, is Loupie Laubscher, WP-stoeier en later bekend geword as die “Rooi Baron”. Gys het gewoonlik.

die

geveg

gewen,

soos

Groete

Landmynfotos Goeiemiddag brigadier,

1. Regs bo - sers. Johan Jonker - regs en myself by die wrak van sy Landrover. Landmyn afgetrap naby Kazangula op pad na Victoria-waterval. Konst's Marx en Durheim was in die ontploffing gedood.1 Konst. Diedericks was ernstig beseer. Sers. Jonker het na hom na veiligheid gedra. Die voorval word deur brig. P. Wessels in sy boek oor die SAP op die grense en daarna in die binneland, bespreek. Ek was op daardie stadium in beheer van die Panda Matenga -basis. 2. Regs onder - Ek en sers. Jonker in 1970 op die Uitenhage-Despatch polisiegrens tydens op nagdiens. Groete, Johan Stumke.

Op 1 Aug. 1973 is No 54350 konst. S Marx en no. 55704 konst. OW Durheim oorlede – HBH. 24

Gerhardus van Niekerk Mpacha Goeie middag Hennie, Die aangehegte foto het ek tussen die kleurskyfies van wyle kaptein Jurie Lombaard gevind. Ongelukkig is daar geen byskrifte by nie. Nadat ek dit bietjie vergroot het word die woord MPACHA bokant die takkerasie waaronder die manne staan leesbaar. Die SAW het volgens my wete nie so ŉ basis by Mpacha gehad nie. Die kleredrag van die manne regs op die foto dui meer op ŉ SAP basis nog voor die teer aanloopbaan gebou was. Die man heel links lyk asof hy ŉ vlieënier van die destydse 112 Eskader ter ondersteuning van die polisie kon gewees het. Ek het die foto aan kol Pieter van der Walt gewys wat bevestig het dat hy nie die man as synde van 112 Eskader kan herken nie. Moontlik is die foto vir polisie-herinneringe van waarde? Is dit moontlik om Nongqai aanlyn te lees? Groete, Gert. Goeie naand Hennie,

Aangeheg vind ’n breë oorsig van Mpacha gedurende die tydperk 1968 tot 1989. Kyk maar wat jy daarmee kan maak. Ek hoop dit is die informasie wat jy soek. Groete Gerrit.

Genl.-maj. Gerrit Murphy (Afgetree) Mpacha (Gedurende die Grensoorlog vanaf 1968 tot 1989) Agtergrond Die lughawe op Mpacha was deur Burgerlugvaart as ’n uitwyk-lughawe vir ingeval van nood gebou. Die rede hiervoor was omdat Suid Afrika agv ’n lugvaart verbod nie oor Afrika mag vlieg nie. Dit was net ’n aanloopbaan met geen geriewe nie en ongeveer 14 km van Katima Mulilo ’n dorp in die Oos-Caprivi van Namibië geleë. Dit was ’n uitstekende besluit wat vroegtydig deur Burgerlugvaart geneem was omdat Mpacha Lughawe later jare vir die SA Weermag van uiterse strategiese waarde tydens die grensoorlog was. Mpacha Lughawe staan vandag as Katima Mulilo Lughawe bekend. Operasie Brush: Ek is aan die begin van 1968 na Militêre Inligting verplaas om met Operasie (Vervolg op bladsy 26)

(Vervolg van bladsy 25)

Brush wat te Katima Mulilo ontplooi was behulpsaam te wees en dit was ook my eerste kennisname met Mpacha Lughawe. Vir ’n paar maande het ek elke Dinsdag saam met twee Dakota vliegtuie van die SA Lugmag, een met voorraad en een met brandstof, vanaf Swartkop Lughawe na Mpacha gevlieg om die nodige operasionele ondersteuning aan Operasie Brush te lewer. Die brandstof was gebruik om weer vanaf Mpacha na Pretoria terug te vlieg aangesien daar geen fasiliteite op Mpacha se aanloopbaan bestaan het nie. Die SA Lugmag het Mpacha ook vir hulle lugondersteuning wat hulle aan die SAP Komp te Katima Mulilo gelewer het, gebruik. Met die uitbreiding van die operasionele bedreiging op die grens en die SAP se ontplooiing in Rhodesië in 1967 het die SA Lugmag in 1968 ’n weeklikse lugvervoerdiens met Hercules C130 vliegtuie tussen Pretoria via Mpacha na Victoria Valle in Rhodesië en terug na Pretoria ingestel. Die SA Lugmag het ook verder ’n afdeling op Mpacha ontplooi vir hulle nodige logistieke ondersteuning en die diens het as die weeklikse “Flossie” bekendgestaan. Gedurende 1972 weens Operasie Brush se kwesbaarheid en sekerheidsredes word daar besluit om Operasie Brush op Mpacha te ontplooi. Aanvanklik eers in semi-permanente huisvesting en later in permanente huisvesting asook getroude woonkwartiere vir staandemaglede en hulle families wat in Operasie Brush aangewend was. As gevolg van die Onderhandelende Skikking in Suidwes-Afrika word Operasie Brush in 1989 gedurende Operasie Agree vanaf Mpacha in Pretoria herontplooi. Vir 22 jaar het Operasie Brush uitstekende elektroniese oorlogvoering (EO) resultate aan die SA Weermag gedurende die grensoorlog gelewer. Ander gebruikers van Mpacha. Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie in Katima Mulilo en omgewing. Burgerlike amptenare wat in Katima Mulilo werksaam was en daar gewoon het.

te beskerm en die nodige eskortdiens tussen Katima Mulilo en Mpacha te lewer. ’n Genie vermoë vir mynopsporing, die pad tussen Katima Mulilo en Mpacha daagliks te vee en ander genietake uit te voer was ook in Katima Mulilo ontplooi. Hierdie SA Leër elemente het vanaf 1969 tot 1980 as 13 Subarea van 1 Militêre Gebied bekend gestaan en met die amptelike totstandkoming van Suidwes-Afrika Gebiedsmag in Augustus 1980 as Sektor 70 bekend gestaan. 701 Bataljon (ou Caprivi Bataljon / 33 Bataljon) Voltydse Hulpdienseenheid van Suidwes-Afrika Gebiedsmag te Katima Mulilo en sekere elemente van die bataljon was op Mpacha gehuisves. D Kompanie van 701 Bataljon was ook gestig wat deur die SA Vloot mariniers op Wenala beman is en onder meer deur rivierpatrollies, wilddiefstal, onwettige migrasie en smokkelhandel aan bande gelê het. 701 Bataljon het ook aan groot transgrens operasies soos Sceptic (1980), Protea (1981), Carnation (1981), Modulêr en Displace (1988) deelgeneem. Slot opmerking SWAPO se hewigste aanslag tot 1978 was op die Oos-Caprivi toegespits. Die laaste opvolgoperasies in Zambië het gedurende 1978 en 1979 plaasgevind. Die suksesvolle teenoptrede deur die veiligheidsmagte tesame met Zambië se verbod op SWAPO en die wegbreek van Caprivi African National Union (CANU) uit SWAPO het ’n vredestydperk ingelui wat tot 1989 geduur het. Na die SWAPO aanslag van 1977 tot 1978 het die tradisionele leiers van die Oos-Caprivi, wat die SA Weermag vroeër nie so goedgesind was nie ook hulle samewerking gegee. Kompanies van 701 Bataljon kon voortaan voltyds vir operasionele aanwending na die Kavango, Kaokoland en Ovambo afgedeel word en ook vir transgrens operasies afgedeel word. Alle elemente van die SA Weermag het tydens Operasie Agree in 1989 van Katima Mulilo en Mpacha onttrek. Gerrit Murphy 07 Julie 2020

SA Leër se Inf Komp Groep wat in Katima Mulilo ontplooi was met die nodige ondersteunende elemente soos ‘Eland 90 Pant Karre’ om Mpacha 26

1964: Kyk terug met groot dankbaarheid: Konstabel HB Heymans

Dis met groot genade en dankbaarheid aan my Skepper dat ek 54 jaar gelede as konstabel uitpasseer het. Op die 4 de Julie 1964 was sersant AN Lesch vir die dag ‘n AO gewees. Hy was die dag die sersant-majoor op die paradegrond. Hy is later die jaar as AO aangestel. Ja, ons was ‘n berede troep van 36 man met Leon Wessels as troepleier. Ek het op ‘n “ou” perd met duie naam van Turk uitpasseer met ‘n massiewe karbonkel in my armholte. Die SA Polisie was in sy vyftigste bestaansjaar en het 51 jaar oud geword op 1 April 1964. Luit.genl. JM Keevy was die kommissaris van polisie, wat ‘n formidabele persoonlikheid was hy nie! Ons het drie maal uitpasseer, eers voor die kollege se BO met maj. LG Snyman as paradeoffisier. Daardie dag het die BO, lt.kol. Daantjie Maritz (sy gade was die skryfster Empie Maritz) ons toegespreek en onder meer gesê: “ “n Pliesieman is nooi laat nie! Vyf minute voor die tyd is die regte tyd!” Ek het dit vir altyd onthou!

Die volgende dag het ons voor die kommissaris uitpasseer. Ek kan nie onthou wat hy gesê het nie. Die derde dag was die minister daar en hy het gepraat en gepraat – ek het op die perd gesit en droom. Ons troep en ses voet-troepe het afmarsjeer en die res van die troepe het opgestaan en vir ons gesing terwyl lt. Bradley en die orkes die musiek verskaf het. As reg onthou het hulle “Bly by my Heer” en “Sal ons ou kennisse ooit vergeet” gesing. Iets, wat ek nie my hand kan oplê nie, het by my posgevat – Kameraadskap? Naaste liefde? Ek weet nie maar die polisie het my ten goede daardie dag verander - ek was kind, maar net 18 jaar oud geword. Maar die polisie het van my ‘n man gemaak! Ek was reg om die uitdagings van die lewe aan te durf. Min het ek geweet wat vir my voorgelê het! Wat se avontuur was die polisie nie gewees nie? Ja, ek het alle soorte mense in die lewe teëgekom. Party was skurke in die polisie, party mense weer was psigopate, party mense wat ek teëgekom het was geestelik versteurd, hartseer of hoog dronk, dood of beseer. Ek moes ‘n kollega in die lykshuis identifiseer. Ja ek het (Vervolg op bladsy 28)

(Vervolg van bladsy 27)

alles gesien! Gelukkig het ek ‘beat’ gestap, was ek bemanning op voertuie, wabestuurder, navrae en ondersoek gedoen, stasiebevelvoerder geword. Ons het onlustedril beoefen (“D”-formasie) met Zulukonstabels “gekierie en geassegaai”, aan flink parades in Durban en Pietermaritzburg deelgeneem, ons het ook bos-opleiding ontvang en geleer om met die R1 te skiet. Ek was – teenstrydig met Staande Orders (SO) – hospitaalwag vir meer as agt ure in ‘n donker hospitaalsaal. SO skryf voor vier ure diens in ‘n donker hospitaalsaal. Ons het gereeld parade inspeksies “gestaan” met ons uitrusting uitgepak soos in die polisiekollege. Ons het een rusdag of rusnag gekry per week – ons ongetroude manne gewoonlik in die middel van die week! As jou verlof om is, moes jy 23:45 aan diens kom indien jou skof daardie dag aan diens was. Nadat ons 14 dae nagdiens gewerk het, het die “quick change over” gevolg. In die praktyk het dit beteken jy kom 06:00 op Sondagoggend van diens, gaan 13:40 (wyksersant) Sondag weer aan diens tot 22:00 Sondagaand. In daardie agt ure kon ek nie uitgeslaap raak nie! Maandagoggend 05:40 tot 14:00 en dan eers weer Dinsdag 13:40 aan diens. So werk jy weer ‘n maand lank (vier weke) eerste en tweede aflossing voor die nagdiens weer begin. Ja, ons het baie hof toe gegaan en met elke klagte het mens probeer oplos voor jy die dossier geregistreer het en aan die KOD oorhandig het. Ons was fiks en geen inbreker kon vir ons weghardloop nie. Baie keer vrywillig dubbelskof gewerk indien daar geen wabestuurder was nie. Polisiewerk was lekker.

Op 19 Mei 1967 word ek as sersant aangestel maar eers op 8 Desember 1967 mag ons die strepe op sit! Sulke mooi groot, goue strepe! Mensig was ek trots – selfs nie my aanstelling as brigadier was nie so belangrik nie. Ek was op nagskof en die volgende oggend is ek betrokke in ‘n botsing – ek kry toe so skaam ek trek toe my reënjas aan om die strepe te verberg! Ek was bly toe ek in “veiligheid” beland het want daar was nie parade inspeksies nie! Op 8 Desember 1971 passeer ek en my broer saam uit te Loftus – ek as luitenant en hy as konstabel. 8 Desember was my Vader se verjaarsdag. Ek dink nie my Vader het ooit so ‘n mooi persent van die staat ontvang nie! Gedurende die 1980’s word ek na die sekretariaat van die staatsveiligheidsraad gesekondeer. Vir ‘n kort parlementsitting moet ek in Tuynhuys diens doen. Ek doen toe aansoek om een middag die parlement te besoek. My gade het my vergesel en toe ek op die galery gaan sit, waai troepmaat Leon Wessels vir my daar uit die ministeriële gestoeltes. Leon Wessels, Paul Eilers (die akteur) en Desmond Blignaut was die enigste troepmaats wat ek ooit weer raakgeloop het. Die punt van hierdie geskrif is slegs om met groot dank aan die Opperwese te verklaar dat ek baie beleef het en dat hy my altyd behoed en bewaar het, waar ookal ek op die aardbol was. Slegs met my oë het ek gevaar gesien, na my het dit nooit aangekom nie! Ek was in gevegte betrokke, oproerigheid in kroeë hanteer, grensdiens en talle gevaar situasies trotseer sonder enige leed. Dis met nederige erkentlikheid aan ons Skepper dat ek hier skryf. Dankie O Heer, dankie dat u ons in die holte van u Hand gehou het en so getrou bewaar het. U was ALTYD getrou!

Michael Shaw Morning Hennie, ……. On a separate note I have come across via the UK Police History Society a lady interested in the early South African Police. I have spoken to her on the phone and she seems quite old and does not have a computer. She posted me a couple of photographs which I have attached for your information she has no objection as to you using them if required. Kind regards, Mick

lice) was the principal law enforcement agency of the Cape Colony during its last three decades. In addition to its ordinary policing duties, it was a para-military organisation, which saw active service in several campaigns and operations, including the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). The force was fully militarised in 1913 and transferred to the new South African Army as a mounted rifle regiment. Background The formation of the Cape Police followed a fouryear period of warfare in southern Africa, which included the 9th Frontier War (1877–78), the Northern Border campaigns (1878–79), the Morosi campaign in Basutoland (1879), the Basutoland Gun War (1880–81) and the Transkei (a.k.a. 'Mpondomisi') Campaign (1880– 81).

Further Research Griqualand West

Griqualand West had the following Police Forces: Griqualand Constabulary (1872–74) Griqualand Mounted Police (1873–74) Griqualand West Police (1874–83) Border Police. Cape Mounted Police From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia The Cape Mounted Police (originally Cape Po-

At that time, policing in the Cape Colony was decentralised. Each district had a small "rural" police force, under direction of the resident magistrate. Cape Town had both town and water police. There were para-military mounted police forces in Griqualand West and the northern border districts. The Scanlen ministry had the Police Regulation Act passed in 1882, to enable the government to establish police forces. The Act authorised it to declare "police districts" and establish police forces for them, to preserve the peace, prevent crime and apprehend offenders.[1] These forces (Continued on page 30)

(Continued from page 29)

were "chiefly intended for the detection and investigation of crime and the arrest of offenders."[2] However, in the case of any war or other emergency, the government could deploy them to assist with the defence of the colony, within or beyond its borders.[1] Although the Act did not give these police forces a specific name, they became known collectively as the "Cape Police". They were quite separate from the local forces directed by the magistrates. Cape Police: 1882â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1904 Original districts Seven police districts were established in August and September 1882. Each was a self-contained organisation, headed by a commissioner.[3] District 1 was in Cape Town, and was largely an urban police force. Five districts were in the eastern province, which bordered on Basutoland and the Transkeian territories, where some of the recent conflicts had taken place: District 2 (HQ: Grahamstown), District 3 (HQ: King William's Town), District 4 (HQ: Fort Beaufort), District 5 (HQ: Queenstown) and District 6 (HQ: Wodehouse). District 7 (HQ : Kimberley)[4] covered the major urban area of the diamond-mining province of Griqualand West. In March 1883, the rest of Griqualand West, which had hitherto had its own police force, became District 8 (HQ : Barkly West).[5] Finally, in June 1884, the northern border districts along the Orange River became District 9 (HQ : Upington).[6] This replaced the Northern Border Police, which had been formed in 1880. The Cape Police were mounted, except in Cape Town and Kimberley where they were generally foot police. Reduction in districts Financial stringency soon caused the government to economise by closing headquarters and combining districts. From September 1884, Districts 3 and 5 were jointly commanded by one commissioner,[7] and from 1887 he was in command of District 6 as well.[8] From February 1886, Districts 2 and 4 were both under one commissioner.[9] District 1 was closed in 1888. [10] The five police districts were then renumbered: Districts 2 and 4 became District 1 Districts 3, 5 and 6 became District 2 District 7 became District 3 District 8 became District 4

District 9 became District 5. In March 1891, Districts 3 and 4 were placed under a single commissioner.[11] In 1892, the government combined Districts 1 and 2 and added more than a dozen eastern and midland magisterial districts to them to form a new District 1; and amalgamated Districts 3, 4 and 5 to form a new District 2. District 1's HQ were in Port Elizabeth and District 2's in Kimberley.[12] When British Bechuanaland was annexed to the colony in November 1895, it was added to District 2. 106 members of the Bechuanaland Border Police were transferred to the CP.[13] Duties Law enforcement duties were many and varied. Annual reports, tabled in Parliament, show that cases of assault, breaches of the peace, contraventions of laws and regulations, drunkenness, loitering, public nuisances, theft, trespassing and vagrancy were routine. Some districts had to contend with stock theft, diamond theft and smuggling (especially in and around Kimberley), and contraventions of the law[14] which prohibited "native foreigners", i.e. Black men from territories outside the colony, from entering the colony without an official pass.[15] From 1884, District 7, which bordered on the Orange Free State, had to act as customs officers.[7] Districts 7 and 8 also had to deal with rioting mineworkers in 1884.[7] In 1886, District 7 had to deal with election-related unrest. [9] In 1887, District 7's headquarters staff survived two attempts to poison them with arsenic, presumably to undermine law enforcement in Kimberley. [8] Bechuanaland Campaign British Bechuanaland was soon the scene of the CP's first military action. During the 1896â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 97 rinderpest epidemic, CP District 2 was ordered to ensure that infected livestock were killed. Batswana leaders resisted the order, leading to armed conflict and a lengthy standoff in the Langberg mountains. As the CP did not have the necessary resources, the government mobilised the defence force to end the resistance. Units of CP District 2 were attached to the military Bechuanaland Field Force for the eightmonth-long operation. Anglo-Boer War The Anglo-Boer War followed barely two years later. The government mobilised the CP on the outbreak of war in October 1899, and placed them under military command. Both Districts 1 and 2 were in action throughout the war. Neither (Continued on page 31)

(Continued from page 30)

served as a unit, but was broken up into detachments which served with British and Cape military formations in many parts of the colony, and in the neighbouring Boer republics. Operations included the defence of Kimberley during the three-monthlong siege (October 1899 to February 1900); the defence of Mafeking during the seven-monthlong siege (October 1899 to May 1900); operations in and around the Calvinia district (December 1900 to January 1901); operations in the Transkei (July and August 1901); and the pursuit of General Smuts' commandos (September 1901 onwards).[16] The CP were also responsible for guarding prisoners of war.[16] Nine members were decorated for war service, and many were mentioned in despatches. Sgt Maj Alexander Young was awarded the Victoria Cross (August 1901). District 2 launched a monthly journal, The Bandolier, in October 1900.[17] The CP re-established a presence in Cape Town towards the end of 1901. It opened a training depot at Maitland, and the whole of the Cape Peninsula became District 3 shortly afterwards.[18] In 1902, part of District 2 was added to District 3. From 1902, District 2 used camels for patrolling the Kalahari region of its district.[19]

Herero War During the Herero Wars (1904-08), the CMP had to deploy additional men to guard the border with German South-West Africa, to control the influx of refugees, and to stop gun-running from the Cape to the warring parties.[25] Ferreira Raid In November 1906, an armed gang led by the Ferreira brothers entered the northern Cape from German South West Africa, with the object of stirring up anti-British rebellion. The gang attacked a CMP outpost at Abeam, killing a policeman. With the support of the Cape Mounted Riflemen, the CMP captured the gang. [25] Morenga expedition In September 1907, at the request of the government of German South West Africa, the CMP tracked down the Herero resistance leader Jacob Morenga, who had escaped to the Cape Colony and taken refuge in the Kalahari. A CMP detachment under Major Heathfield Eliott, cornered Morenga near Witpan, and killed him in the ensuing shootout. Eliott was awarded the Distinguished Service Order [26] and a German order, and the South West African government gave the CMP men a campaign medal for the operation.[27] Final years When the Cape Colony was incorporated into the new Union of South Africa in May 1910, the CMP and the UPDs were placed under the control of the new national ministry of justice.

Cape Mounted Police: 1904â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1913 Consolidation After the war, the government consolidated the three districts into a single police force. Lt Col Macleod Robinson, who was already commissioner of Districts 2 and 3, was given command of District 1 too. On 1 April 1904, the three districts were amalgamated under Robinson's command, and the CP was renamed Cape Mounted Police. [20]

The Permanent Force and the South African Police were established on 1 April 1913. The CMP were fully militarised and transferred to the Permanent Force as the '5th South African Mounted Riflemen', while the UPDs were transferred to the South African Police. The 5th SAMR was disbanded in April 1920 and its members were transferred to the SA Police.

At the same time, the government established an 'Urban Police District', comprising the urban police elements in the Cape Peninsula, Grahamstown, Kimberley, and other towns. [21] District Inspector Robert Crawford was appointed commissioner.[22] As this fragmented district proved unsatisfactory, most of the towns concerned were transferred to the CMP, and Cape Town and Kimberley each became an UPD in its own right. [23] Crawford was commissioner of the Cape Peninsula UPD and, from 1909, of the CMP too. [24]

Afri-

See also Criminal investigation List of law enforcement agencies in South ca List of mounted police units Mounted police South African Army South African Police South African Police Service

References ^ Jump up to: a b Police Regulation Act (Act 12 of 1882) (Cape). ^ Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette 6284 (Continued on page 32)

(Continued from page 31)

(25 August 1882) : Rules and Regulations for Police Forces. ^ Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette 6284 (25 August 1882) : Government Notice 984. ^ Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette 6289 (8 September 1882) : Government Notice 1045. ^ Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette 6350 (9 March 1883) : Government Notice 256. ^ Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette 6499 (24 June 1884) : Government Notice 597. ^ Jump up to: a b c Reports of the Commissioners of Police of the Several Police Districts of the Colony (1884). ^ Jump up to: a b Reports of the Commissioners of Police (1887). ^ Jump up to: a b Reports of the Commissioners of Police (1886). ^ Reports of the Commissioners of Police (1888). ^ Reports of the Commissioners of Police (1891). ^ Reports of the Commissioners of Police (1892). ^ Reports of ... the Commissioner of Police, Kimberley for the Year 1895 (1895). ^ Act 22 of 1867 (Cape). ^ As shown in the statistics in the annual reports from 1882 onwards. ^ Jump up to:a b Stirling, J. (1907). The Colonials in South Africa 1899-1902. ^ The Bandolier Vol 1 No 1 (1 October 1900). ^ The Bandolier Vol 1 No 15 (1 December 1901). ^ Report of the Commissioners of Police (1902).

^ Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette 8636 (1 April 1904): Government Notice 350. ^ Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette 8638 (8 April 1904): Government Notice 365. ^ Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette 8642 (22 April 1904): Government Notice 408. ^ Report of the Commissioner of Urban Police (1904). ^ Kilpin, E.F. (Ed) (1910). Cape of Good Hope Civil Service List 1910. ^ Jump up to: a b Green, Lawrence G. (1948). To The River's End. ^ "No. 28-77". The London Gazette. 8 November 1907. p. 7576. ^ Alexander, E.G.M., Barron, G.K.B and Bateman, A.J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_law_enforcement_agencies_in_South_Afr ica https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Cape_Mounted_Police

Mick Shaw

BSAP: An old undated photo

Comment by HBH: Salisbury or Bulawayo “Town Police” or “Foot Police” of the BSAP.

Brig. HB Heymans Die vernietiging van geheime dokumente en leggers in die RSA se Nasionale Veiligheidsopset met spesiale verwysing na die SAP (V). “My soeke na die waarheid weeg swaarder as my vrees om u aanstoot te gee” Die Koninklike biblioteek van Alexandrië was op sy hoogtepunt die grootste biblioteek van die Middellandse Seegebied. Die biblioteek word aan die begin van die 3de eeu v.C. gestig in die hoofstad Alexandrië van die Grieks-Egiptiese Ryk deur koning Ptolemeus II Philadelphus. Die ou Egipte van die Farao’s is in 333 v.C. verower deur die Masedoniese Grieke onder Alexander die Grote en vorm vanaf toe 'n kerngebied van die Hellenistiese wêreld. Vir 'n lang tyd was die biblioteek die sentrum van die Westerse kennis in die oudheid. Die biblioteek is vernietig.

