Nongqai Vol 13 No 7

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PUBLISHER | UITGEWER

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Contents PUBLISHER | UITGEWER .............................................................................................................. 2 FINGERPRINTS: THE FIRST SAP FILM......................................................................................... 8 NONGQAI: OORSPRONG & OOGMERKE ..................................................................................... 9 NONGQAI: ROOTS & GOALS....................................................................................................... 10 “Om in Christus te wees”................................................................................................................ 11 Pastoor Koot Swanepoel ............................................................................................................ 11 VOORWOORD | FOREWORD ...................................................................................................... 12 Dr WP Steenkamp ...................................................................................................................... 12 VOORBLAD | FRONT COVER ...................................................................................................... 14 Genl Andre van H Beukes en sy kleindogter Leandrè ................................................................... 14 Laat berig: Nog ‘n Kleinseun Presteer: Leonard Marren ............................................................ 14 POLISIEGESKIEDENIS | POLICE HISTORY ................................................................................ 15 TROU TOT DIE DOOD TOE: MOORD OP GONIWE, CALATA, MKONTO EN MHLAULI ............ 15 Genl JV van der Merwe .............................................................................................................. 15 POLISIE: HONDEKLIPBAAI .......................................................................................................... 17 Kol Louis Langenhoven .............................................................................................................. 17 DIE KONSTABEL WAT HOM TOT IN DIE HOSPITAAL GEHIK HET ........................................... 18 Kol Wynand Schoeman .............................................................................................................. 18 CAPT HCJH "HARRY" DU PREEZ [21/12/1929 TO 3/06/2022] .................................................... 21 Paul du Preez ............................................................................................................................. 21 1935: 24TH SEPTEMBER: RADIO INTERVIEW: CAPT. P.G. DE WITT HARCOURT COLLETT .. 22 Brig Stan Gillham via Col Logan Govender ............................................................................... 22 1988: BOMONTPLOFFING OSHAKATI 19 FEBRUARIE 1988 ..................................................... 28 Johan Potgieter .......................................................................................................................... 28 DIE MINISTER EN DIE FIETSE .................................................................................................... 30 Lt-genl Johan Ferreira ................................................................................................................ 30 ZARPS: VRYBURG: CAPE COLONY ........................................................................................... 32 Iain Hayter .................................................................................................................................. 32 A MAFEKING DEFENDER: 220 CPL JH BAWTREE, CAPE POLICE (LATER SUB-INSP) .......... 33 Adrian Ellard ............................................................................................................................... 33 COL EH DALGETY, CB (CMR) ..................................................................................................... 38 NATAL POLICE DURING THE ANGLO BOER WAR .................................................................... 39 Iain Hayter .................................................................................................................................. 39 POLISIE: CAMPBELL .................................................................................................................... 39 Kol Louis Langenhoven .............................................................................................................. 39 PASSING OF A STALWART: SERGEANT DAVRAJ ANAMALAI NAIDOO ................................. 40 Col Logan Govender .................................................................................................................. 40 AS JY BROOD BREEK MET DIE VYAND ..................................................................................... 47 3

Kol Corrie Prinsloo ..................................................................................................................... 47 OU POLISIEMANNE VAN VERGANGE SE DAE .......................................................................... 51 Prof Alex Duffy ........................................................................................................................... 51 1946: PASSIVE RESISTANCE CAMPAIGN IN DURBAN ............................................................. 51 Selvan Naidoo ............................................................................................................................ 51 KLEINZEE...................................................................................................................................... 54 Isak Fischer ................................................................................................................................ 54 SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY ......................................................................................................... 55 Nico Moolman ............................................................................................................................ 55 •

Barberton ............................................................................................................................. 55

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1930’s: Poor Whites / Arm blankes ...................................................................................... 57

HQ NATAL MOUNTED POLICE: ALEXANDRA RD: PIETERMARITZBURG ................................ 58 Elne Watson ............................................................................................................................... 58 1928: SAP JAGERSFONTEIN ....................................................................................................... 59 VEILIGHEIDSTAK LEBOMBO: AFDELING OOS-TRANSVAAL.................................................... 60 Lt-kol Piet “Walk Tall” van Zyl ..................................................................................................... 60 KOFFIEFONTEIN .......................................................................................................................... 61 Kol Louis Langenhoven .............................................................................................................. 61 1960: O’BEEP WAGPOS ............................................................................................................... 62 DIE HOF: OU SINAGOGE: PRETORIA ......................................................................................... 63 1972: STUDENTE-ONRUS: KAAPSTAD....................................................................................... 63 Mnr AP Stemmet ........................................................................................................................ 63 •

Piet Cronjé se repliek: .......................................................................................................... 64

1989: POLISIE SE EIE LUGWAARDINNE IN PIENK UNIFORMS ................................................ 66 Sarie van Niekerk ....................................................................................................................... 66 KOMMENTAAR: SAP LUGWAARDINNE ...................................................................................... 70 Herman Bosman ........................................................................................................................ 70 MANIE ODENDAAL: OUD-HONDE-EENHEID DURBAN .............................................................. 74 Kol Dana Kruger ......................................................................................................................... 74 POLISIESIELKUNDE: SELFDOOD ............................................................................................... 76 Dr Coert Mommsen .................................................................................................................... 76 NONGQAI TRUST | IT 002701/2018(T)......................................................................................... 81 THANK YOU! | DANKIE! ................................................................................................................ 83 EIETYDSE POLISIEGESKIEDENIS | CONTEMPORARY POLICE HISTORY .............................. 84 VF Plus bekommerd oor lae vlak van suksesvolle vervolgings in plaasaanval-sake ..................... 84 Fanie du Toit .............................................................................................................................. 84 Koalisieregering in Tshwane-metro neem hande met gemeenskappe en sakelui om misdaad te bekamp .......................................................................................................................................... 84 Mark Surgeon ............................................................................................................................. 84 Haweloses in Kaapstad vereis dringende aandag ......................................................................... 85 4

Paul Jacobson ............................................................................................................................ 85 Wet om veral vroue en kinders te beskerm, help nie sonder uitvoering (Debat in parlement: Wysigingswetsontwerp op die Strafreg (forensiese prosedures)) .................................................. 86 Dr. Pieter Groenewald ................................................................................................................ 86 Polisie-motorhawens lamgelê weens tekort aan enjinolie .............................................................. 86 Kobus Hoffman ........................................................................................................................... 86 National depts spent R11bn on private security over past 5 years ................................................ 87 Andrew Whitfield ........................................................................................................................ 87 Only 30% of those arrested for farm attacks successfully prosecuted ........................................... 88 Fanie du Toit .............................................................................................................................. 88 ANC-faksiegevegte verlam munisipale dienste in Mamusa-munisipaliteit ..................................... 91 Esmé Venter............................................................................................................................... 91 Belangrik dat Suid-Afrika gebind word deur verdrag om kernafval te beskerm .............................. 91 Dr. Wynand Boshoff ................................................................................................................... 91 Crime statistics don’t paint a good picture ..................................................................................... 92 Bheki Cele .................................................................................................................................. 92 SA Crime Stats: The 90-day bloodbath .......................................................................................... 98 Andrew Whitfield ........................................................................................................................ 98 SA a dangerous country, especially for women & children ............................................................ 99 Pieter Groenewald ...................................................................................................................... 99 Misdaadstatistiek: Suid-Afrika gevaarlike land, veral vir vroue en kinders ................................... 100 AfriForum launches Border Watch Initiative; sniffer dogs deployed to Musina............................. 101 Jacques Broodryk ..................................................................................................................... 101 Mishandling of the Ramaphosa farm forex theft reflected in state accountability documents ...... 102 Pres Ramaphosa ......................................................................................................................... 102 27 Police officers killed in the first three months of 2022 ............................................................. 102 Crime intelligence improvement required to prevent mass shootings - Reagen Allen ................. 103 Marcellino Martin ...................................................................................................................... 103 Govt needs to act as mine crime spins out of control ................................................................... 104 James Lorimer.......................................................................................................................... 104 Bheki Cele has failed SA and needs to go ................................................................................... 104 Geordin Hill-Lewis .................................................................................................................... 104 Police officer takes on Gauteng Deputy Speaker – AfriForum ..................................................... 105 Barry Bateman ......................................................................................................................... 105 Gautengse misdaadstatistiek: Moordsyfer vir vroue en kinders styg dramaties ........................... 105 Kobus Hoffman ......................................................................................................................... 105 Police VIP protection officer to pursue private prosecution against Gauteng Provincial Legislature Deputy Speaker ........................................................................................................................... 106 Barry Bateman ......................................................................................................................... 106 5

VF Plus eis ernstige optrede teen stakende vragmotorbestuurders se ekonomiese sabotasie op N12 by Bloemhof ......................................................................................................................... 107 Fanie du Toit ............................................................................................................................ 107 VF Plus eis antwoorde oor gebrek aan polisie-optrede tydens afgelope week se versperring van N12 in Noordwes ......................................................................................................................... 108 Fanie du Toit ............................................................................................................................ 108 Polisie, gemeenskap en veiligheidsmaatskappye werk saam om klopjag op dwelmhuise uit te voer ..................................................................................................................................................... 108 Kobus Hoffman ......................................................................................................................... 109 Mob justice killing trend is deeply worrying .................................................................................. 109 Reagen Allen ............................................................................................................................ 109 Polisie in Gauteng dok R78 miljoen op vir onregmatige en brutale optrede teenoor publiek ....... 110 Kobus Hoffman ......................................................................................................................... 110 Era van staatskaping nie verby .................................................................................................... 110 Dr. Pieter Groenewald .............................................................................................................. 110 LEGAL ACTION CONSIDERED TO COMPEL LAW ENFORCERS TO ARREST ESKOM STRIKERS – AFRIFORUM .......................................................................................................... 111 Chante Kelder .......................................................................................................................... 111 MAGISTRATE HAS HARSH WORDS FOR SAPS AND NPA ..................................................... 112 Carl Niehaus............................................................................................................................. 112 Gomorrah-nedersetting in Pretoria beskadig kerk, infrastruktuur oor dienslewering .................... 113 Kobus Hoffman ......................................................................................................................... 113 GESKIEDENIS SA SPOORWEGPOLISIE................................................................................... 116 Brig Ronnie Beyl....................................................................................................................... 116 •

Die passasier op die agterste sitplek.................................................................................. 116

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Musiek in die steengroef .................................................................................................... 116

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My krulsnor......................................................................................................................... 117

‘N LEWENSREIS: HOOFSTUK 19 .............................................................................................. 118 Brig Hannes Slabbert ............................................................................................................... 118 REMINISCES OF A RAILWAY POLICEMAN .............................................................................. 124 Keith Alfred Adolf Blake ............................................................................................................ 124 •

Police Story: Blake Arrested Stripped of Rank for Corruption. Part 1 ................................. 124

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Police Story: Blake Arrested Stripped of Rank for Corruption. Part 2 ................................. 125

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Police Story: Blake Arrested Stripped of Rank for Corruption. Part 3................................. 125

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Police Story: Blake Arrested Stripped of Rank for Corruption. Part 4 ................................. 126

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Police Story: Blake Arrested, Stripped of Rank for Corruption. Part 5................................ 127

KRYGSGESKIEDENIS | SA MILITARY HISTORY ...................................................................... 129 RSS BADEN-POWELL: PAINTER, JOURNALIST, ILLUSTRATOR, MILITARY LEADER AND FOUNDER OF THE SA CONSTABULARY (1857–1941) ............................................................ 129 Compiled by Jennifer Bosch ..................................................................................................... 129 6

ANGLO BOER WAR: BRITISH GENERALS ............................................................................... 138 Jennifer Bosch (Colouring) ....................................................................................................... 138 BOER HELIOGRAPHERS ........................................................................................................... 143 Jennifer Bosch (Colouring)........................................................................................................... 143 GENERAL CR DE WET (FREE STATE REPUBLIC) .................................................................. 144 SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE FORCE (SADF) ARMY YSTERVARK SELF PROPELLED ANTI AIRCRAFT GUN (SPAAG) .......................................................................................................... 147 Wolfgang Witschas ................................................................................................................... 147 1922: CAPTAIN HENDRIK PRINSLOO AND THE BONDELSWARTS ....................................... 158 Dr Rodney Warwick .................................................................................................................. 158 THE FALL OF TOBRUK .............................................................................................................. 168 Dr Rodney Warwick .................................................................................................................. 168 DAVID STUURMAN: KHOI SE EIE “CHE GUEVARA” ................................................................ 177 Philip Malherbe ......................................................................................................................... 177 WE WILL REMEMBER ................................................................................................................ 181 SOUTH AFRICANS’ COMMONWEALTH WAR CASUALTIES BURIED ACROSS THE WORLD – PART FIFTY-TWO ....................................................................................................................... 181 Captain (SAN) Charles Ross (SA Navy Retired) ...................................................................... 181 •

Boulogne Eastern Cemetery - France ................................................................................ 181

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Gibeon Station Cemetery - Namibia................................................................................... 182

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Johannesburg Brixton Cemetery – South Africa ................................................................ 182

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Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension - France ................................................................ 183

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Faubourg D’amiens Cemetery, Arras, France .................................................................... 183

DENIS "CHUNKY" CHESTERMAN ............................................................................................. 184 David Barber via Frans Bedford Visser .................................................................................... 184 DEFENCE INTERNATIONAL ...................................................................................................... 186 AH-64E APACHE GUARDIAN - BESTE AANVAL HELIKOPTER ............................................... 186 Philip Malherbe ......................................................................................................................... 186 STRATEGIE................................................................................................................................. 189 OORLOG IN OEKRAÏNE: MAAND-EIND ANALISE #5, JUNIE 2022 .......................................... 189 Dr. Willem Steenkamp .............................................................................................................. 189 VAARWEL, WESTERSE WÊRELD-DOMINASIE… ................................................................. 189 EX AFRICA SEMPER ALIQUID NOVI – EP. 8 ............................................................................ 194 Dr. Willem Steenkamp .............................................................................................................. 194 HUMOR IN UNIFORM … MENEER AS DIT DIE MANIER IS… .................................................. 204 Brig Theo Kleynhans ................................................................................................................ 204 ARTIKEL-REEKS: BEMEESTER VERANDERING #2 ................................................................ 205 Dr. Willem Steenkamp .............................................................................................................. 205 •

DIS TYD VIR PADLANGS PRAAT – KRY ‘n “PLAN B” IN PLEK... .................................... 205

BOOKS | BOEKE ......................................................................................................................... 213 7

LETTERS | BRIEWE .................................................................................................................... 214 1989: VAANDELPARADE............................................................................................................ 214 ‘n LESER SKRYF ........................................................................................................................ 214 POLISIEPISTOOL IN JOHN VORSTERPLEIN SE FONDAMENTE ............................................ 214 Genl HJ Ferreira ....................................................................................................................... 214 BARRY FOWLER ........................................................................................................................ 217 SLOT | END ................................................................................................................................. 218

FINGERPRINTS: THE FIRST SAP FILM

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NONGQAI: OORSPRONG & OOGMERKE

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NONGQAI: ROOTS & GOALS

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“Om

in Christus te wees”

Pastoor Koot Swanepoel Efesiërs 1 vers 7: “In Hom het ons die verlossing deur Sy bloed, die vergifnis van die misdade na die rykdom van Sy genade.”

In Efesiërs een, kom die woorde van “In Hom” en “In wie” ‘n paar keer voor. Het jy al gedink wat dit regtig beteken om “in Christus Jesus” te wees? As ons die waarde hiervan verstaan, bring dit groot geestelike oorwinnings vir ons.

Jy sien, dit is in Hom dat ons verlossing ontvang het deur Sy bloed. Dit is in Hom dat ons deel kan wees van soveel seëninge, wat God vir ons voorberei het. Soek alle tekste op waar jy lees wat ons is en kan verkry in Christus. Merk hierdie Skrifte in jou Bybel en mediteer daaroor totdat die waarheid daarvan tot jou gees deurdring. Dit sal vir jou ‘n wapen wees teen enige aanval van die bose.

Wanneer jy aangeval word met mismoedigheid sal hierdie waarheid, wat jy in Hom is, jou help om te kan oorwin. Jy sal weet dat daar werklik geen veroordeling is vir die wat in Christus is nie. (Rom. 8:1) Jy sal weet omdat jy in Hom is kan niks jou skade doen nie, want jy is God se oogappel. Jy is verseker van ‘n oorwinning as jy vir eens en vir altyd weet dat jy in Jesus Christus is.

Maak opnuut seker wat jou posisie in Christus is.

Jy is geen bedelaar nie, maar ‘n duur gekoopte kind van God. En jou vergifnis van sonde is deur die rykdom van Sy genade .

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VOORWOORD | FOREWORD

Dr WP Steenkamp Beste Brig. Hennie: In hierdie maand se Nongqai word daar so baie pitkos aangebied. Wat my veral getref het, is die nuwe rubriek “Eietydse Polisiëring” en die onrusbarende feite wat daarin reflekteer word. Seer sekerlik wil mens nie dat Nongqai in die partypolitieke debat verstrengel raak nie.

In ag genome egter dat daar ‘n wesentlike verskil is tussen partypolitiek voer, en legitieme gedagtewisseling oor nasionaal-belangrike politieke kwessies (waarvan wet-en-orde in die breë altyd, in enige land, ‘n uiters belangrike komponent is) glo ek dat dit tyd geword het om padlangs te praat oor die stand van polisiëring in Suid-Afrika. Maar nie net daaroor nie – ook die stand van dienslewering in die algemeen in die openbare sektor. Ek glo voorts dis belangrik om dit vanuit ‘n arendsoog perspektief te doen (m.a.w., die globale prent, en die strategiese impak en implikasies daarvan) want andersins kan mens in hare-klowery oor die detail verval – soos die Engelse sê, dan nie die bos van die bome onderskei nie.

Sekerlik die eerste plig van enige owerheid, van oertyd af, was en bly die beskerming van sy burgers. Dit raak drie vlakke: eerstens beveiliging teen aanval van buite (die taak van ‘n weermag), tweedens die beskerming van die individu binnelands, teen misdaad, en derdens die beskerming van die gemeenskap en die staatsinstellings teen openbare geweld en wanorde. Die laaste twee funksies rus op die skouers van die polisie.

Maar as die polisie nie eers hulleself of hulle eie infrastruktuur kan beskerm nie (verwysend na die R11biljoen spandeer aan privaat-beveiliging) watter vertroue kan Jan Alleman dan hê dat die polisie vir hom, sy gesin en gemeenskap sal kan (wil?) beskerm teen misdaad en openbare geweld?

Die erns van die misdaad-situasie, soos dit individue raak, spreek duidelik uit die aangehaalde statistiek. Die tendens is boonop sterk verslegtend. Die gebeure in Julie verlede jaar in KZN en Gauteng, het die onvermoë om die gemeenskap teen wanorde en geweld te kan beskerm, eweseer blootgelê. Dis nou ook weer onderstreep deur die onvermoë om die onwettige Eskom-stakers aan bande te lê. Benewens die uiters negatiewe effek wat dit op mense se sieleheil het, om so in vrees te moet lewe, het die vlak van onbevooegdheid om die Staat se mees basiese funksie en verpligting en teenoor sy burgers te vervul, uiters ernstige ekonomiese gevolge. Dit strek van versnelde emigrasie van hoëpotensiaal-mense (wie se verlies die land nie kan bekostig nie) na bes moontlik 12

afgradering van kredietwaardigheid, stremming van reeds kranklike ekonomiese groei en verskerping van hemelhoë werkloosheid – om nie eens die biljoene aan fisiese skade en ontwrigting verloor, te noem nie.

Gegewe die skerp toename in die waarskynlikheid van polities-gedrewe openbare onrus vorentoe (soos wat inflasie, resessie en voedseltekorte gaan dieper byt) glo ek nie hierdie probleme kan meer met “hier vat en daar probeer keer” reggemaak word nie. Dit gaan nie ten eerste oor verbeterde bestuurstegnieke, aanpassings van begrotingsprioriteite of selfs vernuwing van top-leiding nie – hoe nodig dit alles in sigself mag wees. Dit gaan fundamenteel oor die onderliggende kultuur wat posgevat het. Veral dan die gebrek aan onderliggende waardes van dienswilligheid, persoonlike verantwoordelikheid, nastrewing van uitnemendheid en bowenal van ‘n verbintenis tot doen wat moreel goed en reg is (eerder as dat die amptenaar doen, dit wat hy/sy dink hulle mee kan wegkom).

Die staatsdiens kan nie ‘n plek wees waar jou konneksies vir jou ‘n possie verseker, bloot met die oog daarop dat jy maand-eind ‘n tjek kan bank nie – sonder dat daar die nodige quid pro quo gelewer word waarop die belastingbetaler vir sy befondsing van die Staatsdiens, geregtig is.

Suid-Afrika het lank reeds die posisie bereik waar alles wat voorheen as verantwoordelikheid van die Staat geag is (soos bv. onderwys, mediese sorg en gesinsbeveiliging) nou privaat voor betaal moet word. Sekere dienste kan egter nie so maklik privatiseer word nie, soos water en krag, paaie en dan beskerming van die gemeenskap teen openbare oproer. Dis aksiomaties dat misdaad gaan styg, soos wat inflasie, werkloosheid en voedseltekorte toenemend gaan knyp. Dis ook hoogs waarskynlik dat Suid-Afrika nie die sosiaal-politieke onrus wat sulke moeilike tye tipies die wêreld oor meebring, sal kan vryspring nie. Daardie onrus sal verder verhit word deur die toenemende polarisasie en konflik binne die regeringsparty, en deur daardie party se toenemend moeilike stryd om meerderheidsteun te bly behou (mens sidder om te dink wat gaan gebeur, as in ‘n toekomstige verkiesing daar nie ‘n volstrekte wenner sou wees nie).

Wat is die oplossing? Ek is bevrees daar is nie ‘n voor-die-hand liggende een nie. Daar’s eenvoudig nie ‘n towerstaf daartoe opgewasse, a.g.v. die omvang en diepte wat die probleme reeds toegelaat is om aan te neem nie. Gewis moet mens sekerlik alles doen en probeer, op mikro-vlak. Maar mens bluf jouself, as jy nie wil erken dat die kernprobleem van ‘n makro-aard is nie.

En die uurglas loop uit...

Elke verantwoordelike ouer sal koelkop na eie toekoms-opsies moet kyk, en elke plaaslike gemeenskap sal ook sy gebeurlikheidsbeplanning moet in plek kry – altyd binne die perke van die wet, altyd bedag op die inherente plofbaarheid van ons bevolkingsamestelling, en altyd gemik daarop om dinge te verbeter, en nie onbesonne te vererger nie.

Twee spreuke sal tel: eendrag maak mag, en eerder voorbereid as daarna spyt...

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VOORBLAD | FRONT COVER

Genl Andre van H Beukes en sy kleindogter Leandrè

Genl Beukes skryf vir ons soos volg: “Leandrè Marren het op 5 Mei 2022 gradeplegtigheid by Univ. Van Pretoria haar B.Ed.-graad met lof ontvang. Sy doen nou honneurs en DV ‘n M.Ed. Sy beklee ‘n pos by ‘n laerskool in Johannesburg.

Lukas 12: 48. 'To whom much is given; much is required' is ons motto!”

Laat berig: Nog ‘n Kleinseun Presteer: Leonard Marren Leonard saam met sy Oupa, genl Andre Beukes, tydens die onlangse funksie by Sol-Tech. Hy is tydens die promoveringsgeleentheid op 23 Junie 2022 as die top student in Dieselwerktuigkunde aangewys.

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POLISIEGESKIEDENIS | POLICE HISTORY

TROU TOT DIE DOOD TOE: MOORD OP GONIWE, CALATA, MKONTO EN MHLAULI Genl JV van der Merwe IN Junie 1985 is vier bekende aktiviste van die Oos-Kaap vermoor: mnre. Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto en Sicelo Mhlauli. Hulle het ʼn leidende rol gespeel om verset teen die owerhede aan te stook, wat op groot onrus en geweldpleging uitgeloop het.

Die lyk van Mkonto is op 28 Junie 1985 in bosse naby Blouwaterbaai in Port Elizabeth ontdek. Ná ʼn intensiewe soektog is die lyke van Mhlauli, Goniwe en Calata in dieselfde omgewing in die bosse opgespoor.

In die geledere van politieke aktiviste en ander kringe is vermoed dat lede van die veiligheidsmagte by die moorde betrokke was, maar daar was geen bewyse nie. Tydens die geregtelike doodsondersoek is bevind dat dit nie moontlik is om te bepaal wie vir die moorde verantwoordelik was nie. ʼn Verwoede stryd het destyds tussen die UDF en die Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo) gewoed en die moontlikheid het bestaan dat die moorde daarmee verband gehou het.

Goniwe was ʼn onderwyser op Cradock en het ’n groot invloed in die swart gemeenskap en veral onder die swart jeug gehad. Die Gesamentlike Bestuurstelsel (GBS) van die veiligheidsgemeenskap in die Oos-Kaap, wat uit lede van die Weermag, Polisie en ander staatsdepartemente bestaan het, was oortuig daarvan dat Goniwe die spilpunt was waarom onrus en verset in die gebied gedraai het.

Hulle was van mening dat hy, naas mnr. Nelson Mandela, meer invloed as enige ander ANC-lid in die Oos-Kaap uitgeoefen het. Daar is besluit dat hy uit die gebied verwyder moet word.

Goniwe is deur die Departement van Onderwys en Opleiding na Graaff-Reinet verplaas, maar hy het geweier om die verplasing te aanvaar en is gevolglik afgedank. Onder leiding en aanstigting van Fort Calata het swart leerlinge in dele van die Oos-Kaap begin om uit protes teen Goniwe se afdanking skole te boikot. Calata was ʼn gesiene lid van die ANC en een van die beskuldigdes wat in Maart 1961 in die hoogverraadsaak vrygespreek is.

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Goniwe en Calata is op 31 Maart 1984 ingevolge Art. 28 (1) van die Wet op Binnelandse Veiligheid aangehou. Hulle is op 9 Oktober van dieselfde jaar vrygelaat, maar het onmiddellik hul opruiende bedrywighede hervat.

Die GBS-lede het onwrikbaar by hul standpunt gebly, maar lede van die veiligheidstak op hoofkantoor het gemeen die gespanne toestand in die Oos-Kaap kan in ʼn mate ontlont word deur Goniwe weer as onderwyser op Cradock toe te laat, onderworpe aan voorwaardes en streng inperkingsbevele.

Op 25 Junie 1985 het die hoofkantoor van die veiligheidstak deur bemiddeling van genl. Johann Coetzee, Polisiekommissaris, ʼn memorandum aan mnr. Louis le Grange, Minister van Wet en Orde, voorgelê. Hierin word aanbeveel dat Goniwe voorwaardelik, onderworpe aan sekere voorwaardes en inperkings, weer as onderwyser op Cradock aangestel word. Dié aanbeveling was in skerp kontras met die standpunt van die veiligheidsgemeenskap in Port Elizabeth. Trouens, brig. Joffel van der Westhuizen (later generaal), hoof van die Weermag in die Oos-Kaap en voorsitter van die GBS, het vroeër in die maand, op 7 Junie, ʼn teleksboodskap aan die sekretariaat van die Staatsveiligheidsraad gestuur met die volgende bewoording: Matthew Goniwe Mbulelo Goniwe Fort Calata Dit word voorgestel dat bg. persone permanent uit die samelewing, as saak van dringendheid, verwyder word.

Mbulelo Goniwe was Matthew Goniwe se broer. Sicelo Mhlauli en Sparrow Mkonto is nie genoem nie.

Sewe jaar later, in sy uitgawe van 30 April - 7 Mei 1992, berig die weekblad New Nation dat hy oor bewyse beskik dat die dood van Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli en Sparrow Mkonto deur die sekretariaat van die Staatsveiligheidsraad gemagtig is. Die New Nation is destyds deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Katolieke Biskoppekonferensie befonds en was sterk teen die Regering gekant. ʼn Week later publiseer die weekblad die teleksboodskap wat brig. Van der Westhuizen aan die sekretariaat van die Staatsveiligheidsraad gestuur het. Volgens die blad het genl. Bantu Holomisa, wat in 1992 staatshoof in Transkei was en later leier van die United Democratic Movement, die teleks aan hulle gegee. Dit is nie bekend hoe dit in sy besit gekom het nie.

Die berig het uit alle oorde druk op die Regering geplaas, met die gevolg dat pres. F.W. de Klerk mnr. Kobie Coetsee, Minister van Justisie, gevra om met regter Neville Zietsman, regter-president van die Oos-Kaapse afdeling van die Hooggeregshof, te reël dat die geregtelike doodsondersoek na die dood van Matthew Goniwe en die ander drie aktiviste heropen word.

In sy boek No one to blame skryf adv. George Bizos, wat in die tweede geregtelike doodsondersoek vir die vier weduwees verskyn het, soos volg oor die memorandum wat die veiligheidstak op 25 Junie 1985 aan die Minister van Wet en Orde voorgelê het: The memorandum purports to recommend conditional reinstatement or restriction in Cradock over the alternative of detention or unconditional reinstatement. But it is clear from a reading of the document that even the recommended options were not seen as viable. The memorandum concludes by saying that, because of the notoriety Goniwe had already received, whatever action was taken against him would elicit serious criticism, nationally as well as internationally. The resemblance to the concluding paragraph of the signal [die teleksboodskap] is striking. These documents [die memorandum] apparently contradict the clear evidence of Security Police opposition to Goniwe’s reinstatement. They seem to be void of substance, as if written for form’s sake by people 16

who knew a solution was already at hand, as if they were trying to build an alibi into their own documents. Two days after the memorandum was written, Goniwe was dead.

Hierdie ongegronde, maar nie onredelike afleiding nie, skets weer eens die byna onmoontlike taak waarmee voormalige lede van die SA Polisie gekonfronteer was. Daar steek geen greintjie waarheid in die stelling dat die memorandum aan die Minister van Wet en Orde bloot ʼn poging was om ʼn alibi te skep nie. Die harde werklikheid is dat wat die veiligheidstak ook al op daardie stadium oor Goniwe voorgestel het, dit geensins die probleme wat hy veroorsaak het, sou opgelos het nie. Daar was geen ideale oplossing nie en die veiligheidstak se voorstel was die beste van die slegste keuses.

Regter Zietsman, wat self die tweede geregtelike doodsondersoek onderneem het, het bevind dat die vier aktiviste deur lede van die veiligheidsmagte vermoor is. Daar was getuienis wat die vermoede gewek het dat kol. Harold Snyman, afdelingsbevelvoerder van die veiligheidstak in die Oostelike Provinsie, en maj. Eric Winter van die veiligheidstak in Port Elizabeth betrokke was, asook die Weermaglede brig. Joffel van der Westhuizen, kmdt. Lourens du Plessis, sekretaris van die GBS, en genl. Hans van Rensburg, hoof van die tak strategie van die sekretariaat van die Staatsveiligheidsraad. Geen prima facie-bewyse is egter gelewer om dit te bevestig nie.

POLISIE: HONDEKLIPBAAI Kol Louis Langenhoven

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DIE KONSTABEL WAT HOM TOT IN DIE HOSPITAAL GEHIK HET Kol Wynand Schoeman Daar is vroeg al tekens dat dit ‘n snikhete dag in die Oos Caprivi gaan wees.

Trouens die hitte bou al die afgelope vyf dae elke dag ‘n bietjie op en elke dag is warmer as die vorige een. Dit is laat Januarie 1981 en die reënseisoen. Alhoewel dit die laaste paar dae nie gereën het nie, is die wêreld nat en die humiditeit baie hoog. Die Zambezirivier is nie in vloed nie maar die watervlak is hoër as gewoonlik. Dit het dus ook goed in die noordweste van Zambië gereën. Die eerste tekens dat dit ‘n baie warm dag gaan wees is die sonbesies wat zoem en die muggies wat rondom jou kop begin draai. Die muggies is nie by die polisiestasie ‘n groot probleem nie maar gaan hou onder of naby die bome in Ngwezi (die swart woonbuurt) waar die Ontwikkelingskorporasie se supermarkie en een of twee ander winkeltjies geleë is, stil om iets te koop en die muggies omsingel jou. Hulle paradeer hulself net so sentimeter of twee voor jou neus en raak so groot lastigheid dat jy hulle instinktief probeer wegwaai. Wat ‘n groot fout! Jou wegwaai-aksie dien net as ‘n uitnodiging aan die muggies om jou in hul hordes beet te pak. Hoe meer jy waai, hoe meer is daar. Jy moet net keer of hul kruip in jou neus, oë of ore. Jou mond moet jy toe hou of dit is vol muggies. Die geheim is om hul te ignoreer en hul nie te probeer weg waai nie want dan raak hul stadigaan minder. Maar dit is ‘n lang proses en hul verdwyn nie onmiddellik nie. Dan is daar die sonbesies wat ook rondom jou ore hul klaagliedere aanhef en jou tot duskant raserny kan dryf met desibels op ‘n hoër vlak as ‘n Mirage vegvliegtuig. Trouens dit is soos dit vir my klink. ‘n Irritasie op sy beste.

Dit is juis op hierdie warm dag dat die radio in die aanklagtekantoor so om en by 11:30 die oggend begin kraak en konstabel Sifu, een van my twee manne op afgedeelde diens by die Ngoma grenspos tussen die Caprivi (as deel van die voormalige Suidwes-Afrika), en Botswana, op die lug kom.

Tussen die twee lande is die Choberivier met ‘n brug wat die twee lande verbind. Die Ngoma grenspos was nie, op daardie stadium, ‘n volwaardige paspoortbeheerpos nie maar eintlik maar net ‘n beheerstasie om te monitor wie die Caprivi binnekom of verlaat. Paspoorte moes by die polisiestasie op Katima Mulilo gestempel word. Ek word na die radio geroep. Konstabel Sifu rapporteer aan my dat sy kollega (wie se naam ek maar sal verswyg), ernstig siek is en baie dringend mediese hulp nodig het. Ek vra die lid wat sy kollega makeer. Hy deel my mee dat sy kollega al die afgelope vier dae sonder ophou hik en op ‘n punt is waar hy reeds so swak en uitgeput is dat hy sy bewussyn verloor. Ek vra hom ‘n tweede keer wat sy kollega makeer. Konstabel Sifu klink desperaat en bekommerd en bang dat ek niks aan die dilemma gaan doen nie. Ek kontak die plaaslike hospitaal en verneem of hul ‘n ambulans het wat die lid kan gaan haal maar geen ambulans is beskikbaar nie. Ek besef dat ek noodgedwonge maar sal moet gaan kyk wat aangaan en indien nodig konstabel Sifu se kollega sal moet terugbring na Katima Mulilo. Ek laat hom weet dat ek op pad is.

Ngoma is so 84 kilometer vanaf Katima Mulilo geleë en dit is al die pad grondpad. Eintlik was dit n sandpad wat opgebou is om ‘n grondpad te wees. Daarvoor moes vrag op vrag gruis en grond die Caprivi binnegebring word. Die pad was in ‘n goeie toestand en redelik droog. Ek tree ‘n Toyota Landcruiser aan en vra een van die ander manne om my te vergesel. Net voordat ek die pad vat 18

besluit ek om ‘n sponsmatras en twee komberse agter in die Landcruiser te sit sodat die siek lid kan lê as ek hom moes terug bring vir mediese behandeling. Tussen ons twee het ons ook vier koue koeldranke as lafenis want dit is warm. As die manne gewoonlik veld toe gaan het hy, as hy waarskynlik sou moes oorslaap, ‘n trommel saam met hom waarin proviand soos ‘n paar blikkies boeliebief, meel en ‘n potjie vir pap gebêre word. Asook ‘n tentjie en ‘n slaapsak of wat. Elke voertuig was ook met ‘n bykomende 200 liter brandstof en -watertenk toegerus.

Op pad na Ngoma ry ek by die punt verby waar een van die manne ‘n polisie Hyena landmynvoertuig in twee stukke sou ry. Die Hyena was die voorloper van die Hippo landmynvoertuig maar baie kleiner. Die betrokke lid was een aand na donker nog op die Katima Mulilo - Ngoma pad toe hy met ‘n weermag Buffelvoertuig in ‘n botsing was. Die lid was redelik haastig en toe hy om ‘n draai gaan was die Buffel dwars oor die pad getrek, waar die weermag klaarblyklik inderhaas ‘n padblokkade opgestel het. Die weermagtroepe aldaar aan diens het slegs, tussen hulle, twee klein penlig- flitsies gehad. Nodeloos om te sê dié flitsies het nie genoeg lig verskaf vir die Hyena om te kon stop nie.

Die liggies wat die twee flitsies gemaak het kon net sowel gelyk het soos twee vuurvliegies wat ‘n paar strekoefeninge doen. In die botsing het die Hyena in twee gebreek. Die enjingedeelte het morsaf gebreek waar dit aan die kajuitgedeelte vas was. Die Hyena sou nooit weer loop nie en ek het agterna gewonder of dit nie die laaste Hyenavoertuig was, wat in diens van die polisie was nie.

Op pad na Ngoma ry ek duskant Bukalo by ‘n sogenaamde “boomslaghuis” verby (dit is nou soos ons dit destyds genoem het). Dit is nou ‘n “slaghuis” waar die beeskarkas eenvoudig in die veld teen ‘n boom opgehys word en die kliënt dan sommer daar en dan die stuk wat hy wou gehad het, aan die slagter uitgewys het. As hul oor ‘n prys ooreengekom het, het die slagter dan die gekose stuk vleis met ‘n kapmes uitgekap. Sekerlik nie baie higiënies nie, maar dit was die bos en dit is soos dit was.

Die einste pad na Ngoma was ook die pad waar oud-kollega, destyds sersant Barries Barnard, soos hy aan my vertel het, (voor my aankoms op Katima Mulilo), op pad terug vanaf ‘n besoek aan die manne by Ngoma, met die polisievoertuig, in hewige reën van die water deurweekte pad afgegly het en nie weer met die voertuig op die pad kon kom nie. Die pad was eenvoudig te glad. As gevolg van lae wolke kon hy ook nie met die Motorola- radio kontak met die stasie bewerkstellig nie.

Volgens hom het hy eers 3 dae later weer by die stasie aangekom. Hierin was die volgende lesse te leer: Die stasie moet te alle tye weet waar jy jou bevind en neem altyd ‘n kollega saam veld toe.

Jy ry nooit alleen veld toe nie.

Nota: Radiokommunikasie (uit die veld en oor lang afstande) met die stasie was maar deurgaans ‘n probleem. Die voertuie is mettertyd met langafstandantennas toegerus en kon ‘n voertuig in die veld, baie duidelik met verafgeleë stasies, selfs met Radiobeheer, Kaapstad, kontak bewerkstellig.

Kontak met Katima Mulilo as sulks het egter om een of ander rede, maar wankelrig en onbetroubaar gebly. So moes Radiobeheer, Kaapstad by meer as een geval, radioboodskappe na die stasie oordra.

By Ngoma aangekom vind ek ‘n baie bekommerde konstabel Sifu wat my na die hikkende kollega neem. Ek skrik toe ek die man sien. Ek voel hoe die spreekwoordelike ysblokkies teen my ruggraat afgly en op my stuitjie gaan lê. Nie die helfte van wat die man makeer is aan my vertel nie. Hy was uitgeput en medies gesproke, werklik in ‘n swak toestand. Hy was duidelik ontwater want hy het nou alreeds vir bykans 4 dae geen voedsel of vloeistowwe ingeneem nie. Hy het ‘n ongewone vaalgroen kleur gehad en van kouekoors gebewe soos ‘n riet, nieteenstaande die uitputtende hitte op dié dag.

Hy het nog steeds gehik maar sy asemhaling en polsslag was baie flou. Hy reageer nie op ons vrae nie en dit was nie seker of hy weet dat ek daar is nie. Sy oë was bleek en glaserig. Ons plaas die hikkende lid op ‘n kombers en dra hom na die Landcruiser en maak hom toe met ‘n kombers.

Intussen sing die sonbesies op hul hoogste vlak en klink dit of hul deur ‘n filharmoniese orkes begelei word. Terwyl ons die lid dra wil die muggies ook in hul hordes in my neus opkruip en dans hul net 19

so 2 sentimeter voor my oë. Ek kan hul nie wegwaai nie want dan sou ek die lid laat val. Dié betrokke dag met die hikkende lid en die sonbesies en muggies op Ngoma kan ek goed onthou.

Skuins voor die Ngomabeheerpunt was ‘n ou, maar nog steeds baie netjiese polisiebasis wat deur die polisie beman was, voordat grenspatrollies en grensdienste aan die SA Weermag oorgedra is.

Die voorafvervaardigde strukture in die basis was nog in ‘n goeie toestand en is nou deur die manne op afgedeelde diens by Ngoma as huisvesting gebruik. Die siek lid is vandaar na die Landcruiser verskuif en op die sponsmatras gemaklik gemaak en was ons gereed om na Katima Mulilo terug te keer. Ek het besef dat ek voet in die hoek sou moes sit om die lid by die hospitaal te kry.

Net voordat ons die terugrit aangepak het, het ek by ‘n klein winkeltjie sowat 150 meter vanaf die Ngomapos ingedraf op soek na iets om te drink want dit was nog warmer as vroeër en die terugrit sou uitmergelend wees. Klimaatbeheer of iets soortgelyks het nie destyds in die voertuie bestaan nie. Al wat op die winkelrak was, was ‘n paar pakkies Selati suiker en mieliemeel maar die eienaar kon 4 blikkies Coca Cola iewers uitgrawe. Die blikkies Coke was vuurwarm maar iets om te drink.

Jy kon orals in die bos by ‘n winkeltjie stilhou en jy sal ‘n blikkie Coke te koop kry. Yskaste in daardie geweste was iets vir die verre toekoms.