As oudlid van die veiligheidstak van die SA Polisie en oudlid van die sekretariaat van die staatsveiligheidsraad is ek vandag ‘n amateur geskiedkundige. Die geskiedenis het my stokperdjie geword want ek stel passievol in ons geskiedenis, veral, in die geskiedenis van ons nasionale veiligheid belang. [Na al die jare onthou ek nog van die leggers se verwysingsnommers en haal dit aan waar van toepassing. Die verwysingsnommer verwys natuurlik na ‘n legger wat reeds vernietig is.] Die RSA-inligtingsgemeenskap het derduisende ‘uiters geheime’, ‘geheime’ en ‘vertroulike’ verslae, leggers en dossiere gehad, wat op ‘n wye reeks van state, organisasies en persone betrekking gehad het. Die SAP-leggers was propvol inligting afkomstig van die drie bronne wat die polisie gehad het: Overte-, koverte- en tegniese bronne. Daar was ook baie geskiedkundige dokumente bv. van die Mau-Mau in Kenia en ons skakeling oor die jare met die Britse MI5, die CIA, Rhodesië en Portugal. Daar is ook leggers gewees oor ons skakeling met bv. die buro vir staatsveiligheid en glo dit as u wil oor sogenaamde “UFO’s” – vlieënde vreemde voorwerpe! [‘n VVV te Fort Beaufort het AO Van Rensburg van die SAP se aandag vereis.] Soos die verbode en ondermynende organisasies gegroei het, en die rewolusionêre stryd in aard en omvang toegeneem het, het die veiligheidspolisie self ook gegroei en ontwikkel. Ons lêers sou ‘n baie interessante uitkykpunt vir navorsers gebied het! Ek het baie ou lêers in my vrye tyd tydens die etensuur deurgelees – daar was ware juwele wat toe al 70 en 80 jaar oud was. Ek dink bv. aan die legger van “ou” Bill Andrews. Daar was ook ou lêers van die “ou” verdenkingspersoneel. Insgelyks het die SSVR ook baie dokumente gehad wat maar alles met die ou bedeling se nasionale veiligheid en nasionale

veiligheidsbeleid te make gehad het. Daar was lêers oor inligting, strategieë, strategiese kommunikasie en notules van die staatsveiligheidsraad. Vandag sou dit waardevol vir navorsers kon wees om die dokumente weer te raadpleeg. Ek het as ‘n jong luitenant op veiligheidshoofkantoor aangeland en my taak was om memoranda van verskeie organisasies op datum te bring. Ek moes bv. spartel om die geskiedenis van Nusas [legger S12/59 het verwys] van die begin af tot en met 1971 op datum te bring. Dit was interessant om te sien dat studente-leiers van die 1940’s later geharde kommuniste geword het. Ek het later hul vordering in die SAKP vanuit die verskillende leggers dopgehou. Later het ek die studente-aangeleenthede se lessenaar ontgroei en in ander interessante rigtings begin belangstel bv. die SA Kommunistiese Party. [Legger S13/154 het verwys.] Na adv. Bram Fischer [ legger S1/219 het verwys] se arrestasie het ons vir ‘n lang ruk nie geweet wie hom opgevolg het as leier van die SAKP nie

Die polisie het ook belang gestel in sogenaamde verregse organisasies soos die “Wit Wolwe” en die “Wit Kommando” en is van hierdie mense se bedrywighede is gerapporteer en algaande is inligting versamel en van hierdie lede is aangekla. Ons het ook baie lêers gehad – vir die wis of die onwis – oor regse elemente in ons gemeenskap. Die veiligheidstak het ook in enige verdagte persoon hetsy “links” of “regs” belang gestel . Ook het ons in sogenaamde “verdagte persone” belang gestel bv. ‘n persoon wat gedreig het om die eerste minister te skiet. So ook was daar ‘n legger oor mnr Jaap Marais van die HNP wat (Vervolg op bladsy 34)

(Vervolg van bladsy 33)

aangekla was omdat hy die wet op staatsveiligheid oortree het – die saak het op beweerde feite rondom begroting vir die buro vir staatsveiligheid betrekking gehad indien ek na al die jare “reg onthou”? Die Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging het ontstaan, gestig nogal deur oudlede van die veiligheidstak. [Legger S13/316 het verwys.] Uit die aard van die saak het die polisie ‘n ogie oor die organisasie gehou en is lede van die mag verbied om by die AWB aan te sluit. Ons het ook verskillende bekende verdagtes gekry wat hul later met dienspligontduiking bemoei het. Ons het natuurlik ook leggers oor die verbode Liberale Party gehad met mnr Peter Brown [legger S1/1880 het verwys] en mnr Alan Paton [legger S1/1881 het verwys] destyds aan die spits. Die ANC [legger S9/126], PAC en talle ander organisasies was goed aan ons bekend en ons het verskeie volumes gehad – eweneens kon mens die ontwikkeling van die ANC, as sogenaamde bevrydingsorganisasie, waarneem. Onder hoofman Albert Luthuli was daar ‘n bepaalde gesindheid wat na sy dood en veral na 1961 en weer na 2000 drasties verander het. Hierdie inligting is nou vir goed verlore vir navorsers. Die Wêreld Raad van Kerke het ook onder ons aandag gekom veral toe daar berig is die Russiese KGB het die raad infiltreer. Ons het ook ons oog op die kerke gehou en uit die aard van die saak het geestelikes ook onder aandag gekom. Vir my persoonlik was dit ‘n ongemaklike gewetensaak om hier by die ‘kerke-lessenaar’ betrokke te wees. Ek was versigtig want ek wou nie die Bruid van Christus vervolg nie! Na mate die kerklike bedrywighede toegeneem het, het ek ‘n ander offisier benoem om die kerke te hanteer. Sommige kerke soos bv. die Roomse Kerk het duur lesse in Afrika geleer. Die kerk was aan die “staat” se kant en nie aan die bevrydingsbewegings se “kant” nie. So het die kerk lidmate verloor, die kerk het bv. in SuidAmerika suksesvol aan die bevrydingstryd deelgeneem. Ons as polisiemanne kon nie al die kerklike dogma mooi verstaan nie, soos bv. bevrydingsteologie, swart teologie ens. Ons het ‘n diensplig-kapelaan gekry om te help met die

vertolking van die inligting. So van kerke gepraat: Verskeie strate in Suid-Afrikaanse dorpe is bv. na dokter CF Beyers Naude vernoem. Hy was aktief by die rewolusionêre stryd betrokke. Sy leggers is vernietig! Daar was ‘n veelvoud van kerklike en kwasi-kerklike organisasies waarin ons belang gestel het. (Miskien moet ek ook hierdie anekdote oor die SA Raad van Kerke (SARK) met u deel: Ek ontmoet ‘n agterkleinneef, wat Engels sprekend is en wat na die VSA verhuis het. Hy vertel my hy het diensplig in die SAW gedoen. Hy het “sondig” en “onrein” gevoel omdat hy diensplig gedoen het. Hy het die SAP en SAW as onderdrukkend en repressief ervaar. As ouditeur, na sy diensplig, het hy ‘n jaar lank as boetedoening, vir die SA Raad van Kerke gewerk. Natuurlik het ons ‘n legger op die SARK gehad. Die “neef” wou weet of ons ‘n legger op hom gehad het omdat hy vir die SARK gewerk het?) Ons het ook met die uitreiking van perskaarte aan binnelandse joernaliste en buitelandse joernaliste wat hier werksaam is, belas. So het ons bv. oor baie bronverslae beskik om aan ‘n geskikte joernalis ‘n perskaart uit te reik al dan nie. Natuurlik het ons ook bronne in die media gehad waarop ons kon steun. Die mediaomgewing was ‘n onuitputlike bron van inligting. Ons het duisende keurings gedoen en wanneer ‘n persoon ‘n legger gehad het, is die aansoek na die betrokke lessenaar-offisiere verwys. Selfs as mens aansoek om ‘n vuurwapen gedoen het, het die aansoek deur ons stelsel beweeg. Jare gelede lees ek veiligheidsverslae van die ZARP’e se “Geheime Dienst” en twee verslae onthou ek goed: (1) Tonnel van Johannesburg na Pretoria: In die tydperk van die Jameson-inval vertel ‘n Uitlander vir ‘n swart mynwerker dat hulle besig is om ‘n tonnel te grawe om die Boere van Pretoria aan te val. Hy rapporteer dit weer aan ‘n Boer wat saam met hom werk. Die Boer rapporteer die voorval weer aan die ZARP’e wat dit weer op hul beurt aan die Geheime Dienst rapporteer. Dis sekerlik onmoontlik in daardie dae om ‘n 60km tonnel te grawe, maar nogtans het die polisie kennis geneem ..... (2) Posbusse in Pretoria wie se pos wat NIE (Vervolg op bladsy 35)

(Vervolg van bladsy 34)

onderskep moet word NIE: So kry die polisie en die Geheime Dienst republiekwyd opdrag om nie pos na ‘n sekere posbus in Pretoria te onderskep nie. Die geheime agente van die Zarp’e se Geheime Dienst stuur hul verslae daarheen. Hierdie kosbare skat van Zarp’e veiligheidsverslae het vir ons behoue gebly.

Ek lees toevallig in die boek Avenge Tobruk hoe die Verenigde Party ook maar gedurende 1948 leggers verbrand, vernietig of oorgeplaas het via Salisbury na Londen. Veldmaarskalk JC Smuts was persoonlik betrokke by die verbranding van sekere sensitiewe leggers aan die agterkant van verdedigingshoofkantoor. Hy is deur ‘n student wat ‘n deeltydse verslaggewer was, met ‘n flitsende kamera afgeneem, terwyl hy besig was met die verbranding. Die lyfwag het die persoon aangekeer en die film vernietig. Kol Powell van AMI het van die leggers per vliegtuig via Salisbury na Londen gestuur sodat die ‘nuwe’ NP nie hul hande op die leggers kon lê nie. So is ons bv. die lêers van die Ossewabrandwag (OB) en die legger en polisie-dossier “op” kmdt.-genl. Hans van Rensburg van die OB kwyt. Die oorlogtydse AMI het ook op Afrikaners en Afrikaner organisasies gespioeneer. So is die Afrikaner Broederbond se lêers wat AMI tydens die tweede wêreldoorlog opgestel het, deur die nuwe NP vernietig – gelukkig het ek ‘n kopie in UNISA se Verenigde Party lêers gevind, deurgelees en afgetas. SAP kriminele dossiere op baie persone is ook deur die nuwe Nasionale Party vernietig. Die misdade is tydens die tweede wêreldoorlog deur ‘wit terroriste’ gepleeg. Eendag ontvang ek ‘n oproep by veiligheidshoofkantoor van ‘n SuidAfrikaner van Duitse oorsprong. Hy was tydens die tweede wêreldoorlog te Baviaanspoort geïnterneer. Ek kon hom nie met sy navraag behulpsaam wees nie aangesien al die interneringslêers in opdrag van genl HJ van den Bergh vernietig was. Die persoon kon dus nie bewys dat hy tydens die oorlog aangehou was nie! Toe ek na veiligheidshoofkantoor toe verplaas is, was die lêer op maj. Yuri Loginov die eerste wat ek vanuit die leêrstoor (argief) bestel het. Ek is teleurgestel met die endossement op die legger

se kaart: “Uitgeboek na mnr Mike Geldenhuys van die Buro.” Later het ek met die generaal gesels en hy was toe afgetree toe ons sy outobiografie saamgestel het, op daardie stadium het hy nie geweet wat van die Loginov-legger geword het nie. Ons het geheime en vertroulike lêers gehad wat oor jare gestrek het, party het hul ontstaan in die kantoor van die polisie-kommissaris gehad, voordat daar ‘n veiligheidstak of ‘spesiale afdeling’ was. So het ek die leggers op dr Verwoerd se moordenaar, mnr Tsafendas, deurgelees. Die SAP-lêers is nou vir navorsers verlore. Ons het bv. korrespondensie leggers gehad deur mev Helen Suzman, LV, waar sy met die minister van polisie geskakel het oor ‘n wye reeks van onderwerpe. Hierdie waardevolle geskiedkundige lêers, wat haar standpunte van geregtigheid soos sy dit ingesien het, is vir ewig vir die nageslag verlore. Insgelyks is die waardevolle historiese lêers op mnr Nelson Mandela en sy gesinslede vernietig. Ons het hospitale wat bv. na Helen Joseph en Steve Biko vernoem is. Eweneens is die persoonlike leggers van hierdie persone se bedrywighede wat destyds as ondermynend beskou was, vernietig. Ek was saam met Biko op UND en onthou nog van sy bedrywighede so hier en daar! Hy was betrokke by die Black Peoples Convention en SA Student’s Organisation wat as swart teenvoeter vir Nusas gestig is. Biko se aanhoudings- en ondervragingslêers met notas is ongelukkig vernietig! Ons sal nie kan antwoord nie! Was hulle werklik sulke ikone? Polisiemanne en soldate is onderskeidelik vegters teen misdadigers en die verklaarde vyand tydens oorlog. Vegters is nie lief om te skryf nie! (Hulle is fighters en nie writers nie!) Daar is wel lede van die veiligheidsmagte wat wel die pen opgeneem het. Ek moet getuig daar is ook boeke wat verskyn het deur ons oudlede, wat ons as SAP en SAW in ‘n baie swak lig stel. Feite word soms aangebied bv. in boeke wat nie nou geverifieer kan word nie. Omdat ons nie daarop reageer nie, word dit aanvaar dat die vals stellings inderdaad juis en korrek is!

Tydens die onderhandelinge wou die Nasionale (Vervolg op bladsy 36)

(Vervolg van bladsy 35)

Party nie ‘n algemene blanko amnestie aan beide kante toelaat nie. Vandag ervaar ons die gevolge daarvan en is daar wat ons oudlede betref, geen gelykheid voor die reg nie. Talle bewerings of samesweringsteorieë word geopper en vandag kan ons nie die gevalle navors of daarop kommentaar lewer nie bv. oor die dood van mnr Dag Hammarskjöld of oor die moord op Sweedse premier Olof Palme nie. Die ‘ou’ veiligheidspolisie word vandag, in die afwesigheid van leggers, van alles en nog wat beskuldig. Daar is baie onsin en sensasionele boeke geskryf waarin die veiligheidspolisie subjektief uitgebeeld word. Ons kan ons nie na ons leggers wend nie om sulke gevalle te repudieer nie want ons het al ons inligting vernietig!

het dikwels oor “diep sake” gesels. Hy het my werklik verryk met sy insigte. Soms het my oor veiligheidsverwante gebeure gevra, dan kon ek net my skouers ophaal en antwoord: “Ons het die leggers vernietig en ek kry niemand wat die voorval onthou nie.” Ek het met verskeie senior lede hieroor gepraat, generaals, inkluis. My gevoel was dat ons moes dink en ‘n plan beraam voordat ons hierdie skatkis van geskiedenis vernietig het. Ek dink bv. ons kon ‘n geheime projek registreer en ons lêers in skeepshouers geberg het en vir veilige bewaring in Israel, Taiwan of Chili vir ‘n periode van 50 of 70 jaar geberg het. Op hoë diplomatieke vlak kon so iets gebeur het. Intussen kan ons glad nie trots wees op wat ons geheime agente van die “Q”reeks, HK-reeks of onder die RS-program bereik het nie. Hul produksielêers is vernietig! Ons het geen stawing van hul goeie werk nie. Vandag het ons maar ‘n powere inligtingsdiens. Daar is ou leggers in die staatsargief wat tot die jaar 2000 ontoeganklik was vir navorsers omdat dit oor Boere-joiners gehandel het. (Sien Albert Blake se boek Boereverraaier bladsy 18 en verseëlde lêers CO 394/02 en 2796/02 was toegesluit vir 98 jaar!)

Wat die name van ons geheime bronne en agente betref het was dit wel ‘n wyse besluit om die name van alle bronne te vernietig. Ons het immers wanneer ons ‘n bron gewerf het hom verseker dat ons hom nooit sou openbaar (“blaas’) nie! Ons het ook “gedroste” polisiemanne gehad wat by die ANC in die buurlande aangesluit het. Hul identiteit moet geheim bly.

Wyle genl Jannie Geldenhuys, oud-hoof van die SAW, was ‘n skrywer van verskeie militêre historiese boeke. Hy en ek was vriende en ons

Terwyl ek aan veiligheidshoofkantoor verbonde was, was daar eintlik niks wat nie alreeds in die media bekend was nie, wat ook in ons leggers aangeteken was. Die meeste voorvalle of gebeure waarvan ons weet, is in reeds in die media gerapporteer. Baie sake is in die parlement bespreek. Dis maar die fyn detail en koverte aksies wat ons (of ander lede van die inligtingsgemeenskap) beplan en uitgevoer het, wat van belang was om geheim te hou. (Baie dade het verjaar en is nie meer misdade nie!) Maar die uitslag van die koverte aksies is destyds ook bekend, net die uitvoerder se name ontbreek. Die doel van die aksies was immers bv. om houdings te beïnvloed. Insgelyks is daar baie taktiese telkaarte van hoeveel mans, vroue, (Vervolg op bladsy 37)

(Vervolg van bladsy 36)

kinders vermoor/beseer is, handgranaat-aanvalle, aantal petrolbomme, skade aangerig, aantal man -ure gestaak, aantal skool dae verloor, aantal geboue afgebrand – duisende stukkies en brokkies inligting is verlore. Baie van die ANC-kaders se werklike dade is vandag aan ons bekend. Party klipgooiers het hul loopbane in die rewolusionêre oorlog aangedik en hoë poste bekom of hulself tot soldate bevorder. Daar was geen kontrole meganismes nie. Aan die anderkant van die munt, is aan my vertel dat die huidige bewindhebbers al die “ongunstige” verslae in die staatsargief “uitgekam” het, sodat hulle mooi vir navorsers Comment by RS 167 Hi Hennie A very good, though a sad, article. It is only when one reads about all that was lost that one realises the magnitude of what has gone. I realise that while the existence of the Stasi

kan vertoon. Hierdie kosbare, kultuur-historiese verslae, nie net oor die SAKP-ANC-Cosatu-alliansie, maar verslae wat dekades oud was, is vandag vernietig en ontoeganklik vir navorsers. Hoe gaan ons ooit eendag die ware feite aan die lig bring? Hierdie vernietigde dokumente het eintlik aan die nageslag behoort. Vanuit ‘n geskiedkundige oogpunt net so erg soos die vernietiging van die ou biblioteek in Alexandrië in Egipte! Dit was eintlik sabotasie in die oë van ‘n geskiedkundige om die leggers te vernietig het. Hoe gaan ons nageslag dit regkry om die korrekte historiese beeld daar te stel? archives did cause some unpleasantness - the fact is that the benefit of real knowledge of the past is far better than rumour and conjecture which can always be twisted. Best, CMW

Die vernietiging van RSA se geheime lĂŞers: Voorbeeld van Britse LĂŞer: KV2/925 op Robey Sidney Leibbrandt

Twee voorbeelde van ‘n Britse verslag oor Robey Sidney Leibbrandt wat tydens die tweede wêreldoorlog ter dood veroordeel is na ’n elle lange verhoor:

Bostaande aangehaalde dokumente in die Britse argief se verwysings is: robey 2 KV-2-925_1-77 en robey 2 KV-2-925_1-78.

Dit is uiters jammer dat navorsers vandag na Brittanje moet gaan om die amptelike lĂŞers van persone wat tydens die tweede wĂŞreldoorlog tot ongunstige aandag gekom het, te bestudeer.

VF+ eis antwoorde na tweede uitbraak van katgriep by SAPS Roodeplaat se honde-eenheid Mediaverklaring deur: Kobus Hoffman VF Plus-LPW: Gauteng 24 Junie 2020 Die nalatigheid van die Roodeplaat hondeeenheid om toe te sien dat diere in sy sorg gereeld ingeënt word teen die dodelike en hoogs aansteeklike parvovirus, meer bekend as katgriep, is onverskoonbaar. Hierdie is die tweede uitbraak van die siekte binne ‘n jaar by die eenheid en dit word glo aan ‘n tekort aan entstof toegeskryf. Noodsaaklike toerusting wat nie behoorlik funksioneer nie,

bemoeilik ook die behandeling van die diere.  Die VF Plus bevraagteken die eenheid se teel-program weens die oormatige aantelingprosesse (inteling) wat gevolg word. Die party gaan die Dierebeskermingsvereniging (DBV) vra om die eenheid te besoek en voor te stel hoe om die telingsproses en die algemene versorging van die honde te verbeter. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Veterinêre-raad sal ook versoek word om die Roodeplaat-honde-eenheid te ondersteun en voorleggings te doen om seker te maak dat voorgeskrewe prosedures gevolg word.

Die VF Plus sal eersdaags ‘n oorsigbesoek aan die eenheid bring om probleme rondom die eenheid te bespreek. Navrae: 071 640 7283

Nico Moolman 1899: Vryheid: Zarp’e en Landdros en hofpersoneel - C Emmet

Landdros PM Bester en sy personeel Agterste ry: Geo. Havermann, JL Delport, W Wessels, J de Jager, J Steenkamp, Van Schalkwyk, Davey, W Havermann en “myself” Voor: Komase, R Steenkamp, Interpreter???, (moontlik die sipier),Van der Walt, PM Bester, J van Schalkwyk, P Maritz,

Police - Ladysmith: https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1827119â&#x20AC;¯(Public Domain)

Lt.-genl. Johan Ferreira Wentworth Opleidingskollege | Chatsworth Opleidingskollege Lt.-genl. Johan kommentaar:

Ferreira

lewer

soos

volg

Vroeër jare het die Wentworth Polisiekollege, waar Indiërlede van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie hul basiese opleiding ontvang het, onder die bevel van die Distrikskommandant, Durban-Suid (no. 75 Distrik, Durban-Suid) geval. Intussen het daar weer ‘n verandering plaasgevind en is die kollege, na verskuiwing na Chatsworth, weer hernoem na die Chatsworth Polisiekollege (distrik 90) en het toe direk onder polisiehoofkantoor ressorteer. In die negentigerjare van die vorige eeu, is al die opleidingskolleges later, vir beheer en beleid, onder die gesag van die nasionale kommissaris, en spesifiek onder die beheer van die Afdeling Menslike Hulpbronbestuur geplaas. Al die Opleidingskolleges, Gevorderde Opleidingsentra, waar kandidaat-offisiere, bestuurskursusse vir junior, middel- senior- en topvlakke het onder die nasionale kommissaris geval. Aanvanklik is die basiese opleiding van studente, soos by Pretoria, Hammanskraal, Bishop Lavis steeds vir die onderskeie bevolkingsgroepe aangebied, maar met die aankoms van die nuwe politieke bedeling is alle opleiding mettertyd op ‘n geïntegreerde rassegrondslag aangebied.

Toe ek in 1999 met my aanstelling as die Afdelingskommissaris van Opleiding (luitenantgeneraal) aangestel is, is alle opleiding, met sy talle aspekte soos, kurrikula, kwalifikasies soos die nasionale regering vasgestel, standaarde, beplanning en navorsing, onder my gesag geplaas. Dit het ook al die opleidingsentra in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens ingesluit. Op provinsiale vlak was daar ook verskeie indiensopleidingskursusse aangebied, maar was steeds direk onderhewig aan die voorskrifte en beleid van die Afdelingskommissaris: Opleiding.

Corrie Prinsloo Drie keer is skeepsreg...? Wonder maar net... ook vir Suidwesters...? Die oumense het altyd gesê drie keer is skeepsreg! Volgens my interpretasie hierbo op die Grens was dit... dié keer ná die derde keer sien jy jou agterwêreld - sonder 'n spieël! En ons Suidwesters was maar redelik sensitief oor hierdie dinge. Ons is van orals oor ons ou droë, lieflike Woenstynland saamgegooi op die grens - om ook maar net ons deel te doen, saam met ons RSA makkers. En dit alles het begin een dag voor my drie en twintigste verjaarsdag in wes-Ovambo, Kaokoveld en suidwes-Angola. Op daardie dag sê my bevelvoerder Oom Wieland Wagner van die veiligheidstak dat ek benodig word op Okangwati, in die Kaokoveld, naby die Kunene. Net-net terug vanaf Tsumeb, my tuisdorp - op rusdae gewees! Ek was gewoond aan hierdie tipe takings. Sal maar nie uitbrei nie... En daar trek ek, passasier in 'n Koedoe-vliegtuig van die Lugmag, opgestyg vanaf Hurricane. Die vlieënier het 'n pak goed vasgegespe op die sitplek voor langs hom gehad. Ek het net agter hom gesit. Sonder radiokomms! Die hele tyd brand daar 'n rooi lig op die vlieënier se paneelbord... die STALL-liggie dalk? Wil die stert afval? Het die landingstuig op die aanloopbaan agtergebly? 'n Goa- of Strela-teenvliegtuig-missiel op ons agterwêreld hitte? Geen valskerm vir my soos in die Bosbok-verkenningsvliegtuig nie! My senuwees was klaar toe ons op Okangwati land. Toe ek die vlieënier uitvra, kyk hy my aan asof 'n miskruier my aangerol het. "So what? Short circuit, pal. Nothing to worry about!" Flippen Brit...! Ek het gedoen wat ek moes en die noordwaarts vertrekkende makkers van die recce’s ingelig oor waarvoor hulle ingelig moes word. En toe oornag. Vroeg die volgende oggend, op my verjaarsdag, het ek 'n "lift" gevang Ruacana toe met een van die Pumas wat my vriende noord ontplooi het deur die nag. Een van my mede passasiers was 'n vol Kolonel van die Leër. Hopelik sou die nodige voorsorgmaatreëls in plek wees vir 'n veilige terugtog. Geen STALL-, of watookal liggies hierdie keer nie, asseblerrieblief toggies! Maar, o wee...! Toe die Puma se rotors net-net opstyg-"mode"

bereik... 'n dowwe ontploffing! En die revolusies van die lemme verminder totdat die Puma weer op sy hurke sit. Die boordingeneur beloer die onderstel, praat met die hoofvlieënier, en wink my nader. Hy plak 'n stel oorfone oor my ore, druk 'n 'plug' iewers in naby die een skuifdeur (so vir my gelyk) en beduie ek moet praat, met die hoofvlieënier. "Jammer, pellie. Ons moet op Hurricane land met 'n inrylanding. Geen 'sit-in' op Ruacana nie. Ons het 'n binne-band op een van die bandstelle gebars. En, 'by the way', geluk met jou verjaarsdag!" Verdomp...! Strike two! Later uitgevind dat Oom Wieland gereël het dat die "birthday boy" teruggevlieg moes word huistoe. En ek het skielik baie hard begin verlang na Tsumeb. Selfs Duin Sewe en Bennie se Rooi Lorrie aan die kus by Swakopmund en Walvisbaai. Ek wou eerder galjoene gaan vang het daarlangs op daardie oomblik. Die koel seelug in my gesig te voel. Nie langs 'n kruppel vliegding iewers op die Grens nie. Nie wéér nie...! Die terugvlug Ruacana toe was okay. Wel amper boomtop hoogte op plekke, maar ek was gemaklik. Eers die Koedoe wat wou neuk om uit die hemel te tuimel, toe die Puma se een band van sy dubbelstel agterbande wat bars. Twee keer die noodlot getroef. Glo darem nie dat die derde keer gaan toeslaan in minder as twee dae nie. Ek glo nie 'n Mig 23 gaan ons looi met Telstar en 'n paar Mirage F1 AZ's dalk nog in die lug vir daardie noordwaartse ontplooiing vanaf (Vervolg op bladsy 45)

(Vervolg van bladsy 44)

Okangwati nie. Ons het ons inrylanding op Hurricane gedoen en ek het die Puma met 'n verligte hart en groot glimlag verlaat. Op vaste aarde, uiteindelik... 'auf dem Mond da blühen keine Rosen' - daar blom geen rose op die Maan... soos ons in Suidwes-Duits sou sê! Dit was maar net twee keer een van dáárdie dinge, mos. Bôgger die rose, man! Ek was terug op Moeder Aarde... Ek was gelukkig toe ek uit die Puma hop. My boesemvriend Chrisjan Steenkamp (RIV) van Ovamboregering het iets op die lughawe gaan doen, my raakgesien toe ek uit die helikopter klim en my opgelaai. Toe hy my uit die helikopter sien klim in kamoefleerdrag met volle "webbing" en wapentuig, het hy net sy kop geskud. "Sarah (sy eggenote) het gereël vir 'n braai vanaand. Oom Wieland het gesê jy is na jou ma-hulle toe op Tsumeb. Julle Veiligheid moeggoes kan darem lekker fo..en lieg!" So tussen die lag deur kry ons koers dorp toe. Gesels oor alles behalwe die oorlog. By die laaste lang draai voor die hoofhek en geskuttoring Pappa Whiskey, besluit Chrisjan se Land Cruiser se linker voorwiel om by sy

voorvaders te gaan aansluit. Met een helse slag! Chrisjan het die Cruizer mooi beheer, en so dertig of wat meter verder netjies tussen twee mopaniebome tot stilstand gekom. Net anderkant die telefoonlyne, die een paal netnet gemis. Ook 'n paar lustelose, dowwe donkies met hangore gemis. Ek het genoeg gehad! Strike three! Drie keer is skeepsreg! Ek het my borsharnas, rugpak met slaaprol en R5 gegryp en koers gekry hoofhek toe, al swetsende. En boeta - ons Suidwesters kan aan die swets gaan, as ons net tyd het. In Duits, Portugees, Boers... en gewoonlik gevolg met 'n paar Herero lekkernye!

By die hoofhek het die soldate my herken met die aanstap en die valboom opgetel sodat ek ongehinderd kon deurstap. Die korporaal kon seker die donderweer op my gesig gelees het. "Dag, Staf. Mooi loop, Staf..." is al wat die arme man uitgekry het. En ek het redelik bedremmeld koers gekry barracks toe. Chrisjan moes sien hoe kom klaar met sy papwiel. Ek het gaan stort en probeer vergeet van die "strike three" in twee dae se tyd! Maar daardie aand was alles vergete. Sarah het my omhels met 'n "ag ou Sekel, jy leef (Vervolg op bladsy 46)

(Foto @ Facebook... 'n Puma troepedraer in vlug iewers heen...). 45

(Vervolg van bladsy 45)

darem nog!" En Oom Wieland se verbygaande heildronk daardie aand..."vir dit wat die meeste nie sien of van weet nie... prost, Corrie!"

Kosbaar... nooit weer in al die jare op die grens daarna het ek 'n "strike three" situasie beleef nie. Ons Suidwesters is mos maar van die kanniedood formaat. Prost! En dank ek die Goeie Vader daarvoor...!

NONGQAI TRUST DOELEINDES VAN DIE TRUST

PURPOSES OF THE TRUST

Die doel van die Trust is om ten behoewe van enige persoon (of hul families) wat sorg, berading en ondersteuning nodig het ten opsigte van post-traumatiese stres; sielkundige ondersteuning; sorg en behandeling, of fisiese besering wat hy of sy opgedoen het as gevolg van sodanige persoon se betrokkenheid by misdaadvoorkoming, misdaadbekamping of blootstelling aan misdaadbestryding of verwante optrede, of voormalige lede van die SuidAfrikaanse Polisiemag.

The purpose of the Trust is to act on behalf of any person (or their families) who need care, counselling and support due to post-traumatic stress; psychological support; care and treatment, or physical injury that he or she has suffered as a result of their involvement in crime prevention, combating crime or exposure to the combating of crime or related actions, or former members of the South African Police force.

Open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Farm Murders 19 July 2020

by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of State Security

Mr President, On September 26, 2018 you spoke to financial news service Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York. In the interview, you said that there were "no killings of farmers… white farmers in South Africa.” In fact farmers (black and white), farm workers (black and white), and visitors to farms (black and white) were being killed, and are still being killed today. These murders often involve the most terrible torture of the farmers and farm workers, their parents, their wives, and their children. What you said then was false. You in fact contradicted yourself in that 2018 Bloomberg interview, because in November 2017, in the NCOP you said: "We condemn the farm killings that continue to take place in our country, because we can never justify any form of taking of life. The farm killings must be brought to an end." We are not sure of your motivation in denying to the world 10 months later that these heinous murders, tortures and kidnappings were taking place. We, as the Official Opposition, ask that you, Sir, put this matter to rest once and for all. In 2018, when you made this claim, there were 54 farmers and farm workers who were horribly murdered on South African farms and smallholdings. There were 394 vicious attacks. Farmers and farm workers in South Africa, instead of being supported as workers within a Strategic Asset, feel today that they have become persona non grata as the Police Strategy fails them year after year. In 2017and 2018 combined there were 136 murders on farms, a figure which contradicts what you announced to the world. This year, during this lockdown period, we have seen a large increase in attacks on farms and smallholdings, I believe because your government chose to stop the patrolling systems the farm owners had set up for themselves, in an attempt to keep their families safe. In April there were 17 farm attacks, and one murder, in May 19 attacks and four murders and in June 56 attacks and seven murders – so 12 murders and 88 attacks in those three months alone. The IRR determined that the murder rate among farmers is 108 per 100 000, as opposed to 34 murders per 100 000 non-farmers in 2016/'17, when you made the comment. So it was then, as it is today, nearly four times more dangerous to be on a farm, than in other areas of South Africa. In 2018 there were 394 attacks and 56 murders. In 2019 there were 419 attacks and 56 murders.

We are still told by farmers and farm workers today that your denial that they are being murdered caused them extreme hurt and offence, in that it was just not true. The belief is that your remark led to the reality that in rural areas the police stations are undercapacitated and rarely have sufficient equipment and vehicles to deal with normal day-to-day crime, let alone patrol the deep rural areas or implement the Rural Safety Strategy. There is a belief that your comment freed up elements in our country who openly call for those who work on farms to be tortured to death. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested a Debate of National Importance in the National Assembly so we may pool our collective wisdom and find solutions to this scourge, but there has been scant comment from the side of government indicating that it is paying this problem any attention at all. Unfortunately, this is not out of character for a government that likes to praise farmers when they need them but is never forthcoming with assistance of any kind to the farming community when it is in crisis. Your comment cuts as sharply today as it did in 2018, and at a time when children are being shot in their beds, a pregnant woman has her throat slit in front of her screaming children, and while a man is chopped to pieces with a panga – we would ask that you retract that statement. We ask, Sir, that you not only retract that statement, but apologise to the men and women in our rural areas who are living in fear while still working 24/7 to feed our country. Only then will they begin to feel like valued members of this Strategic Asset in our country, as they continue to work day and night to feed our great nation Issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard, DA Shadow Minister of State Security, 19 July 2020. Reference: https://www.politicsweb.co.za/

IFP calls for police visibility in rural areas to curb farm attacks 21 July 2020

The IFP in KZN calls for increased police visibility to curb the increasing number of farm attacks in the Province. We are concerned with the longterm effects of farm attacks on our communities, as it will further exacerbate unemployment and instability of the economy, during a time where Covid-19 is already contributing to many job losses and further poverty. The government does not seem to be willing to fulfill its constitutional obligation of creating conducive and safe environments where private investors and businesses can invest and operate businesses safely in this country. This is a cause for (Continued on page 48)

(Continued from page 47)

concern, as the number of farm attacks are escalating countrywide. Effective law enforcement is of immediate importance to stop farm attacks and murders. This comes after yet another attack in the same area of Mooi River last night. A couple - Allen Still, a local veterinarian and his wife Isla - were attacked by three men, disguised in balaclava masks, while they were having supper, at around 20h00. The husband is currently being treated for serious injuries at the Life Hilton Hospital. This is the third attack on people living on the D161 in Mooi River. Local farmers and businesses are concerned about the safety of people in the District, and are calling for something to be done by the Community Safety Department's MEC. If the continued spike in farm attacks and murders

is not addressed, it will not only create more job losses but will also have a serious impact on food security in our country, as these attacks affect food production. Our province is already facing food insecurity and many people live below the poverty line due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Agriculture Sector will continue to lose billions of rands and production if this issue of farm attacks is not dealt with, with the urgency it deserves. We urge MEC for Community Safety and Liaison, Hon Bheki Ntuli, to increase rural patrols by the police and to address the shortage of manpower, as well as police vehicles, in order to curb this scourge of farm attacks and crime in general in the province. Issued by Blessed Gwala, IFP Spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison in KZN, 21 July 2020. Reference: https://www.politicsweb.co.za/

No 32702 AO J.M. Engelbrecht

Bo: Circa 1948: Hier stap hy in die middel – (of Kaapstad of Pretoria – geen besonderhede bekend nie) Hy het gedurende 1948 aangesluit en die mag bedank. Onder: Gedurende 1956 het hy weer by die mag aangesluit. Nadat hy ‘n beroerte aanval gehad het, gedurende 1982 het hy te Standerton afgetree. Foto by ‘n onbekende polisiestasie afgeneem. Let op die uniforms van destyds.

Bo: Sers Engelbrecht het ‘n buffel te Komatipoort geskiet – die besonderhede van die voorval is onbekend.

Foto’s bekom van J.M. Engelbrecht se dogter Laurette Jones.

Nico Moolman 1948: SAP Hartebeeskop: Swazilandgrens

Skrywer en geskiedkundige Nico Moolman en sy Vader, sersant Chris Moolman, afgeneem te SAP Hartebeeskop. Nico sê:” My pa het my nie vertel hoe kosbaar en mooi blomme is nie. Hy het my gewys. Hier in die tuin te Hartbeeskop-polisiestasie digby die Swazilandgrens...1948”.

My pa het my nie vertel hoe om fiets te ry nie. Hy het my gewys.

Trooper G.A.D. Glasspoole Natal Police

Hi Hennie. It was really nice of you to phone me yesterday nice chat. I've searched and searched but unfortunately, I can't find any or many other pictures from my Dad's police days. I do know that somewhere up in the celling there is a file with some pictures of the Bambatha period (I think), however, I will send you what I have.

Picture caption

Natal Police: Howick

Trooper G.A.D. Glasspoole 53

Above a letter of commendation for my Dad to join the King's African Rifles - March 1918. Next three images show the front and rear of a musical programme performed at a banquet by the Band of the Natal Police under direction of Mr E. Price-Hughes

Col Logan Govender •

Capt Nayager (Port Natal Security Branch)

being of his fellow Indian policeman. He made many suggestions with a view to improving their position. An inspiration to all of us, he set a worthy example. His memory will stand out in our minds as a lasting monument." "In this last tribute and farewell, I salute a true friend, an outstanding officer, gentleman and policeman." Comments by Col Govender Captain Nayager, whose father was also a policeman, leaves his wife and two children. Captain Nayager’s son, son’s wife and granddaughter are all members of the SAPS. Comments by Brig Heymans He was a true officer and a gentleman. I worked on his “Saturday shift”. His untimely death was so sad! I am glad that we can honour him in this magazine, thank you Col Govender!

Brig. PD de Kock (Vrystaat) Brig. Paul de Kock in sy jong dae! Hy was tydens sy dienstermyn in die mag allerweë as ‘n briljante offisier beskou!

General FMA Steenkamp was a brilliant police officer and our Commander in Durban. Look what he said at the funeral of Capt Nayager: “As Captain Nayager's commanding officer and close friend for over thirteen years, I can only say that I am proud and grateful that I had a man like him serving with me and that I could count as one of his friends." "He was an outstanding man in many respects and had a bright future in the force. He lived and worked for his fellow countrymen and his country. He was a leader of men and was respected by those who served with him."

"He concerned himself intensely with the well57

1924: Lieutenant Algernon Sparks (NP & UDF)

At Potchefstroom from left to right: Lt. De Villiers, Lt. Sparks, Capt Collender, Capt Dan Pienaar, Maj Wolmarans and Capt Hunt-Grubbs. Dr Rodney Warwick grandson of Lt. Sparks writes: “My grandfather second from the left.. Then Lieutenant Algernon Sparks at Potchefstroom in September 1924, these were all artillery officers and probably watching gunnery practice. Two years earlier he had been very severely wounded in Johannesburg during the 1922 Rand Revolt, as part of government forces”.

Major Wolmarans in the photo, also has an interesting history; besides being a WW1 veteran he was a member of the Transvaalstaatsartillerie in 1899 - 1902; one of the few ZAR professional soldiers; he joined the UDF after Union.

HBH - This is something to share with our Nongqai readers! Thanks for sharing and paying tribute to your grandfather! Some former Natal Police members including Dan Pienaar and your grandfather. RW - Yes Hennie - my grandpa and Dan Pienaar were good friends. HBH - May I use this pic in the Nongqai please? RW - Yes, as far as I am concerned; definitely… Hennie, also besides Pienaar and my grandfather, 58

Stilte in die hof! Bishop Lavis Hofkantoor

Daar was ‘n Covid-19 geval in die hof en toe moes die sake deur landdros Eduard Wessels in die opelug verder uitgestel word. Foto’s: Landdros Paul Louw.

1904: Pretoria: Toepassing van wet en orde: Begrafnis van wyle pres. SJP Kruger

Dit is tans onbekend aan watter polisie-agentskap die man met die wit handskoene behoort. Moontlik ‘n munisipale konstabel? Pretoria het in 1904 die Transvaal Town Police en die SA Constabulary gehad - HBH.

Onder redaksie van Frans Bedford-Visser

OTJIHASE EN GAMAMS OPLEIDINGSENTRUM Die S.A. Vervoerdienste het in 1970 ŉ gedeelte van die Otjihase-kopermyn, wat een-endertig kilometer buite Windhoek geleë was, se geboue gehuur om lede, wat aan die vervoerdienste in SuidwesAfrika verbonde was, op te lei aangesien daar destyds in Windhoek geen opleidingsgeriewe was nie. ŉ Gedeelte van die myn se woonkwartiere was in kantore vir die opleidingspersoneel omskep. Die werkers van die Spoorweë wat in Suidwes-Afrika woonagtig was, sou dan by die opleidingsentrum opgelei word. Aanvanklik was siviele personeel van die hoofbestuurder se kantoor in Johannesburg gestuur om die siviele studente op te lei terwyl instrukteurs van die mag, vanaf die kollege te Esselenpark, afgesonder was om die polisie opleiding waar te neem. Die spoorwegpolisie het in dieselfde kompleks rekrute opgelei wat in Suidwes-Afrika gewerf was. Kaptein Frans Wiid, wat by die nie-blanke kollege te Esselenpark in bevel was, was

die eerste opleidingsoffisier te Otjihase. Hy was later deur luitenant Allie Jooste en toe deur

Na beraadslaging was daar besluit om ŉ tydelike opleidingsentrum by Gamams in

‘n Pelotonfoto te Gamams Opleidingsentrum, Suidwes-Afrika, ongeveer 1981 saam met die destydse Kommissaris van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie, Lt-Genl J.J.J. van Vuuren luitenant Buks Meintjes, beide verbonde aan die kollege te Esselenpark, afgelos. Latere jare het gerugte die rondte gedoen dat die myn weer van voornemens was om produksie te begin en die vervoerdienste moes inderhaas reëlings tref om ander fasiliteite vir die opleiding te bekom.

Windhoek op te rig. Gamam is ŉ ‘n Nama woord wat “twee monde” beteken. Op 28 Mei 1980 was daar met die oprigting van die veselglaseenhede, wat as iglo’s bekend gestaan het, begin. Die meganiese werkswinkel in Durban het die iglo’s in seksies vervaardig wat (Vervolg op bladsy 61)

was, het ons een Maandag, tydens die siviele studente se langnaweek, besoek van ŉ groep “buitemuurse studente” ontvang; te wete ŉ trop wilde bobbejane. Die “studente” het in ŉ oop klaskamer van die sinjaleafdeling inbeweeg met die brandwag wat op die trap voor die klaskamer in die son gaan sit het. Ek het met ŉ .303 geweer, gelaai met houtpatrone, die brandwag bekruip. Ek het hom met die houtpatroon geblerts terwyl hy het nog so lekker gesit en dut het (nie veel van ‘n brandwag as jy my vra nie). Uit pure skok storm hy toe by die Kaptein Ronnie Beyl, luitenant Frans klaskamer in nadat hy sy merk Koekemoer te Gamams op die trap gelos het en sy Opleidingsentrum, 5 Desember 1980 aankoms aldaar het veroorsaak later net aanmekaar vasgebout dat daar chaos en totale was. wanorde in die klaskamer Op 28 September 1980 was die uitgebreek het. Die “studente” opleiding te Gamams voortgesit. het die klas, met sy treintjies en Kaptein Wiid het die eerste sinjale, feitlik afgebreek met hulle gerondspring en hulle angs kursus begin en gedurende die kursus het kaptein Ronnie Beyl en verwarring het onwelriekende by hom oorgeneem totdat deposito’s teen die mure gelaat. luitenant Frans Koekemoer as Ek het nog ŉ paar skote die eerste permanente afgevuur nadat hulle daarin opleidingsoffisier daarheen geslaag het om uit die klaskamer te storm, net om te sien hoe verplaas was. hulle al vinniger die hasepad 5 Desember 1980 was ŉ kies. Die volgende Woensdag, geskiedkundige dag in die met die terugkeer van die siviele bestaan van die S.A. studente en die personeel by die Spoorwegpolisie in Suidwes- Kollege, wou die prinsipaal by Afrika; die eerste groep my weet wat gebeur het. Ek het polisiestudente wat uitsluitlik hom ingelig oor die trop deur instrukteurs van die gebied, buitemuurse studente wat as kaptein Ronnie Beyl, luitenant stasievoormanne opgelei wou Frans Koekemoer, sersante A.M. word, maar nadat hulle uitgevind Horn en A. Shilobeleni opgelei het wat die salaris was, het hulle was, het hulle kursus met ŉ besluit dat die kool die sous nie seremoniële voorstellingsparade werd was nie. Die klaskamer afgesluit. was behoorlik vuil gemors. Teen Buitemuurse studente : die Woensdag was daar ŉ reuk in die betrokke klaskamer wat Otjihase. niemand kon verduur nie. Dit het Gedurende 1978, terwyl ek die dae geneem om die klaskamer opleidingsoffisier te Otjihase (Vervolg van bladsy 60)

skoon te kry en om al die modelle wat daarin was, te herstel of te vervang. Natuurlik het ek hom nie die ware verhaal vertel nie; die gedeelte oor die skietery het my geheim gebly. Dit was ook die laaste keer dat

Luit E.J.S. (Buks) Meintjies

die bobbejane besoek by die kollege afgelê het. Was dit die geskrik met die skietery of miskien die salaris wat hulle weggehou het; hoe sal ek nou weet? (Buks Meintjes) Die Spietkop en die Volkswagen Beetle. Ek was in die bevoorregte posisie om vir my ŉ VW-Beatle te koop tydens my dienstermyn te Otjihase. Ronnie Beyl het in hierdie tyd vanaf hoofkantoor die teeninsurgensie gedeelte van die kursus kom aanbied. Een Saterdagoggend ry ek en hy met die Beatle na Otjihase en op pad, net buite Windhoek, word ons deur ŉ verkeersman gelas om af te trek. Ek hou stil sonder om bekommerd te wees want die VW was in ŉ goeie toestand. Die verkeersman stap om die motor en kyk na die tydelike permit op die windskerm en hy deel my toe (Vervolg op bladsy 62)

(Vervolg van bladsy 61)

mee dat die permit op die windskerm slegs vir die voertuig bedoel was en dat dit nie die vervoer van passasiers toegelaat het nie. Ek vra hom voorts of hy vir enige van my of Ronnie op sy motorfiets sou laai, maar hy het nie daarvoor kans gesien nie. Hy sê toe dat een van ons plat op die agterste sitplek van die Beatle kon lê sodat hy net nie die persoon van buite die motor kon sien nie. Dit was nie baie moeilik om te bepaal wie op die agterste sitplek moes gaan lê het nie. Dié eer het my te beurt geval want liggaamsdele van Ronnie sou by die Beatletjie uitgesteek het – en dit sou net nie deug nie. (Buks Meintjes) BLOOD ON THE QUAYSIDE

REMINISCENCES OF A RAILWAYS POLICEMAN by Keith Blake

Keith Blake

Whenever the 16th December arrives on the calendar, I think back to one afternoon shift when I came on duty and to my horror discovered only the late Piet Swarts and myself were on duty. All the other members had

Cape Town Docks showing the police station—Photo courtesy of Boet Saayman, former S.A.R. Police stationed at Cape Town.

booked off sick. I posted Piet in the Charge Office and I booked myself on the patrol van. Just after 17h00 I received a phone call from I+J at West Quay near the Fish Market Table Bay Harbour that someone had been stabbed. I drove to the scene and saw no complainant or any stabbed victim. The next moment I heard screaming coming from the direction of Collier Jetty (“Steenkoolkaai”) and I went closer and saw about 40 Ovambo fishermen all with knives and daggers in their hands chasing a terrified group of about 20 Xhosa fishermen. The Ovambos were stabbing the Xhosa fishermen as they were running towards my direction. I shouted at the top of my voice and when the locals saw me, they ran screaming: 'HELP ONS, HULLE WIL ONS DOOD MAAK". I took out my pistol and fired a number of warning shots into the sea. At this many Ovambos turned back and the locals where all falling on the ground around me and everyone had been stabbed and were bleeding from their wounds. I grabbed my radio and asked for assistance.

terrified man lying on the ground and at that moment I fired at the Ovambo’s upper legs and as the bullet hit him he let go of the dagger and ran, falling into a police vehicle who had come to my assistance and he was arrested. Back up arrived and I phoned my commander and he and the detectives came to assist me and Piet with the 20 odd assault dockets. While busy with the dockets I received a call of a body laying between the railway lines near South Arm Road. At the scene I found the body of an Ovambo seaman with a chopper wound between the eyes. The next day a female informer gave me the name of the killer and a description of the chopper the killer used. I went to the Fish Market and in a local fishing vessel arrested the suspect and on him under his belt I found the chopper that was used. SAVED SLOW SHUNTING I did not want to tell this story and to make sure of my facts and not to talk "twak” I asked my wife a simple question and she confirmed the story I am about to share.

The next minute a local came running towards me and was As a section sergeant in the S.A. chased by about three Ovambos Railways Police I was the one in and he was tripped and he fell to charge of all happenings on my the ground and one of the Ovam(Continued on page 63) bos raised his dagger to stab this

MV Loerie at Cape Town Harbour, circa 1978 (DRISA Collection) (Continued from page 62)

shifts and with my members. Now at Tafelbaaihawe (Table Bay) are quite a few railway crossings so I have a very good idea of railway crossings. I noticed that the diesel units would SLOW DOWN when approaching these railway crossings. The shunters use to hang onto these units and jump off and with their lamps slow down cars approaching the units as they were slowly moving over these railway crossings. Now one night shift I think it was on my birthday the 24th December or it could have been the 25th December, my patrol van driver, a then constable Willem Burger were having coffee in the Charge Office when a call came

on the telephone that a car was parked on the railway lines/ railway crossing on the corner of M berth entrance and Duncan Road, right next to the S.A. Naval Base, SAS Unity. Constable Burger and I rushed to the scene and there was a car lying on its side, the passenger side was on the ground and the driver side was up in the air and to my shock I saw that the driver was still hanging from his seatbelt. I instructed Burger to smash the front passenger side but he was reluctant so I broke the window and there was petrol leaking and I could smell it. I shouted to Burger to get backup and the Railway Fire Brigade. In full uniform crawled into the passenger side and with my shoulder I rested the driver's

head on my shoulder and kept on taking to him. I gave instructions that no one was to smoke as I and the injured driver were in danger. Finally, the Fire Department arrived, and a fireman took over from me inside the car. My face and neck and uniform were wet with blood. Sadly, on Christmas morning I was told the driver had died and I also was told that the deceased was a fellow S.A. Railway Police colleague's father-inlaw. So yes, I do have knowledge of railway crossings as well as a fear of them. (Keith Blake)

HOOFSTUK 11: LUGHAWE DIENSTE

JOHAN DE JAGER DIE SPEURDER HOOFSTUK 10: LEGAL GROUNDS Daar word besluit om ’n klopjag uit te voer in die omgewing van die pier by Oos–Londen hawe. Die doel van die klopjag was om te bepaal of die hengelaars in besit was van wettige permitte om daar te hengel. Konstabel W.P. Greyvenstein het een van die hengelaars genader en versoek dat die persoon hom die nodige permit toon. Die versoek was in Afrikaans en die hengelaar het hom nie verstaan nie, aangesien hy Engelssprekend was. In baie gebroke Engels verwittig Konstabel Greyvenstein die hengelaar: “No permit, I arrest you.” Die hengelaar kon nie ’n wettige permit toon nie en het toe verneem: “On what legal grounds are you arresting me?” Konstabel Greyvenstein het die hengelaar so skeef aangekyk en baie vinnig geantwoord: “On this here F@kk#n Railways ground!” Party van ons het maar soms gesukkel met die Rooitaal!

Daar bestaan ’n vakature by die destydse Ben Schoeman lughawe, Oos- Londen. Ek word gekeur vir dienste daar. WOW, wat ’n groot eer was dit nie! Nou hoef ek nie weer dienste by die stasie en in die goedereloodse te verrig nie. Die beste was dat dit slegs dagdiensskofte was. ’n Voertuig word toegeken, slegs vir die gebruik van polisiebeamptes wat dienste daar verrig. My eerste Polisie/Firma voertuig! In daardie jare het die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie se dienste uitsluitlik gegaan oor die beskerming van die S.A. Lugdiens se vliegtuie en eiendom. Die belangrikste diens was dat die vliegtuie met aankoms en tot vertrek teen aanvalle beskerm moes word. Die opdrag was dat ons dertig minute voor die aankoms van die vliegtuie op die laaiblad teenwoordig moes wees, asook tydens die aflaai en oplaai van passasiers en goedere. Ons moes daar bly tot die vliegtuig se wiele die aanloopbaan verlaat het. Alle persone werksaam op die laaiblad was met oorbeskermers uitgereik, maar geen oorbeskerming was beskikbaar vir die polisiebeamptes nie. Ek het die nie-uitreiking van oorbeskerming aan polisiebeamptes bevraagteken en was summier meegedeel dat ’n polisiebeampte se oë en ore oop moes wees en sy bek toe! Indien ek nie sonder die beskerming wou werk nie, mag ek loop! Ek het besluit om my bek en

ook my werk te hou! (Dit was die oorsaak van my gehoorverlies en die gevolg van my mediese ontslag latere jare uit die polisie). HOOFSTUK 12: DRONK POLISIEBEAMPTE Op ‘n betrokke dag moes ek ’n hofsaak te Oos–Londen bywoon en ’n ander polisiebeampte het in my plek dienste by die lughawe verrig. Na afhandeling van die hofsaak het ek by die aanklagtekantoor gerapporteer vir diens om my skof te voltooi. Die wyksersant in bevel was sersant Paul Kruger. Ek het opdrag gekry en moes dadelik die sersant vergesel na die Lughawe aangesien daar ’n probleem ontstaan het. Met aankoms daar, tot ons skok en verleentheid, vind ons dat die aflospolisiebeampte stelling ingeneem het by die voorkant van die passasiersvliegtuig en met sy agterkop teen die neus van die vliegtuig geleun het, terwyl hy uit sy buik gelag het. Hy het volstrek geweier dat die vliegtuig vertrek! Ons stel toe vas dat die polisiebeampte SMOOR-DRONK was.

Diplomaties en soos ’n ware heer, wat die sersant was, het hy die betrokke polisiebeampte genader en versoek om die laaiblad te verlaat, en die vliegtuig nie verder te vertraag nie. Die volgende oomblik het die polisiebeampte my geklap dat ek sterre sien, my pet daar trek, en in die wind wegrol! Ek het vorentoe gespring met die doel om die dronk polisieman uit te sorteer, maar (Vervolg op bladsy 65)

(Vervolg van bladsy 64)

die sagte woorde van die sersant het my tot ander insigte gebring. Die verleentheid vir die Mag was reeds groot genoeg en ek moes dit liewer los! Moeilik man, baie moeilik! Daar word besluit dat die betrokke polisiebeampte weens onverklaarbare rede nie aangekla word nie. Ek was hewig ontsteld. Die volgende dag op parade, voor twintig polisiebeamptes teenwoordig, word die aangeleentheid bespreek en die dronkie lag lekker oor hoe hy weggekom het deur my ’n snotklap, in die openbaar en voor al die personeel en

passasiers, gegee het. Groot fout…!

Ek het by die kantoor se deur ingestap en hom gehoor! Karplaks, daar trek sy pet en sit hy op sy agterstewe, want hulle sê mos, elke hond kry sy dag. Die ou sersant sê so ewe droogweg: “Ja, dis hoe dit werk!” HOOFSTUK 14: “PANTY” TOEBROODJIE

Daar het verskeie voorvalle by die plaasgevind.

komiese lughawe

Die een wat uitstaan is waar ‘n burgerlike lugvaartbeampte, wat ’n regte plaatjie was en nie

die geleentheid verby laat gaan het om iemand ’n poets te bak, sy moses teëgekom het. Daar word besluit dat hy vir eens en vir altyd op sy plek gesit moet word. Planne word beraam. Die volgende dag kom die betrokke man aan diens met die pragtigste ‘shiner’ (blou oog). Die dame by Inligting, ook die persoon wat die meeste onder sy grappe deurgeloop het, het hom deeglik uitgesorteer. Sy het toegang tot sy kostrommel verkry en net voor hy van diens was, het sy haar ‘panty’ uitgetrek en in sy broodblik gepak!

AO JOHANNES JACOBUS SWANEPOEL Inligting verskaf deur Tanya Swindon-Diedericks November 1925 aan Christiaan Ernst Swanepoel en Susanna Aletta Swanepoel (gebore Du Preez). Hy is gebore in Willowmore, Oos Kaap. Sy kinderjare bring hy deur op ‘Landdrosplaas’ Willowmore waar sy pa geboer het. Sy skool loopbaan voltooi hy in Willowmore. Hy was die oudste van vier kinders. Op 30 Mei 1950 tree hy in die huwelik met Lily Rosie Maria de Lange. Uit die huwelik is ses kinders gebore. My oupa en ouma was 63 jaar getroud toe sy in 2013 oorlede is. Die foto is geneem in Carletonville toe my oupa in Welverdiend diens gedoen het in omtrent 1966 rond.