Op Katima Mulilo aangekom het ek reguit na die hospitaal gery waar die hikkende lid opgeneem is.

Gelukkig was daar ‘n weermagdokter beskikbaar wat die lid onmiddellik op suurstof en binneaarse voeding kon plaas om die ontwatering teen te werk. Hy is met adrenalien ingespuit om sy bloeddruk te lig. Volgens die dokter sou die hikkende lid dit waarskynlik nie deur die volgende 24 uur gemaak het nie as ons hom nie gaan haal het nie. Sy niere en hart het reeds tekens van erge stres getoon en sou waarskynlik net ophou werk. Die lid was 4 dae in die hospitaal om hom te stabiliseer en was daarna nog 4 dae afsiek sodat sy liggaam wat ‘n kwaai knou weg gehad het, kon herstel. Hy het blykbaar net slaap, rus en kalmeermiddels nodig gehad om hom te laat ophou hik. Die werklike gevaar was dat sy organe sou kon ingee.

Sover ek kon vasstel het die siek lid, omdat dit so uitermate warm was, by die einste winkeltjie waar ek die Coca Cola gekoop het, van die eienaar se tuisgebroude bier gekoop en dit waarskynlik te vinnig weggesluk. Net daarna het hy glo begin hik. Wat ‘n duur les wat hy geleer het. Ek het die lid na sy herstel van die Ngomapos onttrek en met ‘n ander lid vervang.

Dit wat met die hikkende lid gebeur het was waarskynlik so uniek en buitengewoon dat ek my nie kan indink dat daar weer so iets met ‘n ander lid van die SA Polisie gebeur het nie. Wat sy situasie vererger het was die feit dat hy op ‘n afgeleë pos uitgeplaas was en dat mediese dienste nie om elke hoek beskikbaar was nie. Gelukkig vir hom was ‘n weermagdokter beskikbaar om onmiddellik noodbehandeling op hom toe te pas. Dit het sy lewe gered. Die hikkende lid het ‘n duur les geleer en sover ek weet het hy nooit weer sy mond aan enige tuisgebroude brousel gesit nie. Ek is net dankbaar dat ek hom kon help om betyds mediese behandeling te kry. In die bos kon dit nogal ‘n uitdaging wees

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CAPT HCJH "HARRY" DU PREEZ [21/12/1929 TO 3/06/2022] Paul du Preez

Hermanus “Harry” du Preez was born on the 21st December 1929 in Potchefstroom. Harry’s Father died when he was about 9 years of age and being the eldest Son, he left School and got his first job as a painter/cleaner on the Railways, then in 1947 did a stint in the Army. Finally Joining the SAP in 1949 in the Mounted unit. Harry was posted to Natal and found himself in Durban with the Mounted Police based at Wentworth where he lived in what was called the “Police Camp”.

During the early 60’s he transitioned to the Mechanical branch and was attached to it for the remainder of his service in the SAP, serving at Wentworth, Jacobs and Kimberley Police garages.

During these years till his retirement in 1985 he did numerous Bush Trips to both Rhodesia and South West Africa and attained the Rank of Captain prior to his retirement in 1985 after 35 years’ service at the age of 55.

Not one to sit and do-nothing Harry Proceeded to go on a builder’s course at the Old Corobrick factory in Durban and once he was qualified, he undertook extensive renovations and alterations to his home on the Bluff, which he sold in 1992 and moved back to the Norther Cape to Warrenton near Kimberley, back to the veldt that he so loved. There in Warrenton he bought land on the Vaal River and raised some cattle and spend many years playing at being a Farmer, until he found he could no longer keep up with the physical requirements. After this he threw himself into his local church where he was a Deacon an Elder and a respected member of the Congregation.

Harry Spent many happy years in Warrenton doting on his Grandchildren till in 2017 when his Beloved wife Louvaine died after 62 years of Marriage. Harry then moved to Greytown KZN to be closer to his son, unfortunately his health deteriorated over the last 5 years and Harry passed away at Arcadia Old Age home on the 3rd June 2022 at the age of 92 years and after a Long and Blessed Life. He was a Lucky man who got to enjoy his retirement for 37 years and had the pleasure of watching his 6 Grandchildren grow and witness the birth of his Great Grandchildren.

Harry will be sorely missed by his Family, but we are comforted in knowing he is reunited with his Beloved Louvaine and his brothers and Mother whom he loved so dearly.

Harry will be laid to rest on 12/06/2022 at 12 Noon at the Lutheran Church in Hermannsburg KZN.

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1935: 24TH SEPTEMBER: RADIO INTERVIEW: CAPT. P.G. DE WITT HARCOURT COLLETT Brig Stan Gillham via Col Logan Govender

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Good morning, Brigadier Heymans contribution by Brigadier Stan Gilliam for publication.

Thank you.

Logan

Good day Logan, I am forwarding you a printed text of a Radio in studio Interview between a presenter named Harcourt Collett and an SAP Capt. PG De Witt. The interview took place on 24 September 1935.

I do not have the name of the radio station.

Capt. De Witt (that's how they have spelt his surname with a capital "D"), was the then officer in charge of the Police Dog Training Camp, which Capt. De Witt later referred to as “The SAP Dog Depot".

He also claimed that it was the biggest kind in the world.

What you may find interesting, possibly for publication in your Nongqai, are his stories regarding the tracking of suspects under, the section that he termed, "Specimen Cases".

If you feel that the attached has some value, please feel free to use it.

Regards, Stan Gillham.

RADIO INTERVIEW: 24/9/35 Harcourt Collett: Tonight, we have in the Studio Capt. P.G. De Wit, the officer in charge of the Police Dog Training Camp, and I propose asking Capt. De Wit a few questions, the answers to which I anticipate will be of great interest to many listeners. I say this with some confidence after having been conducted over the camp by Capt. De Wit who went to great pains to show me all, the canine inmates, the provisions made for their training and comfort, which includes an up-to-date surgery and a swimming pont amongst to their amenities. Perhaps Capt. De Wit you will be good enough to start at the beginning and tell us the history of the Camp from its inception.

Capt. De Wit: The Dog camp was started at Irene, Transvaal in 1911 when 3 dogs were imported from Europe. During 1923, it was found necessary to move, to the present Dog Depot situate approximately 6 miles to the west of Pretoria, where the dogs are bred and trained.

Besides the Dog Depot there are 35 dog Stations in the Union of South Africa, at each of which there are two dogs under a dog master serving such, station and surrounding districts, in some cases, the dogs have to travel 200 miles to get to the scene of a crime. The present strength of dogs is 144, i.e. 70 at Out-stations and 74 at the Dog Depot. At the Dog Depot we have accommodation for 200 dogs.

Harcourt Collett: And now perhaps you will tell us what types of dogs are used, for this work.

Capt. De Witt: The principal types of dogs used in the South African Police are: a) Dobermann- Pinscher.

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b) Rottweiler.

Crosses between Bloodhound-Airedale-Rottweiler With regards to class the Bloodhound is crossed with the Airedale bitch, the progeny is again crossed with a Bloodhound, when a Bloodhound and 1/4 Airedale is obtained, which is then mated with the Rottweiler This type is a very useful Police Dog, but it takes approximately 6 years to breed them.

To date the Dobermann-Pinscher and the Bloodhound-Airedale- Rottweiler Dogs have been used chiefly in the South African Police. These two types are doing very good work, but according to indications given by the Rottweiler, there is every reason to believe that they will prove themselves as good if not better than the other two types.

Our climate is too hot for the pure-bred Bloodhound.

The cross between the Bloodhound and Airedale i.e. (1/2 Bloodhound and ½ Airedale) has been found to be unsuitable for trail work, as it is very stubborn. Although slow in coming to hand on Obedience work, the ¾ Bloodhound – 1/4 Airedale, is fairly good on Trail work, but when this type is crossed with the Rottweiler you have a very useful animal for tracking.

Regarding Protection work, I might add that, although all our training is concentrated on trailing criminals, we have tried out the 1/2 Bloodhound 1/2 Airedale type and found that they are excellent, but it is considered that the pure-bred Airedale will answer just as well for this class of work.

Harcourt Collett: And to whom is the training at the dogs entrusted Capt. De Witt?

Capt. de Witt: The training of the dogs is carried out by specially selected Non-Commissioned Officers and men under my command. The Dog Trainers and dog masters are also trained at the same Depot. It takes approximately 5 months to train a Dogmaster, and 9 months to qualify as a dog trainer. The Dog master is stationed at Outstations where he works two trained dogs on occasions, including of course, the exercise and training of such dogs to keep them in hard working condition and up to the required standard.

The Dog Trainer not only required to train dogs, but also the men selected as Dogmasters for this class of work are selected from the various Divisions in the Union.

It has been found that the placid man who never gets rattled or worried. Is the best type of Dogmaster. It is essential that men selected to train dogs should have certain qualifications, such as self-confidence considerable courage, infinite patience, and be absolutely reliable and dependable, moreover, they should have a great affection for animals generally, and dogs in particular, and they must forget that they have tempers.

The learner Dogmaster is started on old dogs, known as “camp dogs” These are animals that have faults. In working them the learner gets a practical insight into the many faults a dog can develop and he is then trained how to remedy and avoid such habits. He is tested periodically and during the last two months he is given trained dogs to work. Before passing out he is submitted to tests on practical work as well as oral and written examinations.

If the trainer has the right temperament and other necessary qualifications, it is certainly more interesting to train dogs than human beings, because no matter what type of dog you deal with, once it has taken you as its master it will do anything to please you, and once it grasps what you want it to do, it will always try to do its best.

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On the other hand, should the Dog master not possess the essential attributes, he will soon be a nervous wreck and will have to relieve of his appointment.

We confine the training of our dogs to human scent only; the reason being that the natural instinct of the dog is to hunt for its food; but we do not give our dogs an opportunity of developing that instinct - they never have to hunt for their food and consequently that instinct remains dormant. By working the dog on animal scent etc., we cannot keep that sense dormant and the result would be that no matter how well trained the dog might be, it will leave the human scent immediately it meets with any other odour or animal scent. If through death or other reason a dog at an Outstation has to be retrained, the Dogmaster is brought to the Dog Depot where he is “suite” to another animal and only returns to his station after I am satisfied that he thoroughly understands the peculiarities of his new dog.

In the event of a Dogmaster stationed at an Outstation, going on leave or falling sick, a qualified Dogmaster is sent front the Dog Depot to relieve him.

SUPERVISION The dogs at outstations are inspected and tested periodically by me, and if found necessary the Dogmaster and Dogs are brought to the Dog Depot to undergo a refresher course.

In each case for which the services of the cogs are requisitioned, a report on their work is submitted to me for checking and classification, and by this means I am enabled to judge whether the dogs are kept up to the required standard.

In addition to this, the Officers in charge of the Police Districts where dogs are stationed are also responsible to see that the dogs are kept fit for their work.

Harcourt Collett: At what age are the dogs when their training commences and what are the methods employed?

Capt. De Witt: The Police Dog is taken into training at the age of 7 months, and it generally takes about 18 months to complete the training, but obviously a great deal depends upon how the dog comes to hand.

The curriculum is as follows: First (1) OBEDIENCE EXERCISES: The object is to teach the dog implicit obedience without instilling servile fear. It is absolutely essential that before the animal is started on trails, its trainer must have it under proper control. In these exercises, the dog is taught the following: — Climbing ladders, long and high jump, walking the low and High beam, Retrieving, whistle exercises (in which the dog is controlled by whistle, i.e. dying down, advancing 80 to 100 yards, and returning to its trainer at a command given by a whistle), swimming, jumping through wind’ ~, going through and over obstacles likely to be met with on criminal trails, e.g. Fences, walls, through Drain Pipes, etc.

Secondly (2) PUPPY TRAILS i.e. (SHORT FRESH TRAILS) After having passed a test in the foregoing exercises, the dog is started on fresh short trails the length and ‘age’ of which is increased according to the progress made by the animal. During this course the animal is also trained to work on identification parades.

Thirdly (3) TRAILS When the dog can work a 2- hour old trail of about 1500yards, it passes on to its third and final course, i.e. working longer and ‘older’ trails including retrieve trails. When it can work a night trail of 25

about 3 miles, it is considered qualified for criminal work. (Note- A ’Night Trail’ is one that is laid during the afternoon and worked the following morning at 7, 8 or 9 a.m.) During the second and third stages the dogs are from time to time taken by motor car to towns and Native Locations where practice trails are worked to accustom them to such conditions.

The dogs are never worked on practice trails the exact locality of which is not well known to the Dogmaster. Such trails are so laid that while they do not provide any indication for the dog; they nevertheless furnish means whereby the Dogmaster will immediately know his dog has definitely left the trail, thus ensuring that the dog is checked as soon as it has lost the trail. On all trails the dog is worked on a 60’ leash, and the animal must work at the full length of the line which must always be slack so that it will have absolute freedom to work the trail and take up any direction its sense of smell tells it to be correct. The leash is only used as a means of controlling the dog so that the Dogmaster can keep up with it.

The daily routine a dog under training consists of the Obedience exercises twice in addition which it has to work at least 2 Puppy Trails or long trails (latter depends on the stage the dog is in) swimming, (in summer only) The daily routine of the trained dogs when not employed on criminal work is as follows (1) One night trail at least 1 mile long. (the trail is laid the afternoon and worked the Following morning) (2) One retrieve trail or one day trail note: ’retrieve trail’ is one which articles have been dropped by the layer and which have to be retrieved by the dog. (a ‘day trail’ is one worked the same day as laid and should be at least 6 hours old.)

(3) Obedience Exercises Twice. Picking out from persons and objects (4) Grooming and feeding.

At least once a week a long Night Trail of at least 3 miles is to be worked.

The dog-box’ (Motor Car) is used once a week to transport the dogs to the venue of trails laid on strange ground, so as to make conditions as near as possible to the working of a criminal trail.

Swimming exercises are given where facilities exist.

Bicycle exercises are to be given as necessary to ensure that the animals are kept in good hardworking condition and fit to stand the strain of long trails.

Throughout the whole of its course and for the rest of its life the dog is regularly exercised on the Obedience and Picking-Out work.

When fully trained, the dogs are posted to Out-stations.

At these stations they are in charge of qualified Dogmasters who are fully conversant with their particular temperaments. To ensure that the dogs get to the scene of the crime without undue delay as Dogmaster, has a motor car at his disposal.

Harcourt Collett: And now with regard to the Treatment and Care of the dogs; these are both interesting matters.

Capt. De Witt: TREAMENT AND CARE OF DOGS: Our dogs are a very happy family –they get everything of the best, and I am confident that they are a happier and more contended got than the vast majority of the inhabitants of Union we even clean their teeth for them, we have an up-to-date Surgery Harcourt Collet: And will you give us a few statistics Capt. De Witt?

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Capt. De Witt: The S.A.P. DOG DEP0T is the biggest of its kind in the world.

Trail work we do far more extensively than any other police Force in the world.

The use of dogs as an aid in the detection of crime in the Union of South Africa has proved very successful.

During the year 1932 the dogs were employed on over 2,000 cases.

1933 over 2,500 cases.

1934 over 2,000 cases.

In the majority of these cases their assistance was of inestimable value.

The ideal sphere of the Police dog is in the rural areas, and the majority of the successes attained have been in “small stock” areas when the presence of the dogs has been the means of considerably reducing the theft of stock and the breaking into of country stores, houses, etc. In addition to cases of this nature, the dogs are employed on various crimes including Murder, Housebreaking and Theft, Malicious Injury to Property, etc.

FIRST AID: They are used exclusively as a first aid in the detection of crime by tracking the culprit from scent left at the spoor of the c. i.e. a spoor or some article handled by the offender.

Harcourt Collet: Given good health how many active working years may a Police Dog be expected to give?

Capt. De Wit: About 8 or 9 years after reaching the age of 10 or II years they are apt to become careless.

Harcourt Collett: And now, Capt. De Witt in conclusion, perhaps you will be good enough to give us one or two actual incidents that have occurred in the tracking of criminals.

Capt. De Witt: SPECIMENT CASES: ESCAPED CONVICT: From a labour Gang of convicted Native prisoners, one of the natives made a bold bid for freedom, and made good his escape. The Police Dogs were requisitioned for and arrived on the scene of the crime the following afternoon. Some bare footprints of the escapee were indicated from which one of the dogs was given scent.

Picking up the trail, the dog worked in a north-eastern direction for six miles when the convict was sighted about a mile ahead. The dog was taken off the trail and the Dogmaster gave chase. It had meanwhile become dark, and as the prisoner could not be overtaken, it was decided to continue the trailing the following morning. Early the next morning the second dog was put on the trail, which was followed for a further two and a half miles, when the escaped convict was again sighted. Again, a chase took place and this time the escapee was overtaken and lodged in custody. The dogs trailed 8 miles.

STOREBREAKING AND THEFT A store was broken into between 5 p.m. on the 17th September, and 7. a.m. on the 19th September, and general merchandise to the value of £70 stolen. Entrance was affected by means of a duplicate key. The dogs were requisitioned for and arrived on the scene of the crime at 1 p.m. on the 20th September, when the first dog was given scent from a kerrie (Stick) found inside the shop. Trailing west towards Basutoland (a territory bordering on the Union of South Africa) for a distance of 3 miles, the dog came to a spot where the culprits had apparently rested, and where a piece of wool from one of the stolen blankets was found. Continuing for a further 3 miles; the dog came to a fence which was cut. Here a sweet and an old pipe were found. Trailing from this spot three distinct sets of footprints were found, which were followed for a further four miles on to a Main Road where the scent was lost. Darkness overtaking the trailing party, the work was abandoned. Early on the 21st 27

September the second dog was placed on the trail where the footprints were last seen. Taking scent, this dog crossed the Main Road and trailed through a fence which had also been cut. Here a small piece of stolen linen was found. From this fence the dog trailed into the Basutoland Mountains for a distance of 8 miles when it became confused and lost scent amongst the dark dense bushes.

Returning to the spot where the second dog commenced work, the first dog was placed on the trail.

This dog worked the same trail as the second dog, and further into the mountains where a resting place of the culprits was found, as also 3 freshly-opened empty corned-beef tins, but darkness again intervening, the work had to be postponed. At 6 a.m., on the 22nd September, the first dog was scented at the resting place found the previous evening, and trailed over the mountains for a distance of 10 miles to a native stad in Basutoland, where it became confused and lost scent.

Enquiries were instituted which resulted in the arrest of three natives, their conviction and the recovery of all the stolen property. The dogs trailed the culprits in this case for a total distance of 28 Miles.

Harcourt Collett: Thank you very much Capt. De Witt. I am sure you must have opened the eyes of many to the extreme usefulness of your four-legged force. I am sure, it has been most illuminating.

1988: BOMONTPLOFFING OSHAKATI 19 FEBRUARIE 1988 Johan Potgieter Middag Jonathan Ek het hierdie aanprysing van die destydse Kommissaris gekry vir my bystand wat ek aan beseerdes gegee het. Gaan net kortliks vir jou besonderhede gee soos ek dit kan onthou.

Ek was by Koevoet Z R(Radio Tegnies). My werkswinkel was soos die kraai vlieg omtrent 1KM vanaf die bank. Ek was besig om aan oorlede Attie Hattingh se Casspir radio’s te werk in die voertuig toe daar een moerse ontploffing was. Ek het my kop hard gestamp en Attie het dekking geslaan hier langs my. Ons het tot verhaal gekom en Attie sê toe: “Dit moet ‘n bom wees!”, want rook het van die bank se kant gekom.

Ons het uitgespring en in my bakkie na die toneel gejaag wat ons toe kon sien dat dit die bank was.

Dit was baie deurmekaar want stukke van mense het gesaai gelê. Daar was baie vlamme en rook en jy kon nie voor by die bank ingaan nie.

Ek en Attie is agterom die bank en hy het ‘n deur oopgeskouer. Daar was net rook en vlamme en jy kon gebrande vleis ruik en mense hoor gil. Op daardie stadium het ander mense ook begin aansluit.

Ek weet een ou het die deur afgebreek en ons het van die gewondes begin uitdra met die deur tot by die agterdeur waar ander mense hulle verder gevat het. Ek het later begin naar word en is uit buiten toe. Baie mense was toe al op die toneel en ek weet die weermag se Brandweer lorries het ook daar aangekom.

Ja, ek was maar baie deurmekaar. Kallie Calitz weet ek was daar want hy het sy gewese vrou se suster gesoek wat in die bank gewerk het. Groot Bez het, ek weet, ‘n video geneem van die toneel.

Jonathan ek weet daar is ander lede wat ook die aanprysing gekry het maar ek weet nie wie nie en ek hoop jy kry meer inligting.

Groete Johan Potgieter ZR 28

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DIE MINISTER EN DIE FIETSE Lt-genl Johan Ferreira Marianne Breytenbach is op Sondag-middae die gewilde aanbieder van die program, Intermezzo, op Pretoria Fm. So ‘n paar Sondae gelede vertel sy die interessante verhaal van ene Koos Jooste 1. Hy was ‘n bobaas fietsryer wat in 1893 ‘n fietswedren tussen Pretoria en die Kaap in net meer as agt dae gewen het. Tydens die Anglo-Boere-oorlog (oftewel die Engelse oorlog) het hy die Krygsraad onder generaal Piet Joubert oortuig om ‘n Fietsryer-Verkennerskorps op die been te bring. Volgens Jooste sou fietse baie beter in die veld gewerk het, want hulle word nie moeg nie, is minder sigbaar as perde en hul onderhoud is ook veel goedkoper. Die bekende boereverkenner, Danie Theron was een van die verkenners.

Terwyl ek na Marianne se vertelling geluister het, het dit my laat dink aan ‘n fiets-storie toe ek op generaal Hennie de Witt se personeel gedien het.

Ons agbare minister van daardie tyd, het op ‘n goeie dag besluit dat die polisiemag meer doeltreffend sal funksioneer as die polisie minder in vangwaens rondry en eerder, soos in vanmelewe se dae, hul rondtes op trapfietse doen.

Hy het hierdie gedagte met groot entoesiasme aan die polisiebestuur oorgedra, maar is dalk bra skepties deur die opperbevel van die Mag aangehoor. ‘n Haalbaarheidstudie moes dadelik op Hoofkantoor onderneem word. Al die belangrike rolspelers, soos die Kwartiermeester, Finansies, Sigbare Polisiëring, die streekkommissarisse en distrikskommandante moes so gou doenlik aan die werk spring om ‘n behoeftebepaling te doen.

Daar het nogal ‘n paar bisarre voorstelle op die tafel beland, soos die meganiese ingenieurs by die Kwartiermeester se voorgestel dat ‘n spesiale fiets, wat presies aan die vereistes voldoen, ontwerp moes word. Selfs die biokinetici het ‘n stuiwer in die armbeurs gegooi oor ‘n sportiewe soort fiets wat die manne en vroue fiks sou hou. ‘n Spesiale fietsry-uniform, met ‘n valhelm en beskermende kleredrag, was onder die voorstelle. Generaal Hennie de Witt het self maar taamlik swaar aan al hierdie voorstelle gebyt en gesê ‘n doodgewone Raleigh 28 duim “back pedal” dikwiel heeltemal geskik behoort te wees.

Nadat die studie voltooi is, moes elke polisiestasie in die land ‘n opgawe indien van die aantal fietse wat benodig sou word. Die distrikskommandante moes dan die opgawes konsolideer om die totale behoefte in die land bepaal sodat ‘n enkele groot tender uitgestuur kon word ...... (kry ek nou sommer hond se gedagte!!!). Die fietse moes sommer op groot skaal aangekoop word....

Toe die opgawes terug ontvang is, is daar met skok (en ‘n lag in die mou) vasgestel dat daar omtrent geen behoefte aan fietse in die Mag was nie.

Die meeste stasies het inderdaad gerapporteer dat daar etlike fietse in hul store staan en roes en glad nie meer gebruik word nie.

1

Lees Koos Jooste se interessante verhaal op die ondervermelde skakel:

https://www.afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za/boerekryger-koos-word-duitsland-se-eerstemotiveringspreker/ 30

Ja-nee, as ‘n polisieman eers jêm op sy brood geproe het, het sy lus vir ‘n sny droë brood soos mis voor die oggendson verdwyn! ‘n Taamlik dapper lid het selfs ‘n satiriese artikel oor die minister se fiets-gedagte in per faks rondgestuur, wat min of meer soos volg gelui het; Spesiale aankondiging rakende die toekenning van fietse in die Mag:

Weens die nuwe vervoerbeleid in die Mag sal die volgende riglyne vir die toegeken van fietse voortaan geld: Konstabels Sersante Adjudant-offisiere Junior offisiere Senior offisiere

Standaard Raleigh dikwiel 28” fiets met klokkie Raleigh Sport fiets met 3-spoed en klokkie Raleigh Sport fiets met klokkie, pomp en koplamp en saalsak Luukse Raleigh fiets met 10-spoed, spieël, dubbel-koplamp, sagte saal en staander.

Luukse Tandem fiets met alle toebehore en chauffeur Johan Ferreira Mei 2022

--ooOoo-

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ZARPS: VRYBURG: CAPE COLONY Iain Hayter

Three reporters captured by ZARPs at Vryburg: Their prisoners are— Hellawell, of the London Daily Mail and the Cape Times, in the centre; Townshend, of the Bechuanaland News, on the left; Lelyveldt, a compositor, and a native guide.

Iain Hayter: Vryburg was one of the aims of the first expansionary action of the Boers during the initial phases of the Anglo Boer war. The town was easily taken because of hardly any British military presence and because many of the inhabitants siding with the Boers. That way the town was occupied with hardly any resistance. It was promptly annexed and incorporated into the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek, that was Vryburg and its surrounding area of Stellaland.

During May 1900 the British came back to retake the town and kept it for the remainder of the war.

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A MAFEKING DEFENDER: 220 CPL JH BAWTREE, CAPE POLICE (LATER SUB-INSP) Adrian Ellard John Henry Bawtree Born: 02 July 1874 Died: 04 December 1910 John Henry Bawtree was born on the 2 July 1874 in Colchester, Essex, England. He was the son of Octavius and Charlotte Jane Bawtree (Nee Evans).

Little is known of John’s early life in England but we do know that at the time of the 1881 Census he was living with his parents at West Lodge, West Lodge Road in Colchester. His Father, Octavius was noted as a 50-year-old Banker, (from this one would assume a man of means). Charlotte, his mother was a lot younger than her husband and was noted as being only 28 years old. John was a 7-years old Scholar.

Octavius Bawtree was a partner in the Firm, Mills, Errington, Bawtree & Co of Colchester and also a Lieutenant in the local Volunteer Rifle Corps. However, by the time of the 1891 Census, it appears as if the Partnership was in trouble and as a result the partnership was declared Bankrupt. It appears as if the business was in trouble from as early as 1883.

The 1891 Census though seems to show that there must have been some financial stress in the family as Octavius, Charlotte and John were now living at 50 Church Road, Richmond, Surrey, and the census page appears to show that they were living with Emily Tighe and her family.

Perhaps the new found hardships in England drove John to look for adventure beyond the seas but whatever his reason was we do know that he left England in October 1895 and arrived in South Africa in early November 1895. He was listed as being single upon arrival.

Cape Police in Kimberley John travelled up to Kimberley and worked at the Convict Station at the De Beers Mine and a few months later he decided to enlist into the Cape Police in Kimberley.

On the 24 April 1896 John Bawtree attests into the Cape Police under the provisions of Act No 12 of 1882 with a rate of pay of 7 Shillings per Day. He was issued the Regimental number 220 and rank of Private.

His Personal Details at the time of his attestation into the C.P District 2 were noted as follows: • • • • •

Height: 6 ft 1” Weight: 166 lbs Eyes: Hazel Complexion: Grey (Pallor) Distinctive Marks: Tattooed on right wrist with a ship inside a lifeboat and on the left wrist a bracelet with anchor.

• NOK: Father, Octavius Bawtree, Killarstyle, Elmstead, Colchester, Essex.

• Trade or Calling: Nil • Religion: Protestant Church of England.

He also states that he can ride a horse and is able to use a firearm.

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John was not to have to wait too long to be involved on his first real adventure as approximately 8 months after joining the Cape Police he was involved in the Langeberg Campaign in Bechuanaland (24 December 1896 to the 30 July 1897). A serious outbreak of a virulent cattle disease called Rinderpest in the area called for the slaughter of the cattle owned by the local natives. This the obviously resented and a revolt started to gather pace. In a short period of time this revolt had gathered alarming momentum and local troops under Lt Colonel Dalgety were hard pressed to contain the expanding violence. A force was required to subdue the fighting and troops with volunteers were mobilised for the Bechuanaland Field Force to help contain the spread of the violence and bring the situation to a quick conclusion. The Cape Police were in addition to its normal policing duties also a paramilitary organisation.

Slaughtered Live stock in the field The Cape Police and other regiments were involved in actions at Gamasep Kloof, Riet Kloof and finally, Langeberg on the 30 July - 1 August 1897. A brittle peace was restored after this and the Cape Police with the other regiments and volunteers went back to their daily duties.

John Bawtree was awarded the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with the Bechuanaland clasp for his involvement in the Campaign of 1896-1897. (His name can be found on a copy of the original medal roll page as found in the Cape Archives)

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CGHGS medal Roll page John would have by now, had a taste of the hardships and troubles of living in the northern parts of South Africa but this would have also helped prime him for far bigger troubles and hardships that were just around the corner.

On 11 October 1899 the Anglo Boer War began and in a very short period of time the Boer Forces had laid siege to Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking and of course had been victorious at the battles of Colenso, Magersfontein and Stormberg Junction.

It is however Mafeking where John was to see action and later was able to call himself become a “Defender of Mafeking”.

John Bawtree had actually been stationed in Mafeking several months before the siege began as on 21/02/1899, he was found to be drunk and received a caution.

He however, carried on with his police duties and as the war clouds gathered, he would have been busy doing his part in assisting with the organising of the defences so that when the time came, he and the rest of the defenders would be able to defend Mafeking.

Mafeking was an isolated town and close to Boer controlled areas but it was a strategic town. It was the local administrative centre in the area and was also situated on the main railway line from Kimberley to Bulawayo. It carried supplies of food and other important goods etc and was used to store supplies for the troops.

War was declared on the12 October 1899 and by this time Colonel Baden Powell had about 2,000, men defending Mafeking. This included 500 men of the Protectorate Regiment, about 300 from the Bechuanaland Rifles and the Cape Police and a further 300 men from the town. The British garrison 35

armed 300 African natives with rifles, these were nicknamed the "Black Watch" and used to guard the perimeter. Prior to the siege, Lord Edward Cecil formed the Mafeking Cadet Corps. This was formed from boys aged 12 to 15 (claimed to be one of the inspirations for the Boy Scouts) they acted as messengers and orderlies and this helped release men needed to fight.

The work to build the defences around the 6-mile perimeter of Mafeking started on 19 September 1899. The town would eventually be equipped with an extensive network of trenches and gun emplacements. When war was declared on the 12 October 99, General Piet Cronje ordered that the Mafeking railway and telegraph lines be cut. The Boers began the siege the next day. Mafeking was later shelled on the 16 October after the British commanders ignored a deadline to surrender that was set by Cronje.

Although outnumbered by Boer troops, the garrison withstood the siege for 217 days, defying the predictions of the politicians on both sides. In reality, the Boers risked little to tie up Baden-Powell's force and stores and for most of the time the number of Boers actively engaged in the siege were few. While at one time the Boer troops numbered over 8,000 and more artillery was briefly brought up, most of these were merely moving through the siege camp. The Boers were able to take control of the railway and roads just outside the town and used the siege camp as a staging post. But with few soldiers, no modern artillery and little risk, the defenders kept as many as 8,000 Boers from deploying to other war fronts in Natal and the Orange Free State.

Fake land mines were laid around the town in view of the Boers and their spies within the town, and soldiers were ordered to simulate avoiding barbed wire (which were non-existent) when moving between trenches; guns and a searchlight (improvised from an acetylene lamp and biscuit tin) were moved around the town to increase their apparent number. A canon was built in the Mafeking railway workshops, and even an old cannon (dated 1770, it coincidentally had "B.P. & Co." engraved on the barrel) was pressed into service. Noticing that the Boers had failed to remove any of the rails, the British commanders had an armoured train from the Mafeking rail yard loaded with sharpshooters, armed with the Martini Henry Mark IV rifle, sent up the rail line in a daring attack right into the heart of the Boer camp, followed by a return to Mafeking. Casualties however, made this Baden-Powell's only attempt at such an attack.

British soldiers had to dress as women just to undertake normal activities such as fetching water and sewing to deceive the enemy.

The Boers decided that the town was too heavily defended to take so on the 19 November 1899, 4,000 Boers were redeployed elsewhere. Bawtree was again bought before his superiors on 25 November 1899 for neglect of duty, he was reprimanded for this.

John Bawtree was according to his service record in the Cape Police Officers File (CMP109) in action on the 26 December 1899 at Game Tree Hill. A force of defenders from Mafeking unsuccessfully attacked the fort which the Boers had converted into a heavily armoured blockhouse.

The British lost 26 men killed, 23 men wounded and 3 taken prisoners. Sgt H.R Martineau of the Protectorate Regiment was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing a man under fire even though wounded himself. Trooper H.E Ramsdem2 was also awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing his brother who was under fire and carried him to safety.

Extract from CMP 109 The siege continued and the shelling of Mafeking also continued but as the Boers were aware of the approaching British relief columns, they launched a final major attack early in the morning of 12 May that succeeded in breaching the perimeter defences and setting fire to some of the town, but 2

He was later a member of the SA Police – HBH.

36

were finally beaten back. The British lost 12 dead and 8 wounded, the Boers losses 60 dead and wounded and a further 108 men captured.

On the 17 May 1900, a flying column of some 2,000 British soldiers, including many South African volunteers from Kimberley, commanded by Col B.T. Mahon relieved the town after fighting their way in. Among the relieving force was Major Baden Baden Powell, brother of the town’s commander.

The siege was now over.

At some point during the siege Bawtree was promoted to Corporal and after the siege of Mafeking John Bawtree returned to Kimberley, the exact date is sadly unknown. A final charge was bought against him on 12 April 1902, he was found guilty of being absent from stables and again he was reprimanded.

The war officially ended on the 31 May 1902 and for his services he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with 3 clasps (Defence of Mafeking, Orange Free State and Transvaal) and the King’s South Africa medal with both date clasps. But for John his time in the Cape Police was far from over.

Sub-Inspector John was appointed Sub-Inspector on 1 Oct 1902.

In 1904 he was a 29-year-old single man living in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape and still a Sub Inspector. It was during this time that I assume he met and married 27-years old Beatrice Elizabeth Cookson. She was born in Bramley, Yorkshire in February 1876. The wedding took place on the 12 May 1904 in Adelaide and was officiated by her Father Reverend Osmond Cookson of the Anglican Church in Adelaide. This union was witnessed by John Vice, Flora Sheldrake and Michael McMahon.

Inspector In December 1904 John wrote the examination for promotion to Inspector, he was unsuccessful, coming 20th on the list.

By June 1905 John and Beatrice were living in Adelaide in the Eastern Cape and on 10 June of that year a son John Edward was born to the couple. Sadly, little John Edward was to live only 9 weeks passing away on 21 August 1905 from Congenital Morbus Cordis, Bronchitis and Exhaustion.

This must have been a very sad time for John and Beatrice and I do think that this might have been the turning point in John Seniors life.

Chief Constable By the time 1908 came around the small family were now in Cradock as John was appointed Chief Constable for the area but still in the rank of Sub Inspector. However, due to retrenchments he was to revert to the rank of Sergeant. All of this compounded with the death of his very young son a few years earlier must have had really got to him and the Defaulters record for him, now in Fort Beaufort, shows that he had two offences and both very serious. He was on the 20 September 1908 charged with being drunk on duty and interfering with a civilian. On 12 October 1908 it was recommended that he be dismissed, he was however allowed to resign. Sgt John Bawtree resigned from the Cape Mounted Police on 3 November 1908.

Three weeks later on 27 November 1908 his daughter Daphne Mary was born.

Beaufort West Mounted Police Force 37

It is not known what exactly John got up to until June 1909 when he is next found as a Trooper with the Beaufort West Mounted Police Force. He was recommended by Mr Cecil Roger Vaughan, Esq. Assistant Magistrate in Adelaide. We do know though that he was living with Reverend Cookson, his wives Father for the last 5 months and the reports are that he had turned over a new leaf. On 23 June 1909 he was advanced 18 Pounds to purchase a horse from Private Potter who was leaving the force. Sadly, on 30 August 1909 old habits reappeared and John was found by Constable Lombard at 11.10 pm lying in a public street namely Donkin Street, Beaufort West drunk and incapable. He pleads guilty in court and is fined 5 Shillings or 7 days imprisonment with hard labour.

Railway Constable Somehow, he still managed to find employment, this time as a railway constable until he passed away at the Kimberley Hospital on 4 December 1910. He left his entire estate effects valued at 594 Pound to his wife Beatrice. His Death Notice records his minor child, Daphne Mary.

He was buried with his son in the Adelaide Cemetery.

John Henry Bawtree was a “Defender of Mafeking” who sadly seems to have taken to drink after his sons very early death and was not able to get over this.

His full medal entitlement is: • •

CGHGS medal with (Bechuanaland clasp) Queen’s South Africa medal (Defence of Mafeking, Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps) King’s South Africa with both date clasps

COL EH DALGETY, CB (CMR)

38

NATAL POLICE DURING THE ANGLO BOER WAR Iain Hayter

A patrol of Natal Police at camp

POLISIE: CAMPBELL Kol Louis Langenhoven

39

PASSING OF A STALWART: NAIDOO

SERGEANT DAVRAJ ANAMALAI

Col Logan Govender Davraj Anamalai Naidoo was born on 1936-08-02 in Bank Road, Bellair, Durban, KwaZulu Natal.

He was enlisted into the South African Police on 1960-06-29 at Bellair, Durban, KwaZulu Natal.

Photograph 1 A Naidoo standing inside his room at South African Police Non-European (Indian) Training Depot, Wentworth, Durban 40

Image 1 Inscription on rear side of Photograph "3 SAP Training Depot, Wentworth.

18/9/1960" From 1960-08-01 till 1960-10-31, (3 months) he underwent basic Police training at South African Police, Wentworth.

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Photograph 2 South African Police Non-European (Indian) Training Depot Wentworth, Durban 1960-08-01 to 1960-10-31 (3 months) Centre row from L-R, 3rd A Naidoo After basic Police training, he was on 1960-01-31 posted back to SA Police, Bellair.

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Photograph 3 Course South African Police Mechanical School Group January - February, 1965 Benoni 3rd row, L-R, 6th A Naidoo On 1965-09-01 he was transferred to SA Police, Chatsworth.

Thereafter he was posted to the various stations as mentioned on the dates below: 1970-01-20 Malvern 1984-04-10 Isipingo 1987-02-03 Merebank 1987-08-03 Isipingo 1987-08-31 Pinetown 1988-01-01 Isipingo Medals awarded His service medals in order of precedence 1. The South African Police Seventy Fifth Anniversary Medal - 1988-04-01; 2. The South African Police Service Thirty Year Loyal Service Medal - 1991-04-01; 3. The South African Police Service Twenty Year Loyal Service Medal - 1980-06-29 43

4. The South African Police Service Ten Year Loyal Service Medal - 1978-06-29; Retired on 1992-01-31 at SA Police, Isipingo.

Image

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OBITUARY Transcript 46

“Devraj was born in Bank Road, Bellair, Durban, he was a sibling amongst 6 sisters and 3 brothers.

He was a dedicated and passionate Sergeant in the police force for 41 years, which was a lifelong dream from a young age. He retired in the year 1991.

In 1963 he met his beloved wife who he only called Rani, “His Queen” at the morning market. They married the year they met and celebrated 58 years on February 10th 2022.

He has been blessed with 3 children, Nevendran, Ramona and Joash. All of whom followed suit and joined the police force.

Growing up, his kids watched him meticulously and proudly wear his uniform whilst carrying out his duties with the utmost respect and dignity. He was a warrior for Christ placed God before all else.

He set a string example of being obedient to God before all else and all he did and with everyone he loved. He never missed the opportunity to come to God in the simplest way. Daily Debrah could be found on the patio speaking to God as a dear friend. His family extends by 2 daughters in law, Neeva and Desiree Naidoo and 5 grandchildren, the eldest Keshia Naidoo, Tyrone Floyd Govender, Kerusha Naidoo, Mikhai Lee Naidoo and the youngest Mitte Faith Naidoo whom he leaves to carry on with his legacy. Dev ran loved the Lord and his family with all his heart right until his last breath.”

AS JY BROOD BREEK MET DIE VYAND Kol Corrie Prinsloo 'n Ovambo sêding... as jy brood breek met die vyand - dan sal jy hom nie dood nie!

En dit is 'n tradisionele Afrika lewenswerklikheid sedert die begin van bloedige etniese oorlogvoering...

Nou waar val ek nou weer met hierdie een uit...!

Maar twee van my vyande tydens die Grensoorlog het dit beleef onder my hand, want dit was 'n min bekende tradisie tussen die swart makkers en hulle teenstaanders daarbo. Ons wittes het dit soms verongeluk, maar kom ons blaai eerder verby daardie stelling. Baie het egter oorleef, glo vir my... omdat hulle brood gebreek het met ons as Veiligheidsmagte. Dit is 'n ongeskrewe reël gewees tydens die oorlog. Nie almal van ons vandag as veterane het dit dalk geweet of beleef nie, party van ons het dalk wel die sneller getrek - ek wil nie weet nie!

Kom ek deel my storie met julle. Dit is iets anders oor die werklikhede en wreedhede van die Bosoorlog daarbo. Soos ek dit ervaar het...

47

Eendag saboteer PLAN van SWAPO se dapperes die kragpale suidwes van Ruacana, naby Etoto.

En om redes net aan hulle bevelvoerder bekend, breek hulle oos uit, die sandveld deur en in die algemene rigting van Onesi. Nie noord, oor die Kunene en dan in die algemene rigting van Cahama nie. Ek, kollega Oubaas (Kobus) Meyer en die gevegspan was reeds, soos gewoonlik, met eerste lig op die toneel en die teenspoorsny opgetel. Een Koevoetspan het vanaf hulle oornagplek suid van Baken 10 uitbeweeg om by ons aan te sluit. Die saboteurs het hulle bes probeer met die teenspoorsny, maar my spoorsnyers het hulle ore aangesit. My manne was oorheersend Dimbas, 'n klompie Angolese en die res Ovambos. Spesialiste in teenspoorsny in berg- en sandwêreld.

Dit was reëntyd, en 'n groot bui het voor ons uitgesak. Die spore het daarheen gedraai. Ons het die agt saboteurs aan die hardloop gehad voordat die Koevoetspan kon aansluit. Die geskuthelikopters (gunships) was reeds verby Ombalantu oppad na ons toe. Die Koevoetspan het aangesluit net voor die donderbui uitgesak het. Toe slaan ons kontak. Chaos! Reënslierte, weerligte en skote. Die gunships draai om in die lae reën terug na Ombalantu, en PLAN verdamp soos die misdampe wat uit die wit sand opstyg. Maar een Koevoetkar ry amper halfpad bo-oor een saboteur en arresteer hom. Hy het sy 61mil mortierpyp bo sy kop gehou, en dit is wat hom gered het. En alles reën toe uit...

Ons was later besig om te eet terwyl die krygsgevangene ondervra word. En toe fluister Tjikaka, my hoofspoorsnyer, in my ore... "Sant, hy gaan nie lewe nie!" Ek het dadelik verstaan. Ek het tussen swartmense grootgeword in suid-Angola! En met my toe rantsoenpak (ratpack) voor ete nadergestap en langs hom gaan sit. Sy Koevoet ondervraers het bly staan en fronsend na my gekyk.

Ek het aan hulle in die Kwanyama-dialek beduie dat hulle moet aangaan met die ondervraging.

Tjikaka het aan sy anderkant gaan sit met sy ratpack én 'n groot blik weense worsies. Nog twee van my manne het ook al etende nadergestaan en ons dopgehou. Genoeg ooggetuies! Tjikaka het die blik oopgemaak en 'n worsie aan die PLAN vegter gegee. Self een gevat en beide het begin eet.

Tjikaka was 'n Herero, my manne Dimbas (Ovahimbas) en die vegter 'n Ovazemba. Die Zembas en 48

Dimbas was stamgewys verwant aan mekaar. Almal van verre wes-Owamboland en oosKaokoveld. Die Koevoetmanne was van sentraal-Owamboland se stamme rondom Oshakati en Ondangwa. Ek het op my beurt 'n sakkie sjokolade melkskommel aangemaak, 'n sluk gevat en die sakkie vir die vegter aangegee. Toe hy daaruit drink het Tjikaka vir my twee worsies aangegee en ons het aan die kou gegaan. Die ondervraging was verby. Die twee groepe swart polisiemanne het onder mekaar gepraat - en die saboteur het sy lewe terug gekry! Die eeue oue tradisie het gewerk!

As jy saam met jou vyand geëet het, mag jy hom nie doodmaak nie. Ek het die dankbaarheid in sy oë gesien toe ons hom afgevoer het Oshakati toe. Hom 'n jaar of drie later weer raakgeloop, as 'n Koevoet vegter in een van die wes-Owamboland gevegspanne...

Die tweede geval wat ek bewus gemaak is van hierdie ongeskrewe reël en Afrika tradisie, was toe ek op Skoonma Chrissie Steyn se grasperk op Ruacana net voor een middernag gesit en 'n ete met 'n FAPLA verkenner (recce) genuttig het. Ek het julle mos al vertel hoe hierdie soldaat in my hande beland het in my kortverhaal "DAAR IS 'n FAPLA OP MY CASSPIR!" Wel, ou Jeff (Gerevásio Lipopila - was nie sy regte naam, om sy veiligheid te verseker) het sy mond afgevee, steeds in sy FAPLA kamoefleerdrag, en sy hand na my uitgesteek. "Eu vou viver!" - ek gaan leef! het hy in ons geboortetaal Portugees vir my gesê. En net bevestig - as jou vyand met jou brood breek, sal hy jou nie doodmaak nie. En Jeff het 'n gewaardeerde lid van my gevegspan geword vir 'n goeie deel van vyf jaar - die laaste jare van die Bosoorlog. Ons het saam vele noue ontkomings sy aan sy gehad, landmyne en kontakte oorleef en sommer net... geleef! Want ons het brood saam gebreek en geëet.

Ja... snaakse dinge het daarbo gebeur. Hierdie was maar net twee van hulle. Want tussen al die ondraaglike wreedhede en werklikhede aan beide kante daarbo, het daardie mensweesdeeltjie tog ook soms uitgekom. Afrika se snaakse gebruike. Afrika wat na haar eie kyk!

Ek wens soms ek kon meer brood gebreek het daarbo. Maar dit was nie altyd moontlik nie. Tog het ek baie geleer, en my gewete is skoon. Ekself het nie onnodig sneller getrek nie...

(Foto @ Facebook. PLAN vegters tydens die Bosoorlog). 'n Ovambo sêding... as jy brood breek met die vyand - dan sal jy hom nie dood nie! En dit is 'n tradisionele Afrika lewenswerklikheid sedert die begin van bloedige etniese oorlogvoering...

Nou waar val ek nou weer met hierdie een uit...!

Maar twee van my vyande tydens die Grensoorlog het dit beleef onder my hand, want dit was 'n min bekende tradisie tussen die swart makkers en hulle teenstaanders daarbo. Ons wittes het dit soms verongeluk, maar kom ons blaai eerder verby daardie stelling. Baie het egter oorleef, glo vir my... omdat hulle brood gebreek het met ons as Veiligheidsmagte. Dit is 'n ongeskrewe reël gewees tydens die oorlog. Nie almal van ons vandag as veterane het dit dalk geweet of beleef nie, party van ons het dalk wel die sneller getrek - ek wil nie weet nie!

Kom ek deel my storie met julle. Dit is iets anders oor die werklikhede en wreedhede van die Bosoorlog daarbo. Soos ek dit ervaar het...

Eendag saboteer PLAN van SWAPO se dapperes die kragpale suidwes van Ruacana, naby Etoto.

En om redes net aan hulle bevelvoerder bekend, breek hulle oos uit, die sandveld deur en in die algemene rigting van Onesi. Nie noord, oor die Kunene en dan in die algemene rigting van Cahama nie. Ek, kollega Oubaas (Kobus) Meyer en die gevegspan was reeds, soos gewoonlik, met eerste lig op die toneel en die teenspoorsny opgetel. Een Koevoetspan het vanaf hulle oornagplek suid van Baken 10 uitbeweeg om by ons aan te sluit. Die saboteurs het hulle bes probeer met die teenspoorsny, maar my spoorsnyers het hulle ore aangesit. My manne was oorheersend Dimbas, 'n klompie Angolese en die res Ovambos. Spesialiste in teenspoorsny in berg- en sandwêreld.

49

Dit was reëntyd, en 'n groot bui het voor ons uitgesak. Die spore het daarheen gedraai. Ons het die agt saboteurs aan die hardloop gehad voordat die Koevoetspan kon aansluit. Die geskuthelikopters (gunships) was reeds verby Ombalantu oppad na ons toe. Die Koevoetspan het aangesluit net voor die donderbui uitgesak het. Toe slaan ons kontak. Chaos! Reënslierte, weerligte en skote. Die gunships draai om in die lae reën terug na Ombalantu, en PLAN verdamp soos die misdampe wat uit die wit sand opstyg. Maar een Koevoetkar ry amper halfpad bo-oor een saboteur en arresteer hom. Hy het sy 61mil mortierpyp bo sy kop gehou, en dit is wat hom gered het. En alles reën toe uit...

Ons was later besig om te eet terwyl die krygsgevangene ondervra word. En toe fluister Tjikaka, my hoofspoorsnyer, in my ore... "Sant, hy gaan nie lewe nie!" Ek het dadelik verstaan. Ek het tussen swartmense grootgeword in suid-Angola! En met my toe rantsoenpak (ratpack) voor ete nadergestap en langs hom gaan sit. Sy Koevoet ondervraers het bly staan en fronsend na my gekyk.

Ek het aan hulle in die Kwanyama-dialek beduie dat hulle moet aangaan met die ondervraging.

Tjikaka het aan sy anderkant gaan sit met sy ratpack én 'n groot blik weense worsies. Nog twee van my manne het ook al etende nadergestaan en ons dopgehou. Genoeg ooggetuies! Tjikaka het die blik oopgemaak en 'n worsie aan die PLAN vegter gegee. Self een gevat en beide het begin eet.

Tjikaka was 'n Herero, my manne Dimbas (Ovahimbas) en die vegter 'n Ovazemba. Die Zembas en Dimbas was stamgewys verwant aan mekaar. Almal van verre wes-Owamboland en oosKaokoveld. Die Koevoetmanne was van sentraal-Owamboland se stamme rondom Oshakati en Ondangwa. Ek het op my beurt 'n sakkie sjokolade melkskommel aangemaak, 'n sluk gevat en die sakkie vir die vegter aangegee. Toe hy daaruit drink het Tjikaka vir my twee worsies aangegee en ons het aan die kou gegaan. Die ondervraging was verby. Die twee groepe swart polisiemanne het onder mekaar gepraat - en die saboteur het sy lewe terug gekry! Die eeue oue tradisie het gewerk!

As jy saam met jou vyand geëet het, mag jy hom nie doodmaak nie. Ek het die dankbaarheid in sy oë gesien toe ons hom afgevoer het Oshakati toe. Hom 'n jaar of drie later weer raakgeloop, as 'n Koevoet vegter in een van die wes-Owamboland gevegspanne...

Die tweede geval wat ek bewus gemaak is van hierdie ongeskrewe reël en Afrika tradisie, was toe ek op Skoonma Chrissie Steyn se grasperk op Ruacana net voor een middernag gesit en 'n ete met 'n FAPLA verkenner (recce) genuttig het. Ek het julle mos al vertel hoe hierdie soldaat in my hande beland het in my kortverhaal "DAAR IS 'n FAPLA OP MY CASSPIR!" Wel, ou Jeff (Gerevásio Lipopila - was nie sy regte naam, om sy veiligheid te verseker) het sy mond afgevee, steeds in sy FAPLA kamoefleerdrag, en sy hand na my uitgesteek. "Eu vou viver!" - ek gaan leef! het hy in ons geboortetaal Portugees vir my gesê. En net bevestig - as jou vyand met jou brood breek, sal hy jou nie doodmaak nie. En Jeff het 'n gewaardeerde lid van my gevegspan geword vir 'n goeie deel van vyf jaar - die laaste jare van die Bosoorlog. Ons het saam vele noue ontkomings sy aan sy gehad, landmyne en kontakte oorleef en sommer net... geleef! Want ons het brood saam gebreek en geëet.

Ja... snaakse dinge het daarbo gebeur. Hierdie was maar net twee van hulle. Want tussen al die ondraaglike wreedhede en werklikhede aan beide kante daarbo, het daardie mensweesdeeltjie tog ook soms uitgekom. Afrika se snaakse gebruike. Afrika wat na haar eie kyk!

Ek wens soms ek kon meer brood gebreek het daarbo. Maar dit was nie altyd moontlik nie. Tog het ek baie geleer, en my gewete is skoon. Ekself het nie onnodig sneller getrek nie...

(Foto @ Facebook. PLAN vegters tydens die Bosoorlog).

50

OU POLISIEMANNE VAN VERGANGE SE DAE Prof Alex Duffy Prof Alex Duffy deel met ons lesers twee foto’s van familielede wat in die polisie was bykans 90-jaar gelede:

Links: Konstabel Ros van den Heever 1933 – Skoonvader en regs Philip Hendrik Theunissen 1930, ‘n Oom.

1946: PASSIVE RESISTANCE CAMPAIGN IN DURBAN Selvan Naidoo We need assistance with identifying the names to the faces in these pictures. They were taken during the 1946 Passive Resistance Campaign in Durban, South Africa. We recognise some of the Faces like • MD Naidoo, • Monty Naicker, • Debi Singh, • Mrs Patel, we need assistance with the others. Please post in the comments, Kind regards Selvan Naidoo

51

52

53

KLEINZEE Isak Fischer

Destydse polisiestasie van Kleinzee. Deesdae in die dorp.

54

Ingang (checkpoint) na dorp by polisiestasie. Springbokhek.

SB se huis gewees. Nou privaat eiendom

SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY Nico Moolman

• Barberton During the early 20th century, the Maharajah from India visited Barberton and went as far as Badplaas.

55

Here he is with VIPs in Barberton at the club.

56

• 1930’s: Poor Whites / Arm blankes

5/- a day

Depressie tyd trekkers (1933) in die midde-Karoo op pad van nêrens na elders toe.

57

Vroue bewerk 'n gemeenskap groente-tuin naby Bloemhof terwyl die mans elders met pik en graaf verdien. Depressie jare. Eie versameling.

Nico Moolman

HQ NATAL MOUNTED POLICE: ALEXANDRA RD: PIETERMARITZBURG Elne Watson

58

1928: SAP JAGERSFONTEIN

59

VEILIGHEIDSTAK LEBOMBO: AFDELING OOS-TRANSVAAL Lt-kol Piet “Walk Tall” van Zyl

Baie spesiale tye in Komatipoort…

Eerste foto saam met wyle Hannes De Koker Forensies, Anton Uys en ek op die toneel van n motor wat opgeblaas was. Een ding wat ek altyd van Hannes sal onthou….Altyd pynlik netjies aangetrek selfs al is die ‘ondersoeke innie bos’.

Tweede foto die ou Lebombo VT personeel….. Ver paaie saam gestap. Drie van die manne ook nie meer met ons nie…..Saluut en RIV 60

Laaste foto saluut aan die manne wat ons met die Choppers wyd en ver vervoer het ……

Saluut en RIV….

Chris Louw, Nico Van Rheede Van Oudshoorn en Bees…

KOFFIEFONTEIN Kol Louis Langenhoven

61

1960: O’BEEP WAGPOS

62

DIE HOF: OU SINAGOGE: PRETORIA

“The Synagogue was expropriated by the South African Government of the time with the intention of using the building as a new supreme court. The community received £35000 and the building was 'upgraded' into a court. Stained glass windows were replaced and bricked up, the outer building painted a typical government beige, acoustic-board added and some additional buildings added around the Synagogue.

Some important trials were held in the new supreme court. These included the treason trial of 1956 (The first trial held in the new court), The State vs Mandela (where Nelson Mandela was sentenced to 5 years hard labour) and the Steve Biko inquest. https://pretoria.za-places.co.za/old_synagogue.html

1972: STUDENTE-ONRUS: KAAPSTAD Mnr AP Stemmet Die historikus, Dr Rodney Warwick maak in 'n artikel Toe slaan en skop polisie op sy bronne staat as hy oor die gebeure van 2 Junie 1972 by die St. George-katedraal, Kaapstad skryf. Ek daarenteen, was self daar en het iets heeltemal anders beleef as wat hy nou uit sy bronne as ‘n vreedsame studentebetoging beskryf.

Wat gebeur het, moet teen die agtergrond wat Dr Warwick self beskryf, gesien word. Ek haal aan : " . . . studente betogings van 1968 in Parys, Frankryk. In Amerika wat op kulturele vlak toenemend deur wit Suid - Afrikaners nageboots is . . het. . ernstige botsings gehad.....Uiteindelik is vier in 1970 by die Kent-- staatsuniversiteit doodgeskiet."

63

Terwyl ek oor die jare by die parlement naby die katedraal gewerk het, het ek heelwat betogings daar gesien. Net die van die Black Sash was altyd vreedsaam. Vra vir Helen Zille.

Op 2 Junie 1972 moes ek deur ‘n skare betogende, jillende studente na die stad sukkel. Hulle het geskreeu en die paar polisiemanne wat daar was, uitgetart. As die polisiemanne wou optree, het die studente in die katedraal ingevlug en vandaar gekoggel. ‘n Polisieman het my meegedeel dat hulle verbied was om in die kerk in te gaan.

Toe ek terugkom, was daar meer betogers en polisiemanne. Die polisie moes ‘n paar van ons deur die skare help. Die polisiemanne wat ek gesien het was duidelik moeg en hul oë was rooi. Die studente het die straat blokkeer, die polisie uitgetart en rondgeruk. Party het op hulle gespoeg. Hulle is herhaaldelik versoek om uiteen te gaan. Dit is met ‘n geskel beantwoord. ‘n Polisieman wat my herken het, het vir ons gesê: "Julle moet padgee, ons gaan ingaan". Ons is deur die skare studente gehelp.

Terwyl ek in die Kompanjiestuin oppad na ‘n agterdeur van die Parlement gestap het, het ek ‘n geskreeu gehoor en studente het verby my gestroom. Een het gehuil en sy bebloede kop vasgehou.

Om nou al die skuld op die polisie te pak, mag nou mode wees. maar is onbillik. Wêreldwyd het studente hand uitgeruk en hulle gewelddadig op die politieke terrein begeef . . In Kaapstad het hulle gekry wat hulle gesoek het: Slae soos vir stout kinders.

Dit was 1972. En nou? Elke dag lees ons van misdaad wat buite beheer is. Betogings, bande word in paaie en strate gebrand, aanvalle op ambulanse, brandweer - en polisie - voertuie, skietery in strate ens ens. Die polisie kyk hulpeloos toe. Hul hande is agter hul rug vasgebind. Hulle mag nie meer " slaan, en skop nie". Van skiet op misdadigers praat ons nie eens nie.

As die publiek 'n keuse had, wat sou hulle kies? Die scenario van 1972 of die van 2022?

Adamus P Stemmet (AP) • Mnr Stemmet het sy e-pos aan my gedeel met Lt-Kol Piet Cronjé (afgetree)

• Piet Cronjé se repliek: Adamus, in die kol. Daardie jare mag die SAP nog honde gebruik het om ‘n skare uiteen te jaag.

Nou mag hulle dit ook nie meer aanwend nie.

Ek onthou nog in 1971/72 met studente onluste by Wits in Johannesburg moes ons polisiemanne in uniform by John Vorsterplein bymekaar kom. Net gewapen met knuppels en handboeie. Daar moes ons die hele dag op bystand wees. Dit het vir drie dae so aangegaan. Op die tweede dag het die bevel gekom dat ons die toe opruktrokke moet beman en hulle het ons geneem na Wits se kampus in Braamfontein. Ek dink dit was Jorrison Straat. Daar aangekom mag ons nie uit die trokke geklim het nie. Ek onthou dit was in die somer en vrek warm.

Op die derde dag is ons weer met die opruktrokke na die kampus. Die s het bymekaar gekom op die kampus terrein en hulle was van plan om in te beweeg in die Stad.

Die bevel het gekom dat ons uit die trokke klim en aantree in die pad. Die persoon in bevel as ek reg onthou, ene Brigadier Schroeder, het die Witsies drie keer gewaarsku oor die luidspreker om te “ontbind – disperse” binne vyf minute. Die bevel was in Engels gegee ingevolge die Wet op Oproerige byeenkomste. Natuurlik het die Witsies hulle nie aan die bevel gesteur nie en die polisie is bevel gegee om die skare uitmekaar te jaag. Maar toe hardloop hulle en ons van al drie dae se 64

moerigheid was lekker lus vir hulle en het goed ingeklim. ‘n Hele klomp was arresteer en baie was wit meisies wie nie so vinnig kon weghardloop nie.

Die gearresteerdes was aangehou by John Vorsterplein se polisieselle. Daar het ek gesien dat ‘n wit student ook maar nie maniere het nie. Van hulle ouers het vir hulle skoon klere en onderklere gebring en in partye selle het hulle met menslike ontlasting op die selmure geskryf: “Fuck John Vorster”. So is daar gereël oor die naweek om ‘n Landdros te kry en na die selle te bring om borg toe te staan aan die studente. Die Landdros was oorlede Mev. Olga Mann.

Die uiteinde was dat hulle almal onskuldig bevind was omdat die Brigadier die opdrag om te “disperse” net drie keer in Engels gegee het en die wet het gesê dit moet in albei amptelike tale gegee word.

Maar daar was darem ‘n hele paar Witse met blou kolle .

Groete, NB Ek kan nog ‘n stertjie bylas. Een van die Polisiemanne aan diens het ‘n swarte op die kampus grond behoorlik met ‘n rubber knuppel bygedam en na so ‘n paar goeie houe skree die ou hy is ‘n polisieman en hy haal sy SAP-Id-kaart uit. Toe was dit al die tyd ‘n VT man wat daar ondergronds gewerk het en ter wille van die saak ‘n klompie houe moes vat.

Ek het nooit vir Craig Williamson persoonlik ontmoet nie, maar ek was goed bevriend met sy eweknie, oorlede John Horak.

Groete daar.

65

1989: POLISIE SE EIE LUGWAARDINNE IN PIENK UNIFORMS Sarie van Niekerk Die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie se eie lugwaardinne op hul eerste Beachcraft Jet klink amper te onmoontlik om te glo. As die einste lugwaardinne nogal in pienk uniforms by die Wonderboom lughawe opdaag, dan het almal seker twee keer gedink. Dit is egter presies wat in Februarie 1989 gebeur het. Die destydse polisiegeneraals het besluit hulle wil ook in luuksheid vlieg.

Die idee van die lugwaardinne was volgens Zelda (Claasens, van Tonder) Jonker, wat een van die groepie was, die breinkind van wyle genl. Bert Wandrag, wat destyds die polisie se lugvleuel gestig en in beheer van die afdeling van die polisie se verskillende eenhede was. In die stigting van die lugvleuel is hy bygestaan deur ene kol. Wessels en die toe brig. Adriaan de la Rosa, wat saamgespan om die hierdie elite eenheid van die polisie te stig.

Zelda sê daar is ‘n kennisgewing landwyd by al wat ‘n polisiestasie of -kantoor was, versprei sodat dames kon aansoek doen. “Daar was meer as 500 aansoeke gewees wat toe eers verminder is na ‘n kleiner groep toe genooi is vir persoonlike onderhoude. Hierna is 20 kandidate genooi om psigometriese toetse af te lê waarna daar toe uiteindelik 10 van ons gekies is om ons opleiding by die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens se opleidingsentrum te gaan doen. Ons opleiding het egter net een week geduur. Ons is maar net geleer hoe om jou balans in ‘n vliegtuig te hou terwyl jy stap, hoe om kos en drank aan passasiers te bedien, oor ons grimering en dan ook wat om te doen in ‘n noodgeval”.

Sewe van ons is toe gekies om die eerstes te wees wat sal vlieg. Die ander drie is as reserwes gehou. Toe moes daar besluit word op ‘n uniform. Die groepie dames is na groot klere ontwerperswinkel in Johannesburg geneem om hul ons uniforms uit te soek. Hulle kon enigiets kies, behalwe die kleure van die polisie se uniforms. Hulle het toe op die pienk pakkie besluit. Daarby het hulle ‘n grys serpie gedra, maar geen hoed of handskoene of handsakke nie verder net wit sykouse en wit hakskoentjies.”

Die eerste groepie van sewe lugwaardinne was: Anne-Marie Roets, Elbe Viljoen, Ursula Bell, Zelda Claasen, Jackie de Nysschen en Corrie de Nysschen.

Die opdrag dat die uniforms nie in die polisiekleure moes wees nie, is volgens die dames met wie gesels

is

om

veiligheidsredes

gedoen.

Die

dames

was

ook

terselfdertyd

daar

vir

beskermingsdienste vir die generaal en niemand moes hulle kon identifiseer as lede van die polisie nie. Almal was ten volle opgeleide polisiebeamptes met etlike jare se polisielewe agter die rug. Hul 66

sertifikate en vlerkies is op ‘n geselligheid deur wyle genl. De Witt, toe polisiekommissaris, aan hulle oorhandig, Die lugwaardinne het slegs ministers, adjunkministers en generaals, die enigste wat normaalweg met die vliegtuig gevlieg het, te bedien. Hulle het ook ‘n paar vlugte na Namibië onderneem.

Die eerste vliegtuig met haar

kosbare vrag mensies aan boord het op 21 Junie 1989 van die Wonderboom Lughawe af opgestyg.

“In die begin was ons ‘n snaakse gebeurtenis vir die vlieëniers gewees maar almal van hulle was baie gaaf teenoor ons gewees. My loopbaan as lugwaardin het nie baie lank aangehou nie. Ek het bedank na ‘n voorval in Walvisbaai waarvan ek regtig nie gehou het nie, en ek het net eenvoudig nie kans gesien om verder aan te gaan nie.

Ek was die eerste een van die groep wat bedank het.”

Sy vertel dat genl. De Witt en sy vrou Mollie eendag met die Cessna Kaapstad toe gevlieg het en dat sy hul lugwaardin was. “Dit was maar ‘n bietjie rowwe vlug, ons het slegte weer gehad en kortkort in ‘n lugleegte ingevlieg wat die vliegtuig vreeslik laat sak het. Een van hierdie lugleegtes is getref net toe ek gereed was om kos aan die generaal te bedien. Juis op daardie oomblik tref die vliegtuig ‘n groot lugleegte. Daar toe sien jy toe net die bord in die lug optrek. Ek gryp die bord kos uit die lug uit en plak dit behoorlik op die generaal se skoot neer.”

Zelda vertel hoe een van die ander lugwaardinne, wat vals naels gedra het, se een nael eendag in een van die generaals se drankie beland het nie. “Dit was omtrent vir jou ‘n ding gewees”.

Anne-Marie (du Plessis) Grubisic sê die lugvleuel het nog nie juis bestaan toe sy reeds onder genl.

Wandrag gewerk het. Die lugvleuel is amptelik in 1983 gestig en daardie tyd het sy by vuurwapenlisensies gewerk. Toe die skrywe sien waarin daar gevra word dames wat belangstel om lugwaardinne in die polisie te word, het sy nie twee keer gedink nie. “Ek het dadelik aansoek gedoen.

Die opleiding was wonderlik en die paar vlugte wat ek gedoen het, was soos ‘n droom, ek sal dit altyd onthou”

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Sy vertel hulle moet gewoonlik een uur voor die vlug moes vertrek, reeds by die Wonderboom lughawe wees. Dit was hulle taak om die kos, wat deur ‘n privaat maatskappy voorberei is, in ontvang te neem en die vliegtuig te pak. Hulle moes ook die drank in die vliegtuig verpak en seker maak dat alles perfek is vir wanneer die passasiers opdaag.

Onder die mense saam met wie sy gevlieg het, was onder meer die destyds min. Adriaan Vlok, Wet en Orde en ‘n groot aantal generaals. “Min Vlok was altyd so saggeaard en vriendelik met ons gewees.”

Anne-Marie se lugwaardin loopbaan is in 1990 kort geknip toe sy In ‘n baie ernstige ongeluk betrokke was.

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Haar lugwaardin loopbaan het egter nie baie lank geduur nie. Sy was in 1990 ‘n baie erge motorongeluk gewees. Sy het baie lank in die Garden City hospitaal in Johannesburg in ‘n koma gelê met ernstige kop beserings. “Ek was meer as ‘n jaar nie by die werk nie. Toe ek uiteindelik weer kon begin werk, mag ek weens my kopbeserings nie vlieg nie. Ek het dus afgestaan en is toe as gyminstrukteur in die kollege aangestel.

Min. Vlok het oor die lugwaardinne in pienk gesê: “Hulle was ‘n pragtige groepie dames wat geweet het wat hulle doen. Hul diens was uitstekend en jy kon hulle altyd deur ‘n ring trek, altyd met ‘n glimlag op die gesig”.

Cupido se pyltjie het ook sy weg gevind na die polisie se vliegtuig. In 1994 het daar ‘n nuwe vlieënier begin en net daar tref die pyltjie toe sy teiken. Die nou kol. Douw du Plessis en die toe Connie de Beer is deur Cupido se liefdespyltjie getref. Hulle is toe later getroud en is vandag nog gelukkig getroud.

Die pienk lugwaardinne het ongelukkig nie baie jare geduur nie, daar kon nie presies vasgestel word wanneer hulle van die toneel af verdwyn het nie, maar hulle het. Vandag verskaf ‘n private instansie, volgens inligting lugwaardinne sonder uniforms aan die polisie wanneer nodig.

Die heel eerste groepe polisiedames saam met wyle genl. Hennie de Witt, destyds kommissaris van die polisie.

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KOMMENTAAR: SAP LUGWAARDINNE Herman Bosman Beste Herman Kan u kommentaar lewer, asb?

Was dit oor sanksies dat die vlieëniers en lugwaardinne civvies gedra het?

Groete HBH Hi Brig. Hennie.

Ja, was as gevolg van sanksies.

Die firma naam wat gebruik was, was Trans Star Promotions.

Sodra ek die foto van die vleuels het en aanstuur sal u ook die sterretjie motief kan sien in die vleuels.

Die vleuels was SA Lugmag mess dress vleuels, waarvan die staatswapen vervang was met ligte blou enamel en as ek reg onthou drie sterretjies.

Sal alles mooi uiteensit sodra ek die foto ontvang het (hopelik kry ek foto vanaand).

Ja kyk ons het daardie jare darem dinge heel goed omseil.

Groete dan tot more.

Goeie middag Brig. Hennie.

Ja, eerstens, Brig. Bill van der Merwe was per geleentheid ook bevelvoerder van die Lugvleuel, maar ek kan nie die presiese datums onthou nie.

Op die foto soos per e-pos aan my gestuur van die 7 SAP Lugwaardinne verskyn die dames as volg:- Staande vlnr - Zelda Claasens, Ursula Bell, Jackie de Nysschen, Corrie de Beer & Corne van Heerden.

Sittende vlnr - Anne-Mari Roets, Genl. H.G. de Witt & Elbie Viljoen.

Die bogenoemde dames het vanaf 14 tot 21 Junie 1989 hulle lugwaardin kursus te Jan Smutslughawe deurloop en was aangebied deur instrukteurs van die SA Lugdiens se Kajuitdienste.

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Die kursus was eintlik n baie verkorte kursus in vergelyking met die wat lugwaardinne van SAL deurloop het.

Een van die redes was, dat SAL aspirant lugwaardinne ook in diepte opleiding op verskeie vliegtuig tipes deurloop het.

Weens sanksies teen Suid-Afrika, sowel as die sekerheidssituasie op daardie stadium, kon die SAP geensins die Beech Jet (ZS-MHN) beskikbaar stel vir die nodige opleiding tydens die kursus nie.

Ons lugwaardinne moes maar noodgedwonge na die kursus hulself, in samewerking met die vlieëniers vergewis van die fynere details.

Soos reeds aan u vermeld, was die vliegtuie om sekerheidsredes en sanksies daardie tyd op die naam van n "maatskappy" Sagel & Read geregistreer, brandstof is weer onder n ander naam gehanteer.

Die vlieëniers en lugwaardinne het weer kwansuis onder die naam Trans Star Promotions gegaan.

Dit het meegebring dat die groep dames hulle lugwaardinuniforms uitgekies en saamgestel het - die netjiese pienk uitrusting.

Die vlieëniers, op hulle beurt het weer gebruik gemaak van gewone siviele vlieëniersdrag en vlieëniersepoulette, tesame met n spesiale bypassende das met Trans Star Promotion logo.

Vlieënier- en lugwaardinvlerkies was ‘n aanpassing van die destydse bestaande SA Lugmag “mess dress”-vlerkie, aangesien die "die" beskikbaar was en net die sentrale motief aangepas kon word, sonder om enige agterdog te wek.

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Aangeheg is ‘n foto waarop Kapt. Venter en Kol. Simon van Garderen verskyn met hulle siviele vlieëniers drag, asook lugwaardin Corrie de Beer in haar pienk uitrusting.

Gedurende middel 1992 het toestande in die land dan ook so verander dat weggedoen kon word met al die frontmaatskappy name en kon vliegtuie weer openlik as SAP vliegtuie gebruik word.

Na die opleiding van die eerste groepie dames en soos tyd aangestap het, het van die dames bedank, ander is verplaas met bevordering en Anne-Mari Roets kon nie meer vlieg weens ernstige beserings wat sy in n ernstige motorongeluk opgedoen het in 1990 op die R21 snelweg.

Dus moes daar weer ‘n groepie dames opgelei word as lugwaardinne.

Hierdie kursus was aangebied deur die firma Courtline Safety.

Weereens moes die dames hulle eie uniform uitkies en saamstel.

Hierdie keer het die uniform bestaan uit ‘n veelkleurige bloesie met ‘n groenkleurige baadjie, donker kleurig dames langbroek met swart hakskoene.

Op hierdie stadium kon die dames die gewone SAP-halfvlerkie op hulle uniforms dra.

Op 31 Julie 1996 het een van hierdie groepie, Sers. J.A. Pienaar, tydens ‘n vlug vanaf Walvisbaai na Wonderboom haar uitstekend van haar taak gekwyt.

Tydens die vlug met ZS-MHN (Beech Jet) het daar ‘n "cabin decompression" plaasgevind en moes sy haar passasiers en bemanning met noodsuurstof bystaan, totdat die vliegtuig tot op die nodige vlak kon daal, waar dit nie meer nodig was vir noodsuurstof nie.

Dit het sy uiters kalm ‘n beheersd uitgevoer en het kort daarna ‘n aanprysingsertifikaat ontvang, gegee onder die hand van die Kommissaris tydens ‘n sertifikaat-oorhandigingsfunksie.

Aangeheg is ‘n foto van verskeie ontvangers van aanprysingssertifikate waartydens sy ook haar sertifikaat ontvang het.

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Foto is aangeheg sodat gesien kan word hoe die uniform gelyk het. Ongelukkig weens lig vertoon die groen baadjie meer blou as groen. Die groen is redelik lig van aard, en bietjie donkerder as turkooise.

Sy was dan ook een van die heel laaste lugwaardinne, nadat kort hierna met SAP lugwaardinne weggedoen is.

Groete.

Herman

Goeie middag Brig Hennie.

Ook nou net n foto van die Trans Star Promotions vlieëniersvleuel en lugwaardin-halfvlerkie van my vriend ontvang.

Aangeheg vermelde foto met krediet aan Alan Taylor-versameling.

Groete.

Herman

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MANIE ODENDAAL: OUD-HONDE-EENHEID DURBAN Kol Dana Kruger

Foto geneem toe twee boeke bekend gestel is oor die Honde-eenheid van Durban. As jong seun het ek Manie Odendaal geken en hy was ‘n goeie polisieman. Later het ek ook polisieman geword en hy het baie keer met sy hond ons gehelp met die opspoor van inbrekers en rowers.

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POLISIESIELKUNDE: SELFDOOD Dr Coert Mommsen Hierdie artikel is geskryf deur Coert Mommsen D.Phil (Psigologie), M.A. Kliniese Sielkunde, EEG Tegnikus. Woensdag 1 Junie 2022. 17:29 Suné van Heerden Maroela Media, skryf op 15 Oktober 2013 dat Nathi Mthetwa, Minister van Polisie tydens ʼn beraad oor polisie-selfmoorde aangedui dat beamptes wat selfmoord pleeg in baie gevalle nie emosioneel of sielkundig toegerus is om stresvolle situasies te hanteer nie. Hulle moet soms gruwelike tonele afbaken ná padongelukke waarin onskuldige mense omgekom het. Die minister het tydens hierdie beraad ook aangedui dat beamptes selfmoord pleeg deur van hul eie dienspistole gebruik te maak, hulself te hang of ʼn oordosis pille te drink. Maroela Media het in hul artikel die volgende statistieke oor selfdood onder SAPS lede vrygestel: Selfdoodgevalle onder polisiebeamptes in 2009: 73 Selfdoodgevalle in 2010: 97. Selfdoodgevalle in 2011:85, in 2012: 98 (1) Die vraag wat seker baie gevra word en dikwels onbeantwoord sal bly is: Hoekom pleeg mense selfmoord?

Volgens ʼn artikel deur Dr. M. Volanti van die FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin getiteld Understanding Police Suicide het studies verskeie faktore ontbloot wat verband hou met Polisie selfdood in die V.S.A. Die voorkoms van Selfdood blyk meer algemeen te wees onder ouer magslede hou verband met alkoholisme, fisiese siekte of naderende aftrede. Ander faktore wat ʼn rol kan speel is die geredelike beskikbaarheid van vuurwapens, voortdurende blootstelling aan sterfgevalle en besering, maatskaplike druk vanweë skoftewerk, teenstrydighede binne die regsisteem en die persepsie dat beamptes glo hulle het ʼn negatiewe beeld in die gemeenskap.(2) In haar magistergraad proefskrif getiteld: Die Verband tussen Persoonlikheidstrekke en Post Traumatiese Stresversteuring by Polisiebeamptes wys Sophia Henning (3) daarop dat die volgende faktore belangrik kan wees in Polisiebeampte selfmoord (UJ Proefskrif): “Polisieselfmoord kan baie dikwels gekoppel word aan verhoudingsprobleme. Selfmoord by jong polisiebeamptes blyk meer die gevolg te wees van gesinsprobleme of egskeiding, terwyl selfmoord by ouer polisiebeamptes meer direk gekoppel word aan alkoholisme, fisiese siektes en die vooruitsig na aftrede.”(4) Daar blyk dus sterk ooreenkomste te wees tussen die redes vir selfdood onder Amerikaanse en Suid Afrikaanse Polisiebeamptes in terme van alkoholisme en naderende aftrede en fisiese siekte.

Die beskrywing van hierdie paar redes vir selfdood onder polisie het my laat dink aan die dood van een van my vriende in die polisie.

Ek en hy (Jako) het grootgeword op ʼn dorp langs die Vaalrivier. Ons het saam met vriende baie nagte op die oewer van die rivier of op eilande van die rivier vis gevang en oorgeslaap. Sommerso langs die water geslaap, sonder ʼn tent of seil of iets en dan heelnag gehoor hoe rotte en ander swaarder klein viervoetige diertjies girts-girts heen en weer oor ons slaapsakke hardloop. Na Matriek het ons paaie uiteengeloop en toe ek laas gehoor het, het hy by die SAP aangesluit.

My broer wat ʼn besigheid op die dorp bedryf het, vertel dat Jako eendag by sy winkel aangekom het en daar weg is sonder om veel te sê. Dit was vir hom snaaks want Jako het altyd lekker gekuier en gesels. Per toeval ʼn paar dae later koop ek die Beeld en sommer op die eerste bladsy is daar ʼn berig oor Jako wat deur sy hoof na sy kantoor ingeroep is. Terwyl hy wag op sy Senior, het hy sy dienspistool uitgehaal en homself daar in die kantoor doodgeskiet. Wat ʼn skok. Hoekom dié stap?

Kon hy nie maar kom gesels het oor wat pla nie? Wat was sy laaste gedagtes en belewenisse? Hoe 76

het hy te werk gegaan? (Hy het seker geweet hoe om sy wapen te gebruik, het ek baiekeer gedink.

Dalk die loop in sy mond gesit en die sneller getrek. Dit moes ʼn verskriklike ervaring gewees het...

Die vreeslike angs wat hom waarskynlik beetgepak het toe hy sy oë toeknyp voordat hy die sneller trek.. die smaak van die loop se staal en die geweldige slag (wat hy seker nog gehoor het kort voor sy dood)... ag nee!... hoe verskriklik! Al die hoop wat sy ma vir hom gehad het toe hy in haar arms gelê as ʼn klein babatjie. Al die mooi sonskyn dae langs die rivier, al die somernagte, al die herinneringe en tye meteens verby.

Ek het nooit gehoor oor wat verder met Jako gebeur het nie en niks oor die rede vir sy selfdood nie.

Nou besef ek hoe ek soos baie mense maar aangewese op akademiese uiteensettings van die oorsake van selfmoord: Selfdoodnotas, Wetenskaplik-sielkundige ondersoeke en vertellinge.

Die eerste bronne van redes vir selfdood wat kan dien as navorsingsmateriaal is waarskynlik notas wat by die slagoffers gevind is.

Hierna is ʼn aantal notas wat Slagoffers agtergelaat het (Nom de Plumes is in sommige gevalle vertaal): “Die duiwel het gemaak dat ek dit doen en hy sal maak dat jy dit ook doen” — RicsFlair “Ek kan nie saamleef met wat ek aan daardie klein dogtertjie gedoen het nie. Julle kan die meeste van haar liggaamsdele in die tuin vind” — Vasgevange mot “Gedurende hierdie oomblikke voor my vertrek beleef ek meer helderheid as wat ek ooit in my hele lewe ervaar het. Binne een minuut sal ek vry wees van die stemme, die pyn en van jou — sopas’nmangedood “Ek het hierdie vir jou gedoen — hardloop.” — AndrewJimmyThompson “Ek gaan myself doodmaak en hierdie is nie ʼn hulpkreet nie. Ek het net iemand nodig om hierheen te kom en die gemors skoon te maak” — breinloos0621 “Hy dink ek’s besig om ʼn werklike selfmoordbrief te skryf. Dis hy wat my dwing om hierdie te doen — Die Keiser van Dalek “Ek het die Diploma gekry wat jy altyd wou gehad het. Totsiens.” — stomende teekoppie “Ek sal wag. Moenie te lank talm nie!” — [Naam Uitgevee] “Jy sal leer om sonder my te leef. Soos ek sonder jou moes leef.” — tyler123321 “Ek het die kanker doodgemaak. Dis nie die kanker wat my doodgemaak nie.” — diegeesvantedkennedy “Ek sal nie myself doodmaak nie. Solank iemand net vir my glimlag.” — derbyt “Ek kom uit die toekoms. Moenie soontoe gaan nie — nonne-boelie “Ek dink nie hierdie wêreld is nie werklik nie. Moet gou iets uiters vinnig toets “ –“Fighght” “Dit moet nou ophou om my te agtervolg. Maar dit sal nooit nie.”— Dubbel-Visie- Verkenning “Ek het besef die enigste manier om te wen is om nie te speel nie. Totsiens.”— Verspreidieplaag “Sorg dat jy getoets word. Gou” — [Naam uitgevee] “Ek’s net hartseer. Ek’s jammer.” — HeyBudHessel “Jy sal gou verstaan hoekom. Binnekort sal jy by my aansluit.” — Getentakelde Tessa “ Moenie huil nie, ek kom eendag terug. Dan sal hulle jammer wees.” — MrBiscuitOGravy (5) (5) Opvallend is die name wat die slagoffers aanteken. Dit is belangrik om in gedagte te hou dat die name waarmee die slagoffers hul notas teken, waarskynlik nie ten tye van die selfmoord uitgedink is nie, maar ou skuilname is wat hulle moontlik in eposse, korrespondensies ens. gebruik het. Al het hulle die name lank voor die tyd gebruik, kan dit insigself, op voorkoms-waarde ook iets van hulle lewensuitkyk/ingesteldheid sê.