Gebore: 07/11/1925 Sterf: 14/03/2018 op ouderdom van 93 jaar.

Spoorwegpolisie Loopbaan

Johannes Jacobus, bekend as Johannes, is gebore op 7

Ek onthou dat my oupa vir my vertel het hy wou nog altyd ‘n polisieman word en hy wou niks anders doen nie. Dit was sy trots en eer om die werk te kon doen.

(Vervolg op bladsy 68)

Ek weet my oupa was baie vroeg in sy loopbaan in Johannesburg waar hy baie by die Johannesburg stasie diens gedoen het.

Agtergrond

Die foto is geneem die dag met hulle afskeidsdinee. Dit was blykbaar ‘n spoggeleentheid en almal het ‘n pak klere vir die geleentheid gedra. Heel moontlik te Esselenpark Spoorwegpolisiekollege geneem.

As daar moontlik enige iemand is wat meer weet oor my oupa se tyd in die diens of wat hom

die

Van daar af is oupa Welverdiend (naby Carletonville) toe verplaas. Op ‘n latere stadium was oupa in Boksburg en toe later ook in New Canada, Johannesburg.

Vereeniging gewoon tot sy sterfte op die 14de Maart 2018. Oupa en ouma is altwee in Willowmore begrawe.

Johannes Jacobus Swanepoel en sy gade, Lily Rosie Maria de Lange op hul troudag, 30 Mei 1950.

Na sy uittrede in 1986 is hy terug Willowmore toe en het daar gebly tot in 2016 toe hy siek geword het. Hy het toe by sy oudste seun in 66

In die foto bo, blykbaar geneem gedurende die sewentigjare geneem, kans mens duidelik die Suid-Afrikaanse Noodhulp Liga (SANL) wapen op AO Swanepoel se linker somerdrag baaidjie mou sien, net bokant sy Adjudant Offisier rangkenteken wat aandui dat hy â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n lid van die SANL was. Die SANL was op 1 April 1935 gestig sodat Afrikaanssprekendes noodhulpopleiding in hulle eie taal kon ontvang. Die geskiedenis van die SANL kan op die skakel afgelaai word. Die SANL het ook verbinding aan die ATKV gehad, wie self â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n sterk verbinding aan die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie gehad het.

(Vervolg van bladsy 66)

Aanstellingsertifikaat geteken dear Generaal Majoor J.J.J. van Vuuren, 01 April 1977

Nog inligting gedeel op die FB groepe Johan Van Den Bergh: Hy was SB op New Canada en ek was takbevelvoerder. Ai waar's daardie dae? dalk geken het in daai tyd kan my gerus kontak. Sjoe, daar is so baie herinneringe wat ek het van my oupa. Vir hom was sy familie die heel belangrikste. My oupa het suiwer Afrikaans gepraat en ek onthou hy het tot op sy laaste jou baie gou reggehelp as jy jou tale meng. Hy was diep gelowig en groot op dissipline. Hy het altyd vir ons gesê daar moet 'n balans in 'n mens se lewe wees. Na sy aftrede is hy terug Willowmore toe en was daar baie jare koster van die NG Kerk, hy het ook tuin gemaak en 'n paar hoenders en duiwe aangehou. En natuurlik het hy almal daar geken. My oupa was 'n baie trotse mens en was so lief vir gesels. Hy het ook altyd sy draadloos by hom gehad. Ek kan eintlik nooit 'n tyd onthou waar hy nie 'n radio naby hom gehad het nie. Ons was geseënd om hom so lank in ons lewe te hê en dat hy sy agterkleinkinders kon sien grootword. Hy was 'n sterk maar sagte mens en het altyd empatie vir mense gehad. Groete

Sarel Marais: Hallo sê daar. Ek ken ‘ou’ sersant Swanepoel persoonlik. Ons het saam op ATKV gewerk vanaf ‘83 tot ‘86. Ons twee het die K. I. S.– personeel (Kleurling, Indiër en Swart) van die spoorwegpolisie hanteer. Tydens die amalgamasie van die twee magte is ek na Kempton Park verplaas terwyl hy op pensioen gegaan het. Hy was ‘n wonderlike en nederige mens, en ek glo hy sou ook ‘n wonderlike eggenoot, vader en oupa wees. Hannes Slabbert: Ek was 1963-64 seksiespeurder te Potchefstroom en Welverdiend was binne my gebied. Ek glo hy was toe die PB op Welverdiend. Hy en wyle Gawie van Rensburg was goeie vriende. Maar destyds was hy nog ‘n sersant as ek reg is en ek glo ek is. Jan Vorster: Oom Swannie daai tyd, was hy sersant navrae JHB Stasie - het ‘n tyd saam gewerk ek toe ‘mobile squad’ vir ‘n lang ruk. Hy was ‘n goeie leermeester. Indien u meer inligting oor AO Swanepoel beskik, deel asseblief deur epos te stuur aan Frans Bedford-Visser - fbedford_visser@hotmail.com

Tanya Kollegas se Herinneringe 68

EXCERPTS FROM RAILWAYS POLICE ALBUM

THE S.A. MEMORIAL

Excerpted by Frans Bedford-Visser TRAINING The Railway Police Training Depot, Johannesburg With the re-organization of the Railway Police, the Administration considered it essential that a training depot should be established for all railway policemen, not only for drill and physical training purposes, but also as a centre in which they could be instructed in railway work. The training depot was established in close proximity to Braamfontein Station, and afforded accommodation for sixty men, three instructional sergeants, and two officers.

commissioned officers and officers. A visit to the barracks was well worth while and any railway employee interested in barrack life was gladly shown over the barracks by the Depot Commandant. It was a happy day for fifteen recruits when they received notification that they were to be passed out by the General Manager of the South African Railways and Harbours, Mr. T. H. Watermeyer. The troop paraded for inspection under an officer and on the arrival of the General Manager the "general salute" was given. The troop was then inspected by Mr. Watermeyer, whereafter the men were tested in their knowledge of drill with and without arms. The recruits had had only two months' training and their movements were certainly a credit to the Railway Police. After having been tested in drill, the

Instructors with the first Camp Commandant at the Johannesburg training Depot, Fordsburg. . Left to right: Lance Sergeant H.B. Coetzee, Sub-Inspector K.W. Matheson, Investigative Sergeant H.J. Fritz and Lance Sergeant R.J. Pretorius

The building was unique in so far as accommodation was concerned, each recruit being accommodated in a room, with bed, table, chair and a cupboard. A communal mess was provided for the men, as well as a dining-room for non-

General Manager was invited to tea in the barracks, whilst the recruits quickly changed into their physical training outfit. They were then put through the physical culture table and judging (Continued on page 70)

(Continued from page 69)

from the condition of their bodies they were certainly physically fit. The General Manager then left in company of the Acting Chief of Police and Investigation, Major Beyer. ln the afternoon the men were tested in their knowledge of police duties and railway work and after the Acting Chief of Police was satisfied as to their knowledge of these subjects, they were given a lecture on their behaviour as railway policemen, the points touched upon being:(a)

Respect yourself and the public will respect you.

(b)

Never do a thing which would disgrace your parents.

(c)

Take an interest in your work, which you can make very interesting.

(d)

Make a profession of the career you have chosen and compete at the various examinations for

Troop leaders, Johannesburg Training Depot, Fordsburg, 1941

promotion to higher rank. It was a happy day for the recruits - they had passed out of the Depot and were ready to leave for their destination stations. They qJickly got into their civilian clothing to say good-bye to th-eir friends and that same night they left Johannesburg. And as they parted, leaving behind them happy recollections of the time spent at the Training Depot which may at times have

seemed strenuous, I overheard the remark: "Well Piet, I am glad they have no horses at this Depot as I am sure I would have been thrown off many a time." "But surely," said the Clothing Officer who takes such a keen interest in the men's appearances, "this uniform was never intended for this recruit. It does not fit him." "Oh yes" replied the lnstruct-ional Sergeant "lt did when he arrived at the (Continued on page 71)

Farewell ceremony for Colonel Stanford, who retired in January 1944 70

Passing Out Parade, Johannesburg Training Depot, Fordsburg, 1941. During the war there was a shortage of black uniforms. (Continued from page 70)

Depot, but he was measured over a month ago and with the physical training his chest developed three inches and his tummy has disappeared." "Oh:' replied the Clothing Officer "Now I follow - in any case you had better send him to have another uniform fitted." Whilst at the Depot, the men were occasionally allowed to take part in a function and what a night they had when their own band provided the music. Their lady friends were invited and they spent a most enjoyable evening. What is eagerly awaited is a gymnasium where the men can be trained in boxing and ju-jitsu, which form part of their training, and likely enough it was not long before this facility was available. Many onlookers at the passing out parade no doubt wished, as I did, that they could have joined the physical culture class which goes a long way towards fitting recruits for their duties and would do the same for men in (Continued on page 72)

Mr C.M. Hoffe, General Manager of the S.A. Railways, presenting medals earned at the boxing competition. Johannesburg Training Depot, Fordsburg, 1941

Drill lesson. Johannesburg Training Depot, Fordsburg, 1941 71

(Continued from page 71)

other walks of life. All who were present thoroughly enjoyed watching the passing out of this troop and one feels that any railway official who could manage to spare an hour, should pay a visit to this Depot, and if possible be present when the next troop passes out, in order to see, among other things, what remarkable results can be obtained by discipline in a comparative short period.

Boxing: Johannesburg Training Depot, Fordsburg

Volgende maand: Opleiding word verskuif na Kroonstad, en ons stel â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n bekende figuur voor!

Gavin Tischendorf 1990: WITCH BURNINGS AND FOOT PATROLS It would have been late July 1990 after completing “Sweepslag” at Lohatla with 63 Mechanised Battalion Group, and a month before the 1990 state of emergency. I was posted to a small camp about 42km from Ellisras town and about 5 km from the Botswana border, the camp was an old school building with tents for us and a signals radio relay station which was manned by signallers. The camp had no electricity and ran a generator till 22:00 each night. It was a ‘middle of nowhere’ kind of camp. Our tasks were; foot patrols along the border fence, patrol farms and monitor the small rural townships. The small townships/villages and two

types of issues; the first was to prevent witch burnings as older members of the community had been blamed for witchcraft and witchcraft activities (witchcraft suppression act), the second task was preventing members of the ANC from radicalizing locals. One or two the villages had a small support bases that were manned sometimes by us or other units, these were simply a camp surrounded by barbed wire and had two or three tents with sandbag walls one tent would have a radio. Often, we would spend up to a week on a hill observing the villages for abnormal activities with binoculars and at night a mounted night vision scope, we would give regular radio situation reports. There were times that we went on foot to monitor unruly groups to prevent street justice as older people were accused of witchcraft if a child

(Continued from page 73)

died or went missing, these people were very superstitious. There were times that we lay on the ground hiding from the locals to see if we could catch ringleaders of these mobs. You could swap ration pack food for empty one litre cold drink bottles and with the cash you could buy fresh food, we found out later the youths would steal the empties from the shops to swop for ration pack tins. I remember that the cold drinks all were one litre and were very cold

Mark Naude Uniforms of the South African Air Force: A Brief History: Part 4 – 1960-1971 Compiled by Mark Naudé Service Dress The Blue-Grey Service Dress introduced into the SAAF in 1952 continued to be worn, but from 1958 with universal ‘Leaping Springbok’ buttons instead of RAF style buttons. In 1959 new cap and collar badges were also

Combat Gen Ben Viljoen, Air Chief of Staff 1956-1965. The first pattern of collar gorget for Generals was sky-blue with gold oak leaves

in those paraffin fridges. I also remember the camp we were posted to had a mobile kitchen, but this was closed due to health issues, so we just eventually got ration packs every day or 5 when you go out on foot patrol. The 5-day foot patrol was actually nice and peaceful only 2 events that I recall now. We often assisted SAP with roadblocks, at night. In August during the state of emergency we did a month duty in the East Rand townships, that was my first time in a township.

introduced. The new cap badge was a Fish Eagle on a scroll with the motto ‘Per Aspera Ad Astra’. Other Ranks wore brass versions of the Fish Eagle badge on their collars and on their caps (without any backing cloth). Officers from 2nd Lieutenant to Commandant continued to wear black mohair cap bands and wore the new cap badge in gilt mounted on a black backing. Colonels and Brigadiers wore the gilt fish eagle (Continued on page 75)

Lt Gen JP Verster, Chief of the SAAF 1967-1975. Note proteas on peak and collar gorgets. 74

(Continued from page 74)

mounted on a sky-blue backing on a sky-blue cap band. Instead of collar badges they wore sky blue gorgets with a line of gold Russia braid.

gorgets as their army equivalents but with sky blue backgrounds. From 1963 onwards a system consisting of various arrangements of a Protea flower and leaves was introduced as a peak decoration to distinguish different officer classes.

Generals wore the same cap badge and collar (Continued on page 77)

Brig GT Moll in 1965. Note the gilt cap badge on sky-blue backing.

Brig BJL Boyle late 1960s/early 1970s. Cap badge embroidered in gold on sky- blue. (Photo via Tinus le Roux)

Medal parade at Waterkloof, 1971.

Note the ceremonial dagger belts with gilt buckles for officers and white leather belts for other ranks. White gloves have replaced black ones. 75

Maj AR MacWilliam, Col OF Wellington, Brig DA du Toit, Cmdt LPT Eager & WO1 AC Leysath in 1965. Note cloth belts and black gloves worn on parade.

Cmdt Brighton 1964. Gilt cap badge on black backing. Gilt collar badges.

WOI E Dickenson Note cap badge worn without backing or cap band. 76

Prior to that peaks had been plain cloth for all ranks.

a light khaki bush jacket or “safari suit”. This appears to have been worn until the early 1970s when there was a major change in direction as far as uniform was concerned.

Flying Badges

Battle Dress and Combat Dress

Another change came about with Republic in 1961. Crowns were removed from wings and brevets. Some officers simply cut them off while waiting for the new issue which did not include the crown.

Drab serge Battledress continued to be worn as a working uniform into the early 1960s. In 1965 a new uniform styled ‘Combat Dress’ was introduced. This uniform was influenced by the earlier Battle Dress but was Blue-Grey in colour, had a step collar and was made of a Whipcord material. Collar badges and SA titles were worn on the lapels. The Service Dress cap was generally worn with this outfit. A blue-grey beret was also issued. Combat Dress was later worn by National Servicemen in lieu of Service Dress.

(Continued from page 75)

Republican issue pilot’s wings as depicted in the SADF Badge Catalogue

Mess Dress During the 1960s the SAAF Mess Dress was

This photograph appeared in Paratus in 1972. The first two officers are wearing shirt sleeves – note SA titles on shoulder. The third officer is wearing a light khaki ‘safari suit’.

Brief Return of the Bush Jacket

In the late 1960s a summer version of service dress was introduced and mostly worn by senior officers at Headquarters. It consisted of

black with pointed cuffs and sky-blue facings. A black version of the Service Dress cap was worn with mess kit. (Continued on page 78)

This photograph was taken in the mid-1960s when the SAAF took the Note the Blue-Grey Combat Dress uniform and the deep-V chevrons as worn prior to 1975.

Buccaneer

into

service.

(Continued from page 77)

In later years the cuffs of the jacket were changed to the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Royal Rifle Corps pattern Mohair embroidery adopted by the Army but the facings remained sky blue. Sky-Blue was at some point renamed Steel-Blue as well.

An example of 1960s era Mess Kit 78

By Martin Naude

Colonel Sir H A ‘Pierre’ van Ryneveld  (1891–1972) 1 Feb 1920 - 30 Sep1937

Colonel Francis R. G. Hoare (1879–1959) 01 Oct - 31 Oct 1937

Lieutenant Colonel Hector C. Daniel (1898–1953) 01 Nov 1937 - 12 Sep 1939

Colonel John Holthouse (1891–1964) 13 Sep 1939 - 30 Sep 1940

Major General Christoffel J. ‘Boetie’ Venter (1892–1977) 01 Oct 1940 - 16 Oct 1945

Brigadier Harold G. Willmott (1899–1993) 17 Oct 1945 - 10 Sep 1946

Lieutenant Colonel Hector C. Daniel (1898–1953) 01 Oct 1946 - 30 Jun 1951

Brigadier Harold G. Willmott (1899–1993) 01 Jul 1951 - 25 Aug 1954

Brigadier Stephen A. Melville (1904–1977) 25 Aug 1954 - 22 Sep 1956

Major General Barend G. Viljoen (1908–1995) 23 Sep 1956 - 30 Apr 1965

Lieutenant General Henry J. 'Kalfie' Martin (1910–2000) 01 May 1965 - 30 Nov 1967

Lieutenant General Jacobus Verster (1919–1981) 01 Dec 1967 - 28 Feb 1975

Lieutenant General Robert 'Bob' Rogers (1921–2000) 01 Mar 1975 - 30 Nov 1979

Lieutenant General A. Michael Muller (born 1930) 01 Dec 1979 - 29 Feb 1984

Lieutenant General Denis J. Earp (1930-2019) 01 Mar 1984 - 30 Jun 1988

Lieutenant General Jan P. van Loggerenberg (born 1935) 01 Jul 1988—31 Oct 1991

Lieutenant General James Kriel (1942–2016) 01 Nov 1991 - 30 Apr 1996

Lieutenant General Willem H. Hechter (born 1942) 01 May 1996 - 29 Feb 2000

Lieutenant General Roelf Beukes 01 Mar 2000 - 28 Feb 2005

Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano (born 1951) 01 Mar 2005â&#x20AC;&#x201D;30 Sep 2012

Lieutenant General Fabian Msimang (born 1960) 01 Oct 2012 - Present

Article from Koos de Wet (with Erika van den Bergh) The Buffel Story Part 3B - Out of the starting blocks With my handshake agreement with Busaf Border Pty Ltd and Transerve Pty Ltd to develop what would become the Buffel on a risksharing basis having been "blessed" by my chairman Mr Shenker, it was time to get going. A quick check through UCDD's civilian Unimog stock list revealed that we did not have any Unimog chassis available that were even close to the SADF Unimog specifications so next port of call was the Unimog factory in Gaggenau who advised that they were flat-out building Unimogs for the SADF and the soonest they could squeeze one in would be in about 4 weeks and when preparation and shipment were added we were looking at roughly 9 weeks from order. That was too long for us so other options needed to be explored. About the only practical option then left was to try and get one from the latest Armscor order and replace later or buy/borrow/rent one from the latest order and replace or return to standard specification later. I contacted Armscor immediately and met with Mr Jan Grove, the Manager B-Vehicles of Armscor in the first week of May 1976 in his office to discuss my project and to inquire how we could obtain a SADF Unimog on which to do the development.

This was one of the most important, if not the most important meetings of the whole Buffel

project. The following are taken from my notes of that meeting: 1. Mr Grove reconfirmed that my proposed project was not officially approved and would therefore have no official standing, support or backing. 2. The Unimog 416.162 was being phased out as new generation locally manufactured trucks were "just around the corner" and this was another reason why my project could not be supported. Why do a new project on a product that would be phased out shortly? 3. What we proposed to do we were doing at our own risk and would not have Armscor's blessing nor would they be associated with it. 4. As far as he was concerned, there was no other state department that could assist us as all the official landmine protection programs were agreed and signed off with Defence so we could not expect support or assistance from anyone. 5. If I still wanted to proceed it would be entirely at my own risk (as if I needed to be told this again!) 6. Bullet-proof glass was a "controlled item" meaning Armscor controlled its manufacture and who was allowed to buy it and he would not agree to my obtaining it as mine was not an approved programme. 7. The same applied to the supply of armour plate. It was a controlled item and consequently no armour plate would be made available to me. 8. At that point I had a project with zero prospect of getting the proper glass or armour plate so as a last roll of the dice I said if we could not get the correct glass and steel, we would substitute as (Continued on page 83)

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best we could and still do the development if we could somehow still obtain a Unimog chassis on which to do the development. He said he would look into that and come back to me. 9. Just before I left, Mr Grove reminded me that Local Content was the name of the game going forward and the Department of Trade and Industries would have to be involved and would provide input regarding local content for military projects. I must admit I was quite surprised when he called to say I could use one of the Unimogs of the current Unimog contract for my project on the following conditions: 1. The Unimog was being "lent" to us for our development and remained the property of Armscor. 2. We would be responsible for insuring the vehicle whilst in our possession. 3. It had to be returned latest by the time the last Unimog of the then current contract was being delivered so that gave us about 6 months. 4. It had to be returned in "as new" condition and 100% as per specification. It was clear to me that it would take time to get all the paperwork " through the system" so I decided to take a short cut to save time and to use the Unimog Busaf were using to trial local components on (these items are painted yellow in the attached photographs) until such time as we received the designated Unimog via Armscor. By that weekend we were ready to get going.

1. We would do the integrated rear body first as that seemed less risky and more sensible than starting with a protected cab which, if it did not work, would essentially leave us with nothing. 2. We would first build the new rear body designs in plywood to see where everything could be fitted and it was also cheaper and quicker if we had to make changes. 3. The standard Unimog rear body subframe would be deleted and the mounting system with similar geometry would be incorporated into the new body. 4. The rear body would fit generally within the standard Unimog's rear body geometry and also have the standard canvas top. 5. High centre of gravity (CG) was always a consideration with the Unimog so we had to keep the rear body CG as low as possible. 6. Back to back seating would be used like on the standard Unimog personnel/cargo vehicle. 7. The fuel tank would be mounted underfloor in the base of the body. 8. A water tank with drinking water would also be mounted underfloor in the body. 9. The spare wheel would be moved from the side of the chassis frame to the back of the body. 10. The battery box with the two 12V heavy batteries would also be relocated to further "clean up" the side of the Unimog to allow easier passage for a wheel or underbelly blast. 11. Storage for personal kit would be located at the rear of the body.

At that time I called the project Bosvark 2 as there was of course no official SADF/Armscor project name for it. By using this name I also reasoned that Bosvark 2 might just be more acceptable if it were to replace the Bosvark developed by CSIR because egos needed to be considered in the business of landmine protected vehicles and if anyone in authority felt in the least slighted it could cost you.

12. A fuel balance tank (to ensure continuous fuel supply when negotiating steep gradients) would be located under the body between the chassis rails for protection from small arms fire.

I should mention that DogsBodies had been acquired by Busaf and was now known as Busaf Border Pty Ltd.

14. There would also be hinged rear entry panels with steps to allow troops to climb in from the rear as getting in over the sides was going to be quite a challenge as we saw it.

At our first "project meeting" at Busaf Border that Monday we decided the following:

13. The body would have drop sides behind which the crew would be protected against small arms fire and the drop sides would also be removable so that they could be used as shields on the ground against small arms fire.

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into drawings in no time at all, we soon had a body sketched out whilst Don McKay, the Workshop Manager got the plywood sheets delivered together with the necessary carpentry tools. This was all a bit amusing for the staff who were more used to working with steel and now here we were cutting drilling and gluing plywood in the workshop with sawdust all over the place.

15. We would have to experimentally determine the height of the dropsides to allow the troops to still be able to see over them and still be able to have cover behind them from small arms fire and also be able to fire back over the tops of the dropsides.

Anyway, within the same week we had the concept lower V-body minus dropsides but with chassis mounts and rear kit storage platform in plywood ready for review and discussion (see picture #1) and preliminary fitment to the

16. For the prototype we would make up our own "simulated bullet-proof glass" using wood and perspex with dimensions of glass already in service at the time so that if the project was n successful, we did not have to redesign the windows. 17. We would use mild steel instead of armour plate when building the prototype. 18. I would endeavour to stay strictly within Daimler Benz's design guidelines for the Unimog 416.162 as the last thing I needed was a fight with either their Design or Service Departments which could derail the project and adversely affect the warranty of the vehicle. 19. And importantly - we would use standard Unimog components wherever possible to stay with the standard Through Life Support (TLS) arrangements and protocols already in place for the Unimog AND WITH THE UNIMOG 416.162 SUPPOSEDLY DUE FOR PHASE OUT SHORTLY, ANY NEW NON-STANDARD COMPONENTRY WOULD BE VIEWED AS A NEGATIVE AND ANOTHER RISK WE DARE NOT ADD TO AN ALREADY HIGH RISK PROJECT. With the starters gun now fired we set to work immediately. Working closely with Piet Smit, the chief draughtsman of Busaf , who could turn my ideas

Unimog. Everything appeared to fit OK so we could now move forward. It was time to build a representative body in plywood once again without the rear platform but

with full dropsides - see picture #2. Now we also needed to find a place to fit the spare wheel and in no time a plywood spare wheel rolled out of the workshop to be trial fitted (Continued on page 85)

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us. I consider myself privileged indeed to have had the opportunity to lead and direct such a willing and enthusiastic team and will always recognise their contribution to this project. The unsung heroes in my book who were never acknowledged and without whom the Buffel would never have existed. And in what seemed like no time at all, Don McKay wanted to know what colour I wanted the body painted? Could we really have reached that

at the rear of the body to check the available space - see picture #3 . We had to use a plywood spare wheel as the plywood body was a bit flimsy and the standard Unimog spare wheel was quite heavy. With the plywood body fitted on the Unimog it was time to take a closer look at the dropsides (see picture #4) and what height they should be, how the troops should get in and out and how the spare wheel should be fitted at the rear and we soon realized that that would be easier to experiment with this on the steel body and that could wait until we built it. It was also at that point we decided to leave the hood bows and canvas cover for later as there would likely be difficulties with the operation of the dropsides. With perfect timing the Unimog we were lent by Armscor arrived at Busaf and we could start building a prototype steel body and fitting it to the Unimog. We now had the major dimensions agreed and locked in and now Piet Smit could get cracking producing the drawings for a more representative concept body and within days the workshop were cutting and welding away and manufacturing the body in mild steel as we could of course not access armour plate. Concurrent engineering was the order of the day as drawings were issued and modified as required on the fly and what an exciting time it was as that rear body took shape in literally just a few days. The enthusiasm of all concerned was infectious and the workshop lights would often be on until late at night and often we shared a beer or two (r more....) to officially end the working day and talk about the project. Exciting time for all of

point so quickly, a scant few weeks after having started this project? Yes, we had and out of the workshop rolled the concept vehicle in olive drab green - see photograph #5 No time to slow down now and time to start finalizing the actual prototype design. First major design issue - how high must the dropsides be? #6

ÂŠKoos de Wet

No-one could tell us so we made the call. Don McKay was approximately 178m tall so we used him as our model and used his line of sight (Continued on page 86)

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to determine a sensible height of the dropsides and the height to the ground with the dropsides folded down - see photographs #6 and #7.

are talking about and we need to get it right for the sake of our children and those who served and those who paid the highest price in service of the country. (To be continued…)

A bit of cutting and carving and we had the height we thought was appropriate. Now the time was right to start address the protected drivers cab and that will be covered in Part 3C. Up to this point no one from Armscor or CSIR had seen what we were doing or was involved in our project other than Armscor having lent us a Unimog.

As always, I invite readers who have information available with factual evidence that does not agree with what I have written then my invitation stands for you to provide such information so I can correct the record because this is history we

Philip Malherbe •

Tonnelrotte

Tonnelrotte kenteken, met die nie-amptelike leuse in Latyn (“nie eers ŉ rot se agterend werd nie”). Foto: KRaikkonenSF CC BY-SA 4.0 Benaming Die benaming, Tonnelrotte, is van toepassing op die soldate van die Verenigde State van Amerika (VSA), Nieu- Zeeland en Australiese wat ondergrondse soek- en vernietigsopdragte nagekom het, tydens die Viëtnamese Oorlog (1959-1975). Later, is soortgelyke spanne ook aangewend deur die Russiese Weermag in die Russiese – Afganistan-oorlog en die Israelse Weermag (SAMOOR - “slangmuishond”) in gevegte in die Midde- Ooste. Kwalifikasie van Tonnelrotte Om dus die tonnelvestings, indien hulle ontdek word, te penetreer, het die Amerikaners ŉ spesiale tipe soldaat benodig. Uit die aard van omstandighede, moes hulle nie langer as 1.6 meters wees nie, klein en skraal gebou, en hoogs

Versteekte ingang na tonnel https://www.google.co.za/

gekwalifiseerde vrywilligers wees. Hulle is opgelei in die vind- en onskadelik stelling van bomme, geprakseerde ploftoestelle en fop meganismes, asook kaalhand gevegskuns wat ŉ prioriteit was. (Continued on page 87)

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Dit is heel moontlik die mees primitiewe en naby gevegskuns wat ŉ operateur mag ervaar. Dit is skrikwekkend. Welkom in die ondergrondse oorlog! Jy mag van mening wees dat jy al tevore in sodanige donker omgewing was? Wag tot jy diep ondergrond verkeer en jou ligbron gee die gees. Jy moet in staat wees om ondergronds in algehele donkerte te kan sien. Optiese Nag-visie sal grootliks oneffektief wees in ŉ omgewing met geen lig en met geen temperatuur verandering nie. Die meeste kopligte sal werk, maar benodig meer battery krag.

Die Tonnelrotte in aksie, op soek na ondergrondse geluide om tonnels op te spoor. Verwysing: https://www.google.co.za/

Persoonlike ervaring Die tonnel oorlog as sulks kan beskryf word as ŉ donkerte wat jy nog nooit ervaar het nie, die lug wat jy inasem kan jou dood enige oomblik veroorsaak. Al die dekkingsvuur beskerming - lug, artillerie en pantser – beteken niks. Die dak en walle kan enige oomblik op jou intuimel. Kommunikasie sal dan beëindig word, een verkeerde beweging kan veroorsaak dat jy stoksielalleen verkeer.

Tonnelrot in ŉ beknopte tonnel. Verwysing: https://www.google.co.za/

Tonnelrot op hande en knieë. https://www.google.co.za/

Om ondergrond te wees, in die stikdonkerte nou spasies, kan die sneller wees van ŉ gevoel van hulpeloosheid, selfs vir die mees ervare soldaat.

Gewere het geen plek in dié beknopte spasie ondergronds nie. Agv van die beperkte spasie was die tonnelrotte gedwing om ŉ vuurwapen met slegs een hand te hanteer. Die standaard .45 pistool was nie ŉ baie gewilde keuse nie as gevolg van die feit dat die loop se vlam blits in so klein spasie ŉ ramp was vir die oordromme wat doofheid kon veroorsaak. Die weermag het later die Smith & Western .38 kaliber spesiale rewolwer met ŉ knaldemper en mik-lig uitgereik. Dit was egter ook nie baie gewild nie, aangesien die knaldemper te lank was en nie behoorlik gefunksioneer nie en die lig hul posisie verraai het. Daarom het hulle die .38 rewolwer of .25 (Continued on page 88)

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outomatiese pistool verkies. Indien hulle kontak met die vyand gemaak het, het hul opleiding bepaal dat hulle enkelskote in plaas van sarsies vuur. Die weer galmende eggo’s het die vyand deurmekaar gemaak en aan die raai gehou hoeveel rondtes hulle oor het. Hier en daar kon van die Tonnelrotte daarin slaag om ŉ paar “Office of Strategic Services” (OSS), hoë Standaard HD .22 outomatiese pistole met knaldempers, in die hande te kry. Ongelukkig was daar slegs ŉ paar in omloop en meestal vir aanwending geoormerk vir die OSS.

Bogrondse magte op bystand in afwagting van terugvoer van die ondergrondse tonnelrot https://www.google.co.za/

dit noodsaaklik om gefokus te wees, nie net ten opsigte van wat bogronds en voor jou lê nie, maar ook wat is agter en onder die operateur aangaan.

Werktuie van Tonnelrotte https://www.google.co.za/

Die tonnelrot is ook toegerus met ŉ mes of bajonet (vergemaklik die priem - insteek van lem in grond - om te bepaal of daar versteekte myne, fop meganismes of geprakseerde toestelle versteek is) en ŉ flitslig. Die troepe het ook hul eie inisiatief gebruik en afgesaagde haelgewere en selfvervaardigde bajonette aangewend. Van die lede het hulle ook self toegerus met gasmaskers, wat in elk geval te veel tyd gevat het om aan te sit, jou gehoor beperk het en jou in die warm weer laat versmoor het. As jy nie kan asem haal nie, kan jy nie na behore funksioneer nie. Die onbekende deurdringbaarheid faktor en elke aspek van teen-tonnel operasies, van strategiese vlak tot by die taktiese vlak asook die tegniese vlak – in graad vergelyking is heelwat hoër as bogrondse operasies. Wanneer jy binne in ŉ tonnel is, is jy baie alleen. Die ondergrondse vlak moet aansluit by die bogrondse geveg, vanaf die kontrole van vriendelike magte wat bogronds en ondergrondse opereer om die vyand op te spoor. Tonnels maak

Die gewaarwording van wat jy nie kan waarneem nie en die onsekerheid van die onbekende, verhoog dan dramaties. Dit is nie meer net genoeg vir die soldaat om die agterhoede te beveilig nie, aangesien tonnels dramaties verskyn. Selfs vir goed opgeleide soldate, is dit moeilik om die multidimensionele aspek van ondergronds bedreiging te hanteer. Om ondergrond te opereer vereis ook draad-basis kommunikasie, VHF-radio’s, wat afhanklik is van lyn van sig, is nie in staat om in die ondergrondse doolhof omstandighede te funksioneer nie. Ongelukkig, was draad kommunikasie ŉ basiese vereiste. Tonneltoerusting se voorraad kon ook die volgende insluit, naamlik handgranate, insekdoder salf, ŉ kompas, gereedskap om tonnels groter te maak, rookgranate om tonnel ingange uit te wys aan ander soldate. Die swaarder toerusting het ook ŉ nylontou, koeëlvastebaadjie, gryphakke, werkershandskoene, knieskerms, kopskerm met mikrofoon en aangehegte radio- en oorproppers ingesluit. Klere gewys, was dit ŉ goeie idee om noupassende waterdigte klerasie te dra wat nie sou haak aan enige obstruksies nie en leerhandskoene. Tydens die oorlog in Viëtnam was die VSA se tonnelrotte se ondergrondse omstandighede van (Continued on page 89)

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ŉ Viet Cong soldaat, in ŉ gehurkte posisie in een van die tonnels met ŉ SKS geweer. https://www.chicagotribune.com/

so ŉ aard dat, die “Viet Cong” (VC) (Viëtnamese weermag) na ŉ aanval onttrek het tot onder die grond, waarna die moontlikhede dramaties verander het en die agtervolger skielik die prooi geword het. Aanvanklik is aanvalshonde in tonnels losgelaat, omdat hulle niks geweet het van fopmeganismes nie, met die gepaardgaande bloedbad wat gevolg het, het die hondegeleiers botweg geweier om hul diere verder aan te wend. Later is tonnels gegrawe met U-draaie, soos drein pype. Die idee was om die tonnels vinnig te oorvloei met water en tonnelrotte te verdrink. Die VC het ook giftige gasse in die tonnels gepomp, indien hulle vermoed het dat daar ŉ tonnelrot geskuil het. Met die kleinkaliberhandwapen, was die opdrag dat hulle nie meer as 3 skote in ŉ ry moes afvuur nie – sou jy ses skote afvuur, dan kon die vyand aflei dat jy met ŉ leë rewolwer sit.

Daar is nooit meer as 100 tonnelrotte aangewend nie, en hiervan het meer as ŉ derde omgekom. Hierdie leninge jagters het enigiets vermy wat hulle sintuie sou beïnvloed, selfs naskeermiddels of kougom. Die mes of bajonet, wapens so oud soos die oorlog self, het beslis of hulle sou leef of doodgaan. Fopmeganismes moes in stikdonkerte gevind word. Sluimerende instinkte moes opgeskerp word. Hul vingerpunte en ore het geword soos loopkieries vir die blindes. Jy moes vrees kontroleer en bestuur. Elke beweging is uitgevoer met onbepaalde sorg. Nog nooit was jou sintuie so skerpsinnig nie. In die tonnels, pomp die adrenalien soos ŉ rivier. Jy kan tot jou hart hoor klop. Die VC het giftige bamboesadders (“een stap” of “twee stappe” - is al wat jy kon beweeg na die slangbyt, voordat jy dood is) geneem en vasgemaak aan ŉ stuk bamboes met ŉ stukkie tou. Waar die tonnelrot aan ŉ bamboes geraak het, is hy aan die nek of gesig gebyt. Baie gou het hulle enige stuk bamboes met behulp van ŉ flitslig ondersoek, wat hulle teë gekom het. Asof dit nie genoeg was nie het die VC ook skerpioene in houers versteek gekoppel aan ŉ pootjie draad, wat die skerpioene sou vrylaat. Onder haglike omstandighede, verstikkende hitte, stinkende vuilgoed, engtevrees met elke asemteug, moes die manne deurdruk, maklik honderde meters op ŉ slag. Waar hulle afgekom het op drie vlak tonnels, was daar versteekte valluike tussen die verskillende vlakke. Eerstens moes jy die valluik opspoor, dan moes jy daardeur kruip wat opsigself vreesaanjaend was, aangesien jy nooit kon voorspel wat se fopmeganismes, handgranaat of strooimyn (personeelmyn wat saamgestel is om metaalskroot na detonasie te versprei), op jou wag nie. Swak geboude tonnels kon ook sonder waarskuwing, enige oomblik ineen stort en jou vaspen. Word ŉ lid oorrompel, was die VC se gewilde kunsie om hom te verwurg, sy keel af te sny of ŉ spies dwars in sy keel in te druk – sy kollegas kon hom dan nie uittrek nie, weens die spies wat vasgesteek het in die nou tonnel. In ŉ poging om hom te red, het dit tot verdere ongevalle gelei. Die ongevalle was rondom 33% - ŉ hoë syfer selfs in die Viëtnam Oorlog – wetende wat die soldate (Continued on page 90)

(Continued from page 89)

moes doen, was dit verbasend dat die dodetal nie hoër was nie. Dit was definitief nie ŉ taak vir ŉ swak hart nie. Vandag, vereer selfs die Viëtnamese die tonnelrotte as die taaiste, dodelike vyand wat hulle ooit teëgekom het. Alhoewel die tonnelrotte nie die VSA se missie in Viëtnam kon red nie, is hulle verantwoordelik vir die een van die volhardende en mees vergete hoofstukke in die VSA weermag se geskiedenis.

Lance Corporal William Cox Emerges from a Viet Cong Tunnel, 1969. From the Jonathan F. Abel Collection (COLL/3611), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections - OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH

Gevolge van ondergrond gevegte Sielkundige effek Soldate wat ondergronds in ŉ onbekende terrein opereer ervaar gewoonlik isolasie, verskrikking en engte vrees, wat toegeskryf word aan temperatuur veranderings, navigasie in vreemde omstandighede in doolhowe, ŉ tekort aan natuurlike lig en lug beweging, asook ander soortgelyke ervarings. Die donkerte wat verwyder is van die bogrondse omgewing affekteer die konsep van tyd. Voordat enige kontak gemaak word die gevoel van sekuriteit beïnvloed. Al hierdie faktore gekoppel asook geloofsoortuigings, kulturele oortuigings, vorige soortgelyke ondervindings mag ŉ soldaat psigologiese toestand affekteer, wat heel moontlik tot lang termyn nagevolge mag lei. Gesondheid gevare Van die mees algemene swak lug kondisies, is rook. Die inaseming van ondergrondse rook wat deur ondergrondse vure in tonnels vrygestel word,

kan lei tot verskeie gevaarlike siektes, insluitende verminderde suurstofvlakke, terminale beserings aan boonste lugweë, chemiese beserings by inasem van toksiese gasse wat in rook aanwesig is. Die ander sy van die saak is dat te veel of te min suurstof beide problematies kan wees. Lug gevul met te ryk suurstof (bokant 23.5%) laat die moontlikheid van ŉ ontploffing ontstaan. Te min suurstof kan maklik in ondergrondse tonnels ontstaan, gebrekkige suurstof ontstaan wanneer die suurstof vlak onder 21% (normaal) daal, vanaf 19.5% en laer. Teen 17% suurstof, begin jy kortasem raak, en teen 15% suurstof, word jy duiselig en begin hoofpyn kry. Daarna begin jy jou bewussyn verloor, en onder 9% jy is op die punt om te sterf. Om te herstel benodig jy dringende asemhalingtoerusting of jy moet bogronds terugkeer. Koolstof monoksied (by produk van verbranding – die uitlaat gasse wat vrygestel van voertuie en kragopwekkers) is ŉ reuklose, kleurlose en smaaklose gas, wat saampak in lae gebiede en suurstof verplaas. Vuurwapens wat afgevuur word in nou ruimtes stel vinnige koolstof monoksied vry wat gevaarlike vlakke kan bereik. Koolstof dioksied is ook ŉ kleurlose en reuklose gas wat tonnels binne dring en suurstof verplaas. Selfs lae vlakke in die atmosfeer (minder as 1%) veroorsaak dat persone wat blootgestel word, minder kan fokus, energie verloor, swakheid en angstigheid ondervind. Blootstelling van hoër vlakke (10% tot 15%) vir slegs ŉ paar minute, kan tot bewusteloosheid en versmoring lei, met nog hoër vlakke wat die dood kan veroorsaak. Traumatiese beserings faktor Wanneer geweervuur plaasvind ondergronds met geen of min lig, in beperkte spasie wat uit saamgeperste grond, klip of beton bestaan, kan opslagskote beserings veroorsaak wat tot ernstige traumatiese gevolge mag lei. Wat is die toekoms van tonneloorlogvoering tov opsporing? Weermagte begin al hoe meer opleiding te verskaf vir die hantering van hommeltuie en robotte vir die opsporing en vernietiging ondergronds Hedendaagse opleiding (Continued on page 93)

"Tunnel Rat: Marine Lance Corporal John R. Gartrell (Fort Smith, Arkansas) crawls into a captured North Vietnamese bunker during Operation Meade River, southwest of Da Nang. He is a member of the 26th Marines, 1st Marine Division." Photo dated 1968â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Exact date unknown From the Jonathan F. Abel Collection (COLL/3611), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH - Source URL: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usmcarchives/

Viet Cong Tunnel Complex - License Free to share and use. Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/ 91

Original - Operation "Oregon," 24 April 1967 - a search and destroy mission conducted by an infantry platoon of Troop B, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), three kilometers west of Duc Pho, Quang Ngai Province. An infantryman is lowered into a tunnel by members of the reconnaissance platoon. Permission details This image is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/

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Die weermagte het ŉ nuwe benadering tot die bedreiging. Daar word nou op die terrein gefokus. Twee jaar gelede het die VSA magte sy ondergrondse gewapende magte se moontlikhede geëvalueer en tekortkominge aangeteken. Met die praktiese ondervinding en jare lang studies het hulle die handleidings opgedateer. Dit was vir hulle noodsaaklik om hul visie van gereedheid daar te stel, in alle terreine dwarsoor die wêreld teenoor bedreigings en onaktiewe akteurs. Daar word o.a. gekonsentreer op asemhalingsapparate en opsporingsmeters teen chemiese en ander soortgelyke bedreigings. Alhoewel apparate ontwikkel is wat die soldate in staat stel om tot ŉ uur asem te haal, kan paniek en vlak asemhaling die tydperk met die helfte verminder. Klein veranderings kan ŉ groot verskil maak. Waar gesoute soldate gewoond daaraan is om bevele uit te skreeu of teen die soldaat voor hom te stamp, gedurende eng, vertrek beveiligingsoefeninge, kan die gebruik van gasmaskers die proses bemoeilik. As alternatief kan die aanraking van ŉ skouer moontlik ŉ teken wees vir die volgende stap. Terwyl termiese apparate beskikbaar is, word dit nie aan almal uitgereik nie. Dan word nagsig toerusting ook ontwikkel om lig om effektief te wees. Moontlik kan ŉ opsie die saamdra van addisionele lig bronne wees, die sleutel faktor van die onverwagte binnegaan van ŉ tonnel, vertrek of ŉ stel trappe is juis die dissipline geraas en lig. Verblindende lig om die vyand te verras kan egter na albei kante toe werk.

Waar valskermtroepe eerste op ŉ toneel is, om hindernisse uit die weg te ruim, insluitende battery sweisapparate, sae, katrolle, voorhammers, stampers en muurbrekers, kan die geringste vonk ŉ ontploffing veroorsaak. Die gebruik van klein robotvoertuie op wiele is ŉ opsie om tonnels te penetreer, afhangend van die terrein - wat ongelukkig tydrowend is en die verrassings element uitsluit. Meer opsies

Voortgesette investering in tegnologie. Hier word gedink aan grondsensors, grondpenetreerderradars en gevorderde terrein analiseerders. Nuwe nagsigapparate, beligtingsbronne, lugmonitors, brekingsgereedskap, ballistiese skerms en verbeterde kommunikasie en navigasie gereedskap. · Intensiewe opleiding. Dit sal die volgende insluit – vinnige identifisering, neerpen, neutralisering of vernietiging van ŉ tonnel. · Beklemtoning van intelligensie. Die geskiedenis toon aan dat menslike intelligensie steeds noodsaaklik is vir die opsporing van tonnelaktiwiteite. Aangesien een van die basiese vereistes is die opsporing van gruis / grond uitgrawings, vars oorblyfsels van aanduidings is van onlangse grondverskuiwings. Die “Islamic State” (IS) was terdeë hiervan bewus gedurende 2016, en het kamers in huise met los vuilgoed en grond opgevul. Voortdurende patrollies, soek en nagaan van strukture rondom ŉ basis of wagposte in stedelike areas is onmisbaar ter identifisering van tonnels. Uitbreiding van doktrine en opleiding om tonnels te vernietig. Dit verg spesiale toerusting en inligting van ŉ tonnel se konstruksie, grote en diepte. Selfs die tydelike buite werking stel van ŉ tonnel is genoegsaam. Die mening word al hoe meer gehuldig dat die volgende oorlog, sal stedelik, vuil en ondergrond plaasvind – dit sal die vyand toelaat om te skuil. Dus sal verskillende lande se soldate hul kennis van tonneloorlogvoering met mekaar moet deel as strategie teen die vyand. Bygewerkte Bronne: https://allthatsinteresting.com/tunnel-rats https://www.wearethemighty.com/ https://historycollection.co/ https://mwi.usma.edu/ https://www.ausa.org/ https://www.defenseone.com/ https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/atp3-21-51.pdf https://www.rand.org/ https://www.jpost.com/

Die algemene gevoel is meer kan gedoen word: 93

Wolfgang Witschas • Eben-Emael: The siege and capture of Fort Eben-Emael: Coup from the air: Operation Yellow Historical Background and Plan/ Details of Fort Eben-Emael The Belgian WWll Fort EbenEmael is located near the Belgian village of Eben-Emael in the municipality of Bassenge. Fort Eben-Emael was the keystone of the Belgian defence line of fortifications and is the northernmost of the Fortifications/Fortified Positions of the Liège forts and held a commanding/dominant position on the plateau near the river Meuse and the Albert Canal, the roads leading from Maastricht to the west and above all, the vitally important high bridges over the Albert Canal at Vroenhaven, Veltwetzelt and Canne. Today Fort Eben-Emael is an inactive Belgian fortress still is the property of the Belgian Army, the fort has been preserved as a museum and may be visited. Fort Eben-Emael is located between Liège and Maastricht, on the Belgian-Dutch border, near the Albert Canal. It was designed to defend Belgium from a German attack across the narrow belt of Dutch territory in the region. Constructed between 1931–1935 and abutted the enormous Albert Canal on the western bank, cutting the Caster. The fort was ultra-modern in design and reputed to be "impregnable" and at the time and the largest in the world. The Belgians justifiable felt very secure behind the fortifications. Maps of the frontier area between Belgium and the Netherlands in the vicinity of Fort EbenEmael

Plans and aerial photograph of Fort Eben-Emael. Plan 1

Plan 2

Aerial photograph showing the steep cutting 60 to 40 metre rockface down to the Albert Canal, on the north eastern side, the wide and deep waterfilled trench as well as the adjacent flood plain of the rivers Brook and Jeker. The fort, extending some 700m from east to west and 900m from north to south on the surface it measures 75 ha (150 soccer fields). The fortifications is a gigantic fort with 17 installations/works of different types in a tight complex of artillery and infantry installations/works, co-ordinated to provide mutual cover, and with carefully constructed exterior defensive installations/works on all sides mounted on top of the fortress in steel copulas and casemates were 75mm guns (see plan of the fort: 3a, 9a, 5b & 11d) and 120mm twin-guns (see 8c) which served as its long range weapons and two installations/works with machineguns, searchlights and observation dome (see 5f & 6f). The maximal fire power is 2100 kg per minute. The installations/works are deployed similarly to a fighting ship: on the top of the hill you find the long -distance artillery. The shape of the fort is an isosceles triangle. On its east side there is an impressive â&#x20AC;&#x153;naturalâ&#x20AC;? protection system which is the passage of the Albert Canal through the hill, with 60 meters high steep walls. Around the border you find the short distance defence bunkers and other obstacles. Left: View from within the fort from the eastern side towards the back of the single entrance (see17).

Left: Side view of a casemate. The damage caused by explosives can clearly be seen. Below: Retractable turret with 75mm can rotate 360 degrees

Left: Observation cupola

Above: Casemates on top and within the fort with 75mm guns.

Below: An Observation cupola after penetration by a shaped "hollow" charge.

Above right: Shaped charge (also called "hollow charge") bombs to penetrate the cupola.

An indication of the size of the casemates from a front view with victorious German paratroopers in front.

fort proper (see 12j, 13j & j). An anti-aircraft machinegun position comprising of five machineguns in a rectangle with one gun in the middle (see i). On the north eastern side, a steep cutting 60 to 40 metres rockface down to the Albert Canal, provided complete security. Two installations/works with machineguns, two rapid-fire anti-tank guns and searchlights protected the approach across the canal (see 15e &16e). Northern side Illustration how the shaped "hollow" charge explodes.

Installation/work on the Albert Canal's southern end/ entrance of the canal of the fort and near to the Maas river (see 16e)

Southern side

Installation/work on the Albert Canals' northern end of the fort near the Canne bridge (see 15e)

The fort proper had an anti-tank trench inside the fort that ran on the southern side from the canal all the way to the entrance installation/work (see 17). Barbed wire obstacle ran from two installations/ works on the northern part of the fort (see 4f& 6f) as well as around 4f and in a loop from 4f towards the north western perimeter to installation/work 14g and finishing the loop towards the north inside the fort.

The fort had three dummy installation/works, two in the most northern part of the fort and one in the south on the bank of the Albert Canal outside the 97

Brooke. The last outer installation/work in the north (14g) protected the length of the trench.

Water filled trench.

Concrete wall A four-metre-high concrete wall formed part of the outer defence on the perimeter on the southern and partially south western side of the fort to the entrance installation/work (see 17). Five installations/works (see: 7,10,14, 17 'entrance' & one between 17 and 14) formed part of the length of the wall which included the single entrance. Installation/work 10 had one 75mm gun, antitank - gun and machineguns facing south and one 75mm gun facing north, towards the inside of the fort. Around the border you find the short distance defence installations/works and other obstacles. Barbed wire obstacles were in front of the antitank ditch surrounded the complete perimeter from the southern tip of the Albert Canal to the northern tip of the canal. These installations/works (7, 10, 14, 17 and done between 14 &17) were armed with anti - tank guns, machineguns and searchlights that protected the forts outer ground approaches. Infront of the wall was a line of trenches (see g). From the fort's entrance in the northerly direction the outer perimeter was protected by a wide and deep trench filled with water via a floodgate from the adjacent rivers Jeker and

Casemate with 75mm gun inside/on top of the plateau. The single entrance (see17).

Front view 98

Installation/work most southern in the perimeter Front view

An impressive tunnel system of 5.5 km linter connected and linked all these individual installations/ works embedded deeply in the native rock of the plateau with access only through a single entrance.

Side view from the front

Damaged caused by the explosives in the underground shafts and tunnels

Installation/work with retractable turret armed with a 75mm gun that can rotate 360 degrees on the most northern part within the fort, facing towards the canal Deep in the mountain, 60 meters below its highest point to the north, there are the underground barracks fully equipped for a garrison of 1200 sol99

diers: sleeping quarters, kitchen, showers, technical rooms, hospital, water source and electricity generating plant. Objective to Capture Fort Eben-Emael One of the German Wehrmacht's first and most decisive objectives with the invasion of the Low Countries of Belgium and Holland was the attack and capture of Fort Eben-Emael which together with the three vitally important high bridges over the Albert Canal at Vroenhaven, Veltwetzelt and Canne, would open the way to safeguard their rapid victory and open the way to invade France before the Allies (France & Great Britain) had a chance to deploy enough troops, armour and artillery and to halt the German invasion.

Bridge at Veltwetzelt

Preparations and Planning for the Siege and capture Of Fort Eben-Emael The Germans had planned the capture of the fort well in advance and with attention to detail. In preparation the paratroopers who were also all highly trained sappers, had practised assaulting a full-scale mock-up of the fort's exterior in occupied Czechoslovakia in the Sudetenland border area between Germany and Czechoslovakia, using the recently built and captured border fortifications that were modelled to a large degree on western designs. Trial demolitions were carried out at Polish installations near Gleiwitz in the then occupied Poland. Belgian Army deserters from Belgian fortifications were interrogated, and the Germans were able to verify existing information regarding the various Belgian fortifications including EbenEmael against the information obtained from the deserters.

Paratroopers conducting training on full size mock - ups of Fort Eben-Emael

Bridge at Vroenhaven Bridge at Canne: Was destroyed by the Belgians defenders minutes before it could fall into German hands

Adolf Hitler himself conceived a plan to take over the fort by getting men on top of it by using gliders to overcome the problem of concentrating an airdrop of paratroopers on a small target, and utilizing the new top secret shaped charge (also called "hollow charge") bombs to penetrate the cupolas and casemates. Good espionage and superior planning, combined with unpreparedness on the Belgian side, helped make the execution of Hitler's top secret plan a swift and overwhelming success. The capture of Fort Eben-Emael involved the first utilization of gliders for the initial attack and the first use of "hollow chargeâ&#x20AC;? devices in war. Sturmabteilung Koch To achieve the objective of capturing and securing the three vital b5 Koch and the pilots and 42 DFS 230 freight gliders. were to transport the paratroopers 100

Oberleutnant (Captain) 1940 and 1944 Oberstleutnant (Colonel) Walter Koch (right) with Knight's Cross at his neck Oberleutnant Koch himself was assigned to capture, secure and hold the three bridges across the Albert Canal, at Vroenhaven, Veltwetzelt and Canne. 31 gliders were to transport 350 paratroopers including Koch and the pilots to the bridges. Oberleutnant Rudolf Witzig (left) was assigned to capture and neutralize Fort Eben-Emael. 11 gliders were to transport 88 paratroopers including himself and the pilots to the fort.

onset. For this reason, it was necessary to seize the three Albert Canal bridges undamaged, to seize the Fort and put it out of action. The Germans knew they could not achieve this objective quickly by orthodox/conventional methods of warfare, even by dropping paratroopers. So, the German High Command decided to use DFS 230 gliders, towed to the target by Junker Ju 52 transport aircrafts, which could approach silently and invisible in the half-light and which would possess the element of total surprise. In order to achieve this surprise, it was essential for the gliders to land the same time as the German army first crossed the frontier.

DFS 230 Fright gliders could carry eight fully equipped paratroopers including the pilot into action.