Sommige van die name blyk verband te hou met die boodskap self (“sopasnmangedood”, “Dubbel Visie Soeke”, “diegeesvantedkennedy”).

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Ander boodskappe mag verband hou met meer ernstige geestegesondheidsprobleme (“Dit moet nou ophou om my te agtervolg” (Paranoia), “Ek’s net hartseer” (Depressie), “Dis hy wat my dwing om hierdie te doen” (Geestesversteuring) “Die duiwel het gemaak dat ek dit doen”(Geestesversteuring).

Die tema van sommige boodskappe is een van woede/verwyt: Ek het die Diploma gekry wat jy altyd wou gehad het. Totsiens...”, “Jy sal leer om sonder my te leef. Soos ek sonder jou moes leef.”

Binnekort sal jy by my aansluit...” “Dan sal hulle jammer wees...” “Jy sal gou verstaan hoekom.

Binnekort sal jy by my aansluit.”

In hul studie getiteld Suicide notes for study and prevention vat die outeurs die bevinding van hul studie as volg saam: “In hierdie studie het 90% van die selfmoordnotas temas van verskoning / skuld en skande bevat. Hierdie bevindinge stem ooreen met studies in Indië en ander lande”. Liefde vir die agtergeblewenes (55%), voorskrifte ten opsigte van praktiese reëlings (23%). Die lewe is te moeilik om te verduur (14%), Futiliteit (14%)” (4).

Hierdie temas suggereer dat die gestorwe individue moontlik probleme ervaar het met wanhoop, depressie en ʼn onvermoë om moontlike alternatiewe oplossings te vind. Laasgenoemde mag dui op ʼn stremming van die selfmoord-breinkrag wat deur middel van vroegtydige ingrepe insluitend ondersteunende, kognitiewe terapieë en toepaslike medikasie behandel kon word. Dit is welbekend dat verskoning en skande voorkom in individue wat selfdood oorweeg en dit mag ʼn geleentheid bied vir psigoterapeutiese ingrepe.

Byvoorbeeld woorde wat ʼn dilemma suggereer soos: “Ek dink ek het ʼn fout gemaak”, “Verwag?” ”Besluit?” Selfbejammering: ”die verhaal van ʼn meisie wat bedrieg is”, “van ʼn gekrenkte siel” Frustrasie wat lei na woede teenoor ander is ook genoem, byvoorbeeld: “Almal dié wat daarvoor verantwoordelik is dat ek hier uiterse stap neem behoort tronk toe te gaan. Hulle moet net soos ek ly sodat hulle kan verstaan hoe erg hulle my seergemaak het.”

Bekering: Dis alles oor my en my lawwe foute. Dit beïnvloed egter my gesin, my geliefde gesinslid.

Ek kan eenvoudig nie stilbly en toesien hoe my gesin ly as gevolg van my nie. Ek hoop hierdie sal ‘n einde bring aan al die probleme en my lyding”. “Wen ʼn mens , hoef jy nie te verduidelik nie. Verloor jy, hoef jy nie daar te wees om te verduidelik nie.“ ʼn Versoek aan naasbestaandes was om nie die handeling as een van “Skande” te beskou nie.

In een boodskap is ʼn siniese sin van verligting bespeur in die nota: “Dis ʼn pragtige sonsopkoms! Geen pyn meer nie.” Ek dink hierdie is een van die mees waaghalsige dade van my lewe!!

Ha...Ha...! Totsiens.” (6) Redes vir selfmoord volgens selfmoordnota inhoud: • Verskoning; • Liefde vir dié wat agtergelaat is; • Instruksies vir praktiese reëlings; • Die lewe is te moeilik om te verduur; • Hopeloosheid; en • Advies vir die agtergeblewenes.(6) Volgens Wikipedia kan die redes vir selfmoordnotas as volg saamgevat word: • Om die pyn te verlig van diegene wat aan die slagoffer bekend is deur skuld te probeer uitwis; • Om die pyn van oorlewendes te vermeerder deur te probeer om skuldgevoelens te skep; • Om die redes vir die selfmoord uiteen te sit; 78

• • •

Om gedagtes en gevoelens uiteen te sit wat die slagoffer nie gedurende sy lewe kon volbring nie; Om instruksies te gee vir die behartiging van die oorskot; en Soms om belydenis te doen van moord of ʼn ander misdaad. (7)

Finansiële skuld kan ook ʼn rol speel as rede vir selfmoord. ’n Berig oor die selfmoord van ʼn polisiebeampte in Nairobi lui as volg: “NAIROBI, Kenia 9 Des. – ʼn Polisiebeampte het Donderdag selfmoord gepleeg in Mombasa oor skuld wat hy nie kon betaal nie. ʼn Polisiebeampte van Mombasa het Sh81,000 (ZAR 551) geskuld aan vier mense aan wie hy die geld nie kon terugbetaal nie. Hy het sy uniform en sy siviele klere in ʼn plastieksak in die hoek van sy kamer gesit. Op ʼn foto van die toneel kan mens sien hoe hy die matras van sy bed dubbel toegevou het waarskynlik plek te maak vir ʼn plastiek stoeltjie wat nou op sy kant gelê het. In die nota wat by hom gevind is, het hy aan ʼn Whatsappgroep ʼn boodskap gelaat waarin hy instruksies gegee het oor hoe die skuld terugbetaal moes word. Hy sê in ʼn deel van die boodskap dat Sh24,000 (ZAR 137.00) aan Sersant Maina betaal moet word.

Hy het ook aan sy hoof geskryf en gevra dat dié sy dood moes ondersoek. “Kom haal my net en stuur my huis toe” het hy in die nota geskryf. Hy het sy hoof verder gevra om sy uniform te neem en sy siviele klere te verdeel onder dié wat dit nodig het. (8) Wanneer ʼn mens (en veral dié wat dikwels daarmee te doen het soos Polisiebeamptes) dink aan selfmoorde waarmee hy/sy te doen gehad het of die detail daarvan kan onthou, dink ek dit kan wees soos ʼn massa ontstellende gedagtes en herinneringe wat eensklaps na die bewuste deurbreek: beelde, foto’s, reuke, stemme, berigte, klanke, emosies, vrae oor hoekom en hoe kon dit verhoed gewees het. Noodwendig sal mens tussen al die afgryslikheid neig om op ʼn enkel een hiervan te fokus. Die behoefte wat dan ongetwyfeld by die meeste mense sal ontstaan, is om die gebeurtenis met iemand te deel. Deel ʼn mens dit nie, sink sulke belewenisse na jou onbewuste en probeer jy om hulle daar te hou (soos ʼn ballon onder die water) word Jy naderhand moeg om dit daar te hou en alles dreig om na bo uit te bars. Deel mens jou belewenisse met iemand wat verstaan, bly jou las lig en jou lewe so wonderlik en mooi soos dit hoort wees.

In Die opsomming van ʼn Artikel van die webwerf www.happiness.com gee die skrywers die volgende oorsig met betrekking tot selfdood: Daar bestaan baie faktore wat met die besluit tot selfdood saamloop insluitend: depressie en geestessiektes en byvoorbeeld: •

chroniese ongesteldheid, skuld, trauma, substansmisbruik of verlies.

Die tragiese is dat baie mense wat selfdood oorweeg nie rêrig wil sterf nie; hulle weet net nie hoe om die pyn wat hulle ervaar te verwerk nie. Die skrywers gee ʼn paar voorkomings-boodskappe aan selfdood vertwyfeldes: “Selfmoord voorkoming notas: treffende bydraes” “Ondersoek al die sienswyses. Aanvaar die slegte weer én die goeie weer. Jy is nie die storm nie.”

Matt Haig.

“Selfdood beëindig nie die kanse dat die lewe slegter sal word nie. Dit skakel die moontlikheid uit dat die lewe enigsins beter sal word.” — (Skrywer onbekend) 79

“Wanneer die gemoed só duister is, kan dit moeilik wees om enige moontlikheid van toekomstige gemoedsrus te sien - wat dikwels progressief al hoe beter word - of dit nou met behulp van medikasie is, psigoterapie die korrekte eetgewoontes, die skep van ʼn roetine is, die beplanning van toekomsdoelwitte is - kan stappe soos hierdie jou help op die pad vorentoe. Onthou altyd dat dit moontlik is om te herstel van gevoelens van pyn, depressie en selfdood gedagtes.”

“Moet nooit, nooit, nooit opgee nie — Winston Churchill. Indien jy aan depressie ly en/of selfdoodgedagtes ervaar of soveel pyn ervaar dat jy nie weet hoe jy gaan oorleef nie — indien jy net met elke dag kan deurdruk, gee dit jou hoop dat dinge beter gaan word in die toekoms. Een dag op ʼn tyd of selfs een uur op ʼn slag. Deur nooit tou op te gooi nie, bou jy stadig aan innerlike sterkte en veerkragtigheid wat jou sal versterk.”

“Indien jy na ʼn rede soek om nié selfmoord te pleeg nie, is hierdie daardie rede - (Onbekende outeur) “Indien jy soek na ʼn rede om nie selfdood te pleeg nie, aanvaar hierdie as ʼn teken. Of jy dit besef of nie, jy het die geleentheid om ʼn positiewe verskil in hierdie lewe te maak. Daar’s iemand daarbuite wat voordeel kan trek uit jou besondere talente en gawes. Soms is al wat jy nodig het om te weet is dat daar iemand is wat omgee en wat wil hê dat jy moet bly leef. Hierdie aanhaling is jou teken.”

“Die mens wat selfmoord pleeg sterf een keer. Dié wat agterbly sterf ʼn duisend dode terwyl hulle daardie verskriklike oomblikke herleef om te probeer verstaan hoekom” – Clark (9) Slot: Sekerlik een van die belangrikste boodskappe wat uit die voorafgaande blyk, is dié wat verwys na die verskil wat een mens in die lewe van ʼn ander kan maak: “jy het die geleentheid om ʼn positiewe verskil in hierdie lewe te maak. Daar’s iemand daarbuite wat voordeel kan trek uit jou besondere talente en gawes. Soms is al wat jy nodig het om te weet is dat daar iemand is wat omgee en wat wil hê dat jy moet bly leef...”

As persoon het ek self gesien hoe mense se lewens ʼn totale omswaai neem vanweë ʼn eenvoudige gebaar of woord deur iemand anders – die verligting en verandering wat dit kan bring, nie net vir die individu self nie, maar ook vir sy/haar nakomelinge vir geslagte daarna. Dis die waarheid. Ek praat uit ervaring.

Bronne (1) https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/talle-polisiebeamptes-pleeg-selfmoord/ (2) https://www.aele.org/law/2007FPMAY/fbi-1995-02.pdf (3) https://ujcontent.uj.ac.za/vital/access/services/Download/uj:9001/CONTENT (4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4711238/ (5) https://thoughtcatalog.com/holly-riordan/2017/01/26-disturbing-suicide-notes-that-will-makeyou-cry-or-retch/ (6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4711238/ (7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_note (8) https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2021/12/just-take-my-body-home-mombasa-police-officersays-in-suicide-note/ (9) https://www.happiness.com/magazine/health-body/eight-powerful-suicide-prevention-quotes/

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NONGQAI TRUST | IT 002701/2018(T)

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THANK YOU! | DANKIE!

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EIETYDSE HISTORY

POLISIEGESKIEDENIS

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CONTEMPORARY

POLICE

VF Plus bekommerd oor lae vlak van suksesvolle vervolgings in plaasaanval-sake Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Fanie du Toit VF Plus-LP in NRP (Noordwes) 31 Mei 2022 Die VF Plus is bekommerd oor die lae vlak van suksesvolle vervolgings (30%), in sake wat met plaasaanvalle verband hou.

Die minister van polisie, Bheki Cele, het gister in antwoord op ʼn parlementêre vraag van die VF Plus in die Nasionale Raad van Provinsies (NRP), gesê dat slegs 632 verdagtes uit 1 904 suksesvol vervolg is vanaf 2013 tot 2018. ʼn Vervolgingskoers van 30% vir misdrywe wat ʼn wesenlike bedreiging vir die landbousektor en gevolglik ook voedselsekerheid vir die land inhou, is nie aanvaarbaar nie.

Die VF Plus het opnuut ʼn beroep op die owerhede gedoen om alles in hul vermoë te doen om hierdie euwel hok te slaan en landbougemeenskappe te beskerm.

Koalisieregering in Tshwane-metro neem hande met gemeenskappe en sakelui om misdaad te bekamp Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Mark Surgeon VF Plus-raadslid: Tshwane-metroraad 31 Mei 2022 Die koalisieregering in die Tshwane-metro is vasberade om misdadigers uit die stad te dryf en is besig om verskeie metodes in werking te stel om ʼn veilige stad vir almal te skep.

Mnr. Grandi Theunissen, raadslid van die VF Plus, staan aan die stuur van gemeenskapsveiligheid in die Tshwane-metroraad.

Sedert sy aanstelling as burgemeesterskomiteelid vir gemeenskapsveiligheid, is hy volstoom besig om ʼn gemeenskapsveiligheidsmodel in werking te stel waar die gemeenskap en owerhede saamstaan teen misdaad.

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Een van die voorstelle is die afbakening van distrikte in die stad waar plaaslike ondernemings, inwoners, die metropolisie en private sekuriteitsmaatskappye ʼn netwerk vorm om misdaad te bekamp.

Nog ʼn misdaadvoorkomingsstrategie is onderhandelinge met gevorderde diensverskaffers in die voorsiening van toerusting om kabeldiefstal te verminder.

tegnologiese

Dit sluit in vibrasie-sensors wat owerhede dadelik teen dié soort misdaad waarsku.

Hierdie benadering tot gemeenskapspolisiëring waar gemeenskaporganisasies, die metropolisie en polisiediens saamstaan om doeltreffende polisiëring oor die hele stad te skep, is uiters suksesvol.

Gemeenskapspolisiëring is nie beperk tot voorstede nie, maar ook in informele nedersettings word met inwoners saamgewerk om ʼn verskil in hul gemeenskap te maak en sterk standpunt teen misdaad in te neem.

Na slegs ʼn maand het inwoners aangedui dat hul woonbuurte veiliger is en daar ʼn merkbare afname in kabeldiefstal is.

Die VF Plus as koalisievennoot is vasberade om gemeenskappe op elke vlak aan te moedig om betrokke te raak om ʼn veilige omgewing te help skep.

Haweloses in Kaapstad vereis dringende aandag Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Paul Jacobson VF Plus-raadslid: Stad Kaapstad 31 Mei 2022 Die groeiende voorkoms van haweloses in die Kaapse middestad en die uitwerking daarvan op sake en toerisme is kommerwekkend en vereis dringende aandag.

Die probleem en die oplossings daarvoor is kompleks, maar die VF Plus stel nogtans voor dat buitengewone aandag gegee word aan maatskaplike ontwikkeling en vroeë kinderontwikkeling.

Dit moet veral gedoen word in minder gegoede gebiede en gemeenskappe waar bendes, dwelms en misdaad hoogty vier en soms buite beheer is.

Haweloses is kwesbaar en word deur dwelmsmouse en dwelmbase misbruik wat bydra tot die misdaadprobleem.

Kaapstad word reeds bestempel as een van die gevaarlikste stede in die land en daar kan nie bekostig word dat die toerismebedryf, wat groot skade gely het weens die Covid-19-inperkings, verder benadeel word nie. ʼn Vuil omgewing met ʼn hoë misdaad-voorkoms is nie aanloklik vir enige belegger nie.

Daar word tans probeer om bloot 'n pleister te plaas op ʼn probleem wat lank net weggewens is en die maatskaplike hulpmiddele en personeel is totaal ontoereikend.

Die groeiende voorkoms van haweloses slaan op die land se ekonomiese krisis en gepaardgaande werkloosheid. Dit is waar die probleem eindelik omgekeer moet word.

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Die huidige krisis is egter ʼn gegewe en om die onmiddellike behoeftes aan te spreek, is genoeg veldwerkers en kundige professionele maatskaplike personeel nodig om sielkundige sorg te bied en die dwelm- en drankprobleem onder haweloses te pak.

Behoeftiges moet gehelp word voordat die probleem ʼn punt van onomkeerbaarheid bereik.

Wet om veral vroue en kinders te beskerm, help nie sonder uitvoering (Debat in parlement: Wysigingswetsontwerp op die Strafreg (forensiese prosedures)) Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Dr. Pieter Groenewald VF Plus-leier 29 Maart 2022 Die Wetsontwerp op die Strafreg (forensiese prosedures) is ʼn goeie wet wat veral vroue en kinders wel kan beskerm, maar dit sou niks beteken indien dit nie toegepas word nie.

Die wet het sy oorsprong in 2009. Die ANC het destyds egter besluit dat die vingerdruk- en forensiese afdelings in die wet geskei moet word.

Die wet wat met forensiese werk in die besonder handel, is eers in 2013 voltooi en eers in 2015 het die minister die regulasie uitgevaardig om die wet van krag te maak ingevolge waarvan misdadigers verplig sou word om DNS-monsters vir ʼn databasis te verskaf.

In 2017 het dit weer verander. Nou is dit reeds 2022 en daar moet gevra word waarom dit die regering dertien jaar geneem het om dié wet weer aan te pas aangaande verpligte DNS-monsters.

In hierdie tyd het die regering veral vroue en kinders wat die slagoffers van seksuele oortredings was, in die steek gelaat.

Die belangrike vraag is ook hoe lank dit gaan duur vir die wet om werklik effektief te wees. Die parlement het gehoor van 100 000 misdadigers wat vry op straat is bloot weens hierdie gebrek aan optrede van die regering.

Daar is tans ʼn totale agterstand van DNS-monsters in sowat 200 000 sake.

Al is die wet goed, sou dit niks baat om die publiek te mislei met die beskerming wat dit sou bied indien dit in die praktyk nie toegepas word nie.

Die land het goeie wetgewing teen misdaad, maar dit beteken niks indien dit nie toegepas word nie. Daar is te veel mediaberigte oor slagoffers van seksuele misdaad wat in vrees leef omdat hul aanvallers vry rondloop. Die stelsel laat hulle in die steek.

Die administrasie oor die uitvoering van wette skep tans frustrasie. Dit stort in duie en misdadigers word bevoordeel.

Dit moet reggeruk word, en dít is die verantwoordelikheid van die regering van die dag.

Polisie-motorhawens lamgelê weens tekort aan enjinolie Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Kobus Hoffman VF Plus-LPW: Gauteng 86

1 Junie 2022 Die veiligheid van die inwoners van Gauteng word verder in gevaar gestel weens ʼn tekort aan enjinolie om polisievoertuie te versien. ʼn Omsendskrywe van die polisie is gister aan die sowat vyftien polisie-motorhawens in Gauteng gestuur oor die feit dat geen enjinolie beskikbaar is nie.

Die tekort het ontstaan nadat diensverskaffers nie betyds ʼn bestelversoek ontvang het nie.

Die tekort is problematies omdat enige werk aan ʼn voertuig wat enjinolie benodig, nie afgehandel kan word nie.

In Februarie vanjaar is aangedui dat meer as 1000 polisievoertuie buite werking is.

Polisiekantore in Laudium, Dube, Doornkop, Eersterust en Vaal Marina het elk net een voertuig beskikbaar.

Geen polisiekantoor kan met net een polisievoertuig suksesvol ʼn gemeenskap bedien en misdaad bekamp nie.

Die VF Plus het ʼn brief geskryf aan die Gautengse polisiekommissaris, lt.genl. Elias Mawela, om verslag te doen oor die aantal voertuie in die onderskeie motorhawens, waarom daar ʼn tekort aan onderdele en olie ontstaan het en wat sy aksieplan is om voertuigprobleme in die provinsie reg te ruk.

National depts spent R11bn on private security over past 5 years Andrew Whitfield The failing SAPS costs South Africans an additional R11.8 billion per year 1 June 2022 The DA can reveal that, due to the failure of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to effectively combat crime, government departments have, over the last five years, spent an additional R11 billion on private security to compensate for this failure. This expenditure is in addition to SAPS’ R100 billion annual budget.

The way in which government is increasingly reliant on private security due to a failing national police service was revealed in answers to a series of parliamentary questions from the DA, in which we asked each minister to provide their departments’ total expenditure on private security in the last five years.

This extensive use of private security by a government which is private sector averse is an admission of SAPS’ complete failure to deal with rising crime across the country and an admission that the private sector has a critical role to play in South Africa.

The question that needs to be asked, however, is why this additional R11 billion is needed when taxpayers already fund SAPS to the tune of R100 billion per year? If Minister Bheki Cele and the national police were doing their jobs effectively, this R11 billion would have been available to instead address any of the myriad crises our country faces – starting with reducing the fuel price and the cost of living.

But the duplication of spending does not end there. As SAPS fails to curb rampant crime and ANC politicians become increasingly terrified of the country they are supposed to govern, spending on VIP Protection has similarly ballooned to R1.8 billion per year.

Meanwhile, over the last 10 years, murders have increased by 37% while the police budget has increased by over 60%. Despite this increased spending, SAPS offices remain under-resourced while both private citizens and government additionally pays for private security.

The biggest spenders on private security include the Departments of Communications (R2.290 billion), Public Enterprises (R3.6 billion), Water and Sanitation (R 1.5 billion) and Transport (R1.6 87

billion). In the face of the failing SAPS, all of these departments are victims of theft and vandalism of public infrastructure on an enormous scale.

The DA will call the Minister of Police to account to Parliament for why both government departments and private citizens, on top of paying tax to fund SAPS, are forced to pay a second time for private security to do the job that SAPS is supposed to do. We will also interrogate the R11 billion spent on private security to ensure that departments get bang for taxpayer bucks.

Private Security Costs over the last 3-5 years Departments Amount Department of Water, Sanitation R 1 508 078 968,33 Department of Women, Youth, Disabilities R 20 930 048,00 Department Minerals and Energy R 81 953 691,00 Department of Communications R 2 289 761 575,00 Department of Public Enterprises R 3 629 144 379,00 Agriculture, Land reform & rural development R 366 008 759,00 Department of Home Affairs R 407 899 485,00 Dept Trade Industry R 81 437 330,83 Department Public Works and Infrastructure R 96 291 226,00 COGTA R 34 155 371,00 Dept Transport R 1 596 926 294,27 Dept Sports Arts Culture R 201 456 019,14 Dept Public Service and Admin R 19 767 999,93 Dept Small Business Development R 3 409 260,00 Dept Labour R 20 726 069,10 Department Basic Education R 33 260 442,00 Department of Défense R 20 404 000,00 Minister of Health R 42 293 622,67 Department of Police R 4 196 088,00 Dept Social Development R 783 596 225,00 Dept Tourism R 4 275 920,80 Dept Higher Education R 130 007 436,83 Department Forestries and Fisheries R 143 266 974,00 Minister of Finance R 283 356 818,98 TOTAL R 11 802 604 003,89 Statement issued by Andrew Whitfield MP - DA Shadow Minister of Police, 1 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/national-depts-spent-r11bn-on-private-securityove?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=6709667806EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_01_09_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db996709667806-130042309

Only 30% of those arrested for farm attacks successfully prosecuted Fanie du Toit 632 suspects out of 1 904 arrested were successfully prosecuted for attacks between 2013 and 2018 The FF Plus is concerned about the low success rate of the prosecution (30%) of cases related to farm attacks.

In reply to a parliamentary question by the FF Plus in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, confirmed that only 632 suspects out of 1 904 were successfully prosecuted between 2013 and 2018.

A prosecution rate of 30% for offences that pose a material risk to the agricultural sector and, consequently, also the country's food security is not at all acceptable.

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The FF Plus is once again calling on the authorities to do everything in their power to combat this evil and protect farming communities.

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Statement issued by Fanie du Toit, FF Plus MP in NCOP (North West), 31 May 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/only-30-of-those-arrested-for-farm-attackssuccess?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=6709667806EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_01_09_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db996709667806-130042309

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ANC-faksiegevegte verlam munisipale dienste in Mamusamunisipaliteit Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Esmé Venter VF Plus-raadslid: Mamusa-plaaslike munisipaliteit 2 Junie 2022 Munisipale dienste in Schweizer-Reneke en omgewing word reeds sedert Maandag verlam deur protesaksies deur opponerende ANC-faksies by die Mamusa-plaaslike munisipaliteit se kantore op die dorp.

Die verskillende faksies is blykbaar onderskeidelik ondersteuners van ʼn ANC-kandidaat, Gotsilekgosi Batsi vir die speaker- posisie in die raad, en aan die ander kant ondersteuners van die huidige speaker, Lesego Motlapele, wat op 22 Mei in die posisie verkies is.

Munisipale amptenare daag weens intimidasie deur die betogende faksies nie op vir werk nie. Die munisipale kantore is tans verlate met protesgangers wat die terrein betree het.

Inwoners vrees dat die protes weer in geweld kan ontaard en dat die munisipaliteit weer afgebrand kan word soos in Junie 2017.

Die munisipale bestuurder, Tshepo Bloom, is ook sedert Maandag nie op kantoor nie weens beweerde intimidasie deur ʼn betogende ANC-faksie.

Die VF Plus het vandag die hulp van die openbare polisiëringseenheid (POPS) ingeroep nadat die plaaslike polisie aangedui het dat hulle nie voldoende mannekrag het om die situasie te hanteer nie.

Die VF Plus het ook die premier, Bushy Maape, gekontak en versoek dat die owerhede dringend ingryp om ʼn herhaling van die chaotiese toestand in 2017 te voorkom.

Die plaaslike ekonomieë van Amalia en Schweizer-Reneke word lank reeds onder druk geplaas weens die algemene swak dienslewering van hierdie berugte munisipaliteit.

Die ANC-regering moet ten volle verantwoordelikheid aanvaar vir die optrede van sy ondersteuners wat telkens dienste ontwrig en verwoesting saai in munisipaliteite regoor die provinsie.

Die gemeenskap van Mamusa verdien weer ʼn stabiele munisipaliteit wat ekonomiese groei in die hand werk en werklik die belange van sy inwoners vooropstel.

Die ANC-regering is kennelik nie in staat tot goeie en verantwoordbare regering nie. Die inwoners van Mamusa verdien beter as die ANC.

Belangrik dat Suid-Afrika gebind word deur verdrag om kernafval te beskerm Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Dr. Wynand Boshoff VF Plus-LP en hoofwoordvoerder: Energie 3 Junie 2022 Die feit dat kernafval vir eeue lank gevaarlik bly, is algemeen bekend. Minder bekend is dat gebruikte kernafval wat 'n elektrisiteitgenererende reaktor verlaat, nuttiger is om 'n atoombom te bou as toe dit die reaktor binnegekom het.

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Die Internasionale Atoomenergie-agentskap (IAEA) het om redes soos hierdie wysigings aangebring aan ʼn internasionale verdrag om die fisieke beskerming van geriewe en kernmateriaal wat vir vreedsame doeleindes gebruik word, te verbeter.

As lid van die IAEA het Suid-Afrika hierdie konvensie in 2007 onderteken en bekragtig.

Die kabinet het die wysigings reeds in 2018 na die parlement verwys en die VF Plus verwelkom die feit dat dit nou dien, veral gegewe die feit dat Suid-Afrika in die ANC ʼn onbevoegde en korrupte regering in beheer het.

Die wysigings aan die konvensie verskaf ʼn lys van oortredings soos die in- en uitvoer van kernmateriaal sonder toestemming. Dit verbeter ook samewerking tussen lande rakende inligting oor onwettige aktiwiteite met betrekking tot kernmateriaal.

Dit stel gemeenskaplike standaarde vir onder meer die fisieke beskerming van kernmateriaal vir huishoudelike gebruik, berging en vervoer asook die beskerming van kernmateriaal en -geriewe teen sabotasie.

Kernkrag is sedert die ontstaan daarvan omstrede. Die meeste mense het die eerste maal daarvan gehoor toe twee atoombomme die Japannese stede Hirosjima en Nagasaki vernietig het.

Behalwe dat oorlog skielik gevaarliker was, het die vreedsame moontlikhede van veral goedkoper elektrisiteit die verbeelding aangegryp.

Die wêreld se kernmoondhede het Suid-Afrika nie met die nodige inligting hieroor vertrou nie en oorspronklike werk is by Pelindaba en Valindaba buite Pretoria gedoen.

Vreedsame en nie-vreedsame gebruike van kernkrag is nooit te ver van mekaar nie. Suid-Afrika kón bewys dat uraan verryk en kernkrag vreedsaam gebruik is, maar het wel ook atoombomme ontwikkel en gebou.

Die NP-regering was nie bereid om sulke wapens in die hande van die ANC te laat val nie.

Intussen is Koeberg, Suid-Afrika se enigste kernkragsentrale, voor voltooiing in 1982 suksesvol deur die ANC se militêre vleuel aangeval, terwyl Greenpeace in 2002 daarin geslaag het om baniere aan die gebou te hang.

In 2005 was daar die berugte “moer-in-die-reaktor”-voorval wat Kaapstad in die duister gelaat het.

Kernaanlegte is duidelik nie onaantasbaar nie. Die gebeure in 1982 en 2002 bewys dit. En by Koeberg word die hoëgraadse kernafval op die perseel geberg.

Mense met bose voornemens en die nodige kennis en vaardighede, sal daarom vir 'n paar eeue nie nodig hê om kernmateriaal te vervaardig nie, hulle kan bloot steel wat reeds vervaardig is.

Dit is duidelik dat ʼn bindende, internasionale verdrag oor die beveiliging van kernmateriaal van die allergrootste belang is.

Crime statistics don’t paint a good picture Bheki Cele SAPS | 03 June 2022 92

Minister says first three months of this year were violent, brutal and unsafe for many South Africans Speaking notes delivered by Police Minister General Bheki Cele (MP) at the occasion of the release of the Quarter Four Crime Statistics 2021/2022 hosted in Pretoria on Friday 3 June 2022 3 June 2022 National Commissioner of the SAPS; General Fannie Masemola; National Head of DPCI Dr/Adv Lt General Godfrey Lebeya Deputy National Commissioners; Provincial Commissioners and Divisional Commissioners; Acting Secretary of Police; Mr Ramaru Senior SAPS Officers; Heads of Entities; All Heads of Department; Members of the Media Good Afternoon The crime figures we are releasing today reflect crime reported to the South African Police Service in the first three months of 2022.

These quarterly figures are used as a management tool to guide the operational plans of the SAPS. The statistics are not just only to quantify crime, or create debate in society.

The figures also serve as a call of action for government, business, NGOs, civil society and communities to come on board in the fight against crime.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the first three months of 2022 have unfortunately been marred by more murders, more sexual violence, and more assaults, compared to the same time period in the previous year.

All in all these statistics don’t give us a good picture.

Yes, the statistics you will see today show increased levels in contact crimes, these are cases where victims are targets of violence.

Festive season The first three months of this year were violent, brutal and unsafe for many South Africans.

While we know and appreciate that the current socio-economy has directly impacted on crime levels.

Police have also had their hands full, following the Safer Festive season operations to ensure the festive season was safer and more secure.

The festive season interventions included heightened police patrols and operations, especially in areas where crime was likely to occur.

The festive season was safer, but not the same can be said about the first three months of the year 2022.

The triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, increasingly encouraged opportunistic criminal behaviour.

However, police have made some gains and intercepted greedy criminal syndicates involved in extortion, kidnapping and cash-In-transit heists and drugs smuggling.

Unfortunately, their collective actions have not yielded the expected results.

Women and children January February and March of 2022 was especially brutal for women and children of this country.

Murder, attempted murder and assault GBH of women all recorded double-digit increases.

Murder and assault GBH of children under the age of 17 years, also recorded sharp increases.

However, the number of attempted murder cases of children has declined by 6.8%.

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Murder Ladies and Gentlemen In the three months of reporting, a 22.2% increase in murder was recorded.

1 107 more people were killed in South Africa between January and March compared to the same period in 2021.

Out of the 6 083 people killed in the country, 898 of them were women and 306 where children under the age of 17 years.

Alarmingly, the murder of children recorded a 37.2% increase in the period of reporting.

Causes of murder Arguments, vigilantism, revenge or retaliation and robberies remain the top four causative factors of these deaths.

A total of 2 268 people were murdered in public places such as an open fields, streets, parking areas and abandoned buildings.

The second most likely place for murder to occur is at the home of the victim or of the perpetrator.

1 350 people were killed in that environment.

Liquor outlets and public transport such as busses, taxis or trains, were the third and fourth most likely places to be killed in South Africa.

Overall crimes committed against a person also known as Contact Crimes, increased by 15.0 % Rape All Sexual offences recorded a 13.7% increase with contact sexual offences recording the only decrease in this crime category.

The first three months of this year, 10 818 people were raped in South Africa.

Almost half of the cases, a staggering 4 653 rapes took place at the home of the rape victim or the home of the rapist.

Public parks, beaches, streets, open fields, parking areas and abandoned buildings were the second most likely places for rapes to occur.

Liquor was involved in 1 290 of the rapes.

The Eastern Cape’s Lusikisiki Police Station, Inanda Station in KwaZulu-Natal and Delft Police Station in the Western Cape recorded the highest incidents of rape for this quarter.

Property related crimes All Property Related crimes increased by 0.1% and burglary at non-residential premises declined by 6.4% Assault Assault GBH figures have shown drastic increases, with over six thousand (6 575) more cases reported during this reporting period.

42 992 cases of assault GBH and 45 746 cases of common assault were opened with the police in the three months of reporting.

Out of the 42 992 cases of assault GBH, 1 937 where children under 17 years.

Arguments, road rage, intervention in a fight and robberies were some of the leading causes of the assault GBH. Kidnapping 3 306 kidnaping cases were opened with the police.

This crime trend has shown a sharp increase with over 1 700 more cases reported to the police compared to the same comparative period.

Most of the kidnapping cases were high jacking, robbery and rape-related.

The top three police stations with the highest reported kidnapping cases were Kempton Park, Heidelberg stations in Gauteng province and Delmas police station in Mpumalanga.

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The Gauteng province accounts for the bulk of the kidnapping cases, recording over a thousand more cases in the period of reporting.

What went wrong Ladies and Gentlemen, 2022 started on a low safety note.

But the question is WHAT WENT WRONG? I have asked the management of the SAPS and the Provincial Commissioners of all nine provinces the exact same question.

Honestly, no answer justified these dismal figures but we all agreed, that all Provinces, Districts, Clusters and Stations need to do things differently if indeed we want to see desired outcomes.

The ‘difference’ we speak of, starts with minor to major changes.

This includes improved working conditions of officers: Ensure the availability of the required tools of the trade to respond to crime and rooting out officers who choose to intentionally fail the communities they are meant to serve.

Commissioner, One thing is for sure, police alone cannot win the fight against crime.

We need deeper partnerships with communities built on trust, commitment, and delivery.

It is on this score that this Ministry will continue to lend support to you and your management team to aggressively restore the trust deficit that has broken down some in community relationships.

After all, police officers cannot police communities they are not part of.

But equally, we are aware that trust is not bought, TRUST is EARNED! Commissioner, improved service from the police WILL earn back the trust and confidence of the community.

In other words, creating safer communities through effective community policing, is a matter of urgency.

50% of solutions to crime are through better working relations with the community.

Members of the Media, The SAPS can no longer afford to pay lip service but MUST introduce accountability at stations if we are to truly serve and protect this nation.

This is why immediate interventions have now been put in place to address the dip in performance.

Allow me to expand on some immediate interventions agreed on between the Police Ministry and SAPS management.

We have adopted a police station policing approach.

This means accountability will start from the bottom (at stations) and escalate right up to the very top.

Commissioner, The Station Accountability Plan will fully work, if ALL station Commanders are empowered and supported through your management.

The Station Accountability Plan rests on Station Commanders.

As Commanders, you are expected to: Know your staff!

Know the welfare of your members!

Take charge of your police station, keep track of your tools of the trade and maintain an overall healthy working environment. Lead, be firm and be committed to serving and your members, and they will follow suit.

Build and restore relations between organized community structures and the broader society you serve and your members.

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It is a fact that the SAPS has thousands of hard-working and dedicated officers who on a daily, put their lives at risk in the execution of their duties.

Unfortunately, there are police officers that are failing communities.

The failure often starts at police stations; This is why the Station Accountability Plan will ensure Community Service Centres are not scenes of secondary victimization by our own.

As the Ministry, we are encouraged that GBV Desks are now available at 1 154 police stations countrywide.

These Desks are staffed with members trained in GBVF-related courses.

Over 90 thousand police officers have been trained in Victim Empowerment, Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences related programs.

This will ensure a victim-cantered service is provided by officers at police stations.

We expect the immediate implementation of the Station Accountability Plan especially at TOP 30 high crime stations. This sharp focus on stations will mean all station commanders will be expected to closely monitor their unique crime situations.

Every two weeks, commanders must evaluate and put in place relevant operational plans to curb crime.

Station Commanders must have in place monitoring mechanisms to ring the alarm in time.

Senior officers from National, deployed to TOP 30 high crimes stations as part of the “Police Station Guardian” program must be enhanced.

Clear targets of crime reduction and eradication within timeframes must be met.

As crime usually increases over the weekend, commanders must change their approach and must work throughout weekends.

Police personnel should be saturating the streets over the weekends, as this is high noon of crime.

There will be expeditious processes, if and when the set targets are not achieved.

This Station Accountability Plan means it will not be tolerated for police stations to keep occupying the same spots as high crime stations.

There simply can’t be stations that don’t perform and it is business as usual.

This stops here and NOW! Corruption within If we are serious about rebuilding community relations, Commissioner, we MUST clean house!

Vetting and monitoring of members has to be speedily undertaken.

Crime Intelligence must be beefed up at station level for effective crime fighting.

The SAPS cannot be a haven for criminals disguised as officers of the law. Such behaviour puts policing on the back foot and further erodes the trust between communities and police.

We call on the IPID to work with us on this one and deal with police officers, who fail the organization and ultimately the failure the nation.

We are also calling on the management of the SAPS to take the welfare and safety of all members on board.

Tools of trade Service delivery in the context of this organization can mean the difference between life and death.

Interactions with communities on their safety concerns and policing needs, through the Ministerial Imbizo program, continues to assist the SAPS in improving its services to communities.

These Izimbizo aim to put in place immediate and efficient improvement mechanisms to deal with service delivery bottlenecks.

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Without fail, the complaint about the slow response of police comes up far too often.

This was the case when we engaged the community of Jabulani, Pimville and Kilptown, in Soweto, the same complaint arose in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape and Botshabelo in the Free State in the most recent weeks.

It is the lived experience of community members who are far too often told there are no police vans to come and attend to their policing needs.

The police vans are usually out of action and waiting in long queues at garages to be maintained or fixed.

To mitigate this, the process of repairing SAPS vehicles is being overhauled.

Conclusion Indeed these sweeping changes I have outlined will improve service delivery, improve response times and go a long way towards building safer communities.

These are a few efforts, if implemented well, should restore confidence in the police service, among our communities.

These interventions, including the Station accountability Plan should yield results in the quickest possible time.

Sergeants, Constables, Warrant officers, Captains, Colonels, Brigadiers, Generals, you ALL have to change our mental approach in confronting this dire crime situation.

You all MUST say such high crime figures, cannot happen under my watch.

Take ownership and pride in your work.

It is our collective responsibility to pull up our socks and work smarter and harder to protect South Africans and their property.

Station Commanders, the focus is now on you and your station's performance.

Always remember…Police need the community and the community need the police - iphoyisa, iphoyisa ngomphakathi.

Work closely with Community Policing Forums and adopt a strategy that promotes communitycantered policing.

Everyone has a job to do, do it and do it well.

With those words, let me hand over to Major General Thulare Sekhukhune who will give a Presentation which will reflect an overview of the 2021/2022 Quarter four crime statistics.

I thank you.

All Contact Crimes decreased by 15.0% Crime Category Murder Sexual Offences Attempted Murder Assault to do grievous bodily harm Common Assault Common Robbery Robbery with aggravating circumstances

Figures 22.2% 13.7% 24.8% 18.1% 17.6% 13.0% 6.5%

All Sexual Offences increased by 13.7% Crime Category Figures Rape 13.7% Sexual Assault 13.4% 97

Attempted Sexual Offences Contact Sexual Offences

26.3% -1.1%

Crime Category Carjacking Robbery at Residential Premises Robbery at Non-Residential Premises Robbery of Cash-In-Transit Bank Robbery Truck hijacking

Figures 19.7% -0.4% - 3.5% 26.2% 4 counts higher 31.4%

Contact-Related Crimes increased by 15.5% Crime Categories Figures Arson 24.3% Malicious damage to property 15.3% All Property-Related Crimes increased 0.1% Crime Categories Figures Burglary at non-residential premises - 6.4% Burglary at residential premises 1.0% Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle 1.5% Theft out or from motor vehicle 1.7% Stock Theft 2.5% Issued by South African Police Service, 3 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/crime-statistics-dont-paint-a-good-picture--bheki?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=1cc2fb6380EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_05_07_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db991cc2fb6380-130042309

SA Crime Stats: The 90-day bloodbath Andrew Whitfield | 03 June 2022 DA MP says it is abundantly clear to the public that Minister Cele is not fit serve in his position SA Crime Stats: The 90-day bloodbath 3 June 2022 The DA is horrified by the crime statistics for the 4th quarter of 2021/2022 which have exposed the violent bloodbath of crime that stains communities across South Africa. All South Africans are living in permanent fear that they will become the next crime statistic.

These crime statistics come at a time when 61% of South African Police Service (SAPS) members don’t believe that they are winning the fight against crime. Neither the public nor the SAPS themselves have confidence in the police to fight crime.

Time after time President Ramaphosa has promised to reduce violent crimes, but these crime stats betray that promise with almost every single category of crime increasing significantly year on year since 2018. It is now abundantly clear to the public and members of the SAPS that Minister Cele is not fit serve in his position.

According to the latest crime statistics, there were 6 083 murders between January 2022 and March 2022. That amounts to over 67 murders per day! There were 10 818 rapes in that same period which meant that 153 people were raped every single day. Despite President Ramaphosa promising a reduction in crime against women and children, murders of women and children rose by 17.5% and 37.2%, respectively.

Some other shocking crime statistics between January 2022 and March 2022 are: 32 783 robberies with aggravated circumstances (364 per day) 98

3 306 kidnappings which are up 109.2% from last period! (36.7 per day) 5 402 car hijackings (60 per day) 547 attempted rapes which is up 26.3% from last year (6 per day) 21.5 children were violently assaulted every single day Cash in transit heists increased by 26.2% The DA believes that Minister Cele has proven time and again why he is not fit to serve in his position and yet in spite of overwhelming evidence that Minister Cele is failing, President Ramaphosa keeps him in cabinet. This is a slap in the face to the law-abiding citizens of South Africa and especially to the 6 083 people who unnecessarily lost their lives due to his utter incompetence.

The DA has repeatedly called upon President Ramaphosa to fire Bheki Cele from his cabinet because the longer he remains the more violent our country is likely to become.

The current model of policing under national government is failing the people of South Africa. It is time for Parliament to have a serious discussion about decentralising the police service to improve accountability and service delivery.

The DA will therefore be tabling a motion in the National Assembly to debate the devolution of policing powers in South Africa as a solution to the ongoing failures of the national government and SAPS to reduce violent crime.

Issued by Andrew Whitfield, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 3 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/sa-crime-stats-the-90day-bloodbath--andrewwhitfie?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=1cc2fb6380EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_05_07_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db991cc2fb6380-130042309

SA a dangerous country, especially for women & children Pieter Groenewald | 03 June 2022 FF Plus leader says latest police statistics paint a sombre picture of crime, which is clearly getting out of hand Crime statistics: South Africa is a dangerous country, especially for women and children 3 June 2022 It is not only the increase in ordinary crimes that is alarming, but also the sharp rise in kidnappings, which points to a new and upsetting crime trend in South Africa.

The latest police statistics paint a sombre picture of crime, which is clearly getting out of hand.

The most notable is kidnappings, which have increased with an alarming 109,2% in comparison to the corresponding quarter last year.

Urgent attention must be paid to this so that South Africa is not mentioned in the same breath as countries like Columbia, Venezuela and Syria.

Compared to the same period last year, all forms of violent crime have increased.

Murder increased with 22,2%, (from 12 133 to 13 799), attempted murder with 24,8% (from 4 582 to 5 717), and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm with 18,1% (from 36 417 to 42 992).

Robbery rose with 13% (from 9 549 to 10 787), and robbery with aggravating circumstances with 6,5% (from 30 768 to 32 783).

Another upsetting phenomenon is the sharp rise in the murder of children between 0 and 17 years, which has increased with 37,2% from 223 to 306.

The murder of women also increased sharply with 17,5% (from 764 to 898).

The police must stop making empty promises about combating crime and protecting women and children, and come up with a clear strategy.

A growing trend like kidnapping must also be nipped in the bud.

With regard to farm murders, the statistics indicate that there were 12 murders in the first quarter of this year in comparison to 11 in the same period last year.

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These figures, which reflect only the number of murders, do not paint a complete picture of the situation surrounding rural safety, and I asked that the number of attacks must also be included in the statistics.

The rise in crime is upsetting. It can to a large extent be attributed to the infighting and feud between the former Police Commissioner, Gen. Kehla Sitole, and the Minister, Bheki Cele. In the process, combating crime was neglected.

Against this backdrop, it is no wonder that the public is increasingly losing faith in the police.

Research indicates that only 27% of the public still trusts the police.

South Africa is becoming a dangerous country in which to live, and the government is failing to fulfil its duty to fight crime. South Africa and its people deserve better than the ANC. Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 3 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/sa-a-dangerous-country-especially-for-women-child?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=1cc2fb6380EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_05_07_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db991cc2fb6380-130042309

Misdaadstatistiek: Suid-Afrika gevaarlike land, veral vir vroue en kinders Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur: Dr. Pieter Groenewald VF Plus-leier 3 Junie 2022 Nie net die algemene toename in misdaad is kommerwekkend nie, maar ook die skerp toename in ontvoering wat dui op 'n nuwe, ontstellende misdaadtendens in Suid-Afrika.

Die jongste polisiestatistiek skets in die algemeen ʼn donker prentjie oor misdaad wat duidelik besig is om buite beheer te raak.

Die opvallendste hiervan is ontvoerings wat teenoor die ooreenstemmende kwartaal verlede jaar met 109,2% toegeneem het.

Hieraan sal dringende aandag gegee moet word om te voorkom dat Suid-Afrika in dieselfde asem genoem word as lande soos Colombië, Venezuela en Sirië.

Alle geweldsmisdaad het toegeneem teenoor dieselfde tydperk verlede jaar.

Moord het toegeneem met 22,2%, (van 12 133 tot 13 799), poging tot moord met 24,8% (4 582 tot 5 717) en aanranding met die doel om ernstig te beseer, met 18,1% (36 417 tot 42 992).

Roof het toegeneem met 13% (9 549 tot 10 787) en roof met verswarende omstandighede met 6,5% (30 768 tot 32 783).

Nog ʼn ontstellende verskynsel is die toename in moord op kinders in die ouderdomsgroep 0 tot 17 jaar wat met 37,2% toegeneem het vanaf 223 tot 306.

Moord op vroue het ook skerp gestyg met ʼn toename van 17,5% (764 tot 898).

Die polisie kan nie langer net beloftes maak oor misdaadbestryding en die beskerming van vroue en kinders nie, maar sal met ʼn duidelike strategie na vore moet kom. ʼn Groeiende tendens soos ontvoering sal in die kiem gesmoor moet word.

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Wat plaasmoorde aanbetref, was daar luidens die statistiek 12 moorde in die eerste kwartaal vanjaar teenoor 11 in dieselfde tydperk verlede jaar.

Hierdie statistiek, wat slegs die aantal moorde insluit, skets nie ʼn volledige prentjie oor die situasie rondom landelike veiligheid nie en ek het gevra dat die aantal aanvalle ook by die statistiek ingesluit word.

Die toename in misdaad is ontstellend. Dit kan in ʼn groot mate toegeskryf word aan die binnegevegte en onenigheid tussen die vorige polisiekommissaris, genl. Kehla Sitole, en die minister, Bheki Cele. In die proses is misdaadbestryding agterweë gelaat.

Teen hierdie agtergrond is dit geen wonder dat die publiek toenemend vertroue in die polisie verloor nie. Navorsing toon dat slegs 27% van die publiek nog die polisie vertrou.

Suid-Afrika word ʼn gevaarlike land om in te woon en die regering misluk in sy plig om misdaad te bestry. Suid-Afrika en sy mense verdien beter as die ANC.

AfriForum launches Border Watch Initiative; sniffer dogs deployed to Musina Jacques Broodryk 3 June 2022 The civil rights organisation AfriForum launched a new initiative to help safeguard South Arica’s borders. The Border Watch Initiative was established following the enormous support the organisation received after the premier of the documentary film Open Borders. The documentary depicted how poorly border control between SouthAfrica and Zimbabwe is applied and how AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in this border area helps to safeguard the community.

The Border Watch Initiative’s first course of action was to donate two sniffer dogs to AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch in Musina. Both these dogs (Duke and Hailey) are trained trackers and Duke is specifically trained to sniff out firearms and drugs.

“Duke and Hailey will be valuable assets to strengthen the Musina neighbourhood watch’s methods to catch smugglers and seize their smuggled goods. The smugglers use the areas with dense bushes to cross the border and these sniffer dogs will assist the neighbourhood watch to quickly get on the trail of the smugglers. Duke will also help law enforcement during roadblocks because of his specific skills to sniff out firearms and drugs,” says Jacques Broodryk, Campaigns Manager at AfriForum.

The Border Watch Initiative will also focus on strengthening and supporting AfriForum’s safety structures across the country. Various individuals and organisations have already indicated that they would like to sponsor equipment for the neighbourhood and farm watches in border areas.

“Between June and September of last year alone AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch in Musina helped to seize smuggled goods with a total value of more than R12 million. This has a substantial impact on the illegal activities and, according to information we have received, some of these smugglers have thrown in the towel because of the resilience of our volunteers. This is an enormous success,” says Broodryk.

AfriForum has 155 safety structures across the country and more than 10 000 volunteers that play a massive roll in safeguarding their communities.

Issued by Jacques Broodryk, Campaigns Manager, AfriForum, 3 June 2022

https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/border-watch-initiative-launched-afriforum?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=1cc2fb6380EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_05_07_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db991cc2fb6380-130042309

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Mishandling of the Ramaphosa farm forex theft reflected in state accountability documents Extract: “As more questions arise over the February 2020 forex and cash theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala wildlife farm, it has emerged there is a serious omission of this in the SAPS annual report — thus compromising a key oversight and accountability tool.

The 2019/20 SAPS annual report (South African Police Service Annual Report 2019/2020) states: “In 2019/2020, a total number of 84,756 protection services were provided by 14 Static Units, which covered 88 identified VIP residences, 29 strategic installations, which are located throughout South Africa, as well as nine buildings occupied by the SAPS. No security breaches occurred during protection duties [emphasis added].”

And specifically on the Presidential Protection Service responsible for “the Presidency and identified VIPs”, the 2019/20 annual report states: “Their dignity and its resources [sic] are protected with diligence, implement security measures to counter threats and risks that can cause harm to the Presidency, dignity of such Presidency, employees, assets, critical information and operations of the Presidency and identified VIPs. A 24hour static protection service was provided to 21 identified VIP residences and three offices, without security breaches [emphasis added].”

That this is not true emerged courtesy of ex-spy boss Arthur Fraser’s affidavit and criminal charges laid last week against President Cyril Ramaphosa”. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-06-07-mishandling-of-the-ramaphosa-farm-forextheft-reflected-in-state-accountability-documents/

Pres Ramaphosa “It has emerged there is a serious omission of any reference to the theft in the SAPS annual report – thus compromising a key oversight and accountability tool, according to the Daily Maverick. It notes the 2019/20 SAPS annual report (South African Police Service Annual Report 2019/2020) states: ‘In 2019/2020, a total number of 84 756 protection services were provided by 14 Static Units, which covered 88 identified VIP residences, 29 strategic installations, which are located throughout South Africa, as well as nine buildings occupied by the SAPS. No security breaches occurred during protection duties.’ And specifically on the Presidential Protection Service responsible for ‘the Presidency and identified VIPs’, the 2019/20 annual report states: ‘Their dignity and its resources (sic) are protected with diligence, implement security measures to counter threats and risks that can cause harm to the Presidency, dignity of such Presidency, employees, assets, critical information and operations of the Presidency and identified VIPs. A 24-hour static protection service was provided to 21 identified VIP residences and three offices, without security breaches.’ That this is not true, notes the DM, emerged courtesy of Fraser’s affidavit. The 9 February 2020 theft falls into the 2019/20 financial year ending 31 March 2020 and thus should be part of the 2019/20 annual report. Except it isn’t. Yet previous SAPS annual reports included security breaches. Annual reports are a statutorily required account of how a department performs against determined indicators and spends its money on achieving these targets” – Acknowledgement Legal Brief 7 June 2022

27 Police officers killed in the first three months of 2022 The latest SAPS crime statistics indicate that 27 police officers were killed in the first three months of 2022 - South Africa Today News 2255 102

Crime intelligence improvement required to prevent mass shootings - Reagen Allen Marcellino Martin | 08 June 2022 WCape Minister appalled by shooting for four people at store in Khayelitsha Crime intelligence improvement required to prevent mass shootings 8 June 2022 I am deeply appalled at yet another mass murder that occurred last night in Khayelitsha. The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that 4 people were shot at the Madiba supermarket in Site B. Three died in the store and the fourth later at a medical facility. The motive for the shooting is still unknown. I trust that this will soon be established.

Since March this year and including these 4 murders, 26 people have lost their lives in mass shootings in Khayelitsha. Since September 2020, 51 people have been fatally shot in Khayelitsha.

This is a clear failure of crime intelligence, which requires urgent attention. I’ll once again engage the SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile, about how they are attending to this matter, as this cannot continue in this manner. Although we’ve seen arrests in some of the other shootings in Khayelitsha, it seems as if criminals think the area is a free-for-all and they can do as they please.

I call on communities to assist SAPS and provide any information or details they might have, so that these perpetrators who have no regard for life can be arrested and face justice. This incident also further confirms why the current National Minister of Police, Bheki Cele is not fit for office and why a head that does not play politics with crime is required. Further to this, it once again highlights the need for SAPS to be devolved to provinces such as ours, who are more than capable to manage the service. If diplomacy and lobbying is not going to bring about an immediate change, other and further options would have to be considered.

Khayelitsha’s police to resident’s ratio is unacceptable, sitting at 1 officer for every 628 residents. In Harare it 1:879 and Lingelethu West, 1:664. The provincial average is 1:520. Both the National Minister and his deputy, keeps harping on that we’re the most resourced and that a report to this effect will be provided. This report has still not arrived, and the statement alone contradicts the 10% SAPS vacancy rate that we currently have in the Western Cape.

I want our residents not to lose hope. We’ve seen in the latest crime stats how the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers are making a dent in the murder rate, as 8 out of the 14 stations where they are deployed have seen a reduction. Amongst these, Elsiesriver is down by more than 59% and Gugulethu has decreased by more than 32%. We’re also utilising our recently launched Safety Dashboard, which clusters incidents down to police precinct level, which helps to track the type and time of injury, as well as the types of weapons that are being used. The dashboard enables us to deploy resources according to the data and to ensure that we focus on the generators/drivers of violent crimes, particularly murder.

In addition to this, the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate is working on adding capacity to its Strategic information management unit (SIMS) because intelligence driven policing is and should always be a priority.

If we are to overcome crime, it’ll require everyone’s cooperation, which also includes the justice cluster.

Issued by Marcellino Martin, Spokesperson for Minister Reagen Allen, 8 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/mass-shootings-crime-intelligence-improvementrequ?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=1ca01ff67aEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_09_07_24&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db991ca01ff67a-130042309

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Govt needs to act as mine crime spins out of control James Lorimer | 09 June 2022 The shooting dead of a mine electrician on the west Rand is yet another reminder that the ANC government has lost control of illegal mining.

The electrician was part of a team from Sibanye-Stillwater sent to repair electrical infrastructure that was deliberately damaged by a gang of armed illegal miners estimated to number some 150 people.

The gang opened fire and the electrician was killed in the shooting that resulted.

Two police cars were on the scene during the firefight, but made no move to intervene.

This underlines the threat posed by illegal mining in various forms, which is estimated to cost the country R40 billion a year. It is a huge disincentive to investment in mining which remains constrained when it could be expanding and providing thousands more jobs.

The DA repeats its call for a specialized police agency to cope with illegal mining. It should be legally empowered to deal with tricky legal issues which are sometimes thrown up as barriers by illegal miners. It should also have the firepower to defeat the large armed gangs which enforce their will on the West Rand and in Reef mining settlements at Riverlea and in Benoni.

This needs to be underpinned by the introduction of legislation that will make illegal mining a crime.

Too often the only charge that be brought against illegal miners is that of trespass.

Government’s continued failure to act will reinforce the accusation that is often made that the authorities don’t act more vigorously against it because senior government members are profiting from illegal mining and associated organised crime.

Issued by James Lorimer, DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources, 9 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/govt-needs-to-act-as-mine-crime-spins-out-ofcontr?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=dce4c47951EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_09_09_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db99dce4c47951-130042309

Bheki Cele has failed SA and needs to go Geordin Hill-Lewis Minister Cele’s response - while hard to understand - to my call for him to be removed, is just further evidence that he is unfit for the job. President Ramaphosa has a responsibility to the people of South Africa to remove him - and to ensure that a capable and professional person is tasked with overseeing the safety of everyone in our country.

Cape Town works well with local SAPS staff, many of whom are devoted public servants and do their best. But Minister Cele’s response lets those committed police officers down. He says he is not employed by us, but he is employed by every South African to make them safer. In that task, he is currently failing.

While we wait for President Ramaphosa to do the right thing, we will continue investing in the safety of our residents through recruiting hundreds of new law enforcement officers, investing in new technology, CCTV cameras, and training, equipping and supporting neighbourhood watches across this city.

The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government have collectively made massive investments to deploy more than 1 100 additional local law enforcement officers under our LEAP programme to make up for the ongoing police resource shortages in our region. This investment has enabled law enforcement to triple its arrest rate in recent years.

To help make Cape Town safer, the City has passed a R5,4 billion Safety budget this financial year, with funding for 150 more officers this year alone, and R86 million for CCTV and new crime-fighting tech in 2022/2023.

Issued by Media Office, City of Cape Town, 7 June 2022 104

https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/minister-cele-has-failed-south-africa--geordinhil?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=1ca01ff67aEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_09_07_24&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db991ca01ff67a-130042309

Police officer takes on Gauteng Deputy Speaker – AfriForum Barry Bateman | 14 June 2022 Vuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela, Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, must explain herself to a court for allegedly assaulting a police officer. That is the wish of police Protection and Security Services officer, Sgt. Lizzy Mojapelo, who has approached AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit for help. The matter was withdrawn last year after senior prosecutors allegedly told Mojapelo that the matter would be difficult to prosecute because the suspect is a very high-profile person.

The alleged assault took place in February 2020 at the home of Mhlakaza-Manamela and her husband, Bhuti Manamela, Deputy Minister of Higher Education. Mojapela alleges that the suspect, in a drunken fit of rage, severely assaulted her. She further states that her police superiors did not want to help her open a case, but instead did everything in their power to frustrate those efforts.

A medical examination confirmed that Mojapela sustained multiple injuries, and also confirmed she was 11 weeks pregnant at the time. She suffered vaginal bleeding and had to receive fertility treatment to ensure her pregnancy was not terminated.

Mojapela, as a diligent and dutiful police officer, documented details of the alleged assault at every step of the process — from the occurrence book at the scene of the crime to compiling notes of her interactions with prosecutors and investigators. Despite the prima facie evidence against MhlakazaManamela, the National Prosecuting Authority declined to pursue the matter.

“We created this office to restore the principle of equality before the law, inclusive of politicians who are sheltered from prosecution because of their connections. We laud Sgt. Mojapelo for her strong conviction and will ensure that politicians, like everybody else who are alleged to have committed crimes, are held to account,” says Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.

This case has similar features to other assault cases handled by the Private Prosecution Unit where politicians are involved. Instead of rallying to the support of men and women in blue, the criminal justice system instead seeks to protect politicians from being held accountable for their violent behaviour. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit takes a firm stand against selective prosecution and will ensure that everyone is equal before the law.

Issued by Barry Bateman, Communications Manager: Private Prosecution Unit, AfriForum, 14 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/police-officer-takes-on-gauteng-deputy-speaker-af?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=4adecff3d4EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_14_09_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db994adecff3d4-130042309

Gautengse misdaadstatistiek: Moordsyfer vir vroue en kinders styg dramaties Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Kobus Hoffman VF Plus-LPW: Gauteng 15 Junie 2022 Misdaadvlakke wys dat die ANC-regering nie daadwerklik genoeg doen om veral misdaad teen vroue en kinders te laat afneem nie.

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Die Nasionale Kinderbeskermingsweek, (29 Mei tot 5 Junie) waartydens die polisie en ander organisasies ʼn bewusmakingsveldtog loods om die publiek bewus te maak van die geweld teen vroue en kinders, het skaars geëindig toe die Gautengse provinsiale polisiekommissaris, lt.genl.

Elias Mawela, aankondig dat moord op kinders gedurende Januarie tot Maart vanjaar met 80% gestyg het en poging tot moord met 150%.

In Januarie tot Maart 2021 is 25 kinders in Gauteng vermoor terwyl in die ooreenstemmende tydperk vanjaar 45 kinders tussen die ouderdomme van 0 tot 17 jaar vermoor is.

Poging tot moord het van 28 tot 70 in die eerste drie maande toegeneem.

Moord op vroue het ook met 48% gestyg. In Januarie tot Maart 2021 is 127 vroue vermoor en vanjaar 189.

Misdadigers is beslis besig om die oorhand te kry en dit word duidelik weerspieël in die jongste misdaadstatistiek waar alle ernstige misdade ʼn opwaartse kurwe toon.

Die algemene moordsyfer staan nou op 45.2%. In Januarie tot Maart verlede jaar is 966 moorde aangemeld en vanjaar gedurende dieselfde tydperk 1 403.

Aanranding met die opset om te beseer het van 8 323 tot 9 687 gestyg en aanranding van 10 706 tot 12 280.

Inbrake en diefstal bly ʼn probleem ongeag eie sekuriteitsmaatreëls. Inbrake by huise het toegeneem en so ook die diefstal van motorfietse en motorvoertuie.

Kommersiële misdaad het van 7 623 tot 8 753 gestyg wat die syfer op 14.8% bring.

Die agteruitgang in die polisie word toegeskryf aan die verlies van kundigheid weens regstellende aksie, die nuttelose verkrygingsbeleid weens uitgerekte prosesse, gebrekkige opleiding, polisielede wat nie ten volle toegerus is nie en ʼn permanente tekort aan voertuie.

Die VF Plus pleit reeds jare by die provinsiale kommissaris om spesialiseenhede weer terug te bring.

Kommissaris Mawela kan nie langer inwoners van Gauteng met leë beloftes paai nie.

Dit is tyd dat die ANC-regering erken hulle het die mense van Gauteng gefaal.

Police VIP protection officer to pursue private prosecution against Gauteng Provincial Legislature Deputy Speaker Barry Bateman 14 June 2022 Vuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela, Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, must explain herself to a court for allegedly assaulting a police officer. That is the wish of police Protection and Security Services officer, Sgt. Lizzy Mojapelo, who has approached AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit for help. The matter was withdrawn last year after senior prosecutors allegedly told Mojapelo that the matter would be difficult to prosecute because the suspect is a very high-profile person.

The alleged assault took place in February 2020 at the home of Mhlakaza-Manamela and her husband, Bhuti Manamela, Deputy Minister of Higher Education. Mojapela alleges that the suspect, in a drunken fit of rage, severely assaulted her. She further states that her police superiors did not want to help her open a case, but instead did everything in their power to frustrate those efforts.

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A medical examination confirmed that Mojapela sustained multiple injuries, and also confirmed she was 11 weeks pregnant at the time. She suffered vaginal bleeding and had to receive fertility treatment to ensure her pregnancy was not terminated.

Mojapela, as a diligent and dutiful police officer, documented details of the alleged assault at every step of the process — from the occurrence book at the scene of the crime to compiling notes of her interactions with prosecutors and investigators. Despite the prima facie evidence against Mhlakaza-Manamela, the National Prosecuting Authority declined to pursue the matter.

“We created this office to restore the principle of equality before the law, inclusive of politicians who are sheltered from prosecution because of their connections. We laud Sgt. Mojapelo for her strong conviction and will ensure that politicians, like everybody else who are alleged to have committed crimes, are held to account,” says Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.

This case has similar features to other assault cases handled by the Private Prosecution Unit where politicians are involved. Instead of rallying to the support of men and women in blue, the criminal justice system instead seeks to protect politicians from being held accountable for their violent behavior. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit takes a firm stand against selective prosecution and will ensure that everyone is equal before the law.

Issued by Barry Bateman, Communications Manager: Private Prosecution Unit, AfriForum, 14 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/police-officer-takes-on-gauteng-deputy-speaker-af?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=4adecff3d4EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_14_09_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db99-4adecff3d4130042309

VF Plus eis ernstige optrede teen stakende vragmotorbestuurders se ekonomiese sabotasie op N12 by Bloemhof Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Fanie du Toit VF Plus-LP in NRP (Noordwes) 15 Junie 2022 Die VF Plus dring aan op dringende ingryping en optrede teen diegene wat sedert gister die N12 by Bloemhof met vragmotors afsper en hierdie belangrike roete verlam.

Hierdie onwettige optrede kom neer op ekonomiese sabotasie.

Die VF Plus het met die eerste aanduidings van die onwettige versperring van die pad onmiddellik met Noordwes se provinsiale polisie-owerhede in verbinding getree en versoek dat daar pro-aktief opgetree word om ʼn grootskaalse verkeersopeenhoping te vermy.

Die polisie-bestuur het daarop met die omliggende dorpe gekommunikeer en vragmotors is op alternatiewe roetes herlei om die stakers te vermy. ʼn Groot aantal vragmotors was egter reeds in die situasie vasgevang en die roete word steeds versper. Berigte en bewerings van ernstige intimidasie van vragmotorbestuurders is ook ontvang.

Die openbare orde-polisiëringseenheid (Pops) is intussen op die toneel ontplooi en monitor die situasie.

Die ekonomiese skade wat aangerig word deur hierdie onwettige optrede is enorm.

Graan en vars produkte van boere kan nie die markte bereik nie en ander sektore in die handel word eweneens nadelig geraak. Letterlik miljoene rande se ekonomiese skade word aangerig.

Vragmotoreienaars wie se trokke in die chaos vasgevang is, het in gesprekke met die VF Plus gesê dat hulle moontlik gedwing sal word om die voorbeeld van die bekende maatskappy Massyn Vervoer te volg, wat ná dekades sy deure gesluit het weens onder meer sulke onwettige optrede.

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Die ANC-regering en wetstoepassingsowerhede moet ophou om diegene wat telkens blatant onwettig optree en ekonomiese sabotasie pleeg, met handskoene te hanteer.

In hierdie geval word verskeie wette oortree en misdrywe gepleeg. Dit kan nie straffeloos gelaat word nie.

Sonder behoorlike, ferm en konsekwente wetstoepassing, sal Suid-Afrika vinnig op ʼn afwaartse spiraal na anargie beland. Suid-Afrika verdien beter as die ANC.

VF Plus eis antwoorde oor gebrek aan polisie-optrede tydens afgelope week se versperring van N12 in Noordwes Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Fanie du Toit VF Plus-LP in NRP (Noordwes) 17 Junie 2022 Die VF Plus dring in ʼn skriftelike parlementêre vraag aan op antwoorde van die minister van polisie, Bheki Cele, oor die polisie se gebrek aan optrede teen trokbestuurders wat die N12 die afgelope week in Noordwes by Bloemhof versper het.

Hierdie onwettige optrede het tot groot ontwrigting gelei en enorme skade aan die ekonomie aangerig.

Boere en sakelui is verhinder om hul produkte en dienste te lewer en is nog in die proses om die omvang van hul verliese te bepaal wat miljoene rande beloop.

Hierdie aksie het voortgegaan ten spyte daarvan dat die VF Plus en ander belangegroepe die provinsiale polisie-owerhede voortydig ingelig het met versoeke om pro-aktief op te tree om die versperring van die hoofweg te voorkom.

Die polisie het bloot die openbare-orde polisiëringseenheid ontplooi wat die situasie gemonitor het, maar verder is geensins gepoog om die landswette toe te pas nie.

Dit is ʼn skande dat die regering toelaat dat die land se inwoners telkens gyselaar gehou word deur die wettelose optrede van mense wat slegs hul eie belange vooropstel.

Hierdie voorval kom neer op ekonomiese sabotasie van die ergste graad in ʼn tyd waarin die land dit allermins kan bekostig.

Die laksheid van die regering en wetstoepassingsowerhede ondermyn die gesag van die reg en kan die land op ʼn afwaartse spiraal na anargie plaas.

Alle Suid-Afrikaners is geregtig op ʼn ordelike en veilige leef en -werkomgewing en die beskerming van die owerhede deur konsekwente wetstoepassing.

Dit blyk egter dat die ANC-regering wetstoepassing selektief toepas en sy politieke belange bo dié van die inwoners van die land stel.

Die VF Plus sal aanhou druk toepas om wet en orde in die land te herstel, en die ANC-regering tot verantwoording te roep.

Die inwoners van Suid-Afrika verdien beter as die ANC.

Polisie, gemeenskap en veiligheidsmaatskappye werk saam om klopjag op dwelmhuise uit te voer 108

Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Kobus Hoffman VF Plus-LPW: Gauteng 20 Junie 2022 Die harde werk van polisielede van die Sedibeng-misdaadintelligensie, gesteun deur reserviste en privaat veiligheidsmaatskappye om dwelmhuise in Meyerton te ontbloot, gaan nie ongesiens verby nie.

In die lig van die stygende misdaadsyfer in Gauteng waar misdadigers die oorhand kry, is daar nog polisielede wat skouer aan die wiel sit om misdaad te help bekamp.

Die samewerking tussen die polisie, sakesektor en gemeenskap, dien weer as bewys dat groot sukses bereik kan word om die gemeenskap veilig te hou.

Gedurende die klopjag is op ʼn nagemaakte geweer, ammunisie, dwelms – waaronder metamfetamien (tik), kokaïen-rookpype en ʼn groot hoeveelheid dagga beslag gelê.

Een persoon is in hegtenis geneem.

Die VF Plus het Sedibeng se misdaadintelligensiespan, die Meyerton-reserviste en private veiligheidsmaatskappye bedank vir hul volgehoue diens teenoor die gemeenskap.

Mob justice killing trend is deeply worrying Reagen Allen WCape Minister says 227 such murder cases recorded by SAPS in 2021/22 Mob killing trend is deeply worrying 20 June 2022 The latest report about yet another alleged mob justice killing, which occurred yesterday on the corner of 1st Avenue and Lincoln Road in Belmont Park, Kraaifontein, points to a worrying trend.

It is suspected by the SAPS that a 37-year-old man, whom community members accused of a crime, was allegedly beaten to death by community members.

Minister Allen said: “This incident highlights a trend that is deeply concerning, especially since the last unjustifiable mob killing of Mr. Abongile Mafalala. This and any type of crime can never be condoned. Under no circumstances does any person have the right to take the law into their own hands. Wherever it is suspected that the law was broken, it is our civil duty to contact any law enforcement agency, so that an arrest can occur, allowing SAPS to further investigate the matter and let the court process run its course.”

The South African Police Services’ (SAPS) crime statistics over the 4 quarters of the 2021/22 financial year indicates that in the Western Cape, there were 227 murder cases which has been linked to vigilantism/mob justice. The breakdown is: Apr – Jun: 48 cases Jul – Sep: 64 cases Oct – Dec: 55 cases Jan – Mar: 60 cases In the 4th quarter between Jan – Mar 2022, 16 cases, the most in the province, occurred in the Nyanga cluster and 11 each, which is joint 2nd in the Khayelitsha and Blue Downs clusters. Countrywide during the 21/22 financial year, there were 1 353 cases.

For the 2020/21 financial year, the Western Cape recorded 151 cases of murder, directly linked to mob justice. This means there’s been a year-on-year increase of 76 cases in the province. The country had 903 cases during this period.

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Minister Allen said: “We understand that there are many communities who are frustrated and might have a deficit of trust in SAPS, but deciding to effect justice by themselves, is just committing another crime. This is unacceptable. The continued increase in the statistics sketches a worrying picture. I will continue to engage SAPS about their efforts to combat these types of crime.”

“I’d also like to appeal to community members to not spread any fake/false news about certain individuals without ascertaining the facts. This is one of the most dangerous aspects that ties into vigilantism/mob killings. Let us be responsible and law-abiding citizens that do not make themselves guilty of this type of crime,” concluded Minister Allen.

Issued by Marcellino Martin, Spokesperson for Minister Reagen Allen, 20 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/mob-killing-trend-is-deeply-worrying--reagenallen?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=53757e60adEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_20_10_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db9953757e60ad-130042309

Polisie in Gauteng dok R78 miljoen op vir onregmatige en brutale optrede teenoor publiek Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Kobus Hoffman VF Plus-LPW: Gauteng 21 Junie 2022 Die polisie in Gauteng moet aanspreeklik gehou word vir die brutale en onregmatige optrede teenoor die publiek en kan nie belastinggeld gebruik om siviele eise uit te betaal nie.

Op ʼn vraag van die VF Plus, het die Gautengse LUR vir gemeenskapsveiligheid, Faith Mazibuko, geantwoord dat die polisie tydens die 2021/2022-finansiële jaar R3,7 miljard se eise ontvang het en R78 miljoen uitbetaal het.

Die LUR het ook bevestig dat geen dissiplinêre stappe teen enige polisielid geneem is nie.

Die VF Plus in Gauteng dring daarop aan dat siviele sake ondersoek word en wanneer daar ʼn aanduiding is dat die polisie verantwoordelik was vir onregmatige optrede, moet die lid of lede dissiplinêr aangekla word.

Die geld kan meer suksesvol aangewend word vir opleiding, die aankoop van voertuie, ammunisie, vuurwapens en uniforms.

Die VF Plus doen gereeld ʼn beroep op die provinsiale polisiekommissaris, lt.kol. Elias Mawela, om beter opleiding en om te sorg dat polisielede genoeg toerusting het.

Era van staatskaping nie verby Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Dr. Pieter Groenewald VF Plus-leier 22 Junie 2022 Volgens pres. Cyril Ramaphosa het die finale verslag van die Zondo-kommissie ʼn duidelike afsluiting van die “era van staatskaping” aangekondig. Die VF Plus verskil van die president hieroor.

Staatskaping vier veral hoogty op die derde vlak van regering of plaaslike regering. Indien dit daarom vier jaar geduur het om net sekere aspekte van staatskaping op provinsiale en nasionale vlak te ondersoek, is dit duidelik dat slegs die punt van die ysberg ontbloot is.

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Hoofregter Raymond Zondo het self erken dat dit “tien jaar” sou duur om alles in die kommissie se mandaat te ondersoek. Dit dui op die reuse omvang van staatskaping en die feit dat baie oortreders ongestraf gaan bly.

Die kommissie se laaste verslag was ook net die eerste stap in die ondersoek na staatskaping en korrupsie. Die vraag is watter gevolge en optrede uit die verslag gaan voortspruit.

Waar persone se name in die verslag genoem word, moet daar nie op die laagste amptenaarsvlak met vervolgings begin word nie. Hoëprofiel-name moet eerste voor ʼn hof gebring word om ʼn sterk boodskap uit te stuur dat niemand bo die reg verhewe is nie.

Die realiteit is dat die gebrekkige ondersoek na derdevlak-korrupsie beteken dat korrupsie dáár steeds ongehinderd voortduur. Dit word weerspieël deur die deurlopende proses van kaderontplooiing.

Pres. Ramaphosa is bekend vir sy woordespel oor optrede teen korrupsie, maar dit realiseer nie in dade op grondvlak nie.

Die VF Plus sal daarom voortgaan om enige moontlike vorm van korrupsie te ontbloot en sal veral aandring op sterk optrede teen oortreders.

Dit is jammer dat die hoofregter en die president nie deurentyd oop kaarte met die mense van SuidAfrika gespeel het oor die laat uitreiking van die verslag nie.

Regter Zondo het wel gesê daar was vele uitdagings en hy wou ʼn foutlose verslag oorhandig, maar hieroor moes hy die hele tyd openhartig gewees het. Waarom moet daar eers vrae en agterdog ontstaan? Dit was onnodig.

President Ramaphosa moet besef dat indien hy in die eerste plek in die belang van die land optree en nie van die ANC nie soos hy graag voorgee, sal hy oop kaarte moet speel met die mense van Suid-Afrika.

Hier het dit weer nie gebeur nie. Die president moet besef dat dit die vertroue in hom én die ANC toenemend wegkalwe.

LEGAL ACTION CONSIDERED TO COMPEL LAW ENFORCERS TO ARREST ESKOM STRIKERS – AFRIFORUM Chante Kelder | 28 June 2022 The civil rights organisation AfriForum has instructed its legal team to bring an urgent application to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, to compel law enforcers to take action against striking Eskom employees who are currently in the process of intimidating and harassing their colleagues. Eskom indicated during a media conference that it is already in possession of a court order declaring the strike illegal; however, the power provider has thus far failed to enforce this order.

The labour dispute has now led to Eskom being forced to introduce stage 6 load shedding because non-striking employees are struggling to keep the lights on due to alleged sabotage, intimidation, and interference by striking employees. Several Eskom managers’ houses were also allegedly set on fire.

“Power stations are classified as national key points and therefore we believe that law enforcers such as the SAPS should have already acted to stop the impending strike at the various affected power stations. The situation has currently escalated so badly that we suspect that the SAPS will 111

have to enlist the help of the SANDF to bring the current situation at Eksom’s power stations under control,” says Armand Greyling, AfriForum's legal and risk officer.

Issued by Chanté Kelder, Media Relations Officer, 28 June 2022 https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/legal-action-considered-to-compel-law-enforcersto?utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign=5f20d4b2bfEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_28_09_35&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db995f20d4b2bf-130042309

MAGISTRATE HAS HARSH WORDS FOR SAPS AND NPA Carl Niehaus | 28 June 2022 Media statement by Carl Niehaus about the dismissal of the farcical politically driven Covid19 case against him 28 June 2022 On the 8 July 2021 I was arrested in front of the Estcourt prison where President Jacob Zuma was illegally imprisoned because of a travesty of justice committed by the Constitutional Court (CC). I went to Estcourt prison the day after President Zuma was incarcerated in order to try and visit him, and to establish his wellbeing.

While I was doing a live interview with SABC TV News at Estcourt prison, I was arrested. The whole nation saw that pathetic travesty of justice and abuse of police power live on their television screens.

I was also detained for hours in the holding cells of the Estcourt police station, before I was charged.

Since then, the court case dragged on for a year, with me having had to travel to Estcourt to appear in court, at great expense, for no less than five times.

Yesterday, on the 27th of June 2022, only 11 days short of a whole year after I was arrested, the magistrate in this farcical court case accepted my application for a Section 174 discharge/dismissal of the case against me, and threw the whole farcical and politically motivated charade into the proverbial rubbish bin. The magistrate had harsh words for the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), asking why only I was arrested and charged, while the earlier on the same day, when I was arrested, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, addressed a crowd in front of the very same Estcourt prison, and no one, including the Minister, was arrested or charged. I was evidently specifically targeted with selective persecution, and selective justice is no justice at all!

I thank the magistrate for her courage to carry out her duties without fear or favor. It is good that we still have officers of the court that do not allow themselves to be intimidated, used, and captured.

She stands as a shining example, and beacon of hope, against those in the judiciary - including her own Chief Justice - who have sold out their souls in pathetic service to #WhiteMonopolyCapital, and the abuse of power by the agents of #WMC - most notably President Cyril Ramaphosa himself.

It does not go unnoticed that, while I was with indecent rush arrested and arraigned before the courts on the basis of flimsy and fabricated charges, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) are now dragging their feet to arrest and charge Cyril Ramaphosa for the extremely serious crimes that have been exposed and reported, with regards to the #PhalaPhalaFarm saga. This is nothing less than a travesty of justice!

I thank my attorney Eric Mabuza, and my brilliant advocate, Nthabiseng Mokoena, for the excellent legal work that they have done to expose the abuse by the state, and the terrible injustice that I have been subjected to. They are true examples of black excellence.

I am also truly, and deeply grateful, especially to my partner, Noluthando Mdluli, and also to all my friends and comrades, who stood by me throughout this ordeal. I thank those comrades who travelled all the way to Estcourt to attend my court appearances. Their acts of solidarity and 112

comradeship must be celebrated and emulated, as we build a strong people's movement throughout our country, based on broad citizen's power, to finally rid ourselves of the scourge to our nation, that Cyril Ramaphosa and his acolytes have become.

With this dismissal of the farcical COVID-19 case against me, it is most certainly not where the matter ends. Such abuse of power, and misusing the resources of the State for nothing more than party political and narrow factional interests, cannot be left unaddressed, and should never go unpunished.

I have therefore consulted with Advocate Dali Mpofu (SC), and I am grateful that he has accepted to act on my behalf in order to sue the State for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution. I will now proceed immediately to file these charges against the State.

Yesterday, after my case was dismissed, I addressed my comrades and friends who gathered to support me, outside the Estcourt Magistrate Court. I urge members of the public and the media to listen to my speech, which dealt in greater detail with the abuse of State power, and the serious transgressions committed by the authorities, referred to in this media statement. My speech can be watched by using the following link to my #InMyCrossHairs YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/TA6i7tj8ZC8.

I will never accept the abuse of State power, and repression of freedom of speech, in order to try to prevent myself, and other comrades, from calling out those who are selling out our nation, and who are destroying the future of our people.

I am clear that Cyril Ramaphosa is an agent of imperialism and #WhiteMonopolyCapital, and I urge every South African - throughout the length and breadth of our country - to support the #RapaphosaMustGo! broad civil society campaign. We must NEVER allow ourselves to be intimidated, nor silenced.