Map of the battle at Fort Eben-Emael The Siege and Capture of Fort Eben-Emael In the early morning of 10 May 1940 at 05:25 Germany invaded the Low Countries of Belgium and Holland. The rapid breakthrough by the German VI Army between Roemund and Liège depended on overcoming these frontier obstructions at the

Junkers Ju 52 (Tante Ju) transport aircraft. Could transport twelve fully equipped paratroopers into action On 10 May 1940 at 04:25, 88 paratroopers of the German 7th Flieger (later 1st Fallschirmjäger Division) under command of Oberleutnant Rudolf Witzig and part of " Sturmabteilung Koch" were transported in 11 DFS 230 gliders, towed by Junkers Ju 52 transport planes from the Cologne airport Köln - Ostheim Germany to the fort. Each glider transported 8 paratroopers including the pilot also a paratrooper. The paratroopers were armed with Walther P38 pistols, MP40 submachineguns, hand grenades and one MG34 ma101

chinegun, smokeboms entrenching tools and a radio. Furthermore, every glider section had a flamethrower, collapsible ladders and a number of 50kg shaped charge bombs, also called "hollow charges", to penetrate the gun cupolas an casemates.

The glider borne paratrooper force under the command of Oberleutnant (Captain) Rudolf Witzig, was to capture the fort and a special unit, about Brigade strength of paratroopers of "Sturmabteilung Koch" that also were transported by gliders to their targets, the three bridges over the Albert Canal, were to capture, secure and defend the three bridges until the German 6th Army units arrived from Germany via Luxemburg and Holland to relieve the paratroopers. To confuse the Belgians, dummy paratroopers were dropped over the Belgian side of the Albert Canal further west of the fort in the vicinity of the two towns of Eben and Emael. When the 11Junkers Ju 52 transport planes and the 11 gliders that were towed were flying over Holland near the town of Maastricht en route to the Belgian border, the Dutch anti-aircraft artillery fired at the gliders and the towing planes. Luck was on the side of the paratrooper as no tow plane or glider was hit. At 08:25, five minutes before the 6th Army crossed the frontier, nine of the eleven gliders approached the fort in a light mist, through which the outlines of the top of the fortification could dimly be perceived. Nine gliders with a total of 72 paratroopers landed on top of the fort itself. Two gliders, including the one that transported Oberleutnant Witzig had to make landings in Germany as their towropes had parted prematurely. The nine gliders that approached and landed were met by anti-aircraft and machinegun fire. The nine sections of which eight were led by Feldwebels (Sergeants) and one by sections by Oberfelwebel (Sergeant-Major) Wenzel, quickly disembarked

from their gliders now under command of Sergeant-Major Wenzel, who took over the command until Oberleutnant Witzig, the detachment commander would arrive.

The instructions were that first all infantry weapons and anti-aircraft guns firing in the open, and there after the installations with artillery particular102

ly those directed to firing to the north, were to be destroyed. Anti-aircraft machinegun position comprising of five machineguns in a rectangle with one gun in the middle (see i) were destroyed and captured immediately after little resistance. Within ten minutes of after landing the various sections successfully attacked and destroyed nine occupied and defended installations/works (see: 3, 4, 5, 6,7 8, 9,10 & 11). The "hollow charges" were placed on seven armoured domes and five exploded with complete success. Nine 75mm guns in in three casemates were destroyed. In installation/work 8, a flat armoured dome of 6m in diameter could not be penetrated but once the dome lifted up and the 12cm twin guns were exposed, they were effectively destroyed by two 1kg charges thrown down the two barrels. Only seven sections of 55 men took part in this action, as two sections were sent to the northern part of the fort, whereas the paratroopers had assumed two strong fortifications (see: 12 & 13j) were situated. It was determined that these two installations/works were dummy works with tin domes of 6m in diameter. This resulted that the efforts of these two sections were in fact wasted during the vital first decisive minutes.

garrison was unable to dislodge them from the surface of the fort.

Twin 120mm gun copula: Before the seige

After the siege Dummy installation/work There were no mines within the area of the fort. The only installations and area protected by barbed wire was in the north. Barbed wire obstacle ran from two installations/works on the northern part of the fort (see 4 & as well as around 4 and in a loop from 4 towards the north western perimeter to installation/work 14g and finishing the loop towards the north inside the fort. Before installation/work 4 could be destroyed the paratroopers of these two sections had to free themselves with wire cutters and use their flamethrowers to silence a machinegun firing from the installation/work before it could be destroyed by the explosive charges. The paratroopers were unable to penetrate inside the underground galleries, but the 103

of the ascent shafts, each about 40 meters deep below installations/works 4, 5 and 6, which were defended by barricades of rail, barbed wire and sandbags. In the narrow passages and trenches the explosions had a devastating effect.

Left: Paratroopers on the move to the next target. Right: A German Soldier with a flamethrower attacks a Belgian bunker. Oberleutnant Witzig and his section, eventually managed that a replacement Junkers Ju 52 could tow the glider to the fort after making a makeshift runway for the Junkers to land, hook the glider, take off and tow it to the fort. The glider eventually arrived three hours later at the fort, also landed on top and Witzig's section joined the fighting paratroopers. Witzig then took over command again after consulting Wentzel and being briefed of the battle situation. The other section whose glider's towrope had also parted prematurely, and which landed near DĂźren where not so fortunately as to commandeer a new tow plane and had to join the first troops of the 6th Army advancing towards Holland. The final task of the assault force on the fort was to blow in the fortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance (see 17) and press the attack into the depth of the fortress, holding all captured positions until relief arrived. During some hours of moderate fighting the paratroopers managed to reconnoitre the entrance and penetrate the installations/works already captured By then the Belgian artillery began to shell the top of the fort and their infantry repeatedly attacked the paratrooper's positions from over the north western slopes of the fort, which was covered by dense undergrowth. This situation forced the paratroopers to defend themselves in the north- western area, so that they only managed to remain in occupation of this part. Later it was learned from Belgian sources that this was in fact no serious counter attack, but merely reconnoitring advances. During the afternoon and night, the paratroopers detonated charges up to 100kg at the bottom

During the afternoon of 10 May, the paratroopers were relieved by the advancing German infantry. Due to the heavy resistance of the Belgian defenders at and around the destroyed Canne-bridge, the sappers of the 51st Battalion, detailed to relive the group of Oberleutnat Witzig's paratroopers at the fort, were prevented from crossing the Albert Canal by heavy fire from installation/work (see 15) by the side of the canal. The paratroopers eventually managed to bring this installation/work under partial control by using hanging charges to block the lookout slits of the observation dome with smoke and dirt. That night was uneventful. After the hard fighting during the day, the detachment lay exhausted and parched under scattered fire from the Belgian artillery and infantry outside the fort. Every burst of fire might have signalled the beginning of the counterattack they expected. On 11 May at 07:00 the advance section of 51st Sapper Battalion at last arrived at the fort, having crossed the ditch in a rubber dingy in front of installation/work (14) that they had neutralized, which Witzig's detachment had attempted to blow up twice the previous day. The way was then open for the whole battalion to enter the fort. Towards noon more German soldiers entered the fort from the western edge and helped to neutralize the last Belgian installations/works that still were firing continuously at the Germans, (see 7, 15 & 16) which signalled the capitulation of Fort Eben-Emael. Siege and capture of the Albert Canal Bridges At the same time that Fort Eben-Emael was attacked, 31 gliders transporting 350 fully armed paratroopers with rifles, MP40 submachineguns, MG34 machineguns, hand grenades of Oberleutnant Koch's group, who were entrusted to attack, capture and secure the three bridges over 104

the Albert Canal, arrived at their target. The gliders were towed from the Cologne airport, Kรถln Butzweilerhof to the target. When the gliders were flying over Holland the Dutch anti-aircraft artillery fired at the gliders and the towing planes. Luck was on the side of the paratrooper as no tow plane or glider was hit. When they approached the frontier of Belgium they split into three groups and approached low the various bridges that were covered in a light mist from the north east and landed on the left bank of the canal right into the middle of the Belgian defences in close proximity of the bridges at Veldtwetzeld and Vroenhoven. They managed to seize two of the bridges, the one Vroenhaven and Veltwetzelt over the canal. Profiting from the confusion caused by the appearance of these unfamiliar aircraft, which have seemed to the Belgians as ordinary aircraft in difficulties, the paratroopers cut the cables to the bridges' demolition charges as well as the telephone cables, and then threw the explosive charges into the canal.

The destroyed bridge at Canne Koch's paratroopers that seized and were holding the bridges were later in the morning reinforced by paratroopers that were dropped by parachute to strengthen the glider force at the bridges in their effort to repell numerous Belgian counter attacks, until the infantry of the 6th army could relieve them.

Paratroopers dropped to reinforce Koch's glider landed paratroopers at the three bridges. Belgian soldiers surrender to German paratroopers at the bridge at Veldwezelt. In the meanwhile the gliders of the third group that were approaching the bridge at Canne, were prevented from an accurate landing in close proximity of the bridge, due to the rough terrain, the Belgians had time to blow up the bridge and inflicted heavy losses to the paratroopers from the bridges bunker's machineguns. This prevented it from being used by the Germans but also preventing a relieving force of infantry from aiding the fortress.

On 11 May 1940 Fort Eben-Emael surrendered when the paratroopers were relieved by the German 151st Infantry Regiment of the 6th Army. While 1,200 soldiers were authorized to be at the fort on any given day, only 650 were there, with an additional 233 troops six km away at the time of the German attack. The Germans lost only six of the assaulting paratroopers/sappers and had 21 wounded, keeping all the defenders pinned down until the arrival of the main attacking army. After the extraordinary success in the capture of the fort, Hitler personally 105

Wolfgang Witschas Sources Wikepidea - https://en.wikipedia.org/ Publication Purnells History of WWII, Volume ll. Books

Aus der Luft in Gefecht: Die Geschichte der Falschirmjäger und Luftlandetruppen aller Mächte: 1918 bis Heute. Maurice Tugwell Deutsche Falschirmjäger und Luftlandetruppen: 1936 – 1945, Roger Edwards • Translation to English done by WG Witschas

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Operasie Blouwildebees: 26 Augustus 1966 : Slag van Ongulambashe

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Durban Borough Police & Durban City Police - The oldest police force in South Africa! More Oom. This article is from John Bannerman. So I joined the DCP in 1971 and after completing my extensive training under Sergeant Karel Blom, such training including extensive sessions in the correct way to do point duty. It even had a particular display of point duty complete with white gloves and arm bands during the passing out parade.

Now being suitably trained in the challenging duties of controlling moving traffic by waving your arms about and hoping the motorists in their vehicles first of all saw you standing in the middle of the intersection and then obeyed your signals to stop, go, turn left or right or slow down, taking your life in your hands and continually being prepared to make a break for it in the interests of self preservation. After a couple of weeks I was considered safe and able to enter the battleground on my own at various intersections in Durban and surrounding high traffic areas during peak hours as Traffic Lights were few and far between and often failed in those days. At last I was posted for a weeks duties on beach area foot patrol including afternoon peak hour point duty at the intersection of Brickhill Road and Somtsue Road. This intersection had the Alan Ford (hot rod and speedway) Stadium on one corner and the old Durban Ice Rink on the other corner. Now this intersection was the main route from the city centre to the high rise flats on the northern section of the Durban beachfront and as such was very heavily trafficked by resident going home after a days work in the city. Due to the high volume of vehicles using the Right turn from Brickhill Road in to Somtsue Road, City

Police management decided the constables on duty would be better seen if standing on an elevated position in the middle of the intersection. This height was obtained by the constable standing on a heavy wooden platform that was stored on the side of the road - this box was substantial and heavy and needed to be dragged from the side of the road to the middle of the intersection and back at the end of the constables shift. The path of the right turning motorist was supposed to be around the box and the constable standing thereon but many motorist took the other route going in front of the box and constable. Now some motorists either through poor driving skills or evil intention tried to drive as close as possible to the box the constable was standing on. Obviously standing on this box in the middle of moving traffic provided no opportunity for the constable to escape should he see a vehicle about to collide with the box. Furthermore on being a rather small wooden rectangle the inattentive constable could misjudge the size of the platform and actually fall off in to the traffic. All intersections in Durban where point duty was done was visited by one or more of the visiting sergeants such as Sgt's Scott, Webster, Burnup (before he became an Inspector) and Sergeant Burt Moore. On one occasion when I was on the box one of the right turning drivers actually clipped the corner of the box knocking me off, fortunately with no injuries. After this incident and having no possible escape route I decided enough was enough and dragged the box out of the road to continue my shift at ground level. Arrives Sergeant Moore who was most annoyed that I was not using the box and despite my (Continued on page 119)

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reasons and protestations insisted I get back on the box to complete my shift. Now many heavy articulated vehicles including those carrying sugar from the docks travelled this route often travelling very close to the edge of the road where the box was stored when not in use. I am happy to report that by the actions of persons unknown the box ended up under the trailer

wheels of one of these vehicles rendering it to a pile of firewood. Nothing was ever said about the destruction of this box and the boxes were phased out a short while later thanks to a report to the Chief by Sgt Moore after my incident. Regards Darryn Newcombe

Sgt Karel Blom (left) and Sgt John Bannerman (right), both later became officers in the Durban City Police.

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Vecht-General JJC “Cheere” Emmet (ABW & WO1): Nico Moolman (Utrecht) Below from left to right: Gen Cheere Emmet, Robert emmet and Joe Wigget. Cheere Emmet was the brother-in-law of General Louis Botha. Gen. Botha was married to Ms. Annie Emmet. Robert Emmet was a member of the “Geheime Politie” (Secret Police) of the ZARPs (ZuidAfrikaanshe Republiek Politie). He was a secret agent in Natal for President Kruger. They all fought on the Boer side during the (2nd) Anglo Boer War. A Vecht-General is known as a Combat-General.

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Lt. kol AN Lesch: Legende van die SA Polisiekollege Troepsersant

Voorste ry vlnr: 5de Hoofkonstabel Bokkie Breedt, luit LG Snyman en o/sers Lesch – ander onbekend.

As troepsersant tydens ‘n uitpaseringsparade.

As AO in die SAP-kollege – seker tydens ‘n nagparade afgeneem.

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Voorste ry vlnr: 5de lt. LG Snyman, kol. PL 'Piet-Aldershot' Grobbelaar en o/sers. Lesch.

As troepsersant op parade. (Ek kan tot vandag die kragstasie en Yskor se rook ruik!â&#x20AC;? - HBH)

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Twee legendes, lt.-kol. LG “Vingers” Snyman en AO AN “Kraai” Lesch in kenmerkende houding afgeneem.

‘n Parade in die SAP Gimnasium – (ons het almal aan daardie balke en dik toue gehang!)

Springbokkleure vir grootkaliberskiet verwerf! 123

Kaptein Lesch tydens ‘n parade as Aide de ’Camp – heel agter (later brigadier) Duveen Botha.

As luitenant-kolonel op parade! Kiersregop! 124

As afgetrede lid het hy steeds by polisiegesellighede ingeskakel.

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Foto's en berigte verkry van mnr Paul Lesch. Kol Lesch is op 5 Maart 1929 te Malmesbury gebore en is op 18 April 2028 in Pretoria oorlede. RiV. Saluut! â&#x20AC;&#x201C; HBH.

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Bakytzhan Bakirov, 36 (Above), jumped out of a 13th floor window while chasing a suspected paedophile

Hero policeman jumped out of 13th FLOOR window to catch 'paedophile' who 'raped 15year-old girl' in Kazakhstan • Officer Bakytzhan Bakirov, 36, was called to an apartment in Almaty, Kazakhstan, amid reports a 15-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted • When he arrived, suspect Citizen Sh ran and jumped out of a 15th floor window • Bakriov jumped out after him, and fortunately the pair landed on a balcony

Police partner Meyir Nesipbay

When the pair arrived, suspect Citizen Sh ran and jumped out of the window - with Bakirov following close behind him. Bakirov said it only occurred to him later that Sh might have been trying to kill himself rather than be arrested. +3 Fortunately for the officer, there was a balcony just two storeys below which he and Sh landed on. Despite suffering a broken foot, Bakirov managed to hold on to Sh until backup arrived, and has now been honoured with a bravery medal.

• Officer managed to hold Sh until his partner arrived, and man was arrested

Sh is also accused of stealing £13,000 from the girl's house and 'terrorising' her four-year-old brother.

By Will Stewart in Moscow for Mailonline

If convicted, Sh will undergo chemical castration under Kazakhstan's tough laws.

Published: 12:19 BST, 20 July 2020 | Updated: 12:53 BST, 20 July 2020 A policeman has been hailed a hero after he jumped out of a 13th floor window in order to catch a suspected paedophile in Kazakhstan. Bakytzhan Bakirov, 36, and partner Meyir Nesipbay were called to an apartment in Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, to reports that a man had broken in and sexually assaulted a 15year-old girl.

'There was only one thought in my head - to catch him and I didn't think about anything else,' said Bakirov. 'I jumped out before realising it, but there was no fear. I had no idea there was a terrace two floors below…. 'You don't think about anything - the main thing is to catch the criminal, so I jumped after him. (Continued on page 128)

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'What if the suspect wanted to commit suicide in order not to go to jail? And I, without hesitation, jumped after him. 'Yes, our work is fraught with great risks every dayâ&#x20AC;Ś but such moments are very sobering.' He and colleague Meyir Nesipbay had been sent to a 13th floor flat where it was known the suspected child sex attacker was hiding. The suspect ran through the flat and jumped from an open window. Bakirov - who has two daughters and six sons - said it was the thought of protecting the children that motivated him. After three operations on this foot 'doctors told me I will still be able to chase criminals'. He was awarded a bravery medal by police chiefs, as was his colleague who rushed to his aid.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/

Fortunately for Bakirov there was a balcony two storeys below the apartment, which he landed on along with the suspect (pictured, the city of Almaty, where the incident took place)

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SOUTH AFRICANS COMMONWEALTH WAR HARINGHE (BANDAGEM) MILITARY CASUALTIES BURIED ACROSS THE WORLD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CEMETERY: BELGIUM PART 29 Bandaghem, like Dozinghem and Mendinghem, South Africans participated in almost every theatre were the popular names given by the troops to of war during both the First and Second World groups of casualty-clearing stations posted to this Wars. According to the Commonwealth War area during the First World War. The cemetery site Graves Commission Casualty Data Base 7 290 was chosen in July 1917 for the 62nd and 63rd (includes 607 unknown) First World War casualties Casualty Clearing Stations and burials from these and 9 986 (includes 84 unknown) Second World and other hospitals (notably the 36th Casualty War casualties are buried in 1 207 cemeteries Clearing Station in 1918) continued until October while 2 959 First World War and 2 005 Second World War casualties are commemorated on 48 memorials. This does not include the 1 750 members of the South African Native Labour Corps and the 306 from the South African Book of Remembrance whose names are in the process of being added to the Commonwealth War Graves Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Casualty Data Base. With South Africans having served far and wide it is not surprising that you would find single or small group graves in cemeteries across the

1918. The cemetery contains 772 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is a separate plot of 39 German war graves, but four plots (X, XI, XII and XIII) of French graves were removed to other burial grounds after the war. There are also five Second World War burials in the cemetery, three of which are unidentified. The cemetery was ginald Blomfield.

world. Here are some of those cemeteries where one or a very small group of South Africans are buried.

designed

Sir

Re-

There are seven South African casualties from the First World War buried in the cemetery.

DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY: BELGIUM (Continued on page 130)

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Westvleteren was outside the front held by Commonwealth forces in Belgium during the First World War, but in July 1917, in readiness for the forthcoming offensive, groups of casualty-clearing stations were placed at three positions called by the troops Mendinghem, Dozinghem and Bandaghem.

The 4th, 47th and 61st Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Dozinghem and the military cemetery was used by them until early in 1918. There are now 3,174 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and 65 German war graves from this period. The cemetery also contains 73 Second World War burials dating from the Allied withdrawal to Dunkirk in May 1940.

latter group are many graves of October 1914. In May 1940, The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dun-

kirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944. The cemetery now contains 1,116 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 181 of the burials are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to one casualty who is believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 19 casualties buried by the Germans in other burial grounds whose graves could not be found on concentration. There are also ten burials of the Second World War in the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw. here are 4 South African casualties from the First World War buried in the cemetery. PRAGUE WAR CEMETERY: CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague War Cemetery was constructed by the Czechoslovak Government, to plans provided by The cemetery was designed by Sir Re- the Imperial War Graves Commission, under the ginald Blomfield. terms of the War Graves Agreement of 3 March There are 15 South African casualties from the 1949. It contains 256 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 34 of which are unidentified. First World War buried in the cemetery. The graves were brought into the cemetery from HARLEBEKE NEW BRITISH CEME- 73 small cemeteries scattered all over the Czech TERY: BELGIUM Republic. Many of those buried here died as PrisHarlebeke village was taken on the night of 19-20 oners of War. There are also eight Polish war October 1918 by the 9th (Scottish) Divi- graves. sion. Harlebeke New British Cemetery was made There are 19 South African casualties from the after the Armistice when graves were brought in World War 2 buried in the cemetery. from the surrounding battlefields of 1918 and, in 1924-25, from German cemeteries or plots in Bel- PEMBA CEMETERY: MOZAMBIQUE gium. The earlier concentrations are in Plots I and (Continued on page 131) X, and the later in Plots I, II and XI to XIX. In the

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LUMBO BRITISH CEMETERY: MOZAMBIQUE

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Pemba (formerly known as Porto Amelia) was the base of the Anglo-Portuguese forces in 1918 and 103 Commonwealth casualties (including 1 unidentified) and one Portuguese soldier are now buried in the Commonwealth plots. There are 33 South African casualties from the World War 1 buried in the cemetery.

Lumbo British Cemetery was made after the First World War to take the Commonwealth burials from Lumbo, Chinde, Quelimane and Villa Bocafe European Cemeteries. It contains 75 burials including 6 soldiers whose names and units are unknown. The Lumbo British Cemetery Memorial to African and Indian casualties who are buried elsewhere, is located in the cemetery. There are 35 South African casualties from World War 1 buried in the cemetery.

Lumbo British Cemetery: Mozambique

Capt Andre van SAPS Vryheid

Ellinckhuyzen,

Private Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch: The tragic death of a Vryheid farmer at Kestell At the start of the Great War in August 1914, the British Government had called upon its dominions to come to its assistance. The South African Government under the leadership of its first Prime Minister, General Louis Botha, declared its support to the cause through a vote in Parliament, and was asked to send an army to invade and conquer German South West Africa. The wounds, and battle scars from the Anglo Boer War that had ended in 1902, barely twelve years prior to 1914, were still fresh and

a long way from being healed, resulting in a rebellion (fondly known as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Five Shilling Rebellionâ&#x20AC;?) by almost twelve thousand Afrikaners under the leadership of Generals De Wet, Beyers, and De La Rey. Due to this rebellion the South African Government was forced to put a hold on its initial invasion of the German territory in September 1914. After the surrender of the rebels, the Union Defence Force consisting of fifty thousand men, under the command and leadership of General Louis Botha, (later Field Marshall) Jan Christian Smuts, General Coenraad Brits, Major General Sir Henry Timson Lukin, General Hermanus Nicolaas Wilhelm Botha, and General Marthinus Wilhelmus Myburgh, again invaded German South West Africa in early January 1915, and on the 9th of July 1915 the five thousand strong German Schutztruppe under the command of Erich Victor Carl August Franke, surrendered to the Springboks at Khorab near the town of Otavi just south-east of (Continued on page 132)

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what is today the Etosha National Park. Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch, was born in Paulpietersburg on a Sunday the 5th of July 1885. His father Philippus Jacobus “Philip” Koch of the farm Uitzoek near Paulpietersburg, was born in Cradock in the Eastern Cape, and was killed in action during the Anglo Boer War on 23 October 1901 in a skirmish at Pongola Bush near Wakkerstroom. His mother Magdalena Petronella Koch born Bierman, remained an unmarried widow for many years until her death at Volksrust on the 10th of August 1930, at the age of 80 years. Philippus Jacobus Koch was buried where he fell, and his name is inscribed on the Anglo Boer War Memorial at the Dutch Reformed Church in Utrecht. Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch had nine siblings, namely: Magdalena Petronella Koch (1870), who was married to Gerrit Johannes Joubert of Piet Retief. Magdalena passed away in 1893. Gerrit then married Johanna Elizabeth Leeuw in 1896, and he died in Swaziland in 1931; Martina Elsie Johanna Koch (1872), who was married to Johannes Jurgens Potgieter a farmer on the farm Driefontein in the then declared Boer Republic of “Klein Vrystaat” at Piet Retief; Suzara Johanna Elizabeth Koch (1873), who was married to Hendrik Christoffel van Tonder of the farm Langgewacht at Wakkerstroom; Maria Magdalena Koch (1876), who was married to Lucas Marthinus Labuschagne, a farmer at Frisgewaagd near Paulpietersburg; Philippus Jacobus Koch (1880), who was a farmer on the farm Koubad near Paulpietersburg, who was married Anna Francina Hendrina Adriana Scheepers, and was tragically killed on his farm in 1927 in a freak accident when he was trampled to death by his own mules; Jacobus Albertus Koch (1882), was captured by the British in November 1901 at Pongola Bush during the Anglo Boer War, and was sent to Bermuda as a “POW”. He returned home at the end of 1902, and married Maggel Gertruida Coetzer in 1905. Aletta Jacoba Sophia Koch (1887), who was married to Christiaan Frans Gunter, a farmer of Klipspruit near Utrecht; Catharina Johanna Elizabeth Koch (1889), who was married to William Francis Mayoss, a farmer from Scheepersrust, and of Jagtdrift farms near

Paulpietersburg; and Hendrik Gerhardus Koch (1891), who was married to Johanna Catharina Labuschagne of the farm Rustverwacht in the district of Utrecht. On 1 November 1909, and in the Magistrates Court at Vryheid, Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch was married to Judith Magrietha “Grieta” Kunzmann, born 1892, a German speaking cattle farmer’s daughter of the farm Vredehof situated at the foot of Ntabankulu Mountain between Leeunek and Msagweni east of Vryheid. “Grieta” was the only child of Adolph Carel Diederik Kunzmann, and of Judith Margaretha Moolman. Adolph Kunzmann also had three children from his first wife Catharina Elizabeth “Katrina” Kunzmann born Kriel. Katrina died on the 8th June 1901 after contracting Enteric Fever in a “Boer Refugee Camp” at Eshowe in Zululand. In an article by J. Wasserman on the Anglo Boer War Concentration-and-Refugee Camps in Eshowe, it is written that a large number of farmers and their families from Vryheid and its surrounding areas fled the Vryheid area also to Eshowe, fearing attack by the British Army and rogue groups of the local African population who sided with the British. The majority of these “refugees” were later moved to the Merebank and Jacobs Concentration Camps near Durban. As is the case with the ancestors of the German communities in Natal in the areas such as New Germany (Neu-Deutschland), Hermannsburg, Luneburg, Augsburg, Harburg, Izotsha, Braunschweig, and Gluckstadt, the ancestors of the Kunzmann’s also arrived in Natal (KZN) in the 1840’s, mostly as missionaries, farmers, or as tradesmen. These German immigrants established their own German Lutheran Churches and schools, like the Lutheran Churches and adjacent schools at Luneburg and Gluckstadt, in those areas in which those communities could retain and practice their language, their traditions and cultures. To this day these communities remain strongly close knit, and steadfast in their German heritage and culture. (The German Heritage in South Africa. GGSA-GSSA). Two children were born from the marriage of Hermanus and Judith. Their daughter Catharina Elizabeth Koch was born in February 1911 and their son Philippus Jacobus Koch was born in January 1914. Later in life Catharina Elizabeth Koch was at first married to a Joubert with whom she had four children and from whom she was later divorced. In 1945 she was married to Marthinus Gerhardus Mans, a (Continued on page 133)

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farmer on Kanoneiland, with whom she had three children. Catharina passed away in 1975 in the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, and she was laid to rest at Kraaifontein in the Western Cape. Philippus Jacobus Koch was a farmer on Kanoneiland, and he was married to Johanna Magrietha Clasina du Plessis, with whom he had three children. Philippus died in 1991 and Johanna passed away in 2002, and they were both laid to rest on Kanoneiland (* Cannon Island) on the Orange River near Upington in the Northern Cape.