For me personally these experiences of State abuse, and blatant illegality, only serve to strengthen my resolve to continue our struggle for full liberation. Victory is certain!

AY'KHALE! A LUTA CONTINUA! Issued by Carl Niehaus, 28 June 2022

Gomorrah-nedersetting in Pretoria beskadig kerk, infrastruktuur oor dienslewering Mediaverklaring uitgereik deur:

Kobus Hoffman VF Plus-LPW: Gauteng 29 Junie 2022 Die leë beloftes van die Gautengse regering het gister tot onrus en geweld gelei.

Meer as 500 inwoners van die Gomorrah-informele nedersetting in die weste van Pretoria het die Nederduits-Hervormde Kerk Wesmoot beskadig, infrastruktuur gevandaliseer en aangrensende inwoners in hul huise vasgekeer.

Die VF Plus se LPW en lid van die Gautengse wetgewer se gemeenskapsveiligheidskomitee, Kobus Hoffman, VF Plus-raadslid en burgemeesterskomiteelid vir gemeenskapsveiligheid in die Tshwanemetroraad, Grandi Theunissen en VF Plus-raadslid, Morné Erasmus, het van die oggend tot laatnag gemoedere tot bedaring probeer bring.

Beide Hoffman en Theunissen is met klippe bestook terwyl inwoners buitebande in die strate gebrand het.

Die Gautengse provinsiale polisiekommissaris, lt.genl. Elias Mawela, is versoek om versterkings vanuit aangrensende gebiede na die brandpunt te stuur.

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Inwoners van Booysens, wat in die straat aangrensend aan Gomorrah woon, is in hul huise vasgekeer en het vir hul lewe gevrees.

Die VF Plus was ook hier teenwoordig toe die polisie se eenheid vir openbare orde kinders en vroue uit hul huise in veiligheid moes bring.

Die party sal wil sien dat die LUR vir samewerkende regering en tradisionele sake (Cogta), Lebogang Maile, Gomorrah self besoek om aan die inwoners te verduidelik waarom die beloftes oor behuising en dienste nog nie nagekom is nie.

Hierdie is weereens ʼn bewys dat die ANC nie te vertrou is nie. Die inwoners van Gauteng verdien beter as die ANC.

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GESKIEDENIS SA SPOORWEGPOLISIE

Brig Ronnie Beyl • Die passasier op die agterste sitplek.

Tjaka Neethling was ʼn goeie bokser op sy dae. Hy het sy hande kenmerkend hoog bokant sy gekop gehou wanneer hy geboks het; voorwaar ʼn rare bokshouding. So gebeur dit dat hy met sy eerste boksgeveg te Tsumeb gediskwalifiseer was omdat hy, volgens die skeidsregter, sy opponent gewurg het. Dit het my opgeval dat die hande bokant die kop wanneer hy geboks het, ook iets was wat gebeur wanneer hy as passasier agterop ʼn motorfiets gery het. Hy het by geleentheid by ons aan huis geloseer en na ʼn betrokke rugby eindstryd wat sy span gewen het, het ʼn speurdersersant van die S.A. Polisie vir hom en wit kop Jan Steenkamp smoordronk by die huis aangebring.

Volgens die SAP sersant het hy vir Tjaka en Jan aangetref terwyl Steenkamp besig was om Tjaka op die agterste sitplek van sy motorfietsie te laai. Dit was niks vreemd of ongewoon nie, maar toe Tjaka oor die sitplek gelê het met sy kop en hande aan die eenkant op die grond en sy voete aan die anderkant terwyl dit op die grond gesleep het, sommer so in die ry, het die sersant hom dit geroepe gevoel om in te gryp ten einde langtermyn skade aan beide die passasier en die pad te voorkom. Die speurder het hulle toe in sy motor gelaai en na my huis gebring. (Elias “Striker” van Niekerk) • Musiek in die steengroef.

Ek het op 1 Oktober 1963 op Upington by die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie as ʼn rekruut aangesluit. Ek wou altyd graag ʼn trekklavier gehad het en derhalwe het ek vir vier maande lank my rekruut salaris gespaar om vir my een te koop. Die trekklavier het my ʼn hele honderd-en-tagtig Rand gekos. ʼn Ene konstabel Louis de Kock, wat trekklavier kon speel, was saam met my op Upington en by tye wanneer hy en ʼn ander rekruut nagdiens gewerk het, het hulle my met die polisie vangwa by die huis kom oplaai. Dan het ek my trekklavier en kitaar geneem en ons het na die steengroef, wat die lede aan diens moes besoek het, gery. Die nagwag wat snags toesig oor die steengroef gehou het, het altyd ʼn konka vuur gehad om hom mee warm te hou.

Ons het dan op die grond gaan sit en musiek gemaak. Die ander rekruut en die nagwag was ons enigste gehoor vir wie ons gespeel het en na ons optrede voor die “reuse” gehoor het hulle my by die huis gaan aflaai sodat ek kon gaan slaap. Gelukkig was ons noot uitgevang nie. Latere jare was Louis de Kock self die Posbevelvoerder op Upington. Hy het ten tyde van sy diens daar gesê: “Jong, ons het daardie jare nie eintlik iets verkeerd gedoen nie want ons was goeie polisiemanne en het ons werk gedoen.” Na my Kollege opleiding in 1965 was ek na Lüderitz verplaas waar ek saam met ʼn Duitse orkes gespeel het. Ek het tien Rand ʼn aand verdien.

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Op daardie stadium het ek sewentig Rand ʼn maand van my salaris uitgekry, so die tien Rand ekstra was baie geld vir my.

Die ou SWA was die beste plek om in te werk en in te bly. Dié tydperk sal ek onthou en bewaar as die beste in my hele lewe. Met die einste trekklavier waarmee ek saans by die steengroef gespeel het, het ek in die tagtiger en negentiger jare in ʼn orkes op Upington gespeel. Die trekklavier is vandag nog in my besit en in ʼn goeie werkende toestand. (Dave Moller)

• My krulsnor Ek is op 4 September 1942 gebore en min mense weet dat my name Sarel Jacobus is. Almal ken my net as Beatle. Op 15 Augustus 1963 het ek by die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie in Port Elizabeth aangesluit. Na attestasie was ek te Soutrivier stasie gestasioneer na my Kollege opleiding het ek aansoek gedoen om na Windhoek verplaas te word. Gedurende Februarie 1964 arriveer ek te Windhoek stasie en nadat ek die Posbevelvoerder ontmoet het, word ek by een van die drie skofte ingedeel. Ek het toe ook maar van polisiewerk begin leer soos al die ouens wat van die kollege af kom en niks van polisiewerk geweet het nie. Later het ek aan die sersant eksamen deelgeneem en dit geslaag.

Walvisbaai was ‘n probleem gebied en ek was toe gevra om sake daar te gaan regruk. Na ‘n tyd was ek na die Speurders te Walvisbaai oorgeplaas en na ongeveer twee jaar en ses maande was ek weer terug na Windhoek verplaas waar ek as seksiespeurder oorgeneem het. Gedurende die vroeë tagtiger jare het ek ‘n kursus te Slagboom deurloop waar ons opleiding in die opsporing en die jag van terroriste ontvang het. Ek het baie hard gewerk en my horlosie was net daar om die tyd en datum aan te dui wanneer ek dossiere moes opstel. Dossiere van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie was altyd baie netjies saamgestel al het dit baie tyd geneem om verklarings met twee vingers te tik.

My werk in die Spoorwegpolisie was my trots en daarom het ek dit altyd met netheid en presisie uitgevoer. Dit was vir my ‘n belediging as daar onafgehandelde sake op my lessenaar gelê het. Ek was so gesteld om die regte ding te doen, dat toe kaptein Beyl my op ‘n dag inroep en sê ek moet lees wat Magsorder oor krulsnorre te sê het, het ek die Magsorders gevat en gelees “As ‘n lid van die Mag ‘n krulsnor dra, moet hy dit netjies en behoorlik byhou”. Kaptein sê toe ewe streng: “Goed as Magsorder so sê, dan is dit so”.

Na ‘n half uur word ek teruggeroep en hy sê toe vir my: “Jy het mos vir my gelieg, Magsorder maak geen melding van ‘n krulsnor nie”. Daar is baie staaltjies wat ek nog onthou maar die ligte oomblikke soos die sal my altyd bybly. Na soveel jare voel ek nog seergemaak dat daar enkele offisiere met hoë range was wat nie die seer en pyn van hulle ondergeskiktes geken het nie, maar vinnig was om klippe te gooi.

Alle eer aan generaal Visagie wat altyd ons belange op die hart gedra het. Aan alle oud lede van die Mag wat nog lewe, hoop julle geniet die boek en die baie herinnerings as julle dit lees. (Beatle Fourie)

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‘N LEWENSREIS: HOOFSTUK 19 Brig Hannes Slabbert Ek het betyds gesorg dat ek die nodige uniforms het en op 1 September 1986 is ek lid van die S.A. Polisie. Omdat ek oor die jare goeie verhoudings met hulle opgebou het is dit nie iets baie ernstig nie maar dit lyk tog of elkeen wat my sien weet dat ek die vorige dag ‘n ander kleur uniform gedra het.

Charles en Hannatjie is nou luitenante - hy in Edenvale en sy in Hoofkantoor. Ek moet byvoeg dat Hoofkantoor toe nog dieselfde was as waar die Spoorwegpolisie se hoofkantoor in Johannesburg was. Louwtjie en sy gesin is verplaas na Omegabasis in die Caprivi - een van hulle vele verplasings.

Ek en ander voormalige spoorwegpolisielede bly tydelik aan in ons ou kantore. Ons besef die oorskakeling gaan ‘n lang proses wees en daar van ons is wat na ander stasies gestuur gaan word.

Louwtjie en Bokkie vra dat ons moet kom kuier. Vir my is dit net nie moontlik nie maar ons reël dat ouma sal gaan. Sy kan van Pretoria af in ‘n Weermagvliegtuig reis en adjudant-offisier Antonie wat

by Louis Botha-lughawe gestasioneer is en baie kontakte het reël met die eienaar van ‘n private vliegtuig dat ouma saam met hom tot in Pretoria kan vlieg.

Dit was vir haar ‘n vreemde ondervinding om in so ‘n klein vliegtuig te ry en daarna in ‘n Weermagvliegtuig. Ouma het die kuier geniet maar tog vertel van die kleine huisie waarin die kinders woon, ‘n boom het sommer in die sitkamertjie gegroei.

In Durban het die werk soos gewoonweg voortgegaan behalwe dat ons aan die afdelingskommissaris van die SA Polisie moes rapporteer.

Die offisiere het ook op gereelde basis met hom vergaderings gehou.

Brigadier Berry Henn wat toe afdelingskommissaris was, was ‘n ou bekende en ‘n aangename man.

Ek dink hy het goed verstaan hoe sommige van ons voel om in ‘n ander Mag te dien.

Ek het saam met kolonel Jan Potgieter kleingeweer en pistool geskiet op ‘n skietbaan naby die lughawe en was toegelaat om soos voorheen, gereeld aan skietoefeninge deel te neem. Ek en ‘n paar skuts was selfs genooi om aan die polisie se skietkampioenskap in Pretoria deel te neem waar ons met ope arms ontvang is. Bygesê ons was lankal skietmaats maar in verskillende Magte.

Ouma het fluks gevorder met haar houtsneewerk en dadelik ingeskakel by die vroue byeenkomste wat een keer per maand gehou is.

Ons het met ‘n dilemma gesit want ons het in ‘n Spoorweghuis gewoon en ek was nie meer lid van die spoorweë nie. Ek het aansoek gedoen om die huis nog te huur en dit is goedgekeur. Ons het gewoond geraak aan die huis en die stil omgewing asook die lae huur.

In 1986 word Hannatjie baie siek van die groot K. Sy ondergaan ‘n groot operasie en Salome bly vir ‘n tyd by ons. Hannatjie herstel goed maar in Januarie 1987 kry sy ‘n ernstige terugslag en sterf op 14 Februarie 1986.

Na ‘n maand of drie kom Salome by ons woon en dis lekker om nog ‘n kind in die huis hê saam met Marina.

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Generaal van Niekerk belas my met die beheer van reserviste in die hele Natal afdeling. Hulle is vrywilligers wat veral oor naweke by verskillende polisiestasies diens doen en die permanente lede in staat stel om ‘n naweek vry te hê. Van hulle was voorheen lede van die Mag wat nou in ‘n ander betrekking is. Die werk is ‘n nuwe een vir my maar daar is gelukkig ‘n baie bekwame sersant help my gou om voete te vind.

Kolonel Gert Bruwer, die distrikskommissaris van Durban-Suid word verplaas en generaal van Niekerk vra of ek in die pos belangstel. Ek sien dit dadelik as ‘n uitdaging om meer te leer maar erken ook die vertroue wat die generaal in my het. Ek aanvaar die uitnodiging sonder meer. ‘n Dag of wat later vertel kolonel Potgieter dat een van die gewese spoorwepolisiegeneraals erg beswaard is oor die moontlikheid dat ek in die pos aangestel word.

Ek het wel gehoor wie die generaal is maar nooit gehoor wat sy rede/s was nie, maar generaal van Niekerk het voet dwars gesit en op 1 Mei 1987 word ek in die pos aangestel. Die betrokke generaal het daarna ‘n paar keer in my distrik besoek afgelê vir ‘ontspanning’ maar nooit ‘n woord gerep oor sy besware nie. Ek dink hy was verbaas om te sien hoe goed dat daar gaan.

My kantoor is in die gebouekompleks waar die stasiebevelvoerder van Brighton Beachpolisiekantoor is. Dis ‘n groot, netjiese gebou en ek voel trots toe ek die oggend by my nuwe, groot kantoor instap. Ek word die eerste lid van die gewese spoorwegpolisie om ‘n distrikskommandant te word en besef dadelik dat ek nou baie meer verantwoordelikhede gaan hê.

Op dieselfde dag wat ek die nuwe pos oorneem, word die distrik besoek deur die destydse minister van polisie, meneer Adriaan Vlok. Die man is duidelik daarop uit om meer van my pos te hore te kom. Generaal van Niekerk en ek asook ‘n paar ander offisiere vergesel hom na een of wat van die stasies. Hy moet daardie aand n politieke party se vergadering op die Bluff toespreek. Vir die wat nie weet nie die polisiekantore is in die gebied wat as die Bluff bekend staan.

Ons gaan later die oggend na my kantoor en met aankoms daar wil die minister weet waar die offisiersklub is. Al wat ek geweet het is dat daar een is maar nie geweet waar nie en deel hom toe maar mooi mee dat ek self eers daardie oggend daar diens aanvaar het en die plek nog nie ken nie.

Nietemin ons is toe na die klub, wat twee of drie deure van my kantoor was en in plaas van koffie of tee het ons n koeldrank geniet. Ek was werklik verlig toe die minister, wat baie vrae gehad het, uiteindelik daar weg is om ‘bietjie te gaan rus”.

Ek het daardie aand net by die vergadering ingeloer maar omdat ek a-polities wou wees gou weer vertrek.

Ek het gereeld saans van die stasies besoek - in die eerste plek om te sien dat alles wel en ook om meer personeellede te ontmoet. Luitenant Daantjie Haupt was die stasiebevelvoerder by Brighton Beach. Hy is ‘n bekwame leier en sy personeel werk hard in n groot wyk. Daar is ook groot aanhoudingselle wat elke uur besoek moet word deur die lid aan diens in die aanklagtekantoor.

Een aand tydens so ‘n besoek is die reserviste besig om vergadering te hou. Ek stap by die kantoor in waar reservis-adjudant-offisier Cass besig is met een of ander lesing en daar ontmoet ek toe weer vir Christo en Bettie van Zyl wat ek ‘n paar jaar vroeër by Baroe ontmoet het.

Christo het bevordering in sy werk gekry en hulle woon nou in Durban. Ek het gou geleer dat hierdie klompie reserviste ware staatmakers is. Nie alleen het hulle byna elke naweek gewerk nie maar ook gedurende weeksaande en sodoende die werklas van die permanente lede verlig.

In 1988 word 5 kolonels van Durban genomineer om ‘n senior-bestuurskursus by te woon.

Suksesvolle aflegging daarvan kon tot bevordering na brigadier lei.

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In Pretoria ontmoet ons die mede-kursusgangers. Van hulle is bekend en ander word die eerste maal gesien. Ons slaap die aand in Pretoria en daardie nag kry kolonel Paul Ackerman tyding dat sy dogter ernstig siek geword het. Hy vertrek dadelik huistoe.

Die volgende dag reis ons per bus na Maleoskop, ‘n opleidingsentrum van die polisie waar ons die volgende week of drie intensiewe lesings kry oor verskeie aspekte van polisiewerk.

Na afhandeling van daardie gedeelte van die kursus reis ons terug en word in ‘n ou hotel in Silverton gehuisves. Ons word soos ware senioroffisiere behandel.

Lesings maak die grootste deel van die kursus uit en verskeie sprekers neem deel. Dis warm en bedompig en ‘n lesing na die middagete is vir ‘n paar manne ‘n hengse uitdaging om wakker te bly.

Saans is ons vry om te leer of wat ookal. ‘n Paar van die manne kuier gereeld effe laat maar gedra hulle baie goed. Een van hulle kon Klaasvakie net nie afweer toe ons in ‘n warm klaskamer sit en na ‘n lesinghouer moet luister nie.

Die onderwerp is een waarmee geen regdenkende mens kan saamstem nie. Die lesinghouer het seker gesien die ou voor hom se kop sak al laer en vra ewe skielik “en meneer, u hier voor my, wat sê u daarvan?” Die ou ruk so effe op en vra ‘ek meneer?” ‘ja ,u meneer’ kom die antwoord. En toe kom dit ‘ ja ek stem saam”. Ek glo daar was min van ons wat nie gelag het nie.

Daar is van ons verwag om mondelinge voordragte te doen oor onderwerpe wat aan ons verskaf is en waaroor ons naslaanwerk moes doen. Van die lede het werklik gewys dat hulle goed voorbereid is en uitstaande lesings aangebied. Ons is in groepe van 4 of 5 ingedeel en moes in sindikaat saamwerk. Kolonel (later generaal) Thys Jonker was ons sindikaatleier en het waardevolle wenke gegee.

Verskeie hooggeplaastes het ons toegespreek en verskeie instansies is besoek. Daar was beslis geen ‘ledige’ dae nie.

Soos so baie ander het hierdie kursus ook verby gevlieg. Die lede het in ‘n hegte eenheid saamgesmelt en ek glo die kursus het daartoe bygedra dat ek baie meer van die binnewerking van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie geleer het. Aan die einde van die kursus het ons voor ‘n paneel bestaande uit generaals verskyn waar ons oor verskeie aspekte verslag moes doen. Ek het die idee gekry dat ek nie swak gevaar het nie. Een van die generaals het tydens die onderhoud aan sy kollegas gesê dat hy gereeld Natal besoek en dit goed gaan in my distrik wat net een ding kon beteken en dit is dat generaal Van Niekerk hom op hoogte van my distrik se doen en late gehou het. Ons het ook skriftelike terugvoering oor die verloop van die kursus gekry en daarvolgens het ek goed gedoen - selfs beter as lede wat al die jare in die S.A Polisie was.

Terug in Durban was dit terug na die alledaagse werk en ja, daar was geweldig baie werk. Die hantering van reserviste aangeleenthede was meer as wat ek aan gedink het en boonop was daar baie personeel- en ander aangeleenthede wat aandag moes kry.

Gerugte het begin rondgaan dat van die lede wat vroeër die jaar op kursus was bevorder gaan word.

Omdat Phillip Wolvaardt en ek lede van die voormalige spoorwegpolisie was, was ek nie baie opgewonde oor moontlike bevordering nie maar die wete dat ek goed gedoen het tydens die kursus was ook in my agterkop.

In Oktober ontvang ‘n telefoonoproep van brigadier Barry Henn wat my meedeel dat ek met ingang van 1 Desember 1988 tot brigadier bevorder en na Johannesburg verplaas word.

Dit tref my soos ‘n beker yswater in die gesig want ek besef dadelik dat Johannesburg iets heel anders as Durban-Suid gaan wees. Toe lag Berry en deel mee dat hy net ‘n grap gemaak het. Ek 120

word in werklikheid aangestel as afdelingsinspekteur met standplaas Afdelingshoofkantoor. Nou is dit ‘n wag van meer as n’ maand voor ek ‘n brigadier sal wees. Paul Ackerman is ook bevorder maar die ander drie lede uit Natal nie. (Keyser en Brand is wel later bevorder maar Wolvaardt nie en hy het as kolonel afgetree.)

Charles het intussen weer liefde gevind in die persoon van Melissa Flannagan, ‘n pragtige dame wat ook ons harte gewen het. Sy het Salome sonder meer aanvaar - iets waaroor ons vandag nog dankbaar is. Haar pa was ook lid van die polisie met ander woorde sy het ook uit ‘n sogenaamde polisiehuis gekom en het self as administratiewe beampte vir die polisie gewerk. Hulle huwelik was beplan vir 3 Desember 1988.

Uiteindelik breek die 1ste Desember aan en is ek ‘n brigadier. Dit is nou 34 jaar en byna ses maande na ek die eed van getrouheid afgelê het en ek is dankbaar dat ek die 9de trappie op die bevorderingsleer gehaal het. Ek beklee nou die rang wat die destydse hoof van die spoorwegpolisie beklee het.

My opvolger kan nie dadelik die pos opneem nie en generaal Van Niekerk gee opdrag dat ek vir ‘n verdere maand te Durban Suid aanbly. Ek gaan vroeg die oggend van 1 Desember kantoor toe. My ma en sersant Fanie de Lange van Port Elizabeth verjaar en ek bel hulle vroegoggend. Ouma, ek en Salome sal later die dag na Johannesburg vertrek vir die troue.

Die troue loop soos verwag goed af en ouma en ek het weer ‘n skoondogter vir wie ons baie lief is maar ons besef ook dat sy nooit Hannatjie se plek kan en moet vul nie. Sy is n individu in eie reg en het ander menings oor die lewe.

Ons is intussen gelukkig om nog in die spoorweghuis aan te bly. Marina reis per trein en ek per motor werk toe. Ons besef egter dat ons ‘n keuse het - trek na ‘n ander plek of probeer om die huis te koop.

Aan die begin van 1989 neem ek my nuwe pos as Afdelingsinspekteur op en trek in ‘n kantoor in wat kleiner is as die een waaraan ek te Durban-Suid gewoond was. Ek raak daarvan bewus dat die afdeling groter is as wat ek gedink het. My direkte hoof is brigadier Bobby Steyn wat in Pietermaritzburg gestasioneer is.

Brigadier Paul Ackerman en ek word belas met talle inspeksies oor die hele afdeling. Hy hanteer die speurafdeling en ek die uniformafdeling. Ek geniet die werk geweldig want by elke stasiebevelvoerder leer ek iets nuuts. Generaal van Niekerk het my intussen gevra om voort te gaan met die hantering van reserviste-aangeleenthede - iets wat ek geweldig geniet het. Dit was lekker om byvoorbeeld tydens ‘n vergadering n kort lesing aan te bied oor ‘n spesifieke onderwerp.

Die reserviste reël by geleentheid ‘n samekoms vir senior mense in die polisiewyk. Die stasiebevelvoerder, sy eggenote, ouma en ek is eregaste en sien die dankbaarheid en waardering van die gaste van wie sommige in klein woonstelle bly en min geleentheid het om bietjie uit te kom.

Ouma en ek besluit dat ons moet probeer om die huis waarin ons woon te koop. Dis ‘n gerieflike plek in ‘n goeie woongebied en naby alle fasiliteite. Ons is lid van die N.G. Kerk, Port Natal waar kolonel Potgieter in die kerkraad dien. Salome woon ‘n voorskoolse skooltjie by. Dis loopafstand en sy geniet dit baie om met maatjies om te gaan.

Na ons aansoek gedoen het om die huis te koop, word ons verwittig om met n onafhanklike waardeerder in Pietermaritzburg te skakel vir ‘n waardasie van die plek. Ons doen dit en betaal ‘n bedrag geld vir die werk. Na wat vir ons soos jare gevoel het kry ons die waardasie. Dis effe bo ons vuurmaakplek maar ons besluit om die te aanvaar ten einde nog ‘n trek uit te skakel. Die aangeleentheid draai te veel na ons sin maar uiteindelik kry ons kennis dat die spoorweë ook die waardasie aanvaar het.

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Na nog ‘n lang gewag is die huis uiteindelik in ons naam geregistreer. Ons laat dadelik ‘n afdak aanbring voor die motorhuis sodat ons bakkie snags ten minste onderdak is. Ons laat ook geringe verbeterings in die tuin aanbring - iets wat nie veel later nie vir ons baie sou beteken. ‘n Kontrakteur verf die huis en koop sommer ons bakkie vir ‘n bedrag heelwat hoër as wat ons in Windhoek daarvoor betaal het. Ons is nou al 5 jaar lank in Durban en geniet alles behalwe die vreeslike bedompigheid. Ouma is druk besig met houtsneewerk en ek met skietaktiwiteite.

Oorstromings het die skietbaan omtrent vernietig maar kolonel Potgieter en ek doen alles moontlik om dit te herstel. ‘n Kontrakteur wat met grondverskuiwingsmasjiene daar werk help ons om die modder te verwyder en ons werk elk dag na werk en oor naweke om die baan weer reg te kry. Dit het weke indien nie maande nie geneem om die baan weer reg te kry. Om die herindiensneming te vier word ‘n groot makietie in die klubhuis gereël. Generaal Reyneke van Hoofkantoor en generaal van Niekerk is die eregaste. Daar word vleis gebraai, ‘n glasie geklink en gesels. Die baan is nou eintlik in ‘n beter toestand as vantevore en twee wagte word aangestel om die uitrusting te bewaak.

Ek kan nie eens raai hoeveel skote ek op daardie baan geskiet het nie maar dis baie.

Die reserviste het tydens n vergadering besluit om n skietkompetisie te hou. Vrouesersant Bettie van Zyl van die reserviste nader my met so ‘n versoek. Ek keur dit in beginsel goed en kry die regweg van generaal Van Niekerk. Die kompetisie is met groot sukses aangebied en afgehandel.

Daardie middag het die reserviste ons onthaal op braaivleis en wat daarmee saamgaan.

Ouma en ek en die twee dogters woon ‘n kerkparade in Newcastle by - nog ‘n onvergeetlike gebeurtenis uit Durban se dae. Die inskakeling of oorskakeling na die SA Polisie het beter verloop as wat ek verwag het.

Met verloop van tyd het Marina in ‘n verhouding met Elroy Jansen van Vuuren betrokke geraak. Hy het in Johannesburg gewoon en ons het hom in Windhoek ontmoet. Sy ouers het in Port Elizabeth gewoon.

Toe gebeur iets wat ‘n wesenlike uitwerking op ons gesin en familie gehad het. Ons kry ‘n berig dat een van die brigadiers in Port Elizabeth ernstig siek geword het en dalk nie weer na die werk sal terugkeer nie. Ek onthou dadelik onder watter omstandighede ek vanaf Jan Smutslughawe na Port Elizabeth verplaas is.

Ek glo dis net menslik dat ek aan so iets gedink het want diep binne in my is daar maar steeds die hunkering om na Port Elizabeth terug te keer om nader aan my ma en ander familie te wees. ‘n Paar dae later verwittig iemand my dat die brigadier medies ongeskik verklaar is. Ek gaan dadelik na generaal Van Niekerk en vra hy moet my help om die pos in Port Elizabeth te kry. Hy luister duidelik net met een oor en sê dat hy my nie wil verloor nie. Ek bekla my lot by kolonel Potgieter en vra dat hy met die baas sal praat. Hulle twee het ‘n baie goeie verhouding en ek weet as daar een is wat die generaal tot ander insigte sal oortuig dit hy is. Toe hy van die generaal se kantoor af kom sê hy net “die baas wag vir jou aansoek”. So vinnig ek kon is die aansoek getik en Potgieter neem dit in.

Dieselfde middag kom Potgieter in my kantoor in. Hy loop soos baie maal met sy hande agter die rug en vertel hoe gelukkig sommige mense in die lewe kan wees. Ek beaam nogal en sê ‘ja en hier sit ek wat graag Baai toe wil gaan en ek weet nie of ek so gelukkig gaan wees nie. Toe trek hy sy hande agter sy rug uit en gee my ‘n teleks waarin ek verwittig word dat my aansoek goedgekeur is.

Ek het hom amper gesoen van blydskap en dadelik na die generaal gegaan en hom bedank. Dit blyk toe dat hy tog ‘n goeie woord gedoen het.

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Ouma, Marina en Salome is net so opgewonde dat ons nou weer nader aan my ma sal wees. Ons besluit om huis te soek in Despatch sodat ons my ma daagliks kan besoek en haar winkels en elders heen kan neem.

Ek bel n eiendomsagent, sy kom kyk na die huis, noem n bedrag wat sy dink redelik is (amper dubbel wat ons ‘n jaar vantevore betaal het) en ‘n dag later is ‘n advertensie in die koerant. Sommer vroegoggend al bel die agent en vra of sy die middag na werk moontlike kopers kan bring.

Die middag kom sy daar aan met n man en vrou. Die man is klein en stil en die vrou doen al die praatwerk. Hulle loop deur die erf, wys hier en daar en ‘n tweede keer deur die huis. Toe hulle ry sê ek vir ouma ek dink nie hulle het die geld om die plek te koop nie. ‘n Halfuur of wat later is hulle weer terug en weer word deur die huis en erf gegaan. Die huis is nuut geverf en die erf skoon en netjies. Die tweede besoek laat my toe darem wonder en ook nie verniet nie want ongeveer ‘n uur later bel die agent en sê die mense het geteken vir die huis teen die bedrag wat sy genoem het. Om binne ‘n jaar sowat R80 000 wins te maak is nie te versmaai nie en ons is dankbaar dat alles sover vlot verloop het.

Ek moet op 1 Augustus diens aanvaar in Port Elizabeth en weet nog nie waar ons gaan woon nie.

Ek kry ‘n dag of twee verlof en reis per vliegtuig na Port Elizabeth. Iemand neem my Despatch toe en ek sien my ma het duidelik agteruitgegaan. Ek dink die stilte in die groot huis het haar gevang.

Ek skakel met n agent en hy neem my na ‘n paar huise. Een is ‘n baie goeie huis en die prys is binne ons bereik want ons het nou ‘n mooi klompie geld wat ons as deposito kan gebruik. Ek teken die dokumente en vlieg dieselfde aand terug. Ek gee vir ouma inligting oor die ligging van die huis in Campherpark en sy is baie ingenome daarmee. Volgende dag bel die agent om net te vertel dat die eienaar van die huis kop uitgetrek het. Nou is ek in ‘n penarie maar boer se kind of in hierdie geval polisieman maak ‘n plan. Daar word skietkampioenskap in Port Elizabeth aangebied en ek gaan dit gebruik om weer daar te kom. Ek bel die polisiemotorhawe en hoor daar is ‘n paar bakkies wat dringend na Port Elizabeth moet gaan terwyl by laasgenoemde karre is wat in Durban moet kom. Met hierdie inligting nader en generaal Van Niekerk en ware heer wat hy is, gee hy dadelik toestemming dat ek ‘n paar lede die voertuie mag wegneem, aan die kompetisie deelneem en die ander karre terugbring. Ek kry dadelik ‘n span bymekaar en ons vertrek oop die lang reis wat Dinsdagaand ten einde kom.

Na ek Woensdag geskiet het ry ek Despatch toe en soos die geluk dit wil hê loop ek dieselfde agent raak net toe hy by sy kantoor uitkom. Hy deel dadelik mee dat hy so pas n goeie huis ingekry het en my later die aand daarheen sal neem.

Ons kom by die plek aan. My asem slaan weg want ek dink ek sal nooit die geld hê dit te koop nie.

Die eienaar is nie alte vriendelik nie en sy vrou is hartseer want haar suster is die middag begrawe.

Die eienaar hou aan met die storie dat hy graag die huis aan die nuwe skoolhoof wil verkoop. Sy vrou skop vas en wys my die huis van binne. Ek is aangenaam verras veral toe ek op die lang stoep op die boonste verdieping kom en die mooi uitsig waarneem.

Sonder om te dink besluit ek om die plek te koop mits die prys binne ons vermoë is. Dis sommer baie na aan my ma se huis en die dorp is nie ver nie. Toe ek weer by die eienaar uitkom begin ons oor iets praat en dadelik verander sy gesindheid. Hy vra of ek al weet hoeveel die huis ons gaan kos en amper in dieselfde asem noem hy ‘n bedrag wat weer ‘n keer my asem wegslaan. Dis sowat R60 000 minder as wat ons in Durban vir ons plek gekry het.

Die agent en ek gaan gou na sy kantoor waar ek die nodige dokumente teken. Daardie aand slaap ek gerus in die wete dat ons ‘n goeie huis teen ‘n goeie prys gekoop het. Ons skiet tot die Saterdag en val dadelik in die pad terug Durban toe en die Maandag is ek terug op kantoor.

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Nou is dit weer inventaris maak. Daar is nie veel veranderinge aan die een wat ons in Windhoek opgestel het nie. Marina kan nie ‘n verplasing kry na Port Elizabeth nie maar wel na Johannesburg waar sy by Charles en Melissa kan blyplek kry. Ek dink sy wou ook maar nader aan Elroy wees.

Ons het intussen die Audi verkoop en ‘n Toyota Corolla aangeskaf. Toe ek brigadier word het ek die voorreg gekry om ‘n gesubsidieerde kar te koop en ‘n Toyota Camry gekry. Ons besluit dat ek met die Camry en ouma en Salome met die ander kar. Suster Lettie en ‘n kennis kom kuier vir ‘n dag of drie vir ons en ons sien dit as ‘n geleentheid dat Lettie dan saam met ouma kan ry en die ander persoon saam met my. ‘n Vervoerkontrakteur is aangestel en ons spreek af op watter datum die eiendom gelaai moet word.

Elroy daag ook oop sodat Marina saam met hom Johannesburg toe kan ry. Hulle sal ook toesig hou oor die laaiery van die meubels en die huissleutels in handig. Baie vroeg is die meubelwa daar. Toe die laaiery begin groet ons en vetrek. Ons trek vir die 15de en hopelik laaste keer.

Net nadat ons oor die Oranjerivier gery het, het ek stilgehou en dankie gesê dat ek nou weer in die beloofde land is. Dit was lekker om in die Kaap Provinsie te wees en ek het nie eintlik gedink aan wat vir my voorlê nie.

Ons kom so by agtuur die aand in Despatch aan. Ouma is doodmoeg want dis die eerste keer dat sy so ver bestuur het. Ons slaap sommer oor by Lettie omdat ons weet ouma vroeg al inkruip en seker al slaap.

REMINISCES OF A RAILWAY POLICEMAN Keith Alfred Adolf Blake • Police Story: Blake Arrested Stripped of Rank for Corruption.

Part 1 A saying comes to mind the voice may be arrested but the fingers are free to express and with this in mind my next police story as promised.

I was a newly-promoted warrant officer and reported one afternoon for the 13h40 till 22h00 shift the old two, ten shift. No sooner was I in the Charge Office when I saw these two very neat well-dressed gentlemen with dun streep-ties come to the counter and asked for me by name and I responded that I was the person they were asking for and I then ask how can I be of assistance. Then quicker than Clint Eastwood on the fast draw produced S.A. Police appointment certificates and I saw that the one was a lieutenant ....... and the other a warrant officer.........They asked me politely and with a smile that I was to accompany them to their office and I need not ask any senior officer or my present station commander any permission as all protocol and instructions for my accompanying them have been observed and done.

Well, who am I to argue, and I followed these two officers to their vehicle and off we drove till we arrived at an impressive looking office block on the Foreshore Cape Town. We all climbed into a lift and as we came to the floor where their offices where I asked to use the toilet. The warrant officer then showed me the way and while I stood at the urinal, I noticed that he was standing right behind me almost as if he was guarding me. When I had finished, I was escorted to the lieutenant’s office and he picked up the phone and told some person that I had arrived.

A few moments later a general ... walked in what struck me was his shiny, almost silk like suite and his unfriendly face and attitude and without much ceremony or courteous credentials he told me to cooperate with his two officers and all depending on my answers I could be a witness or an accused.

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With these stinging words he made an about turn and left me to the two officers who I could not help but had done a metamorphosis on their attitude towards me from being friendly to becoming stern face and almost abrupt. I then realised I was not in the lion's den but was in the hyenas’ den and got scared very scared.

To make me go even more on the scared trail I was asked to hand over my official police pistol, a P38 9mm pistol, and to take off all my rank insignia, name plate and police cap all of which was placed in a safe. The lieutenant then made a phone call to Cape Town Central Charge Office and asked that a cell be kept open for a policeman. Here I was stripped, scared and not having a clue what or where this scene, this act was going and, in my mind, we were on our way to Hollywood but the script was a mystery at least to me.

• Police Story: Blake Arrested Stripped of Rank for Corruption. Part 2 The biggest fear one has is when stands alone and here I am in an arrested environment and I am standing alone but not for long. I started to pray earnestly to God in Jesus Name to please help me I am in the valley of the shadow of death. Almost instantly I became calm and almost confident, almost cannot wait to hear where were these officers taking me.

The lieutenant asked me to tell him about the harbour and what I did in this environment and I stated talking and talking but I still on the rough road of lack of knowledge but the questions about me and the harbour kept coming until I said I knew most officials of other departments e.g. Customs, Immigration etc. This statement prompted them to take me to another room with a large table a table covered with photos of Immigration Officers and each photo was numbered. I was then asked to look at each photo and to name the official. I went down the line-up and knew some by name others by just greeting and I NOTICED THAT NOTES WERE BEING TAKEN AND A TAPE RECORDER was recording all their questions and my answers.

After this interviewing project I was given a cup of tea yes in a saucer with a meaty pie this was a break, but the warrant officer was with me all the time my guardian angel my warder of custody.

After the lunch I again asked for the toilet and yes, the warrant officer stood behind me but this time he spoke and asked the following, "Adjudant ek verstaan jou nie, jy is nie bang nie, jy is nie senuweeagtig nie, jy is baie kalm?"

I responded that if one knows in his heart that he has done nothing wrong then why must one worry.

I was taken back to the office and the lieutenant got up and sat on the table in front of me and asked me the following question, 'BLAKE DO YOU KNOW BILLY THE FILIPINO?". I looked up at him and calmly said without hesitation, “YES I DO." The next moment all eyes were on me, notebooks at the ready and of course the tape recorder was checked if it was working it was as if father Xmas had driven the reindeer through the window instead of the chimney, Goldilocks had eaten the bear family instead of the mielepap or is it porridge and Cinderella shoe she lost was made of genuine leather. I had struck a nerve this was the plated gold cup these officers were hoping to raise at the finish line.

• Police Story: Blake Arrested Stripped of Rank for Corruption. Part 3.

The only I DO that is binding is when you stand at the pulpit next to your beloved till death us do part so that's why I told the lieutenant YES, I DO because I was nowhere next to any beloved. I was asked to explain how I happen to know BILLY THE FILIPINO and this was my tale, I stated that a few weeks prior I had come to work by train and arrived at Cape Town Station and then I saw a club owner who I knew very well and his father all of Lebanese origin and he excited told me that a Filipino seaman by the name of Billy had jumped ship and he was now working for him. The work was to go to the ships in the Table Bay Harbour and then this Billy would speak to his fellow countrymen/sailors to come visit his club. I knew this was illegal as this Billy was an illegal immigrant 125

but the club owner stated and show me documents that he was busy with Home Affairs to make this Billy a legal resident. I then was picked up by my colleagues and thought nothing further of this incident.

I then told the lieutenant and his warrant officer who lips were almost drooling that a few days later the sergeant in charge of the Table Bay 'NAVRAE UNIT" had approached me and in his hand, he had a warrant of arrest for a lady of the night or as one prim and proper Englishman told me lady of the village, and he and his staff cannot find her despite all their efforts. I told this sergeant I will find her and arrest her on this warrant which he handed over to me.

Later that evening I started my hunting and when to numerous club until I came to a club where I also knew the owner and did enquiries regarding the lady mentioned in the warrant of arrest and I was told he does not know anything about this lady and I accepted his answer and started to walk down the stairs when the club owner called me back and stated, ‘You know Mr. Blake I got too much respect for you to lie to you, I do know this lady and I know exactly where she is." Well, I stopped in my tracks and went back up the stairs and I could not help watching the thick cigar he was smoking and it reminded me of dynamite and here he was going to ignite my ego with the whereabouts of the suspect I was looking for.

He calmly told me that he had a new employee by the name of BILLY who had jumped ship and was bringing all his fellow countrymen to his club where they would spend their monies and that he was busy with Home Affairs to make this BILLY a legal citizen and no I was not inhaling Cuba's finest secondary smoke in overdose this is what this club owner told me. In the past couple days two rival club owners were telling me the exact same story or did BILLY have an identical twin. Now there is no words in the known English language to describe my interrogators expression or suppressed excitement as to my tale I am telling them and I telling them the truth.

• Police Story: Blake Arrested Stripped of Rank for Corruption . Part 4 Meanwhile back at the ranch sorry the club the owner stated yes BILLY had fallen in love with the female suspect I was hunting on a warrant of arrest and BILLY was doing so good luring seamen from the ship and not to mention the currency spent whether domestic or foreign money makes the world go round, that the owner had sent BILLY and his new love on a weekend honeymoon without the holy I DO to a holiday house in Saldanha all expenses paid. The owner stated that as soon as the loving couple came back, he will inform me so I can do the arrest of my suspect.

Well, I told my interrogators a few days later I received the promised call and was told my suspect is at a house in Woodstock and I was given the home telephone number and the address in Woodstock. I then called in my one patrol van and told them to go to the given address and wait a few houses from it and as soon as I say on the police radio 'GO' then they must enter the house quickly and arrest the woman on the phone.