On the 8th of December 1914 at Kestell in the north-eastern Free State, Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch was tragically killed when his rifle accidentally discharged whilst he was mounting his horse. It is not known where the bullet struck his body, but he deceased there on the spot where he fell. Koch was a member of the Vryheid Commando under the direct leadership of Commandant Cheere Emmett. The Vryheid Commando had been deployed to the Eastern Free State as part of the newly formed (1912) Union Defence Force. After the tragic death of the 29-year-old Koch, his young widow wife was married in 1918 to Pieter Johannes van der Merwe, a local Vryheid farmer, born in February 1892 at Potgietersrus in the Limpopo Province as the son of Pieter Johannes van der Merwe and of Susara Johanna Susanna Geyser. Soon after their marriage, the Van der Merwe couple, together with the two Koch siblings, left Vryheid and moved up to the Northern Cape. At first to Perde-eiland near Kakemas, then to Lutzburg, and finally to Kanoneiland on the Orange River near Upington, and it was there in the Northern Cape where all of the seven Van der Merwe siblings were born, namely: Pieter Johannes “Piet” or “Bobby” van der Merwe, who was married to Anna Jacoba “Kobie” du Plessis. Vernon van der Merwe writes that his father Bobby (short for “Bobbejaan”) was a professional soldier all of his adult life, who also served in North Africa during WW2, and retired at Potchefstroom with the rank of a Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM). Vernon’s mother Kobie van der Merwe turned 97 years old in May 2020, and she still drives around in Potchefstroom in her Mercedes Benz. Annetha Maria or “Nettie” van der Mer-

we, was married to Schalk Willem Burger an Artisan by trade who was employed with the steel pipe manufacturer, Hall and Longmore, the largest operation of its kind in Africa, situated in Witpoortjie, Roodepoort; Judith Margaretha “Grieta” van der Merwe, a Nursing Sister, who was at first married to Cecil Christian Kroucamp, then to Gert Frederik Jacobus van Deventer, and then Lukas Dreyer; Adolf Carel Didrik “Dolf” van der Merwe, who in his lifetime worked as a Barman in Windhoek, as a Hotel Manager at Kalkrand, as a shop manager, was employed by the SAR&H, and part time sheep farmer at Kalkrand. He was married to Nora Elizabeth Rust; Christina Magdalena “Stiena” van der Merwe, who was married to a Kroucamp who was a brother of Cecil Christian Kroucamp; Dorethia Sophia “Babsie” van der Merwe, who travelled extensively abroad during her years as a Buyer and Representative for the John Orrs Department Stores Group, who was married to “Die Engelsman”, Peter Vivienne; and Gertruida or “Gerrie” van der Merwe who was married to Technical Engineer, Willem Herald Potgieter. There at Kanoneiland the Van der Merwes and Kochs became an integral part of the pioneers who tamed that area and turned it into the rich fruit farmland that it is today. The “Orange River Cellars” at Upington is today renowned for its local and export wines. A grandson of Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch, named Kobus Koch, is a grape farmer at Wellington in the Western Cape, and he writes that the Van der Merwe’s, the Koch’s and others tamed Kanoneiland and its surroundings with their bare hands, sweat from their forehead, pick and shovel, and in the harsher winter months they built earth dams (“skropdamme”) and hunted game in the Kalahari Dessert for an extra income to help their families survive during those tough pioneering years. Kanoneiland inherited its name from the days when the Koranna leader Klaas Pofadder and his band of Koranna River Pirates lived on the island. In the year 1879 a group of policemen under a Captain Dyason attacked the island with a canon. To retaliate the Koranna’s built their own canon which they manufactured from a hollowed-out Aloe stem, they loaded it with gunpowder, and when it fired, it exploded, killing at least six of the Koranna. (Continued on page 134)

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Early 1950’s Pieter Johannes and Judith Magrietha van der Merwe, fondly remembered by their descendants as “Oupa Piet” and “Ouma Grieta”, left Upington and purchased and lived on the farm Draaikraal near Dullstroom in the Mpumalanga Province. Some years thereafter the Van der Merwe couple sold the farm and went to live with their family at “Princess” near Roodepoort in Gauteng. “Ouma Grieta’s” namesake Judith Magrietha or “Judy” Swanepoel born Van der Merwe, wrote that being true to her German heritage her grandmother was very musical and played the piano and organ very skilfully, and her grandfather was a master with an accordion in hand. Judy wrote that it is there in Roodepoort that “Ouma Grieta” died of cancer in 1966, and “Oupa Piet”, who could not stand being alone, got married twice thereafter before his own death in 1971.

“Burgher H.B.J. KOCK VRYHEID COMMANDO 9TH DECEMBER 1914” Lest we forget!

A time after the death and subsequent burial of Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch at Kestell, a beautiful tombstone was erected over his grave, with the following words inscribed on it: “Hier Rust Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch Gebore 5 Julie 1885 Gesneuveld te Kestell O.V.S. 8 Desember 1914 Opgeright deur die Offisieren en Burgers van Vryheid onder Komdt. Cheere Emmett” Years later the Common Wealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) erected a black granite grave stone, with the now familiar “Springbok” emblem at the same site to honour the fallen soldier, and mistakenly with the inscription:

Hermanus Barend Jacob Koch with his wife Judith Margaretha born Kunzmann and their children Catharina Elizabeth and Philippus Jacobus.

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Herman Labuschagne The “Last Tree” of Delville Wood

Following up on my tale about the Battle of Delville Wood which took place this week, 98 years ago, I wanted to tell you a story that very few people know. It is the story of two trees and a forest, and the circles of history that are so beautiful that they deserve to be remembered in song and poetry. During the climactic Battle of the Somme, it was determined that one of the key positions held by the Germans, was the small patch of land that would later become known as Delville Wood. Only 63 hectares in size, it was covered with a verdant forest where 7,000 Germans had entrenched themselves. In overall command was an old veteran of the Anglo-Boer War, Sir Douglas Haig. “The Butcher,” as his own men sometimes called him, must have remembered how tough the South Africans had been during the years when he spent his days orchestrating the burning of farms and trying in vain to catch the famous General De Wet. He selected the 1st Infantry Brigade of South Africa, with a small number of Rhodesians for the tough task ahead. This force of only 3,155 men would be marching against more than 7,000 determined Germans who knew full well that to lose this forest might mean to lose the front. It would be their first major action on the Western Front for the sons of South Africa, but the young men from a different world were willing to show their courage. The battle that followed lasted an entire week and was bloody beyond description. Up to 400 artillery shells rained down upon their small position per minute. The bombardment almost never stopped as the battle raged between successive attacks and counter-attacks. Over the days that followed, the small raindrenched forest became shredded to nothing but a ploughed-over field of splintered matchsticks and fragments of red-hot steel. The blood and the mud mixed with tears, and slowly soaked into the unwilling clay of the French countryside. The South Africans took the forest, although in the end there was no forest left anymore. Of the forest of young men who represented the best of a nation, 2,536 (or about 80%) died in that week. There were four dead men for every wounded. In places the bodies lay four layers deep and were mixed so thoroughly with the

soil that some would never be found. When they were finally recalled, the staggering survivors with their shredded limbs and uniforms could not believe their eyes. They could not even believe that they were alive for around them it looked like the very surface of the moon. Where once everything had been green and lush, nothing was left alive except for one thing, which was one single hornbeam tree. When the war was over, General Jan Smuts and Sir Percy FitzPatrick (author of the famous book, Jock of the Bushveld), wanted to preserve this acre of death as something sacred to the honour of their country. And so FitzPatrick, who lost his own son in the War, bought the little patch of land for the Republic of South Africa. Some years later a beautiful memorial in the shape of the Castle of Cape Town would be built there. It was unveiled by the widow of General Louis Botha, Prime Minister Barry Hertzog and Field Marshal Douglas Haig himself. The story that I really wanted to tell here, however, was the story of the forest. With the entire forest destroyed, the South Africans wanted to replant Delville Wood. The Department of Forestry was given the task of restoring the forest. To this end, a certain M. Hockelden at La Motte near Franschoek, had a beautiful idea. At the historical Huguenot farm of La Cotte, he asked the 9-year-old Koos Hugo to collect a bag of acorns for him on this old farm which had been in the Hugo family for generations. Honoured by this request, little Koos collected the acorns from the great-grandfather of all European trees in South Africa so that it could be sent back to France.

The tree at La Cotte was a tree with a dramatic history. It was one of the oldest planted trees in the country. According to popular legend, this was the last surviving tree from six acorns which the Waldensian Jean Gardiol had brought with him from France. Gardiol, who is reckoned among the French Huguenots of South Africa, sailed to the land of freedom in 1688. He himself had been fortunate in surviving not only the deadly persecutions in France, but also the dreadful storms, diseases and ravages which decimated the passengers on the ill -fated China. On this same ship were Jean Mesnard and Paul Roux – two of my own direct ancestors – (Continued on page 137)

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along with the ancestors of many other wellknown South African families of today such as the families Malan, Le Grange, Roux and Jordaan. Although the Gardiol name later became extinct in South Africa, the family’s genes live on in thou-

nearly 250 years before. As for Gardiol’s old tree, it was blown over by a storm in 1984 and lives no more. Yet, its children continue to live on in the dark soils of France where its roots are nourished by the blood of the best of the sons of our country. The lone survivor of Delville Wood, on the other hand, continued to grow. It is known as “The Last Tree.” It is still standing to this day. Its trunk is knotted and gnarled – heavily studded with many fragments of shrapnel that are still studded in its trunk. It is a sad and lonely reminder of how even that which survives war, never walks away from it unscathed. All the young men who survived Delville Wood are dead now. Only the old hornbeam continues to live from year to year. From it came cuttings that were brought back to South Africa. One of them was planted in the garden of General Jan Smuts near Pretoria. Another grows in the Garden of Remembrance in Pietermaritzburg. If you should ever visit Delville Wood one day – I would appreciate it if you would bring me back one thing only. I would appreciate an acorn from the trees of Gardiol’s old avenue. I would like to plant it back into South African soil. I would like to see it grow in some peaceful spot where I could one day sit and think about the men who gave everything, they had so that others such as I might know the joy of freedom. I would like it to cast a shade where children would play and linger, and perhaps spare a moment to listen to the voice of an old man who would try to teach them not to start another war when they are old enough to make decisions one day.

sands of us who still number among his descendants today. And so, did the Gardiol tree on the old Hugo farm. From the bag of acorns were grown the trees with which Delville Wood was re-planted. They can be seen today as a double ray of oak trees that line the broad avenue which connects 5,493 graves with the South African memorial. Of those graves, almost three quarters belong to unidentified heroes. Of the German heroes, more than 9,000 died to defend a patch of forest. It is therefore an avenue that leads across some of the most expensivelybought ground known to history. At Delville Wood, two forests were destroyed in 1916. One was a forest of young men from South Africa. The other was a forest of the trees of France. That forest was replaced from a South African tree which had been harvested in France,

A grandson from old Gardiol’s tree would be my treasured reminder of all the beautiful young trees that have been harvested long the blood-soaked footsteps of our country’s history.

Col Logan Govender Commemorating the Battle at Delville Wood Warrant Officer Frank Uys a former South African Policeman and member of the Cape Coloured Corps, regularly celebrates both The Battle of Delville Wood and Armistice Day every year. This year due to the Covid-19 restrictions the numbers are restricted. The Battle of Delville Wood (15 July – 3 September 1916) was a series of engagements in the 1916 Battle of the Somme in the First World War, between the armies of the German Empire and 137

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the British Empire. Delville Wood (Bois d'Elville), was a thick tangle of trees, chiefly beech and hornbeam (the wood has been replanted with oak and birch by the South African government), with dense hazel thickets, intersected by grassy rides, to the east of Longueval. This year it was celebrated at the Woodlands Coloured Corps Monument in Pietermaritzburg in memory of South African that fell. In the photograph outside the Monument are from

March 1901, in Clocolan in the Free State. His father was Henry Cadle, a General Merchant of Clocolan, and his mother was Annie Mary Cadle who was born Smith in Lancashire in England. James grew up on the family farms Hoba and Dorothea, and there was a time as a young boy that he had lived with his parents in the Mayoral house in Clocolan, when his father was the first Head of the Clocolan Village Management Board. “Clocolan is located on the grasslands at the foot of the Hlohlowane Mountain, and derives its name from the newcomer’s incorrect pronunciation of the Sotho word ‘Hlohlowane’ which means ‘stand up and fight’. The majestic Hlohlowane Mountain dominates the town. Because of the need for a school, a church and business facilities for people living in the area, Clocolan was established in 1906, and obtained municipal status in 1910”. (www.infosa.co.za) James was the eldest child, and he had four siblings, named: Evelyn Cadle who was married to First National Bank Accountant Maurice Alexander Scheepers; William Cyril “Bill” Cadle who was married to Avice Gladys Evans; Henry John Gilbert Cadle who was married to Aletta Cathrina Jacobsohn; and Joyce Ellen Cadle.

left to right - Keith Abrahams (Soccer & Swimming Legend); Peter Lucas; Margaret Colling; and Warrant Officer Frank Uys (Members of South African Coloured ex-servicemen Legion)

Capt Andre van Ellinckhuyzen (SAPS) James Arnot Cadle, The Advocate Vryheid Gazette, Friday 31 December 1943: “The death has been reported in the Rand Press of Mr. James Arnot Cadle, late partner of Messrs. Foord & Cadle, Attorneys of Vryheid. The report states that Mr. Cadle passed away on 23rd December, at Johannesburg.” In Scots history, there are only a few names that go further back than Cadle, whose ancestors lived near the “Coillie” (stream), among the Pictish tribes. The Cadle’s arrived on the shores of South Africa, at Port Alfred, in the year 1820, on board the ship the “Aurora”, as British Settlers. James Arnot Cadle was born on a Saturday the 23rd of

After completing school when he was only 16 years old, James went off to Grahamstown where he studied law at The Rhodes University and gained his BA LLB on December 31, 1924. James’ first marriage was on the 31st of March 1923, on the farm Windhoek, to Hester Sophia Sephton. The Sephton’s owned the farms Windhoek and Alva near Clocolan. At that time Hester was 19 years old, and James was a School Teacher at Kearsney in Natal. James and Hester lived in Grahamstown when he was still completing his LLB at Rhodes and also in Ladybrand for a few years where he practised as an attorney. Two children were born from their marriage. Ann Edette Sephton Cadle was educated at the Convent School in Kroonstad, and she was married to Allan Charles MacFarlane. Ann died in East London, South Africa in 1997. Henry Edward Sephton Cadle, was the Head Prefect of Hoërskool Ficksburg in 1942, and he married Georgia Alida Zondagh. Both Ann and Henry were still teenagers at the time of their parents’ divorce in 1939 when James was an Attorney in Vryheid. After her divorce from James, Hester Sophia married farmer Jurie Johannes Cornelis Richter of the farm Bultfontein at Dewetsdorp in the Free State. At the end of her life Hester owned a green John (Continued on page 139)

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Deere Tractor, a portion of the farm Bultfontein, and also of the farms Alva and Windhoek near Clocolan, and Hester’s beige coloured Studebaker sedan took her wherever it pleased her to drive to. Hester Sophia passed away in the National Hospital in Bloemfontein in 1960, she was cremated and her remains were placed in a Garden of Remembrance in Johannesburg. On the 26th of December 1939, James married his then ex-wife’s cousin from Pietermaritzburg, Phyllis Mantle, in the St. Johns Church in Pietermaritzburg. Phyllis was born in Ladybrand in the Free State in 1906, and at the time of their marriage she was employed as a Bookkeeper in Pietermaritzburg, and James was then a partner in an attorney’s firm based in Landdrost Street in Vryheid. James’ partner in the firm “Foord and Cadle”, was Robert Gordon “Bob” Foord who was married to Petronella “Mamsie” Meijer neé Burgers, the second wife and widow to the late General Lucas Meijer who was once the President of the “Nieuwe Republiek” who died in exile in Brussels, Belgium in 1902, whose remains was brought home, and buried in Vryheid. Bob and “Mamsie” Foord lived on the corners of Market and Landdrost Streets in Vryheid until Mamsie’s death in 1961. This beautiful stately home is today known as the “Lucas Meijer Museum”. At the start of South Africa’s involvement in the war, James Arnot Cadle was sent to Tanganyika as an Advocate of the General Jan Smuts Government. In November of 1942, James wrote a letter to his son Henry: “Dear Boet, I got your letter ……, it was a pleasant surprise. It would in the ordinary course, be some time before I’d reply, but seeing Xmas is near I’m attending to your correspondence at once….. Tons of good wishes for your Matric exam. I’m sure you’ll get through O.K. I don’t think you’re quite correct in your ideas about the future. Naturally you’ll be joining up, and the Air Force is as good a suicide club as any. This war is not going to last forever……Oom Jannie fixed 1944 as the end…… we are on our way to fixing Hitler… At most it seems that in another two years we will see the show over. You will then only be 19 and just fit for University…. I went to Rhodes as a kid of 17 and I’ve learnt a bit, I think that’s too young an age for varsity. As to farming it’s the best life there is, but I know from bitter experience that without capital a fellow stands very little chance……. I shall be sending you and Edith a little bit extra from time to time …..and perhaps next year I’ll manage a bit more. Besides shooting you get some

wonderful fishing here – big stuff which gives you a real tussle at the end of the line…… And now, old man, again my best wishes for the Exam and for Xmas and New Year. In January I’m getting a month which I’m spending at Lake Tanganyika, and partly at Kilimanjaro….. I’m sending two pounds’ cash with tons of love. Dad” Henry Edward Sephton Cadle did duty in North Africa, and in Italy during World War II. He farmed at Clocolan for more than twenty years, and he lived in Bloemfontein until his death in 1992, where he was also laid to rest. Late in 1943, whilst he was still based in Tanganyika (Tanzania), James contracted malaria, and black water disease. He was flown to Johannesburg, where he was treated by a Dr. Klass, but sadly he died on 23 December 1943 in the Libertas Nursing Home in Hillbrow. The funeral home that undertook his burial, was Hobkirks, and James Arnot Cadle was laid to rest in the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg. For many years the exact grave site for Cadle remained unknown to his descendants. Then on July 15, 2020 with the help of a member of the “Friends of Johannesburg Cemeteries”, the final place of rest of James Arnot Cadle was found. West Park Cemetery, General Memorial Section, Block A, Grave number 998. *Blackwater Fever is a complication of malaria infection in which red blood cells burst in the bloodstream releasing Hemoglobin directly into the blood vessels and into the urine, frequently leading to kidney failure, and death. In June 1953, Phyllis Cadle married Lieutenant John Cheere Emmett “Jantjie” Botha in the Methodist Church in Vryheid. Jantjie’s first wife Amy Violet Dillon Wheelwright died in Durban in 1950, and he had four daughters with her namely: Amy Louise Bambus, Annie Elizabeth “Beth” Wilson, Patricia Meade, and Judy Cheere Emmett “Cherry” Cannon. Jantjie was the son of General Louis Botha, and of Annie Francis Bland Botha born Emmett. Annie was the sister of the Boer General, William Cheere Ayliff Edwin Joseph James Emmett. General Botha went on to become the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa. A grandchild of Jantjie Botha, Russell Meade writes: “Phyllis or ‘Aunty Phyllis’ as we knew her, was quite a Huntsman, and she owned numerous animal hides and mounted game trophies, all shot by herself. Our grandfather worked as a motor car salesman for many years and then as the Clerk of Court in Pietermaritzburg until his retirement. (Continued on page 140)

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Aunty Phyll, and our grandfather ‘Oupa Jantjie’ never owned their own home, and they lived in a double story home in Boshoff Street in Pietermaritzburg for many years. Aunty Phyll was pleasant to the kids although she was a bit scary. At times she used to drink too much, and then she would tell her grandchildren that she could see ghosts, and she would spend hours in her garden talking to her late husband ‘Jimmy’ (James Arnot Cadle). Aunty Phyll worked as a Bookkeeper at the National CoOperative Dairies (NCD) in Pietermaritzburg for years, and her brothers Norman, Jeffrey and Stanley also lived in Maritzburg. Aunty Phyll could not drive a motor vehicle so she had to walk everywhere, and therefore chose to live in rented accommodation near the NCD, and at her life’s end she lived the life of a recluse”. Jantjie Botha died in 1970 in Pietermaritzburg, and Phyllis Botha ex Cadle neé Mantle died there too in 1991 after she had battled with cancer. Both Jantjie and Phyllis Botha were cremated after their deaths, and their remains were placed into the Wall of Remembrance in the Mountain Rise Cemetery in Pietermaritzburg. Lest we Forget!

A special thank you to Alda Myburgh neé Cadle, Zonia Ferreira neé Cadle and Sarah Welham Dove.

James Arnot Cadle (above) and John Cheere Emmett Jantjie Botha. He married Phyllis Cadle after the death of his wife and after the death of James Arnot Cadle

Photographs: James Arnot Cadle

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Above: Hester Sophia with her two children just prior to Henry Edward leaving for the war Up North Below: The then Mayoral home in Clocolan

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Dave Kenny (Eire) General Smuts: Intelligence Arbitrator. Here is an interesting historical snippet from deep in the archives. Just 15 years after leading a campaign against the British Empire, Gen Jan Smuts was asked to arbitrate at the highest levels, and at the very heart, of the British Intelligence Community. The circumstances were similar to those faced at intervals during our own international history, this being the phenomena that once the external conflict is over, Intelligence agencies or elements within, have turned on each other. In this instance, WW1 was just ending. The British Intelligence community had expanded rapidly and had gone from zero (hardly any Intelligence infrastructure) to being very cluttered! The services all had their own structures, MI5 and MI6 had come into their own, and several other Intelligence structures came about. In the instance we look at, the Foreign Office had an internal (small, very secret, and very influential) Intelligence operation and the Ministry for Information (basically the propaganda arm of Government) had their own Intelligence Bureau. A “Turf War” broke out. The Diplomats felt that the “Information” guys were loose cannons and needed to fall under their remit (Haha, this is a mirror image of what was to happen in South Africa in the late 1970’s). The Information guys (headed by John Buchan – founding member of the Intelligence Corps, and the writer of the official history of SA in WW1) felt they needed their own sources of Intelliegnce so as to produce their effective shades of strategic communication (Haha, Stratcom, we were to see those words again in the 80’s).

THIS ring a bell?) “Slim Jannie” considered all the evidence, listened to both sides, and made his recommendations. He was not called “Slim Jannie” for nothing! Both sides needed their Intelligence arm to fulfil their functions! As for the officers that the Foreign Office wanted to be shafted, he produced a (non)ruling of such complexity that would have left all parties scratching their heads, but believing that honour had respectively be restored. (Now, this bit differs from the events that were later to transpire in our history!) Photo credit: Nico Moolman.

So, Lord Beaverbrook brought Gen Jan Smuts in to investigate and make recommendations as to whether the Info guys had overextended their remit. He was asked to make recommendations on the future of senior officers (Haha, why does 142

Documents from the National Archives in Britain

ÂŠ Crown Copyright

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Mitch and Bobby with rangers and soldiers on patrol in the Gourma in Mali, protecting the desert elephants in the conflict zone and assisting the communities. Bobby and Mitch are able to sniff out Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as well as ivory and other contraband. They therefore keep the rangers alive as well as catch poachers. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in Nokara, Mopti, Mali.

WAR - Wildlife At Risk International Africa Rory Young - praise for the little canine heroes Mitch and Bobby. In 2017 during a lull in the deafening roar of dozens of machine guns and assault rifles blazing away during a firefight in Mali that had erupted after an ambush on our antipoaching patrol, I heard a strange thumping sound... Lying in the sun in the 45C+ heat, expecting to be overrun and fighting hand to me at any moment I was momentarily confused. Was this some weapon I couldn't recognize? Was the heat, stress and thirst driving my heart rate and blood pressure so high that I could literally hear it pounding in my ears?

I took a deep breath shook my head and listened. The sound was not a weapon firing but something infinitely more benign and also very close to me. I turned my heard and looked into the soft brown eyes of Mitch, one of our brave little spaniel detection dogs from Chengeta Wildlife. The sound was Mitch's tail whacking against he transport kennel as he wagged it... We had placed the kennels of Mitch and Bobby with us in a slight depression in the sand which we expected may be our last stand position. While the battle had been raging these two little fury bundles of happiness had been wagging their tales at us. In spite of the situation I couldn't help smiling and of course called out Mitch and Bobby's names. The sound of the tales escalated. I signalled to (Continued on page 146)

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Erik Groenendijk and Nigel Kuhn what was happening and they two began to smile. Soon we were all laughing and calling out the dogs names who responded by joyfully hammering away with their tales. The shooting soon began again and we got on with the business of saving our lives. The short interlude had raised our spirits however and the situation didn't appear quite so desperate after that.

tests done. Fortunately Resi, a veterinarian from Germany both looked after Mitch as best she could and eventually managed to get samples out to a lab in Germany. We hope to hear shortly what can be done but have been warned that Mitch's eyesight is already deteriorating. Please keep these wonderful animals and the kind vets and brave handlers who care for them in your thoughts. Here are some pictures of Mitch, Bobby and Amy in Mali and CAR.

Unfortunately, soon after it was decided that with the deteriorating security and the logistical difficulties caused by continuously having to move our base of operations it was wiser to only bring detection dogs into the country as needed for specific missions and Mitch and Bobby then spent a period of retraining in the Netherlands. Both dogs have now been based in the Central African Republic at Dzanga Sangha National Park doing important work detecting ivory, pangolin and weapons. Sadly, Mitch has had a bad eye infection. The Covid-19 lockdowns have meant it has been impossible for months to get any lab

Photo taken by Nigel Kuhn during the lull in fighting when we could all hear Bobby and Mitch wagging their tales against the sides of their kennels. Our spirits rose and we continued to defend ourselves until we were able to withdraw. Chengeta Wildlife 146

Above: Bobby and Mitch with their Malian handlers at Hombori before the Hand Of Fatima in the heart of the conflict zone. Below: Erik Groenendijk with Bobby, Mitch and handlers during training in Dzanga Sangha in Central African Republic. The dogs can detect both ivory and pangolin scales as well as arms and ammunition - and they doâ&#x20AC;Ś Chengeta Wildlife

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Above: Ivory Detection dog Mitch, rangers of the Malin combined army-forestry Anti Poaching Brigade and Rory Young of Chengeta Wildlife during training Below: Erik Groenendijk with the Malian handlers at the very first training for ivory detection dogs ever in Mali. Sergeant Abdouramane Faradji, standing left was subsequently killed in a cowardly attack by extremists in Douentza. RIP Faradj

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Rory Young

Our Wild World Talk Radio Rory Young to Chengeta Wildlife Friends The truth: I do not enjoy this work... We are

Wounded ranger, Malawi.

not having fun... I love wildlife and I love the people who live close to wildlife. I have loved every moment I have spent in the bush.

I believe there are many, many more people who are far more capable than me. I try to motivate those people to do this work too. I hope to make myself obsolete and unnecessary in this effort. I loved being a professional guide and tracking instructor, park and forest manager. I could never get enough of tracking and observing wildlife. However, I saw that wildlife disappearing before my eyes. I also saw apathy, ego, greed and bullshit taking priority in the conservation of wildlife. And so I decided to do what I could even though I felt I was not the best person for it. There is so much to be done and so few actually getting on with doing it. Chengeta Wildlife trainers and our partner rangers, police officers and soldiers choose to go where no one else wants to go. We choose the missions that are the least glamorous and the most difficult. There are no gin and tonics at the clubhouse at the end of the day. There are no medals for antipoaching. The pay is shit. It is long, it is usually unseen and unmentioned and it is often dangerous. The work in the field is often exhausting and the work in support is often frus(Continued on page 150)

I do this work because I must. Antipoaching unit vehicle blown up during ambush, Mali.

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Poached rhino, Malawi.

my team and the men and women we have trained and mentored. These people are worthy of respect. Here are a few pictures from our work that I hope give a feel for what it is like for those fighting poaching and trafficking on the frontline. Thank you from the bottom of my heart those who continue to support Chengeta Wildlife and those who have shown such faith in me personally. There is no hubris in what we are doing. Just honesty, hard work, integrity and tenacity. Aluta continua ! An arrested poacher and rangers. Relative? Old schoolmate?