So said, so done, all was in place as I had planned and I then phoned the home number and who would pick up giving her name none other than my suspect and I told her to just hang on as I had an important message for her. I then said over the police radio 'GO" and waited and a few moments later I heard my colleagues on the phone that they have her. I told them to give her the phone and I officially told her she was under arrest. She was brought to the Charge Office and I processed her and informed the sergeant of the NAVRAE UNIT his warrant was executed. The lieutenant then asked me what about BIILLY and I told him that I nor the suspect had ever mentioned her boyfriend the elusive BILLY but I did hear of BILLY a few days later and it came via a phone call from an Immigration Officer who specifically asked for me and he told me they had a warrant for BILLY for being an illegal immigrant and I know where to find him to which I replied that I did.

We made arrangements to meet later that evening at 21h00 at our Charge Office and I would have taken these Immigration Officers first to the club where I last heard of him or the address in 126

Woodstock where his South African girlfriend lived. That evening 21h00 I waited and waited but no Immigration Officers rocked up so that I can assist them and I presumed they wanted to do their official duties on their own without my assistance and that was the last I heard of BILLY until now that I have been arrested and stripped and I have never seen BILLY. The lieutenant looked at me and then left the room but my guardian angel the warrant officer never left my presence, I became tired and I had no idea what the time was and I fell asleep a very uncomfortable sleep on two chairs and yes, my guardian angel, the silent one, just sat there watching and I wandering what next what awaited me this lonnnng night.

• Police Story: Blake Arrested, Stripped of Rank for Corruption. Part 5 The truth shall set you free and on the subject of free one cannot forget that statement by Dr. Martin Luther King Free, Free At Last Praise The Lord I Am Free At Last.

As I was asleep on the two chairs and watched by the warrant officer in the semi darkened heard the sound of many voices and I distinctly heard the voice of an officer I knew who commanded a special unit and this wakened me. As I started to get up from the chairs the office door opened and there dressed all in black, a black polo neck jersey and black pants, stood the lieutenant almost like an executioner or a man who had been on some secret mission but I had to admit he made quite a striking figure but at that moment the only strike I was worried about what was to strike me in this whole scenario. He had in his hands my cap, pistol, rank insignia and my name plate and told me to put them back on, yes, the stripped had all his stripes back on I was once again a fully dressed, fully restored member of the South African Police. His words which I will never forget, "Blake you are free to go, I am not quite happy, but you are free and here is my card and if you need my advice or want to know anything you can contact my two officers who will take you home."

I said nothing absolutely nothing I had taken a vow of silence because I was quietly thanking God for delivering me from this still unknown nightmare but praise be to God, I was Free, Free at Last. I was taken to a car downstairs and the door at the back was opened and the two officers drove off.

No question as to the directions to my home in Ottery, no these two colleagues seemed uncannily without a word from me knew the way. At the front of my doorstep, I was dropped off, no greetings, no small talk just complete silence as I walked into my house. Tina’s face I will never forget as she saw me with tears in my eyes and as we hugged, I took a fleeting glimpse at the watch and it was 02h30 in the morning yes, my nightmare was 12hours long. We climbed into bed and under the blankets in a whispered voice I told Tina what I had gone through.

Early the next morning my then station commander the late Robert du Preez phoned me and asked me if I was alright and that I can stay at home and he will tell me later what was his instructions and orders in relation to my being taken away for questioning. The next morning, I received a phone call from a colleague to go buy THE CAPE TIMES and to see the headline on the front page. I bought the paper and the headlines read IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION and yes it was all about BILLY THE PHILLIPINO and his Columbus project to find a new land and he was worth his weight in gold in recruiting revenue from fellow seamen to spend that revenue at a club or should that be clubs where he was employed.

When you read my story, one cannot but notice the great effort, the extreme investigation tactics, the manpower, the general, the media that was unleashed on me someone was and this is my opinion was jealous extremely jealous of what I was doing in the harbour, someone was out to belittle me and yes this was not the last attempt in a few months’ time maybe less I will tell the next saga the saga that you will realise yes what my opinions are where spot on. THE END.

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KRYGSGESKIEDENIS | SA MILITARY HISTORY

RSS BADEN-POWELL: PAINTER, JOURNALIST, ILLUSTRATOR, MILITARY LEADER AND FOUNDER OF THE SA CONSTABULARY (1857–1941) Compiled by Jennifer Bosch Baden-Powell or B-P was born Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell on the 22 February 1857, the son of Professor Baden-Powell, of Oxford University. His father died when he was 3 years old and his mother devoted herself to bringing up a rather large family of 10. Baden Powell and his brothers were encouraged by their mother to make their own fun. They learned about the outdoors, built boats and sailed them and went on long journeys learning to look after themselves.

Baden-Powell attended Charterhouse School during which time he took part in a number of activities including acting, singing and cadet corps and art. In the woods near the school known as "The Copse" he studied, stalked and tracked animals, birds and his friends and teachers.

"The most worth-while thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others."

--Robert Baden-Powell—

Left: Baden Powell when still at Charterhouse.

Centre: Baden Powell joins the army.

Right: 20.2.1876 Joined the British army and appointed as Sub-lieutenant for the 13th Hussars in Lucknow, India, and specialised in scouting, map-making and reconnaissance Baden-Powell was encouraged to sit Army Exams, he surprised everyone by gaining 2nd place out of 700 candidates, as a result was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the 13th Hussars. He sailed to join his regiment in Lucknow, India, where he took courses in surveying and reconnaissance. He was quickly promoted and moved up through the ranks and trained his men using competitions and games and taught them how to track and live in wild country. He also wrote a book called "Aids to Scouting" about his methods of Army Training. This book was later to become the bases of Scouting "We never fail when we try to do our duty, we always fail when we neglect to do it."

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--Robert Baden-Powell— In 1887 he was sent to South Africa where he took part in a campaign against an African chief called Dinuzulu

BP House in Pinetown then (above) and now (below)

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In 1899 Colonel Baden-Powell returned to South Africa because there was the possibility of war between the Dutch settlers (Boers) and the British Settlers. War was declared and Baden-Powell and 1000 men were left to defend the town of Mafeking, which was the supply centre for the British.

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After forming a cadet corps of boys for assisting as non-combatants during a military campaign in 1900: "We then made the discovery that boys, when trusted and relied on, were just as capable and reliable as men."

--Robert Baden-Powell—

B-P had only a few hundred soldiers to defend Mafeking, so every soldier was vital. To help them, they trained a group of 40 boys as Cadets, to carry messages, do look-out duty, help in the hospitals, and many other jobs. They had their own khaki uniforms. One of their most important jobs was to act as lookouts to warn the townsfolk when the big Boer siege gun was aimed at the town, to give them a chance to take cover before the shell arrived.

First the cadets took messages by donkey, but as the food in the town ran out, the stock of donkeys gradually ended up in the kitchen! So instead, they used bicycles, and often had to deliver messages by bicycle under heavy fire. In one famous story, B-P warned one of the boys that he could get hit, and he replied "I pedal so quick, sir, that they'll never catch me."

"Scouting is not an abstruse or difficult science: rather it is a jolly game if you take it in the right light.

In the same time, it is educative, and (like Mercy) it is apt to benefit him that giveth as well as him that receives." --Robert Baden-Powell— He thought up all sorts of schemes to make it look like the town was heavily guarded. When reinforcements arrived, the siege had lasted for 7 months. This was his most famous military exploit during the Boer War, when he successfully defended the town of Mafeking. He was promoted to Major-General by Queen Victoria. Baden-Powell took part in a number of other conflicts and in 1903 was appointed Inspector-General of Cavalry.

"A thing that many young fellows don't seem to realism at first is that success depends on oneself and not on a kindly fate, nor on the interest of powerful friends."

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--Robert Baden-Powell—

Robert Baden-Powell and staff at Mafeking BP's dummy defences

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Baden-Powell instituted dummy defences. Fake mines were laid to supplement the scanty number of real ones. When he found the supply of barbed wire insufficient, B-P had fenceposts erected with no wire strung between them, and soldiers were ordered to pretend they were climbing over or between the imaginary wires. Guns and a searchlight were shifted from one location to another to fool the enemy into thinking they were more numerous.

To prevent the Boers from attacking the town, Baden-Powell made them think the town was surrounded by dangerous landmines. He got the people in the town to carry metal boxes, with dire warnings not to drop or bump them, and bury them outside the edge of the town, and put-up signs saying "Warning! Landmines!" Hundreds of these were buried on the outskirts of the town, and the areas marked with warnings for the inhabitants and cattle herds to stay clear. Then he warned the townsfolk to keep inside while the new mines were tested.

'Bradley's Fort', Mafeking, 1900

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Telegraph of news 17th May being received at a Post Office by C W. Keinan.digitalnz.org

"An individual step in character training is to put responsibility on the individual."

--Robert Baden-Powell— 135

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On February 22, 1910 Baden-Powell retired from the British Army as Lieutenant General and focused on the Scout Movement.

Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden Powell of Gilwell St. Peter's Cemetery Nyeri Kenya

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ANGLO BOER WAR: BRITISH GENERALS Jennifer Bosch (Colouring)

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Herbert Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer in 1917 – FB

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Major General Wauchope

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Lt-Gen Lord Methuen

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General Woodgate

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BOER HELIOGRAPHERS Jennifer Bosch (Colouring)

Boer heliographers Louis Jordaan and Lukas Wilhelm von Benecke. Photo taken on 22 June 1900 near Kroonstad Photo Source: MC Heunis.

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GENERAL CR DE WET (FREE STATE REPUBLIC)

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SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE FORCE (SADF) ARMY YSTERVARK SELF PROPELLED ANTI - AIRCRAFT GUN (SPAAG) Wolfgang Witschas Introduction The Ystervark takes its Afrikaans name from the South African or ‘Cape’ porcupine. The world’s largest porcupines and an animal with a strong body and protected by an impressive array of spines to defend itself against predators a vehicle named for this animal should embody those characteristics. The Ystervark self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) is exactly that, a sturdy and robust vehicle evolved to suit the harsh Southern African environment.

Ystervark troop, live-fire training somewhere in South West Africa (year unknown). Source: 10 Anti-

Aircraft Regiment, Youngsfield Background The Ystervark is the basic mobile light anti-aircraft system of the South African Army. It is basically a Samil 20 chassis fitted with a full length mine protected hull with a GAI - CO1 20mm anti-aircraft gun fitted to the load bed. The gun is basically an updated version of the GAI - BO1 20mm gun capable of 1050 rounds per minute. The gun is fitted with a Delta IV reflector sight which can be set for targets with speeds up to 200 km/h and 900 km/h and can be illuminated at night.

Designed as a stop gap measure the system however has been forced to soldier on due to the lack of a decent self-propelled anti-aircraft system in the South African Army’s inventory. It was deployed in combat during Operations Modular, Hooper and Excite were it proved to be effective in keeping the Angolan and Cuban piloted Migs flying at high altitudes and also claimed the destruction of one 147

aircraft during the attack by Mig 21s against the Calueque dam in the Kunene River nearby Ruacana in 1988.

Calueque Dam wall It has been supplemented in service by a number of Angolan- Russian supplied Zumlac systems which is basically a ZSU 23 - 2 fitted to a Kwêvoel mine protected truck.

Development In 1983/84, the South African Defence Force (SADF) Anti-Aircraft Regiments had to tow their antiaircraft artillery which consisted mainly of GAI - CO1 20 mm AA guns. With the SADFs transition to mobile warfare, towing was no longer suitable. The first mobile anti-aircraft vehicle incarnation came into being in 1983/84 as the brainchild of Johan Craft. It consisted of a Mercedes Benz gun tractor on which three wooden railway sleepers fitted with bolts and blue wire to mount the gas-operated GAI - CO1 20 mm anti-aircraft gun/cannon. From these test beds, the vehicle operational requirement was developed and tested, and requirements for further development were given to Armaments Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR), which included the need for a mine-resistant chassis. The latter test beds were relegated to a training role.

Mercedes Benz gun tractor fitted with the GAI-CO1 20 mm AA cannon on the back while shooting at Toothrock. Source: 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Youngsfield Facebook group

In 1981, before the need for a mine-resistant light anti-aircraft capability had been decided, Project Sireb had been launched. This project produced three mine-resistant vehicles as possible replacements for the Buffel APC. These prototypes were based on the SAMIL 20 chassis and were fitted with a full - length mine - protected hull which had a much higher and beefier suspension than the basic SAMIL 20 truck, leading to better cross - country performance. Unfortunately, none of the prototypes was found to be significantly better than the Buffel and further work was needed.

However, one of the prototypes, known as the ‘Bulldog’, was adopted by the SAAF as an APC for 148

use in airfield patrols. The Bulldog would form the basis on which the Ystervark would be built, by removing the passenger tub and replacing it with a weapons deck.

The Ystervark was developed from the requirements for a mobile self-propelled and mine-protected vehicle to provide a light anti-aircraft capability and which could accompany South African mechanized battalions on combat operations. The Ystervark was also employed to protect strategic assets, such as air bases in the then South - West Africa (SWA) during the border war During Operation Thunder Chariot (1984), which was a division-sized exercise in South Africa, four Ystervarks were used operationally for the first time for evaluation.

The Ystervark’s first combat use was as part of 32 Battalion (32 Bn) in 1986. Its continued presence with SADF mechanized battalions during Operations Modular, Hooper, and Excite in Angola provided a sufficient deterrent against Angolan and Cuban piloted MiGs, who seldom flew very low and preferred to remain at high altitudes.

On 08 October 1987, one of two MiG 23 aircraft bombing the 61 Mechanized Battalion Group (61 Meg Bn) laager with 500 kg bombs was shot down by 32 Battalion Ystervark when it pulled up at its end bombing run.

On 17 March 1988, Cuban pilot Ernesto Chavez, flying a MiG 23, was shot down and killed by a Ystervark while flying over Cuito Cuanavale.

The SADF deployed the Ystervark with the permanent forces at 101 Battery and 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment. With the conclusion of the Border War, the Ystervark was phased out in 1991 and replaced with the SAMIL 100 Kwêvoël mine-protected SPAA truck called the Bosvark. This was armed with a Russian twin ZU - 23 -2 mm gun. The Ystervark was officially withdrawn from service in 1997.

Bosvark: ZU - 23 - 2 AA Anti - Aircraft gun mounted on a SAMIL 100 Kwêvoël base (2020) It is unclear how many Ystervarks were produced although, it is estimated that at least 70. The Ystervark was only employed by the SADF. Design features 149

The Ystervark was designed to maximize its crews` chances of survival when a mine was detonated anywhere under the hull. This was achieved through several key design elements, which included high ground clearance, a V-shaped underbelly, and a purpose-built strengthened upper design which reduced the risk of shattered or buckled hull plates that could become debris.

The African terrain, which in and of itself can inflict severe punishment on a vehicle, necessitates a robust design. The Ystervark’s design and simplicity made field repairs post-mine detonation possible, although very costly. A chassis-based MPV does not provide the same protection to the vehicle driveline when compared to modern monocoque hull design vehicles. Most parts could be obtained commercially, which made the Ystervarks logistical train shorter and specialized maintenance support in the field unnecessary Mobility The SAMIL 20 chassis was designed for difficult off-road applications in Africa. The suspension consisted of single leaf springs on the front axle and double coil springs on the rear axle. The Ystervark had a ground clearance of 460 mm (18.1 in) and could ford 1.2 m (3.9 ft) of water. The Type F6L 913 air-cooled 4 stroke Magirus Deutz 6 cylinder with direct injection engine produced 124 hp (20.4 hp/t) at 2,650 rpm and was coupled to a five-speed (four forward and one reverse) synchromesh manual transmission consisting of a two-shaft z-65 drive via a transfer case with pneumatically lockable planetary differential gear. The vehicle had permanent 4 × 4-wheel drive.

The four wheels were 14.50×20 in size. The Ystervark could cross a 0.85 m (33 in.) ditch at a crawl.

The front and rear axle consisted of a portal driving axle with a pneumatically lockable differential with a portal spur gear set.

Endurance and logistics The Ystervark had a 200 l (52.8 US gal.) fuel tank which granted it an operational range of 950 km (590 mi.) on-road and 475 km (295 mi.) off-road. Its maximum road speed was 90 km/h (55 mph) and 30 km/h (19 mph) off-road. A modular design allowed for easier maintenance and reduced logistical requirements. Additionally, the domestic production of components made replacement easy and lowered the cost for parts. A 100 l (26.4 US gal.) freshwater tank was located inside the V-shaped hull for the crew and was accessible via a tap located at the rear left of the lower vehicle’s V-shape.

Vehicle layout The Ystervark consisted of three main parts: chassis, armoured driver’s cab at the front right of the vehicle, and the weapons deck at the centre rear, where the main armament was mounted. The engine was located at the centre front of the vehicle and the transmission in-between the engine and the armoured driver’s cab. The engine and transmission placement facilitated easy replacement in the event of damage due to a mine detonation.

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One of the first Ystervark SPAAGs taking part in exercise Thunder Chariot 1984. Source: F. Marais The driver’s cab was surrounded by three rectangular bulletproof glass windows and had an unarmored high-density polyethylene roof cover. The base was wedge-shaped and secured to the chassis. A single door was installed on the right side of the driver’s cab, as well as two steel steps for ease of entrance. The gear selector stick was located on the driver’s left-hand side, and a spare wheel was kept to the left of the driver’s cab. The crew seating was blast-resistant and designed to protect the spine in case of a mine detonation under the vehicle.

Access to the weapons deck was gained via two incremental pairs of steel steps on either side, above the rear wheels. The weapon deck seating consisted of two seats in between the driver’s cab and weapons deck, each facing towards the rear of the vehicle. The crew commander sat on the seat directly behind the driver’s cab to facilitate communication with the driver through an opening at the rear of the driver’s cab. The gunner sat on the right-hand seat of the weapons deck. Both seats were equipped with harnesses to secure the crew in case of a mine detonation or accidental rollover. The middle of the left and right sides of the weapons deck contained horizontal hinged panels which could be opened outward via quick release when the main armament was to be used.

The left and right panels could fold down all the way, while the middle-left panel only dropped down 45 degrees. While crossing uneven terrain at speed, the panels were secured in their upright position.

On the rear of the weapons, the deck was a sizable storage box manufactured from high-density polyethylene. The front lower part of the storage box was used by the passengers to store the spare kit, while the top part was for the driver’s use.

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Protection The Ystervark could protect its crew against a single TM-57 anti-tank mine blast under the hull, which was equivalent to 6.34 kg (14 lb.) of TNT, or a double TM-57 anti-tank mine blast under any wheel. Its V-shaped bottom armoured hull design deflected blast energy and fragments away from the driver and weapons deck. Plastic fuel and freshwater tanks were located within the V-shaped hull of the weapons deck. These tanks would help absorb explosive blast energy from a mine detonation.

The driver’s cab windows were all bulletproof. The armoured driver’s cab and weapons deck side panels were at least 7 mm (0.27 in) thick, offering protection against common small arms fire in the Angolan theatre. These included 7.62 mm NATO and 7.62 mm AK-47 Ball ammunition, as well as explosive fragments. However, the rear of the weapons deck, as well as the top, were exposed.

Ystervark on public display at the Pretoria Show 1991. The differences compared to the Buffel (below) are evident when comparing the driver’s cab location. Source: J. Botha

Buffel APC. Source: P. Wiese Firepower The Ystervark`s main armament weighing in at 512 kg was a gas-operated GAI - CO1 20 mm antiaircraft gun fitted to the weapons deck on three legs, two facing backward and one to the front. The GAI-C01 made use of a KAD-B13-3 cannon which fired from a single feed 75-round magazine from the right-hand side. The rate of fire was 550 rounds/min, which translated into nine one-second 152

bursts before reloading was required. Available ammunition included APHE, HE, and tracer. The HE ammunition weighed 125 g and had a muzzle velocity of 1100 m/s, while the AP, weighing 110 g, had a muzzle velocity of 1050 m/s. The ammunition had an effective range of 2,000 m and the APHE could penetrate 15 mm of RHA at zero degrees at 800 m. The ammunition performance was more than adequate against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and soft and lightly armoured vehicles.

A typical ammunition belt consisted of five or seven rounds of HE followed by an APHE one.

The elevation was achieved with a handwheel and traverse with pumping pedals, making it somewhat limited in engaging fast-moving targets. The gun could elevate between -7 to +83 degrees and could traverse 360 degrees. The full range of elevation was, however, limited to some 270 degrees, as the driver’s cab is in the way.

Ammunition storage was limited to three bins located on the floor of the weapons deck, each of which housed two 75 round magazines (450 rounds total). During operations, this was increased to nine 75 round magazines (675 rounds total). The Ystervark primarily relied on resupply from a Kwêvoël - 100, ammunition vehicle for sustained combat operations.

Fire Control System

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The mount traditionally included an x1 sight for antiaircraft use and an x3.7 sight for ground targets.

The Ystervark’s main armament was fitted with a Delta IV reflector sight which could be set for targets with speeds between 200 km/h and 900 km/h and could be illuminated at night.

GAI-CO1 20 mm anti-aircraft gun fitted a Delta IV reflector sight. Source 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Youngsfield Facebook group Operational Use In 1986, the director of Air Defence Artillery decided to decentralize the Ystervark deployment. This consisted of troop-sized units of six vehicles with command and logistic vehicles assigned to mechanized battalions such as 32, 61, and 62.

Ystervark troop assigned to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group, 1987/88, Angola. Source 10 AntiAircraft Regiment, Youngsfield Facebook group

Ystervark troop with Kwêvoël-100 ammunition support vehicles assigned to 61 Mech. Foxtrot Bty at Ondangwa, 1988. Source: Robert Dixon Operational Doctrine “In Sept 1986, the Officer Commanding of 61 Meg Bn Gp, Kmdt K. Smith tasked the Foxtrot Bty Cmdr, Capt Deon Bornman to as a matter of priority formulate and practice the operational and tactical doctrine for the Ystervark to integrate and operate within in Mechanized Columns. The initial ideas were soundly based on the 61 Meg Bn Gp SOP. The concept of movement and manoeuvring with the mechanised forces was tested successfully in exercises that year. This became the new norm of Mobile AA in 1987. The era of AA protecting Echelon’s and static targets ended! This then became the standard operating procedure (SOP) for applying the Ystervark with mechanised units.

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The doctrine was introduced to the AA School and 101 Battery, 10 AA Regiment in 1989 and the official AA Battle Handling doctrine was updated.

The Ystervark units moved along with their assigned mechanised battalions, either one tactical jump (100 - 200 m) behind the A Echelon or on the flanks of the force. As per enemy appreciations and the typical formations of own attacking forces, it was envisaged that an enemy air attacked will definitely come from the flank. The Ystervark could not practice fire and movement, as their main armament faced backwards and needed to be stationary to fire. This was a limitation but not a deterrent for operational deployment. Typical target protection was advancing columns and the protection of vital assets, such as headquarters, laagers and harbours, artillery, supplies or medical vehicles. The main advantage of the vehicle that it was in 100% of cases in operations ready to move and/or redeploy with 10 minutes that made the system adaptable and efficient as a deterrent.

Only on one occasion, in September 1987, was the Ystervark used in a conventional role during the ‘advance to contact’ with 61 Mech, when they due to the lack of enemy aircraft successfully attacked People’s Armed Forces of Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) 47 Brigade ground forces. The Ystervark effectively engaged the visible vehicles, soft targets and infantry while protecting the flanks of the mechanized force.” Former Foxtrot Battery Commander, Captain D. Bornman.

Ystervark crew from 32 Battalion with the external 800-liter fuel drop tank of a MiG-23ML which they shot down in 1987. Source: L. Scheepers A lack of armour protection necessitated extreme proficiency with camouflage as a passive defence.

The Ystervark’s success lay in its presence as a deterrent, which resulted in very few enemy MiG sorties at treetop level. Those that did venture low were engaged.

Conclusion When the SADF transitioned from motorized to mechanized warfare, it required a SPAAG that could keep up with its mechanized units. The Ystervark was a stopgap designed to fulfill that need.

Concerning mobility, the Ystervark was able to keep up with the mechanized units to which it was assigned. The Ystervark’s main armament had two limitations. The first was the limited number of rounds per magazine and the second that require manual aiming which limited its use against fastflying jet aircraft. These limitations were somewhat negated by operating the Ystervark in troops of six vehicles. Despite the limitations, the Ystervark posed a credible threat against enemy aircraft, forcing them to remain at high altitude before bombing ground targets, which resulted in extremely 155

low success. If the SADF did not have the Ystervark, Cuban and Soviet air-to-ground attacks against SADF mechanized forces in Angola would most certainly have been much bolder. The Ystervark was the official combat vehicle for the Anti Aircraft formation training and exercises at 101 Battery, 10 AA Regiment. It was withdrawn from front-line service in 1991 and formally decommissioned in 1997. A total of 70 Ystervark SPAAGs were built Ystervark SPAAG Specifications Dimensions: (hull) (l-w-h) 5,10 m – 2,05 m – 2,96 m (16,73 ft – 6,72 ft – 9,71 ft) Total weight: battle-ready 7,7 Tons Crew + mounted infantry: 3 Propulsion Type F6L 913 air-cooled 4 stroke Magirus Deutz six cylinder with direct injection engine produces 124 hp (20.4 hp/t) at 2650 rpm.

Suspension: Single leaf spring on front axle wheels and double coil springs on rear axle Top speed road / off-road85 km/h (52 mph) / 30 km/h (19 mph) Range road/ off-road 900 km (559 miles) / 450 km (280 miles) Armament: 1 x gas-operated GAI-CO1 20 mm anti-aircraft gun Armour: 6-7mm (all arcs) Ystervark SPAAG

Ystervark SPAAG in ready position

Ystervark SPAAG in travel position All Illustrations are by Tank Encyclopaedia’s David Bocquelet.

Bibliography Sources: Google: https.//tanks-encyclopaedia-com.cdn.ampproject.org 156

• Borman. D. 2020. Foxtrot Bty Cmdr: history and operational use. Telephone interview. 22 April 2020.

• Blaauw, H. 2020. Former Ystervark operator: history and operational use. Telephone interview: 3 April 2020. U • Camp, S. & Heitman, H.R. 2014. Surviving the ride: A pictorial history of South African manufactured mine-protected vehicles Pinetown: 30° South Publishers.

• Heitman, H.R. 1988. Krygstuig van Suid-Afrika. Struik.

• Klopper, W. 2020. Project Officer on the Development of the Ystervark: history and operational use. Telephone interview. 4 May 2020.

• Slabbert, M. 2020. Former Ystervark operator: history and operational use. Telephone interview: 30 March 2020.

• Van Heerden, P. 2020. Former Ystervark operator: history and operational use. Telephone interview. 3 April 2020.

Book: South African Arms and Armour A consise guide to armaments of the SA Army, Navy and Air Force Page: 91 Helmoed - Römer Heitman.

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1922: CAPTAIN HENDRIK PRINSLOO AND THE BONDELSWARTS Dr Rodney Warwick Morning Hennie As promised, my article on the Bondelswarts Uprising a century ago this month and the finale regarding SAP Captain Hendrik Prinsloo and Abraham Morris.

It appeared yesterday in Rapport; but this is the extended version, with photos, including some taken when I visited the region some years ago - German military fortifications etc.

Feel free to use it for eNongqai - tomorrow early morning, Major-General Hendrik Klopper surrendered Tobruk to the Afrika Korps, including the SAP Brigade; I have written an article thereon for Rapport; I still have to see if they publish it.

Regards Rodney This year marks the centenary of the Namibian - then South West Africa - Bondelswarts uprising between late May to early June 1922 and its prompt crushing; resulting in Jan Smuts British Empiresupporting South African Party government attracting significant national and international criticism.

What drew attention was the manner of this historically Nama group’s suppression: By military aircraft using bombs and machine guns against impoverished, lightly armed tribesmen, their communities and livestock. This tragic episode followed a long history of fierce Bondelswart resistance against intrusion into their independence.

Capt Hendrik Prinsloo

Abraham Morris

SWA administrator Gysbert Hofmeyr

The Bondelswarts last hopeless struggle invokes pathos, personified most particularly by its finale; Abraham Morris, the most famous of the Bondelswart fighting leaders and his ragged collection of men against police and local white volunteers under Captain Hendrik Prinsloo. Ironically, Morris would die at the hands of someone he knew - a local police commander who had dealings with him over several years and felt something of an admiration for Morris’s desperate courage.

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Prinsloo understood Morris and his people had been treated unjustly but was duty bound to play a central part in the state’s imposition of its authority. Prinsloo’s intimate knowledge of the harsh landscape south-west from Warmbad along the Orange River, made him South West Africa administrator Gysbert Hofmeyr’s obvious choice for pursuing Morris’s band, as the fugitive Bondelswart leader played out the only strategy he knew – guerrilla warfare within the formidable terrain which less than two decades earlier had served his men so well against German colonial forces.

Bondelswart origins lay in their ancestors being one of successive south migrating Khoikhoi/Nama groupings that over centuries had scattered across present day Namibia and the old Cape Province.

One settling just across the Orange River, north-east of today’s Springbok, referring to themselves as “Gami-Mu” meaning black bundles. From the early 19th century these and other Namibian Nama tribes were regularly infused with successive waves of Oorlams or drosters - semi-nomadic cattle 159

raiding colonial outcast communities descended from the Cape settlement’s white colonists offspring with Khoikhoi – Hottentots to the whites - women or female slaves.

Haib River Area The shifting 17th and 18th century Cape frontier conflict ensured the Khoikhoi’s defeat and subjugation by white Trekboers and these indigenous people’s subordinate partnership; including commando duty during conflict with the San, remaining Khoikhoi groupings and Xhosa chiefdoms.

Khoikhoi indigenous culture disintegrated; their language supplanted by the Trekboers Dutch variant while colonial material influences were absorbed, not least firearms, wagons, dress and for some, an austere acceptance of Old Testament teachings. The Oorlam freebooters reflected these transitions but also sought independence beyond white settlement. Such attitudes being strongly integrated into Bondelswart identity, reflected in their armed rebellion against violently overbearing German colonial rule - grotesquely best personified in the 1904 genocidal treatment of the Herero.

The admiration Morris was held in amongst his people drew its inspiration from his military leader exploits during the 1904-06 “Hottentot War”, where after observing the Herero fate, legendary central Nama leader Hendrik Witbooi joined an armed insurrection already initiated by the Bondelswarts. Scores of German troops had fallen to Bondelswart rifles in the parched, inhospitable topography of rocky koppies, dry river beds, stony plains and sand dunes immediately north of the Orange River, stretching over two hundred kilometres eastward from the Fish River canyon.

A journey today across this timeless landscape introduces travellers to remaining schanzes built upon strategic heights by German soldiers and the Schutztruppe’s neat white headstoned graves at remote ambush points. Ultimately, unendurable privations had forced the Bondelswarts surrender; the terms imposed were harsh; their land was further vastly reduced; their fighting leaders including Morris declared outlaws.

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Unusual amongst the Bondelswarts with his non-Afrikaner surname, Morris was the product of a Scottish missionary father and Nama mother. Fleeing German capture and certain execution, Morris self-exiled to the Cape Richtersveld. It was during the First World War when Prinsloo as a member of the Union forces invading German South West Africa in 1914-15, had first met Morris who offered the South African military his services as a guide. The only existent photograph of Morris dates from this period; his part-motivation being the hope of personally avenging his brother’s 1906 death at the hands of a German officer. In a personal recognition of Morris’s services, Prinsloo presented him with a rifle – a .303 Lee Enfield.

Bondelswart Pandok 1920s Morris’s formidable fighting reputation made a strong impression upon Prinsloo, who at age 11 during the Anglo-Boer War had been a camp follower of his father’s Carolina commando; witnessing his heroic death during the 1900 Battle of Lieliefontein near Belfast. By 1922 Prinsloo was a police commander at Keetmanshoop; his childhood experiences inevitably prompted respect for the underdog fighting against numerically overwhelming odds.

Germany’s 1914-18 war defeat resulted her African colonies lost to selected Allied countries as League of Nations - forerunner to the United Nations - mandates; South West Africa was to be administered thus by South Africa, according to stipulations stressing indigenous peoples’ protection and eventual albeit distant right to self-determination.

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In April 1922, Morris then around 50 years old decided to return home, intending to spend his final years amongst his people in Guruchas – the Bondelswart “capital” 55 kilometres directly northwest of Warmbad. The reserve they now inhabited was a miniscule four percent of their pre-German colonial rule land holdings where they once hunted and grazed their stock - territory roughly bounded in the west by the Fish River and extending northwards beyond Keetmanshoop.

Most of this original loss was attributed to a cataclysmically ill-considered 1889 sale by their leader Willem Christian, who seduced by trade goods, mostly particularly alcohol, had signed away his tribe’s best grazing to a British prospecting company – much of this land later to be portioned out as farms for German settlers.

The aggrieved Bondelswarts noted the invading South African troops were accompanied by Union Jack flags and hoped for restoration under Union government administration; assuming such being assured by their alliance with the former Cape Colony government. From 1870, Christian for a small salary along with firearm gifts, had agreed to assist colonial policing within Namaqualand against San and assorted Oorlam bands raiding miners and traders around the copper diggings, where some Bondelswarts had also taken work.

Such hopes were quickly dashed, the German farmers never left while the Bondelswarts remaining territory was further compromised by the arrival of additional settlers – now white South African farmers, many of them war veterans. Those Bondelswarts increasingly forced through need to seek farm work, bitterly resented their pitiful low wages, along with the pass and widely-defined vagrancy laws. Union government officials, although not as callously brutal as the Germans, still insisted upon strict adherence to all legal obligations; some the Bondelswarts found financially beyond their means - expensive hunting dog taxes - which curtailed their remaining means of an independent livelihood.

Morris noted the marked poverty and a seething discontent, accompanied by a hope of change occurring through his much-welcomed reappearance after so many years; the pre-colonial times of seemingly plenty being easily within living memory. But direct confrontation with the new administration was sparked by Morris returning with a rifle and stock animals without the requisite permits. Once his presence was known to authorities, Hofmeyr instructed for Morris’s arrest; the assigned policeman sent to Guruchas – one Sergeant Van Niekerk – was forcibly prevented from doing so by a hostile crowd. Upon riding off, a humiliated Van Niekerk purportedly shouted angrily: “Nou sal die lood van die goevernement op julle velle smelt.”; which the Bondelswarts understood as a war declaration.

Hofmeyr was aware of Bondelswart resentments; they had lost not only land but also during the recent war, thousands of stock animals confiscated by the Germans; never properly compensated for by the Union government. Hofmeyr had received numerous reports of wider unrest brewing demands from the Hereros, Nama clans and the Rehoboth Basters for the return of lands and privileges usurped by the Germans. Uncomfortably conscious of German military difficulties during their “Hottentot War”, Hofmeyr feared any prolonged Bondelswart rebellion could trigger an escalation across the territory, requiring a large, expensive military intervention and hard questions from Smuts, who gave no clemency to civil servants he judged as incompetent.

Hofmeyr pursued negotiations through officials in Warmbad – but dogmatically insisted upon Morris’s arrest along with the surrender of all arms and ammunition. From Guruchas word of impending conflict spread, about 1200 Bondelswart men, women and children came in from across the reserve; some brandishing firearms ranging from modern German service weapons to ancient muzzle-loaders. Organised parties seized several rifles through intimidating isolated farmers; a few months earlier near Luderitz, a farmer’s wife had been shot dead by Nama men doing the same, further whipping up ill-feelings amongst a local white community already well aware of Bondelswart hostility to Union segregation laws and suspicious of their future intentions.

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Hoping to keep the suppression an internal matter, Hofmeyr having travelled down from Windhoek, was reluctant to call upon the Union government for support. Despite having absolutely no military experience, he assumed for himself a colonel’s rank, citing the urgency of the hour justifying his taking immediate responsibility. His small force consisted of four hundred local volunteers stiffened

by Prinsloo’s policemen, plus four Vickers machine guns and two artillery pieces – disassembled and animal transportable German mountain guns - with Defence Force personnel. Hofmeyr had accepted the inevitability of limited government support after Prinsloo had suggested bombing the Bondelswarts precious stock would quickly ensure surrender; two DH.9 biplanes commanded by war veteran Colonel Pierre Van Reyneveld were flown to Karasburg (then Kalkfontein).

DH9 Biplanes at Swartkop Pretoria The strategy was to occupy all the reserves waterholes, forcing every Bondelswart into Guruchas and demoralising them there with overwhelming firepower, while cutting off any escape to the Orange or Fish River gorges. Bondelswart plans were those of 1904-06; ambush the enemy and capture weapons to build up their poor stock of arms – barely one rifle per four men. One group under Morris started advancing upon Warmbad, intending to split Hofmeyr’s force and diverting them from the reserve. The Bondelswarts had never seen aircraft let alone faced them in war, nor had they any comprehension of aerial reconnaissance capability in open country.

The first clash occurred near the Driehoek waterhole where a police/volunteer squadron narrowly missed an ambush and killed, wounded and captured twenty-one Bondelswarts for the loss of one man, forcing Morris to abort his plans of fighting on an extended front with such limited arms. A second ambush failed too – but another volunteer was shot dead and to the fury of his comrades, the retreating Bondelswarts stripped off his uniform.

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German Fortified Gate Towers Warmbad

Fortified Gate Warmbad Sign

German Jail - Warmbad 164

German Schanze Orange River Ramansdrif Hofmeyr’s men surrounded Guruchas; the concealed Bondelswarts pinned them down with rifle fire; the settlement was then shelled and attacked from the air during the late afternoon; a bomb burst through a hut roof, killing and wounding several women and children, while cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats fleeing in terror were mutilated by shrapnel or mown down by machine-gun fire. A second equally devasting aerial attack followed at dawn the following morning, resulting in Hofmeyr’s troops, now exhausted after several days exposed to the harshest terrain, observing white rags being waved. They found 900 bewildered women and children along with 70 older men. The huts were razed and the captives bundled off as prisoners, along with 14 000 assorted livestock.

To Hofmeyr’s fury, the younger men – over four hundred - had slipped through the cordon during the night; split into three groups; moving south towards the river lying 70 waterless kilometres away.

With 45 volunteers, Prinsloo followed those fugitives he knew were heading for the formidable Gungunib gorge, where Morris had successfully ambushed German soldiers sixteen years earlier.

Familiar with these tactics having conversed over the years with German veterans and knowledgeable regarding the terrain through hunting, Prinsloo skirted the gorge heading directly for the river, cutting off Morris’s retreat.

The difference now was the aircraft; being so unfamiliar with this modern war machine, Morris’s men failed to realize their positions were easily exposed by their camp fire smoke. On 2 June Van Ryneveld and his crews wreaked havoc amongst them with bombs and machine gun fire within the confines of the gorge. The battered Bondelswarts buried their dead and moved on, but under regular aerial observation.

Informed now of the Morris’s movements, Prinsloo’s men replenished at the Goodhouse farm then resumed operations, following the Bondelswarts tracks into the Haib River canyons. On 3 June, Morris was located laying an ambush at the Bergkamer waterhole; Bondelswart snipers opened fire 165

prematurely, wounding seven government men, but the hardy Prinsloo, scrambled with his policemen up above his opponents and inflicted heavy casualties – 49 killed and several captured – Prinsloo personally severely wounded Morris who although carried away by his men, died later the next day due to loss of blood; his body being found and identified by Prinsloo.

1906 - German Common Grave – Hottentot War – Bondelswart Territory 2 Over the next few days, reinforcing volunteer and police parties ran down the remaining Bondelswarts - exhausted, dispirited and with limited rifles and ammunition - most surrendering without any fight; their weapons permanently confiscated. Several other leaders were tried and imprisoned – despite attempting to lay all the blame upon Morris. Virtually all the other fighters and those arrested at Guruchas were allowed back to the reserve; their stock animals returned while officialdom attempted some belated poverty alleviation; rations and medical assistance was offered and schooling encouraged.

But even during times where the government just three months previously had dealt ruthlessly with armed white strikers on the Witwatersrand, there were official elements of doubt regarding the how the Bondelswarts uprising had been crushed. Severe criticism followed both locally and internationally; Hofmeyr’s assumption of command without experience was ridiculed by newspapers in Cape Town and Johannesburg, while some British newspapers described the event as a betrayal of the mandate trust. In a report by the Union’s Native Affairs Commission, one commissioner supported Hofmeyr, but the other two guardedly censured him.

Although backed by Smuts, Hofmeyr was requested to appear before the League of Nations Permanent Mandate Commission, who condemned his prior negotiation methods and combining the roles of administrator and military commander. Even Denys Reitz, one of Smuts closest confidants and Minister of Lands in 1922, after visiting the Bondelswarts three years later, remarked 166

upon them being “now a fear-haunted people, so terrible was the reckoning by our machines…The impression they left was that of being more sinned against than sinning…I doubt whether to this day they knew what it was all about.”

Prinsloo, a lifelong loyal Smutsman, passed away in 1966 at Ermelo after a long and distinguished police and military career; Morris’s grave remains unmarked somewhere out in the formidable landscape he knew so well. A visit I made several years ago turned up just a very small Bondelswart Uprising display at the Keetmanshoop museum – including a disabled aerial bomb from Guruchas.

When looking around the dusty, poverty-stricken Warmbad, a man clearly down on his luck, identified himself as a Bondelswart and guided me through the ruined, deserted German buildings, including the former jail later taken over by the Union administration, the cells so familiar once to a wretchedly unfortunate people, finally overwhelmed a century ago by the remorselessness of history.

General JC Smuts

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THE FALL OF TOBRUK Dr Rodney Warwick Late June marks the eightieth anniversary of the disastrous 1942 Tobruk surrender during World War Two with the capture of over ten thousand Union Defence Force (UDF) 2nd SA Division troops.