During operations in Guinea.

trating. We do the best we can to achieve the objectives in the most ethical manner possible.

We do NOT engage in gimmicky projects to solicit donations. The tail will certainly NOT be wagging the dog. I now continue to do this work because of the successes that we have achieved, most especially the successes where the cause was considered lost. We keep on making a difference against the odds and with paltry funding. This year alone we are training and mentoring over 900 rangers and other personnel tasked with antipoaching missions on eight different countries. We do work "in-ops" on the frontline. I am proud of my work and I am even prouder of 150

Above: Exhaustion. Days and nights on the go without sleep. Below: Women rangers in the frontline of antipoaching ops are nothing new... Deep in the Congo Basin.

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Corporal Souleymane Tangara, Killed in Action 14th of August 2017

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Who are Chengeta Wildlife?

RORY YOUNG - CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

ALASTAIR J. MACDONALD - CHAIRMAN

Zambian born, Pro Guide, Strategist/Trainer, Author.

Alastair is an ex-safari guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe. He is currently based in the USA with his wife and two children. He is the owner of Parallax Consulting and producer of the economic and market forecasting service The Parallax Report. He has served as adviser to state governors and legislators on social and economic policy, as well as public and conservation policy think tanks. As a child of Africa, he is proud to serve the programs, people and potential of Chengeta Wildlife.

Ranger,

Anti-poaching

Rory is an expert tracker with amazing knowledge, skills and highly developed intuition to become one of the best in his field. He has dedicated his life to wildlife protection and he co-authored, “A Field Manual For Anti-Poaching Activities”, a guide that provides workable solutions to poaching

Chengeta Wildlife’s work is based on a comprehensive doctrine specifically developed to tackle poaching as a whole, from every angle and at every step of the process. We pioneer an intelligence-driven approach to anti-poaching: We equip rangers with the proactive and reactive investigations, apprehension and tracking-pursuit skills they need to anticipate, locate and apprehend poachers. We train locals able to pass on future training – national park staff in-country, usually in the protected areas in which they are based. Thanks to our training they can operate more effectively while staying safe. We fundraise for and deliver training of anti-poaching units in the field. Chengeta Wildlife strives to impart the knowledge, skills and abilities to enable anti-poaching units to maintain and perfect competencies after trainers have departed. This allows rangers to sustain and grow their overall effectiveness, building programs that endure over time. In addition to delivering the anti-poaching training, we identify partners to deploy essential community engagement and development programs in the areas where we work. 153

APPEAL—HELP TO PROTECT OUR CONTINENT’S WILDLIFE!

Chengeta Wildlife offer free training to Africa’s anti-poaching units (APUs) in the most comprehensive, intelligent and pragmatic doctrine ever devised to bring the practice of poaching under control. If anyone would like to take an active role in the solution to poaching, you can now donate directly on Chengeta Wildlife’s Facebook page. So far 100% of donations to Chengeta Wildlife will support APU training. We have no paid staff and all overhead cost up to this point have been underwritten by our board members. Be a part of the solution, join us. Click on the picture below to donate!

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Col Logan Govender Captain & Mrs Norman Nel: Golden Wedding Anniversary - 50 Years: Captain Norman Nel and his dear wife Andy were married on 6th June 1970 in Pietermaritzburg. Recently they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary (50 years). Their three children, all girls and have six grandchildren, three girls and three boys. On behalf of Retired Police Members of Pietermaritzburg & Durban, I would like to wish you everything of the best with each other. May you continue to enjoy good health. Congratulations! We salute you Sir!

Top: Captain Norman Nel

Norman and his wife Andy: Above Left - On their wedding day, and Above - on their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Left: Norman and his daughter, Collett.

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Col Logan Govender

Serving Police Officers Reach out to Retired Police Officer Brigadier Heymans

African Police was 'Servamus et Servimus', which means 'to protect and to serve'. Sadly, and appropriately, this slogan seems no longer applicable. Logan Govender

Retired Warrant Officer Sham Singh, the first Indian Station Commander of Lenasia, celebrated his 80th birthday on Thursday last, 9th July 2020. A milestone birthday for anyone. It was posted on Facebook. Later that day I was amazed to learn that Colonel Paul van Eeden and Constable Jeena Mohammed enquired about his contact details and personally drove to his home, presented him with a gift and wished him well on the special day. I made contact with Van Eeden to congratulate and inform them that their act of kindness by reaching out to a retired police member is commendable. As former police officer I am aware that once police members retire, they go into oblivion and are forgotten until one hears that they have passed away. How sad!

I am indeed so proud to be associated with them for their act of kindness motivated by their kind hearts. I commend and salute you, young Sirs! The officers concerned have projected themselves as ambassadors of SAPS as they have gone beyond their call of duty.

I urge the Provincial Commissioner to utilize their Public Relations skills in the relevant department of the Provincial Office to reach out to the needs of all citizens under their jurisdiction. This department is sadly lacking in the SAPS.

Above Right: Warrant Officer Sham Singh.

There was a time when Above: Warrant Officer Sham Singh; Mrs Asha Singh; Colonel Paul Van Eeden; Constable the motto of the South Mohammed Jeena. 156

UK - RUSSIA

was waged.

MI5 'is to be given tough new powers to make UK a harder environment for Kremlin spies to operate in' after report said Government 'took eye off the ball' dealing with Moscow's hacking, disinformation and political meddling

London – nicknamed 'Londongrad' – has become a 'laundromat' for dirty Russian money, with Putinlinked elites able to act with 'impunity', the review concluded. The government is planning new counterespionage legislation which they say will make the UK a 'harder environment for adversaries to oper-

London - dubbed 'Londongrad' - has become a 'laundromat' for dirty Russian money, MPs' review concluded •

Report highlighted how agents were able to spy unnoticed due to Britain's 'dusty and largely ineffective' laws

•

Former head of MI5 Sir Andrew Parker told the intelligence and security committee the rules dated back to World War One and mean it is very hard to pin down a spy unless they are caught red-handed

•

Home Office believed to be urgently pushing through new counter-espionage legislation to shore up Britain

•

It takes the American Foreign Agents Registration Act as its template, which requires people working for foreign governments, officials or political parties, to notify the US Department of Justice

•

'Register of foreign agents' will make it illegal to secretly work for foreign power to undermine UK, insider said

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (C-L) speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (C-R) during the International Libya Conference in Berlin, Germany, 19 January 2020

By Larisa Brown Defence and Security Editor for the Daily Mail and Ross Ibbetson for Mailonline Published: 01:59 BST, 22 2020 | Updated: 06:58 BST, 22 July 2020

July

MI5 are to be granted tough new powers to make the UK a harsher environment for Kremlin spies to operate in after a damning report by MPs said the Government 'took its eye off the ball.' In a devastating and long-awaited report, intelligence and security committee said the UK 'badly underestimated' the Russian threat as a campaign of hacking, disinformation and political meddling

Chair of the committee Julian Lewis (centre) with members Kevan Jones and Stuart Hosie - Russia sees the UK as one of its 'top targets' in the West, according to the Intelligence and Security Committee

ate in,' The Times reported. It takes the American Foreign Agents Registration Act as its template, which requires people working for foreign governments, officials or political parties, to notify the US Department of Justice.

The 48-page report on Russian infiltration highlighted how agents were able to carry out their busi(Continued on page 158)

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ness largely unscathed due to Britain's 'dusty and largely ineffective' security laws dating back to the First World War. Former head of MI5 Sir Andrew Parker told MPs: 'Today it is not an offence in any sense to be a covert agent of the Russian intelligence services in the UK - just to be that, to be in covert contact, to be pursuing a brief - unless you acquire damaging secrets and give them to your masters.'

Down military laboratory in Wiltshire soon after the 2018 Salisbury poisonings; Social media companies have not done enough to remove covert material posted by hostile states, and the Government should 'name and shame' them; The UK is one of Russia's 'top Western intelligence targets' for disinformation and political influence operations.

Sir Andrew added: 'We are left with something which makes it very hard to deal with some of the situations we are talking about today in the realm of the economic sphere, cyber, things that could be more to do with influence.' His scathing critique came as sources said the Home Office was planning an overhaul of security laws to crack down on spies, saboteurs and hackers. A formal 'register of foreign agents' will make it illegal to secretly work for a foreign power to undermine the UK, an insider said. The report's publication yesterday – nine months after it was cleared for release by spies – led to calls from all political parties for ministers to get tougher on Moscow. The MPs and lords on the committee said Russian oligarchs had penetrated to the heart of British democracy by donating to political parties and hiring peers for their business interests. They warned that ministers needed to 'attach a cost' to President Vladimir Putin's actions and take 'immediate action'. The report described Russian influence in the UK as 'the new normal' and said any measures now taken by the Government would merely constitute 'damage limitation'. The report – much of which was redacted for national security reasons – also exposes how: Peers with business links to Russia are at risk of being exploited by the Kremlin; Lawyers, accountants, estate agents and PR professionals working for wealthy Russians have, wittingly or not, become 'de facto agents of the Russian state'; The UK government failed to investigate alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 Brexit referendum;

Russia used its 'sophisticated' cyber capabilities to target the Foreign Office and the top secret Porton

Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Kerch, in the Crimea, on Monday. The UK is one of Russia's 'top Western intelligence targets' for disinformation and political influence operations, according to the report

In response to the report, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Russia was a top national security priority and the UK was prepared to 'call out' Moscow over issues such as cyber-attacks. Speaking at a press conference alongside US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, Mr Raab said: 'We are not for a second complacent about the threat Russia poses when it comes to cyber.' But the ISC said that 'until recently, the Government had badly underestimated the Russian threat and the response it required'. It noted there was an 'inherent tension between the Government's prosperity agenda and the need to protect national security'. Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said that 'on every level, the Government's response does not appear to be equal to the threat'. Tobias Ellwood, Tory chairman of the Commons defence committee, said Britain needed to up its game on cyber-warfare. He added: 'If this is the new battlefield, we need to upgrade our 21st century offensive and defensive capabilities so we are better protected and better armed.' 158

MPs and peers on the ISC concluded that rich figures from Russia have turned the UK capital into 'Londongrad' by laundering their money, making Russian influence in the UK the 'new normal'

'Londongrad laundromat': Oligarch allies of Vladimir Putin have used London to wash illicit Russian money, report warns By Larisa Brown and John Stevens Oligarchs with links to the Kremlin have used London like a 'laundromat' for illicit Russian money, the report warned. Britain welcomed Putin's cronies 'with open arms' because of the cash they brought with them, the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) said. In damning claims, the report said oligarchs had penetrated British democracy by donating to political parties and hiring peers for their businesses. MPs and peers on the ISC concluded that rich figures from Russia have turned the UK capital into 'Londongrad' by laundering their money, making Russian influence in the UK the 'new normal'.

The committee said 'few questions if any were asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth'. British professionals – including lawyers, accountants, estate agents and PR experts – have become 'enablers' for these oligarchs and are 'de facto agents of the Russian state', whether they realise it or not.

The report said: 'A lot of Russians with very close links to Putin, who are well integrated into the UK business and social scene, are accepted because of their wealth.' Britain has become a 'particularly favourable destination for Russian oligarchs and their money'. Aided by the UK's 1994 investor visa scheme, Russian money poured into charities and cultural and political institutions with 'few questions – if any – asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth'. (Continued on page 160)

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The ISC warned that Kremlin-linked figures have given money to British political parties in a move that could see them used to 'assist' Moscow. It did not name any of the Russians living in Britain it suspects of having close links to Mr Putin, or specify which political parties have benefited from Russian donations. The ISC said: 'Several members of the Russian elite who are closely linked to Putin are identified as being involved with charitable and/or political organisations in the UK, having donated to political parties, with a public profile which positions them to assist Russian influence operations.'

The investor visa scheme, established by Sir John Major's Conservative government, offered 'ideal mechanisms by which illicit finance could be recycled through what has been referred to as the London 'laundromat'.' The report said: 'The money was also invested in

extending patronage and building influence across a wide sphere of the British establishment ... contributing to a 'reputation laundering' process. 'In brief, Russian influence in the UK is 'the new normal', and there are a lot of Russians with very close links to Putin who are well integrated into the UK business and social scene, and accepted because of their wealth. This level of integration â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in 'Londongrad' in particular â&#x20AC;&#x201C; means any measures now being taken by the Government are not preventative but rather constitute damage limitation.' Responding to the report, the Government said it was determined to tackle 'dirty' money. A spokesman said: 'The UK has one of the world's largest and most open economies. These factors make the UK attractive for legitimate business, but also expose the UK to money laundering risks.' The Government added that it agreed with the ISC that 'transparency' about political donations is important.

Oil: Lord Skidelsky (left), Lord Fairfax (centre), and Lord Ponsonby (right).

Will these Lords be forced to list dealings with Russian firms? Peers should have business links with Russia 'carefully scrutinised' to ensure they are not being exploited, Commons committee says By John Stevens

Peers should have their business links with Russia 'carefully scrutinised' to ensure they are not being exploited by Vladimir Putin, the Intelligence and Security Committee has said. In its report on Russia's influence in the UK, the committee called for greater transparency about the financial interests of those in the House of Lords. (Continued on page 161)

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Defence: Lord Mandelson (Continued from page 160)

It said members should have to register any individual payments of more than ÂŁ100 which they receive for employment outside Parliament. The ISC, which did not name any peers, said in its report: 'It is notable that a number of members of the House of Lords have business interests linked to Russia, or work directly for major Russian companies linked to the Russian state. 'These relationships should be carefully scrutinised, given the potential for the Russian state to exploit them.' The committee said it was important that the code of conduct for members of the House of Lords and register of interests 'provide the necessary transparency and are enforced'.

Aluminium: Lord Barker

director of Russian oil firm RNG Joint Stock Company. Former Tory energy minister Lord Barker stepped away from the Lords last year to focus on his role as chairman of aluminium giant EN+. Lord Mandelson served on the board of Russian defence c onglomerate Sistema and, according to his register of interests, holds shares in it. In 2018, the House of Lords commissioner for standards launched an investigation into Lord Barker and Lord Fairfax after then-security minister Ben Wallace claimed they had 'requested government assistance for Russian associates'. Both peers were cleared of any wrongdoing. In its response to the ISC report, the Government said the code of conduct for peers was 'the responsibility of the House [of Lords] itself'.

According to the members' register of interests, peers with links to Russian companies include crossbencher Lord Skidelsky, a non-executive director of Russian oil refining company Russneft. Conservative peer Lord Fairfax of Cameron is a director of shipping firm Sovcomflot UK, and Labour peer Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede is a

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A view of the Moscow Kremlin and Bolshoi Kamenny Bridge across the Moskva River

Scalding rebuke for years of naivety: EDWARD LUCAS, one of the experts who gave evidence for Russia report, presents his damning verdict on Kremlin interference By Edward Lucas As I took my seat in the spartan, bug-swept offices of the intelligence and security committee's anonymous Westminster headquarters in the summer of 2018, my excitement was tempered with trepidation. Since watching the Soviet empire collapse 30 years ago, I had been sounding the alarm about Russia's reluctance to give up its dreams of empire. Yet now the committee was launching a muchawaited, much-delayed inquiry on exactly the topics that have taken up so much of my life: the shadowy fusion of organised crime, big business and the old KGB. On that July day, I was the inquiry's first witness. The Kremlin, I explained, had refashioned the traditional Soviet tools of political espionage, adding sophisticated digital tools and all the opportunities presented by globalisation — shell companies, offshore finance, cross-border trade and investment. In short, I said, Britain's response had been pitiful. Yet all those months ago, even I couldn't begin to

imagine how devastating yesterday's report would be. Put to one side its dramatic calls for further investigations into the use of money, cyber-attacks and propaganda in the Brexit and Scottish independence referendums, as well as recent general elections. Even the language of the report – with repeated use of words such as 'surprised' and 'disappointed' – constitutes, in the careful lexicon of government, a scalding rebuke of decades of shortsightedness. For a start, the ISC explicitly highlights the way in which previous governments – Labour and Conservative alike — have foolishly overlooked the threat from Russia. Such naivety dates all the way back to 1994 – when changes to the UK's investor visa scheme allowed holders to smoothly turn them into British passports, with all the rights those precious documents entail, including the ability to make legal donations to political parties. In no uncertain terms, the report sharply concludes that 'the key to London's appeal was the exploitation' of this scheme. But that was just the first in a string of blunders. Indeed, the ISC damningly recalls its previous warnings to the Government, pointedly quoting anonymous spymasters who sheepishly claimed 162

their focus on counter-terrorism took priority. As for the notion that Russia might dare to attack our political system, the report reveals it was barely considered – as demonstrated by the fact that MI5 replied to the committee with only six lines of text on that matter. That was enough for the committee to note there was 'credible' evidence of Russian influence during the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. Yet the clueless Clouseaus of MI5 apparently thought this and any other suggestion of Russian mischief was not worth investigating. On cyber-warfare, the ISC notes with shock, nobody appears to be in charge. With concern dripping from every page, it's hardly surprising the report poses more questions than it answers. It however makes immediate recommendations that will directly affect the security of all of us. It confirms that the outdated Official Secrets Act of 1989 needs to be replaced with a new system that ensure the registration of those who peddle political influence on behalf of foreign powers. The Computer Misuse Act of 1990 is similarly obsolete, predating the era of mobile phones. Another muchneeded recommendation is for a thorough investigation of Russian meddling in our political system. As the report highlights, the authorities have been scandalously incurious about this. Why does GCHQ, it asks, not look at who lies behind the Twitter accounts that peddle hoaxes and scare stories.

Of course, it does seem that our intelligence services have belatedly turned their attention to online political manipulation – as demonstrated by some tantalising asterisks, reflecting redaction of secret material – scattered throughout the section of the report dedicated to it. But it is all too little, and shamefully late. As for the report's calls for further investigation into pernicious Russian influence, I fear that there is little prospect of the report's forceful conclusions being matched with real action. Take the committee's alarm at Kremlin's pinstriped accomplices – the bankers, lawyers and accountants whom it calls unwitting or even witting agents of Russian influence. Dealing with such rot in our system will need new legislation and a revamped National Crime Agency. Even if that were possible, we cannot ignore the fact that it may be too late already. To put it bluntly, our country is afloat on a sea of dodgy money. And the bitter truth is that this is our fault. Share or comment on this article: MI5 'is to be given tough powers to make UK a harder environment for Kremlin spies to operate in' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-

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LETTERS | BRIEWE

Martin de Lange: Oostenryk Hallo Brigadier Heymans Ek is 'n Suid-Afrikaner, en ou Lid van die Mag, maar ek woon nou in Oostenryk, Europa. Ja ek weet, ver van my geboorteland. ;) Ek lees vir 'n paar jaar nou die wonderlike Nongqai-tydskrif en wou net dankie sê daarvoor. Dit gee my kans om weer my huistaal te lees, en baie van die artikels in Engels is van historiese interesse vir die Oostenrykse polisiemanne wat ek hier ken. Groete van 'n Boer in Ballingskap in Oostenryk! Martin de Lange (Amper 30 jare terug, 'n Konstabel in die Soweto-blitspatrollie). Martin Ek het iewers 'n paar foto’s van ons by taktiese opleiding in Soweto, ons het die skietbaan in Lenasia gebruik. Ek sal vir my vrou vra om dit te vind en in te scan en vir brigadier stuur. Dit was as daardie BBC (ek dink hulle was BBC) span ons besoek het in 1991. Kol Deysel het toe die eenheid gelei en Majoor Vorster was 2IC. (Deesdae is my Duits beter as my Afrikaans en dit kan wees dat ek die name mispel) Majoor Vorster was ‘Taakmag’ en ‘Koevoet’ en het ons taktiese opleiding ontwerp. Huispenetrasie, voertuig teen-hinderlaag, granaat drills en ander sulke dinge Ek moet sê die opleiding was baie goed en ons het baie daarvan gebruik gemaak veral as ons speurders met arrestasies uitgehelp het. Ek was 'n persoonlike vriend van wyle meneer Joe Grant-Grierson, (Joe wou mos nie op sy rang genoem word nie) van die Taakmag end Spoorwegpolisie Taakmag opleiding. Ek het later in 'n paar ander lande in "Private Security" (Deesdae sê hulle "Private Contractor", ek neem aan dit klink nou beter en meer ‘PC’ as Huursoldaat) gewerk. Tussen die wat ek op Maleoskop en van Majoor Vorster geleer het en die Ju jitsu en skietkuns van Joe het dit my alles meer as 'n paar keer uit probleme uitgehelp.

Een laaste vraag en dan sal ek ophou om vir brigadier te pla. Bestaan daar 'n moontlikheid om geld van oorsee vir die Nongqai Trust te skenk. Paypal of GO-Fund-me of so iets? Ek self, en 'n paar ander mense die ek ken (Amerikaners en Oostenrykers) wil graag 'n paar bydrae maak, maar die bankoorplasing van oorsee na Suid Afrika is altyd 'n bietjie van 'n probleem. Groete Martin

HBH antwoord: Beste Martin Ja, ek en jy was saam in Soweto, ek was daar van Desember 1991 en rondom Augustus 1992 is ek weer na ABS-HK verplaas. Ons mense kry swaar - ons het die Nongqai Trust opgerig - sien ons bankbesonderhede vir die Nongqai Trust daar is 'n SWIFTnommer Standard Bank Nongqai Trust IT 002701/2018 (T) Bank Particulars Account No: 012747084 Account type: Business Current Account Branch: Menlyn Branch Code: 012345

Branch Code Electronic Payments: 051001 Swift: SBZA ZA JJ Ek stuur mettertyd vir jou ons kleur advertensie. Onder meer help ons ook vir kol Eugene de Kock Baie groete Hennie Heymans NB Stuur asb. 'n foto/foto’s

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More Brigadier Hier is 'n paar foto’s. 'n Jonger Konstabel de Lange met meer hare, laer bloeddruk en sonder nierstene. 01:Ek in uniform en 02: Ek tydens a voertuig skietoefening. Die lid die heel agter in die skietoefening foto was konst. Louwrens, die ander twee kan ek ongelukkig nie meer die name onthou nie. Die foto’s was deur die BBC geneem as hulle by ons in 1991 was. Hulle het saam met ons patrollie gery en die skietoefening gedokumenteer. Daar was meer foto’s, hulle het in die Soweto Blitspatrollie Beheerkamer gehang en as ek Soweto verlaat het, het my luitenant (Lt Coetzee) hulle vir my gegee. Ongelukkig kan ek nie meer veel vind nie. Trek deur 2 lande en die ongelukkige feit is dat die meeste Europeërs dink dat die ou SAP erger was as die SS. Dit bedoel dat ek my foto’s, skouerflitse, pet, ou uniform stukke en so, meestal weggepak hou.

Ek het vir die dametjie van my bank 'n e-pos geskryf en gevra vir 'n goedkoper fooi vir 'n

Kommentaar deur brig. HB Heymans Ek was die eerste maal tydelik na Soweto verplaas saam met maj Marius Bonthuys, om met media-navrae te help tydens die vrylating van mnr Nelson Mandela. Toe het ek gesien wat daar aangaan. Gedurende 1991/2 was ek weer in Soweto en ek moet hulde bring aan die lede van die Soweto Blitspatrollie. Hulle was die dapper dun ‘bloulyn’ tussen anargie en wet en orde. Hulle was werklik ‘n Gideonsbende. Die onlus-eenheid en die blitspatrollie het hoofsaaklik uit wit lede bestaan en hulle het nie in die gebied gewoon nie en kon dus volgens die wet optree. Ons Swart kollegas was in die visier van die rewolusionêre groepe en omdat hulle daar gewoon het, was hulle feitlik geneutraliseer. Ons manne van die blitspatrollie is soms in hinderlae gelok met vals klagtes. Vandag salueer ons daardie manne en vir (destyds) maj. Vorster wat die manne gereeld opgeskerp het deur opleiding.

Genl George Fivaz Beste Hennie Vertrou dit gaan goed. Ek weet ek en jy het `n aantal maande terug gekommunikeer oor `n artikel wat jy oor my en die “nuwe polisiediens” in Die Nongqai wou plaas. Ek het selfs die konsep-artikel vir kommentaar van jou ontvang. Glo my, ek het die spesifieke uitgawe van jou tydskrif (Vol 9 No 6) egter nooit gelees (Vervolg op bladsy 166)

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nie. Ek het egter wel oor die afgelope naweek die uitgawe op jou webblad raakgeloop en groot was my verbasing dat jy soveel aandag aan my afgestaan het – voorblad en al! Ek wil net baie dankie sê, alhoewel heeltemal te laat, vir die positiewe artikel wat ek glo baie beteken om daardie stuk van ons polisiegeskiedenis vas te lê. Verder, ek is baie beïndruk en het enorme waardering vir die harde en onbaatsugtige werk wat jy onverpoos doen om die stories en geskiedenis van ons veiligheidsmagte te boek te stel. Die gehalte van jou tydskrifte is van top standaard en werklik `n inisiatief waarop jy opreg trots kan wees. Doet asseblief so voort! Groetnis George Fivaz Naand Hennie Dankie vir die insae – dit is insiggewend. Ek was in 1965 in die kollege met nommer 44485K. So ek sien op jou aanstellingsertifikaat ek was jou blougat! Ek heg vir jou `n stuk aan wat handel oor die eerste jare van transformasie nadat ek aangestel is. Miskien is dit vir jou iets werd veral om jou lesers insig te gee waaroor die begrippe rasionalisering, transformasie en verandering gegaan het en waarom dit nodig was. Groete George Fivaz Photo of SAC Constable: Mick Shaw (UK) Morning Hennie, Sorry to be a pain but could I have a copy of the photograph containing a South African Constable on page 52 of the last edition of Nongqai (Vol 11 No 7 July 2020). I am getting Hooked on early South African Policing and this is the first photograph I have seen with a SA Constable. I found some information on the formation of the SAC I will send you a copy when I fire up my computer later. Kind regards, Mick

Hi Here goes! HBH

Hi Hennie, Absolutely brilliant I just love these old photographs and my interest in South African policing is thanks to you and Nongqai. I have researched the Bucks Constabulary for coming up to 30 years and now I am interested in some aspects of South African Policing. When I was a boy living in SA during the late 1960s we rented our house off Colonel Foster SAP he always said to me you must become a policeman in SA and it was my intention to do so but life hadn’t made possible then as we had to return to the UK because my mother was dying and it wasn’t to be in the end. I’m trying to finish the article on photograph P122 today is going to be sunny so I have to get out in the garden to get some jobs done. Cloudy tomorrow and Wednesday that’s when I will finish the article. I will fire up the computer later and send you the SAC article I found. Thanks again, Mick (Continued on page 167)

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Brigadier doen goeie werk met die Nongqai tydskrif. Geskiedenis word te gou vergeet en, deesdae, word daar baie onwaarhede oor die ou More Brigadier SAP versprei. Wie die Amerikaner altyd sĂŞ: "The only history a Baie dankie vir die brief. Ek is bly om te help waar man knows for certain is that small part he owns ek kan. for himself." Ek en die meeste ander ou-SAP lede, die ek raakgeloop het in ander lande, is nog trots op ons Groete dienstyd. Martin & Isabella de Lange: Oostenryk

Martin en Isabella Baie dankie vir die donasie aan die Nongqai Trust! Ons waardeer opreg! HBH

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SLOT | END Dear reader

Geagte leser

Please note that in this quasi-historical magazine we make use of various sources and consequently it is obvious that the document contains various diverse and personal opinions of different people and the author of the Nongqai cannot be held responsible or be liable in his personal capacity.

Vir hierdie kwasiehistoriese tydskrif maak ons van verskeie bronne gebruik en bevat die dokument uiteraard uiteenlopende en diverse persoonlike menings van verskillende persone en die opsteller van die Nongqai kan nie in sy persoonlike hoedanigheid daarvoor verantwoordelik of aanspreeklik gehou word nie.

ÂŠ 2020 Brig. HB Heymans (SAP Ret.)

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