Four generations later, this event retains a place in thousands of South African family histories; including three years fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers spent in German and Italian prisoner of war camps. Their service medals still lodged in many homes; prominently mounted, safely stashed away or perhaps forgotten in some little-opened drawer, including the British Commonwealth yellow/red ribboned Africa Star and the UDF Africa Service Medal with its leaping Springbok and orange-red ribbon, edged by green and gold.

2nd SA Division

Africa Service Medal

Africa Star

UDF medals North Africa

This South African symbolism, the orange-red shade particularly, might invoke memories of stories long told - the epaulet tag colour worn by wartime UDF personnel - rooi lussies to their Afrikaner nationalist detractors - virtually all volunteers who took the Africa Oath to serve outside the Union’s borders. A negligible number of the very small permanent force’s members declining the oath; standing alongside pre-war prime minister JBM Hertzog’s insistence South Africa remain neutral. In contrast to General Jan Smuts who victorious in a narrow war participation parliamentary vote on 6 September 1939, insisted the country was explicitly duty-bound to assist Britain and other Commonwealth countries, following Hitler’s 1 September invasion of Poland.

Smuts position was affirmed as non-negotiable by white South African English-speakers, but a political battle for the soul of Afrikaners – the Anglo-Boer War still within living memory - raged throughout the war and afterwards. Notwithstanding, numerous Afrikaner UDF soldiers were at Tobruk; for some their volunteering motivated by pecuniary needs rather than any British loyalty; others were committed bloedsappe following Smuts’s United Party vision endorsing a common Anglo-Afrikaner identity within the British Commonwealth. Afrikaners were particularly prevalent within one of 2ndSA Division’s two brigades – the 4th and 6th – the latter serving policemen retrained as soldiers; besides of course the unfortunate Tobruk garrison commander, Major-General Hendrik Klopper.

Tobruk’s surrender bedevilled South African forces reputation, despite their acclaimed achievements a few months afterwards at the decisive El Alamein battle against Field Marshal Rommel’s Afrika Korps and later in Italy. Before Tobruk the UDF had pursued a highly successful campaign against Italian forces in East Africa; following which Smuts committed two divisions to North Africa.

Tobruk 168

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The Springboks, so referred to by English SA newspapers, now in Libya under British 8th Army command, suffered a blow in late November 1941 at Sidi Rezegh; most of their 5th Brigade killed or captured; a severe but honourable defeat causing heavy Afrika Korps tank losses. The 2nd SA Division were engaged between December and January 1942, fighting at Bardia, Sollum and Halfaya to the east of Tobruk, suffering 500 casualties but taking 14 000 German and Italian prisoners. Under 8th Army pressure the Afrika Korps temporarily retreated to rearm behind the Gazala line sixty kilometres west of Tobruk, faced by the 1st SA Division alongside British forces.

The 2ndSA Division occupied Tobruk relieving Australians who had held Rommel out for 242 days.

Come late May 1942 an Afrika Korps counter-offensive routed British armour, forcing the 8th Army back; several months earlier British Middle East commander, General Claude Auchinleck made an emphatic strategic decision not to hold Tobruk again should Gazala be lost; the successful Australian defence was a magnificent morale booster, but at high cost to Allied air and naval resources.

But amidst the Gazala battle confusion, Auchinleck underestimated how badly the 8th Army was battered; while simultaneously coming under political pressure from Churchill and Smuts to hold Tobruk, prompting the re-envisaging of another defensive line running directly south of the port. This created confusion with Auchinleck’s 8th Army commander Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie, already following agreed withdrawal plans intended to include Klopper’s garrison. By 14 June Ritchie with difficulty had already extracted the 1st SA Division and (British) 50th Division from Gazala to the Egyptian frontier. Tobruk remained occupied, thanks to the eleventh-hour volte-face alongside tactical blunders and dithering by the most senior British officers. Rommel on 18 June reported to Berlin Tobruk was surrounded; his need for the port logistically critical for the planned German advance into Egypt.

Maj-Gen HB Klopper (photo left) had commanded 2nd SA Division for just a month; his military career thereto modest and his operational command experience very limited, and now tasked to prepare a 33 000 men Commonwealth garrison drawn from disparate units within an area ringed by a 53 kms perimeter. Having followed Ritchie’s instructions, he placed his own two South African brigades on the west where the Australians had experienced their toughest fighting.

But Klopper’s comprehension of the strategic situation accorded with now abandoned or shattered plans; 8th Army components that were already withdrawn or defeated, had been intended to cover Tobruk’s vulnerable south-east. At this very point the advancing Afrika Korps – experts in mobile warfare – suddenly swung towards on the night of 19/20 June, launching a concentrated tank/motorized infantry assault, supported by the full might of their artillery and desert Luftwaffe. Veterans and historians made much of Tobruk’s defences having been stripped – mines lifted and unmaintained anti-tank ditches filling in with sand – but the Germans entered at just one point; combat engineers protected by bombardment clearing the path.

Klopper had expressed optimism to Ritchie on 16 June; possessing more artillery and British tanks compared to the original Australian garrison, plus abundant ammunition and provisions. But his guns were too dispersed with no centralized command. Obviously aware of the fortress’s value and vulnerability, Klopper nonetheless tactically blundered by failing to properly prior organize a counterattack grouping combining armour, artillery and infantry, essential for defence by immediately concentrating fire upon any perimeter penetration. The static 11th Indian Brigade and British troops facing the Germans were steadily overwhelmed, particularly by terrifying continual waves of Stuka 170

dive-bombers. Allied aircraft were now re-positioned too far east to assist – a critical difference compared to the earlier Australian defence.

A belated, hastily assembled British armour counter-attack was easily defeated; Klopper’s headquarters seven kilometres from the main action were soon aware Rommel’s nearly one hundred tanks and infantry were in control of the perimeter centre and harbour area, the quick capture of which prevented most of Klopper’s already ordered destruction regarding the massive supply dumps. That night, Klopper now forced to shift his command into the 6th SA brigade zone; finally accepted no possibility existed of any 8thArmy relief. He vacillated between fighting on or ordering a mass breakout, but was dissuaded by his more experienced brigade commanders citing transport limitations. Confused messages from Ritchie’s headquarters suggesting Klopper rather attempt fighting his way out east the following night, helped incline his procrastination.

Throughout the 21st June early morning hours, Klopper was harangued by arguing brigade and battalion commanders. That dawn two impending German armour thrusts faced each of the South African brigades dug in over some thirty kilometres north and west; most of these men had still not been brought into any fighting. To prevent their possible annihilation, Klopper signalled Ritchie his capitulation intentions.

As military historian David Katz has noted, Klopper’s bleak situation was not originally of his making; he commanded a completely unsupported garrison facing an attack far more determined than the Australians repulsed, led by Germany’s most effective commander. But having never insisted upon any effective defence plan and failing to stamp his leadership decisively amongst his subordinates, precious time was lost during which a good proportion of motorized troops could have escaped; the rest forming a rear guard. Klopper’s ignominious surrender was not that of a strong in spirit discerning commander, but an exhausted, defeated man, let down by his superiors and professionally out of his depth.

For scores of his soldiers the surrender was received with bewilderment; Laurie Du Preez in 1972, recalled his police brigade comrades shock when informed to destroy weapons and vehicles. Like many others, his efforts to slip away in the chaos were thwarted by the Germans. Future Anglican Archbishop, Lance-Corporal Bill Burnett remembered feeling “quite sick to the pit of my stomach” when his 7th SA Reconnaissance Regiment comrades were ordered to push their armoured cars over sea cliffs, after originally instructed to load up with petrol and water, anticipating their escape.

James Chutter the former senior chaplain of the 2ndSA Division spoke in 1954 of the POWs mental state; where being captured involved not only physical discomforts but also a severe shock to the personality. “In that tragic cage (the barbed wire enclosure into which Allied prisoners were herded at Tobruk) many were emotionally moved, some to sullen apathy and rage, which expressed itself in a brooding eye and an occasional outburst whose tones betrayed an inner travail and torment of the spirit.” Included were six battalions of infantry who had known virtually nothing of the battle nor fired a shot in defence of Tobruk; their previous good record made the defeat even more galling.

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Historian Karen Horn who interviewed several aged former Tobruk prisoners of war over a decade ago, perceived amongst them a “lingering sense of negativity” and even shame – “they had not gone down fighting”; “were denied being part of the winning side”. Policemen/soldiers Fred Geldenhuis, MM (photos left) spoke of being “left without transport and weapons”; Wessel Oosthuizen blamed the British who “promised to send extra forces”.

Veteran anti-aircraft gunner Clive Luyt remembered a strong antipathy amongst prisoners towards Klopper, convinced capitulation had been premature; troops reportedly turned their backs when he attempted to address them a few days after the surrender.

The South Africans hardships markedly escalated during their time in temporary North African camps, suffering many deprivations including hunger, thirst and violence by Italian troops with scant means, capacity or interest to look after thousands of prisoners. Grimly the UDF men resigned themselves; Staff-Sergeant David Sadie tried to orientate himself by meticulously recording within his Bible cover their being transported east to Benghazi from where they were shipped to camps in Europe.

Kaffrarian Rifles men who broke out of Tobruk 172

Some UDF men however did get away; including twelve East London-based Kaffrarian Rifles members, returning to Allied lines after many hazardous adventures.

Amongst the 10 722 South Africans captured were 1200 members of the South African Native Military Corps designated by the UDF as unarmed labour troops and treated particularly appallingly by their captors. LanceCorporal Job Maseko (photo left) took his own revenge by planting a fused cordite-filled condensed milk tin in a fuel drum laden German ship he and his comrades were forced to off-load. Not only did the explosion sink the vessel – authenticated after the war – but Maseko, a former delivery boy from Springs, escaped and after three weeks walking arrived at El Alamein; his courage earning him the Military Medal.

Smuts Addressing men of the SA Native Labour Corps

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Inevitably the Tobruk surrender was compared to the prior successful Australian defence; South Africans interned in Italy initially experienced hostility from other Commonwealth troops; expressed in belligerence, snide remarks and accusations of cowardice. Future prominent politician, then Lieutenant De Villiers Graaff (photo left), whose autobiography details his own frustrations regarding being captured at Tobruk, received official commendation after the war for work in easing early tensions between British and South Africans within his prison camp; giving lectures on Jan Smuts exploits in both the Anglo-Boer War and World War One, including Smuts appointment to the British Imperial cabinet.

Coming just four months after the loss of Singapore to the Japanese with 85 000 Commonwealth soldiers captured, Tobruk was another disaster for Churchill. His initial reaction was knee-jerk: “Defeat is one thing disgrace another”. A Court of Inquiry was held three months later, presided over by four British and one South African general. Klopper in his absence was exonerated from responsibility but the report made no comment upon the fortress’s final hours or whether Klopper was found wanting from an operational perspective. The verdict effectively endorsed Tobruk would have fallen, regardless any garrison commander’s leadership.

Smuts Addressing SA troops in Desert 174

Staf Sgt David Johannes Sadie second from left, commander of the armoured car and the crew taken prisoner Tobruk 20 June. Below: South African group who escaped Tobruk interviewed.

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Conceivably both the British and South Africans had every reason to play down Tobruk – British public morale was of continual concern to their government – the war’s outcome was still by no means clear in 1942. There was also a sensitive relationship with South Africa; Smuts took political risks in going to war; any UDF setbacks invigorated the anti-war nationalist cause; the British needed the Union’s participation and Smuts was not only a Commonwealth champion but its elder statesman. The El Alamein victory and the Afrika Korps defeat several months later, conveniently obscured Tobruk.

The court’s findings were not even made formally public; details thereon were integrated into the 1952 Union War History but without comment on specific culpability. In 1960, local post-war speculation on Tobruk finally received a catharsis; Brigadier Eric Hartshorn, a former 1st SA Division senior officer published Avenge Tobruk, vehemently defending the wartime UDF and its commanders, including Klopper. Hartshorn devoted a chapter to the Tobruk inquiry findings; emphasising Klopper’s exoneration after sympathetically interviewing him; besides allowing his prior scrutiny of the book’s conclusions. Hartshorn also severely criticised British commanders who he accused of ill-using South African troops while lashing out at Afrikaner nationalists who attempted to keep South Africa neutral and post-1948, undermined its war contribution and shoddily treated UDF veterans.

Klopper remained in the military; after the National Party’s 1948 victory his career prospered under Frans Erasmus, the controversial incoming Minister of Defence. Klopper was appointed Commandant-General of the SADF from 1956-58; no doubt to the bemusement of many Tobruk veterans.

Rodney Warwick MA PhD (UCT).

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DAVID STUURMAN: KHOI SE EIE “CHE GUEVARA” Philip Malherbe

David Stuurman https://www.businessinsider.co.za/heres-what-we-know-about-dawid-stuurman-the-man-behindpe-airports-new-name-2021-2 David Stuurman het betrokke geraak as ʼn politieke aktivis in die Oos-Kaap gedurende die 18de eeu (hy is in 1773 naby die Gamtoos Rivier, op die Van Reenen-plaas, in die -Kaap gebore. Nadat sy broer Klaas in 1803 oorlede is het David by hom oorgeneem as die leier van die Khoi stam. Beide die Khoi en San mense het onder die Hollandse - en Britse bewind aan die Kaap, hul grond verloor.

Stuurman en ander inheemse bewoners was daarna geforseer om te werk en leef as arbeiders op hul grond. Met die boere wat hul self in die Oos-Kaap gevestig het was dit gegewe dat hul probleme sou optel met die inheemse bewoners, Khoi, San en Xhosa. Hulle het die “indringer boere” se vee geroof en gemoor.

Stuurman was die sentrale figuur in die kortstondige maar belangrike eksperiment waartydens ʼn klein klompie Khoi lede toegelaat is om as ʼn gemeenskap hulself aan die Oos-Kaap te vestig.

Stuurman was dan ook die laaste Kaptein of Hoofman van die Khoi gemeenskap.

Teen 1795 nadat die Britte oorgeneem het by die Hollandse regering, was daar nie ʼn enkele vry Khoi onder die gemeenskap wes van die Vis-rivier nie. Die meeste Khoi het as arbeiders op hul ou grondgebied gewerk, wat nou onder die Boere verdeel was. Selfs dié wat daarin kon slaag om hul self te onderhou en onafhanklik geleef het, in die veraf hoeke van die gebied was onseker en onveilig en sonder enige wettige regte.

Stuurman het as ‘n arbeider op ‘n boer Johannes Vermaak se plaas gewerk en dit word beweer dat Stuurman vir Vermaak op ʼn stadium gedreig het, waarna hy Stuurman vasgemaak het aan ʼn wawiel en hom met ʼn sambok geslaan het. Daarna het van die omliggende boere ene Maarman, ʼn Khoi man, agtervolg en doodgeskiet nadat hy vee gesteel het. Kort daarna is Vermaak dood aan vergiftiging.

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Stuurman het daarna die plaas verlaat. In 1799 het die Khoi aan die oosgrens gerebelleer, honderde het die plase waarop hulle gewerk het verlaat en saam met die Xhosas gaan woon. Tesame het hulle aanvalle op die koloniste uitgevoer om hul grondgebied en beeste terug te win. Stuurman het die Xhosas gehelp lei vanaf 1795 tot 1803. Hy was ʼn doring in die vlees van die Oos-grens boere en die Britse heersers aan die Kaap, en het botweg geweier om sy stam se vryheid prys te gee. Hy was dan ook een van die eerste persone wat in opstand gekom het teen die teen verdrukking van die Britse regering.

Gedurende 1799 is die boere geforseer om hul wapens in te handig deur die Graaff- Reinet-distrik.

Hierdie skielike ontwapening het tot chaos gelei en is dit uitgebuit deur die Khoi en Xhosa rebelle.

Stuurman spandeer die volgende dekade met die Xhosa kapteine Chungwa en Habana en voorsien hulle van gewere, perde, vlugtelinge en militêre vaardighede. Gesamentlik stroop hulle en brand die plase op die Oos-grens af vanaf die grond wat die Khoi verloor het. Hy bied ook skuilplek aan ontsnapte slawe en ander voortvlugtendes.

In 1802 is Stuurman beloon deur die Britse goewerneur Francis Dundas, wat aan hom ʼn stuk grond geskenk het. Kort daarna het die Britte met mening toegeslaan.

Die politieke “welvaart” verkrummel nadat Stuurman en drie ander meelopers vroeg in 1809 gevange geneem word, en verban word na Robben Eiland waar hy tot harde arbeid (kap van klippe) gevonnis is. Op 11 September 1809 is hy en drie ander meelopers amptelik aangekla en gevangenis straf te Robben Eiland opgelê.

Met sy eerste gevangenisneming, het twee van sy kinders omgekom, terwyl sy hele huisgesin in die kasteel te Kaapstad aangehou is.

Gedeelte van Robben Eiland https://www.businessinsider.co.za/heres-what-we-know-about-dawid-stuurman-the-man-`behindpe-airports-new-name-2021-2 178

Gedurende Desember 1809, slaag Stuurman en ander aangehoudenes daarin om vanaf Robben Eiland te ontsnap in walvis bote wat op anker in die baai gelê het. Die meeste ontsnaptes word weer aangekeer. Stuurman ontvlug sy agtervolgers, hy stap vanaf Tafelberg hawe terug na die Zuurveld in die Oos Kaap Oos, waar hy by die Xhosas aansluit. Hy was die Khoi antwoord tot Che Guevara, minus die Marxisme brabbeltaal.

Pixabay Robben Island https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/david-stuurman Hy was ‘n vryman tot en met die vyfde Xhosa-Oorlog, waarna hy weer gearresteer is gedurende 2019, en weer teruggestuur is na Robben Eiland.

Op 9 Augustus 1820, ontsnap hy weer van Robben Eiland – hierdie keer gedurende ʼn tronkopstand, waarna Johan Smit ʼn bewaarder oorval en sy vuurwapen afneem. Hy het ander gevangenis bevry, en toegang verkry tot die vuurwapen stoor. In die geharwar, word een bewaarder gedood en verskeie ander word beseer.

Drie Walvisbote van ene John Murray, wat aan wal lê word gekaap en 30 prisoniers ontsnap. Naby Blouberg slaan een van die bote om in die stormagtige branders en veertien prisoniers kom om, onder andere die Xhosa profeet Makana Nxele, saam met wie Stuurman ten nouste saamgewerk het in die Oos Kaap. Twaalf prisoniers word herarresteer (Stuurman inkluis), twee prisoniers word deur kommandolede gedood en drie ontsnap.

Aangesien Stuurman die lewe van John Bryant, die voorman van Murray, gedurende die boot oorname gespaar het, gee hy opdrag dat Stuurman nie beseer moet word nie. Stuurman word teruggestuur na Robben Eiland en word vasgeboei aan ‘n muur. Hy word weer verhoor en hy en 11 ander gevangenis word tot lewenslank gevonnis tot in ʼn straf kamp in Nieu Suid Wallis, Australië.

In Australië werk hy vir ses jaar vir die staat in ʼn militêre kaserne. Uiteindelik ontvang hy ʼn kaartjie wat aandui dat hy nou vir ʼn loon mag werk.

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Stuurman is oorlede op 22 Februarie 1830 en is begrawe in die Devonshire Begraafplaas, waarop ʼn spoorwegstasie later gebou is.

David Stuurman was vir die koloniale regering in die laat 18de en vroeë 19de Eeu, ʼn krimineel en ʼn bedreiging - vir die Khoi en Xhosa mense het hy heldeverering verwerf vir braafheid en voortdurende weerstand teen die geforseerde verwydering van hul grond.

Stuurman was dan ook die een van die eerste persone wat die etniese lyn oorgesteek het en saam met die Xhosas gewoon het.

Dan het Stuurman die onderskeiding verwerf dat hy die enigste persoon is wat twee keer vanaf Robben Eiland af kon ontsnap.

Kommentaar: Jare daarna het die Khoi stam verneem of Stuurman se oorskot terug gestuur kon word na SuidAfrika (SA) - weens die feit dat ʼn spoorwegstasie bo-oor sy graf gebou is kon nie aan hul wens voldoen word nie. Later jare na onderhandeling tussen die SA en Australië regerings is ʼn tradisionele seremonie toegelaat, wat op 13 Junie 2017 in Sydney plaasgevind het, om sy gees te repatrieer (terugsending van gevaarlike immigrante na hul geboorteland) na SA. Tydens dié seremonie is gebruik gemaak van ʼn “umphafa tree” (wag-ʼn-bietjie boomtak) om die gees te lok na die oorledene se nuwe rusplek.

Daarna vind ʼn tweede geestelike repatriasie by die Sara Baartman Erfenis Sentrum in Hankey Oos Kaap plaas. In 2015, is ʼn standbeeld opgerig by die nasionale Erfenis Monument in Tshwane ter ere van Stuurman. Die Port Elizabeth se lughawe is na hom vernoem, onlangs is dit weer hernoem na Gqeberha (Xhosa woord vir die rivier wat deur die dorp vloei).

Bronne: https://www.businessinsider.co.za/heres-what-we-know-about-dawid-stuurman-the-man-behindpe-airports-new-name-2021-2 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56371743 https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/david-stuurman https://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/DC/remar82.9/remar82.9.pdf https://www.britannica.com/event/Cape-Frontier-Wars https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00020188008707549?journalCode=cast20 https://www.nhc.org.za/2014/05/13/david-stuurmans-return-postponed/ https://libertywritersglobal.com/david-stuurman-sa-chief-who-escaped-twice-from-robben-islandwhere-mandela-was-imprisoned/ https://rememberinghumanremains.wordpress.com/dawid-stuurman/ Sunday Times, 2013-05-19, p21, Home from his faraway grave, by Carlos Amato.

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WE WILL REMEMBER

SOUTH AFRICANS’ COMMONWEALTH WAR CASUALTIES BURIED ACROSS THE WORLD – PART FIFTY-TWO Captain (SAN) Charles Ross (SA Navy Retired) South Africans took part in almost every theatre of war during both the First and Second World Wars. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Casualty Data Base 7 290 (includes 607 unknown) First World War casualties and 9 986 (includes 84 unknown) Second World War casualties are buried in 1 207 cemeteries 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 Commission’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 world. Here are some of those cemeteries where one or a tiny group of South Africans are buried.

• Boulogne Eastern Cemetery - France Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August 1914 when the Allies were forced to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas.

Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de L'Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right-hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen.

During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940. The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944.

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Boulogne Eastern Cemetery contains 5,577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War. The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.

15 World War One South African casualties are buried in the cemetery.

• Gibeon Station Cemetery - Namibia The majority of the South African and German burials are the casualties of the battle of Gibeon which took place on 27 April 1915.

Memorials to the Natal Light Horse and the German dead have been erected.

33 World War One South African and six German casualties are buried in the cemetery.

• Johannesburg Brixton Cemetery – South Africa During the Second World War, there was a large military wing in the Johannesburg General Hospital and military hospitals at Baragwanath and Cottesloe.

The Baragwanath hospital handled a large number of casualties sent from the Middle East.

Flying training under the Empire Air Training Scheme was conducted on a considerable scale from the Baragwanath airfield.

Further to the south-west at Lenz was the largest ammunition depot in South Africa. Johannesburg (Brixton) Cemetery contains 124 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War and 153 from the First World War. There are scattered 140 World War One and 118 World War Two South African Commonwealth war graves in the cemetery.

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• Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension - France The extension was begun by French troops in October 1914 and when they moved south in March 1916 to be replaced by Commonwealth forces, it was used for burials by the 6th Casualty Clearing Station. In November 1917, Barlin began to be shelled and the hospital was moved back to Ruitz, but the extension was used again in March and April 1918 during the German advance on this front.

The extension contains 1,095 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 2 being unidentified.

There are 63 French and 13 German burials including 2 unidentified.

The extension was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

There are five World War One South African Commonwealth war graves in the cemetery.

• Faubourg D’amiens Cemetery, Arras, France The French handed over Arras to Commonwealth forces in the spring of 1916 and the system of tunnels upon which the town is built were used and developed in preparation for the major offensive planned for April 1917. The Commonwealth section of the FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY was begun in March 1916, behind the French military cemetery established earlier. It continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units until November 1918. The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and from two smaller cemeteries in the vicinity.

The cemetery contains over 2,650 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 10 of which are unidentified. The graves in the French military cemetery were removed after the war to other burial grounds and the land they had occupied was used for the construction of the Arras Memorial and Arras Flying Services Memorial.

The adjacent ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917.

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The adjacent ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL commemorates more than 1,000 airmen of the Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps, and the Royal Air Force, either by attachment from other arms of the forces of the Commonwealth or by original enlistment, who were killed on the whole Western Front and who have no known grave. During the Second World War, Arras was occupied by United Kingdom forces headquarters until the town was evacuated on 23 May 1940.

Arras then remained in German hands until retaken by Commonwealth and Free French forces on 1 September 1944.

The 1939-1945 War burials number 8 and comprise 3 soldiers and 4 airmen from the United Kingdom and 1 entirely unidentified casualty. Located between the 2 special memorials of the 19141918 War is the special memorial commemorating an officer of the United States Army Air Force, who died during the 1939-1945 War. This special memorial, is inscribed with the words "Believed to be buried in this cemetery". In addition, there are 30 war graves of other nationalities, most of them German.

Both cemetery and memorials were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick.

There are 60 World War One South African Commonwealth war graves in the cemetery.

DENIS "CHUNKY" CHESTERMAN David Barber via Frans Bedford Visser On April 10, 2022,"Chunky", a Canadian born veteran of the Australian SAS, Rhodesian SAS, and SADF 6 Recce passed away.

Unable to join the US Army as a Canadian during the Vietnam War, he volunteered for the Australian Army and passed the challenging SAS selection course. He served as a Special Forces operator in Vietnam, before going over to Rhodesia alongside thousands of other foreign volunteers.

Despite his prior experience, he had to re-qualify again as a Special Forces soldier. Completing the equally gruelling Rhodesian SAS selection course, he would fight in the Rhodesian Bush War. Completing several operational jumps, he notably participated in the serious SAS combat deployments at the Zulu 1 and Zulu 2 drop zones in November 1977.

Chunky concluded his time in Africa with the South African 6 Recce Regiment, capping off a military career with 30+ Australian para jumps, 97 Rhodesian para jumps, and numerous others as a South African Recce.

Sadly, he succumbed to cancer after a long and valiant battle.

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DEFENCE INTERNATIONAL

AH-64E APACHE GUARDIAN - BESTE AANVAL HELIKOPTER Philip Malherbe

https://www.interesticle.com/worldwide/hel-og-ta/38 AH-64E Apache Guardian - Beste Aanval Helikopter Aanval helikopters het al ʼn lang pad gestap ten opsigte van tegnologiese ontwikkeling sedert die Amerika se Bell AH-1 Cobra van 1967. Dit lyk ook heel anders as die “choppers” waarmee ons te doen gekry het tydens die grens oorloë. Die volgende elemente sal hoogs waarskynlik in vandag se moderne aanval helikopter aanwesig wees: tandem sitplek (gewoonlik die masjiengeweer skutter voor, en die loods agter), beperkte spasie, bitter min of geen vrag spasie, gepantserde bemannings kompartement, 20 ot 30mm kanon, gevormde gelaaide geleide teen-tenk missiele, opgeleide kleiner deursnee vuurpyle (gewoonlik hoë plofstof-fragmentasie) en neus-gemonteerde sensors. Met dié wat onbemande lug voertuie meer algemeen word, het vermelde wapentuig, geïntegreerde kort afstand lug verdedigings kenmerke, soos missiele.

Aanval helikopters is duur en ʼn groot belegging, daarom is daar net uitgesoekte lande wat hul kan bekostig.

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AH-64E Apache “Guardian” Helikopter Die Apache “trekperd” van Amerika, is die mees algemene en word wyd in die Westerse wêreld en deur sy alliansie vennote aangewend. Die Apache is die mees ervare en bewese Westerse aanval helikopter in sy klas vandag, met diens wat verrig word in die Amerikaanse state en NATO se oorlogvoering. Hierdie helikopter is ʼn veeldoelige aanval helikopter met geïntegreerde lugvaartkunde en wapenstelsel, met gevorderde digitale kommunikasie stelsel om werklike sekure oorlog veld informasie te herlei na lug en grond magte. Die kombinasie van aanval vuur-kontrole radar, herhalende inferometer (toestel vir die meting van steurende liggolwe), en gevorderde navigasie en kommunikasie lugvaartkunde verskaf verhoogde situasie gewaarwording, dodelike, en oorlewing.

Bewapening: Met “Hellfire” missiele, M320 band-patroon masjiengeweer, 30mm M230 kanon met 1,200 rondtes ammunisie, Hydra vuurpyle, tot 16 AGM-114R “Helfire” 2 teen-tenk geleide missiele (met ʼn brand kontrole radar in ʼn vuur-en-vergeet module). Vermelde radar is in staat om 12 teikens tegelykertyd op te spoor, en kan deur mis en rook sien, en infra-rooi en TV sensors fnuik.

Vir verdediging teen vyandelike helikopters, is hulle bewapen met twee “AIM-9 Sidewinder”, supersoniese, hitte-opspoorder missiele, met ʼn hoë-plofstof plofkop, of vier AIM-92 Stinger, of vier Mistral lug tot lug missiele, asook twee AGM-122 lug-tot-grond teen-straling missiele wat vyandelike radar kan opspoor en vernietig, ook toegerus met tagtig, 70 mm vin-stabiliseerder lug-tot-grond vuurpyle (739 meter per sekonde) – wat van die Apache ʼn baie betroubare en suksesvolle voertuig maak wat nog lank met ons sal wees.

https://www.google.co.za/search?q=AH-64E+Apache+Guardian+&hl=en&tbm=isch&sxsrf=APqWBvQWxXhRUC

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Die helikopter is toegerus met ʼn kragtige 1,994 perdekrag masjien, asook ʼn kragtige ratkas wat addisionele krag verskaf; die saamgestelde rotor lemme kan tref-skote van die 23 mm teen vliegtuig gewere weerstaan; die maksimum spoed is 300 kilo meter per uur.

Toerusting: Die helikopter is ook voorsien met nuwe sensors, elektroniese parte, bestemmings visiere met verbeterende nagsig apparate. Die aanval helikopter word deur 2 bemanningslede, loods en skutter beheer. Dan kan dié helikopter ook deur onbemande masjinerie bestuur word. Om die bemanning te beskerm en verhoogde oorlewings sekerheid van die helikopter te verseker is verskeie faktore aanwesig. Die raamwerk van die tuig is so ontwerp om tref skote van 12.7 mm geweervuur te kan weerstaan. Die helikopter-dak is voorsien van boor karbied (verbinding van koolstof met ʼn ontsettend geharde, nie metaal), net diamante is harder, swart gekristalliseerde soliede verbinding wat gewoonlik gebruik word om pantser te vervaardig, wat gehard is teen hoë-spoed impak. Dit is korrosie vry, hittebestand, verhoogte digtheid. Slypmiddel, neutron absorbeerder teen kernkrag reaktors, asook as ʼn legerings middel (samesmelting van metaal en koolstof). Dan is die bemanning se sitplekke bots-bestand.

Aanwending: Die AH-64 Apache helikopter is ontwerp vir gewapende verkenning, naby gevegte, mobiele aanvalle en vertikale maneuvreer (geveg strategieë) gedurende dag en nag, onopvallende-slagvelde, en ongunstige weersomstandighede. Dié helikopter het ʼn self-kenmerkende moontlikhede, om data verbindings, en opgedateerde data met oorsese kapasiteit wat vloot aanvalle moontlik maak.

Dan beskik die AH-64E oor infra-rooi onderdrukte uitlaat sisteem wat toegerus is met aflei fakkel beligting om vyandelike aanval missiele te verhoed. Beide bemanning se kop helms is toegerus met gesofistikeerde sensors en sisteme vir die opsporing en aanval teikens.

Bronne: http://www.military-today.com/helicopters/ah_64e.htm https://www.interesticle.com/worldwide/helta?utm_medium=taboola&utm_source=taboola&utm_ca mpaign=to-in-hel-og1-nc3-10-des-sa-ct-16032d&utm_term=tmgmirror&utm_bid=paNAVrvmMu4jQnzGI0p2IThuLqBtlruRnO8Ael6ecR8= https://www.militaryaerospace.com/computers/article/14201838/helicopters-avionics-attack https://hnabrasive.com/products/Boron_carbide.html?campaignid=9960880000&adgroupid=98771 062937&feeditemid=&targetid=kwd421199829833&device=c&creative=433037064626&keyword=b4c%20boron%20carbide&gclid=Cj wKCAjwxOCRBhA8EiwA0X8hi4gq4YsXPTUScqMh60zEXWpJhDoMpPK6WZ2Qi9vkG2YbF1LAS zW8FRoC9LkQAvD_BwE https://www.google.co.za/search?q=AH-64+Apache+helicopter&hl=en&tbm=isch&sxsrf=APqWBu65SOiVQE6s9Bvzvun88ZmaVyEOw%3A1647955727381&source=hp&biw=500&bih=603&ei =D885YpCFbKAhbIPyomxmA8&iflsig=AHkkrS4AAAAAYjndH3tUDoxlsm0IzCtARSVGk05Zy6Bo&ved=0ahUK EwjQgfC96dn2AhUyQEEAHcpEDPMQ4dUDCAc&uact=5&oq=AH64+Apache+helicopter&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgQIABAeMgQIABAeMg QIABAeMgYIABAFEB4yBggAEAUQHjIGCAAQBRAeMgYIABAFEB4yBggAEAUQHjoKCCMQ7w MQ6gIQJ1C88AFYpaMCYOerAmgCcAB4AIAByAKIAdAXkgEFMi05LjKYAQCgAQKgAQGqAQtnd 3Mtd2l6LWltZ7ABBQ&sclient=img#imgrc=9UmSn0UkMM4TPM https://www.google.co.za/search?q=AH-64E+Apache+Guardian+&hl=en&tbm=isch&sxsrf=APqWBvQWxXhRUCxrsEpN420Z6J9YmSpQA%3A1647955985855&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=625 &ei=EdA5YtyqMsWT8gLxqYKQCQ&iflsig=AHkkrS4AAAAAYjneIUTtTVEwBTkIZqGnsSINxWeVwY vs&ved=0ahUKEwic94-56tn2AhXFiVwKHfGUAJIQ4dUDCAc&oq=AH64E+Apache+Guardian+&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDIFCAAQgAQyBAgAEB4yBggAEAUQHjIGCAAQ CBAeMgQIABAYOgoIIxDvAxDqAhAnUOkjWOkjYIROaAFwAHgAgAGKAogBigKSAQMyLTGYAQ CgAQKgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ7ABBg&sclient=img#imgrc=qXevQAu-K_QnfM

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STRATEGIE

OORLOG IN OEKRAÏNE: MAAND-EIND ANALISE #5, JUNIE 2022 Dr. Willem Steenkamp VAARWEL, WESTERSE WÊRELD-DOMINASIE… Sedert hulle laat-toetrede tot die 1e Wêreld-Oorlog in 1917 het die VSA die wêreld-toneel in die 20e eeu gedomineer. So magtig was Amerika se ekonomiese, tegnologiese en militêre voorsprong dat dit heelparty “ligte mistaaikies” kon oorleef. Oordeelsfoute wat telkens gebore is uit hubris, uit oorskatting van eie vermoëns, en onderskatting van die vyand. Met die gevolg dat die VSA na WO2, nog geen saakmakende oorlog kon wen nie.

Ligte mistaaikies soos die poging om Noord-Korea van die kaart te vee en tot teen die Sjinese grens by die Yalu-rivier op te ruk (na die aanvanklike Noord-Koreaanse inval in die Suide destyds suksesvol gestuit is) net om die Sjinese tot die oorlog te laat toetree, en die hele momentum omgekeer te sien met ‘n dolle terugtrek (en ten besluite ‘n skietstilstand wat niks gewen of opgelos het nie). Of Vietnam, waar die Yanks tog so oortuig was dat hulle soveel beter sou kon doen as die Franse “papperds” – en toe uiteindelik kous-oor-die-kop Saigon moes ontruim. Of die 1953 staatsgreep in Iran wat die Sjah aan bewind geplaas het, maar wat toe die Islamistiese teenrewolusie, die besetting van die Amerikaanse ambassade en vandag se kommer oor ‘n radikaalmilitante Iran met kernwapens tot gevolg gehad het. Of Zbigniew Brezinski se komplot om die Russe in ‘n Afghaanse slagyster te laat trap – wat uiteindelik die VSA suur bekom het met 9/11 en laasjaar se verleë weghol uit Kaboel. Om nie te praat van George Bush Jnr. en Dick Cheney se avontuur in Irak nie, wat aan ISIS geboorte gegee het en die hele Midde-Ooste tot vandag nog op sy kop gedraai agtergelaat het.

Dit was ook nie net tot militêre avonture beperk nie – die Groot Depressie (wat vir die wêreld Adolf Hitler en WO2 gegee het) is ook veroorsaak deur Wall Street se alwetende hubris, dat maar net altyd voortgeneuk kan word sonder konsekwensies. Met weer ‘n herhaling in 2007 en die Groot Resessie, toe die alte slim “finansiële ingenieurswese” met gebondelde eiendomsbates van Wall Street se alwetendes, weer eens sy baas gevang het – met die ergste gevolge daarvan natuurlik gereserveer vir die res van die wêreld, veral die armer bevolkings.

Ek is bevrees dat die jongste “slim vang sy baas” waarin die Neocons in Washington vir Amerika en die Weste laat beland het die einde gaan beteken van die Amerikaans/Westerse dominasie van die internasionale orde (verwysend na die Neocons wat in Februarie uiteindelik die konflik in Oekraïne gekry het wat hulle so naarstigtelik begeer en aangehits het – maar onverwags in die vorm van ‘n volskaalse oorlog en dus baie meer as wat hulle ooit voorsien het). Met waarskynlik drastiese, tragiese gevolge vir ware demokrasie in lande soos Suid-Afrika. Amerikaanse aansien sal nie ‘n tweede keer binne twee jaar ‘n vernedering kan oorleef nie – veral nie omdat die Weste (aangehits deur veral Joe Biden en Boris Johnson, ter wille van hulle eie politieke basse) so baie hoog opgee oor wat die uitkoms van die stryd tussen Rusland en Oekraïne behoort te wees; hulle het letterlik nou die hele huis verwed op die vernedering van Poetin en ‘n Oekraïniese oorwinning.

Dis baie duidelik dat die Weste van die begin af geheel verkeerd die Russiese strategie beoordeel het, hulle eie ekonomiese mag totaal oorskat het, en ook die reaksie van die wêreld buite die NoordAtlantiese sone, heeltemal foutief takseer het. Dit is ook duidelik dat – waar die Russe agt jaar reeds voorberei het vir die konflik – die Weste geheel onkant betrap is, sonder plan, en dat dit wat hulle dusvêr mee vorendag gekom het (sanksies) eenvoudig nie werk nie. Inteendeel, dit is besig om wesentlik teen hulle eie bevolkings en ekonomieë te boemerang – en dis nog maar net die hef-aan.

Ek wil nie te lank stilstaan by wat Juniemaand op die slagveld gebeur het nie, want dis duidelik sigbaar dat die momentum toenemend aan die Russiese kant is, presies soos ons reeds in Februarie voorspel het gaan gebeur, wanneer die somer daar aanbreek (selfs die Weste erken dit 189

nou, en ook dat hierdie ‘n lang oorlog gaan word – wat natuurlik absoluut vir Rusland sal pas).

Steeds egter doen Biden en veral Johnson hulle bes om Oekraïne af te raai om te onderhandel.

Sonder onderhandeling, moet die konflik uiteraard militêr beslis word – een kant moet wen, en die ander moet verloor. Kan Oekraïne vir Rusland tot oorgawe dwing? Moskou binne-marsjeer en Poetin aan ‘n lamppaal hang? Napoleon en Hitler kon dit nie naastenby regkry nie, sodat dit tog totaal ondenkbaar is dat ‘n TV-komediant dit gaan vermag. As die stryd dan wel op die slagveld beslis moet word en nie om die konferensietafel geskik word nie, en ons weet dat Oekraïne alleen kan nie denkbaar vir Rusland militêr verslaan nie, wat is dan die gewenste uitkoms? Soos oor Irak gevra is: “How is this supposed to end?” Is daar ‘n plan, ‘n “end game”, anders net as om te probeer die Amerikaanse verkiesings in November agter die rug kry sonder nog ‘n Kaboel-styl vernedering, en Boris Johnson se hoop dat die Britte een of ander tyd “Partygate” sal vergeet? Dit lyk bepaald nie of daar ‘n deurdagte, haalbare plan is nie – en al wat baat, is die Neocons se finansiële borge, die Amerikaanse militêr-industriële kompleks. En natuurlik die Sjinese.

Daar is duidelike desperaatheid in die nuwe Westerse maatreëls wat nou uitgebasuin word, as die volgende vermeende doodsteek vir die Russiese ekonomie (let wel, anders as Biden se voorspelling dat hy die Roebel tot “rubble” sou reduseer, was die Russiese geldeenheid dusver vanjaar die bespresterende geldeenheid in die wêreld, en het Russiese energie-verkope na die begin van die oorlog reeds meervuldiglik meer verdien as voor dit). Die idee dat die Weste (wat tans maar net omvanggewys een-derde van die wêreld-ekonomie verteenwoordig) sal kan dikteer teen watter prys Russiese olie internasionaal verkoop mag word (en dat Poetin nie summier dan die olie en gas waarvan veral Duitsland so desperaat afhanklik is, gaan toedraai nie) is net nog meer hubristiese wensdenkery, wat ook toon-doof is vir die hoofrede hoekom die res van die wêreld nie die Weste ondersteun nie – die Sjinese, Indiërs, Meksikane, Brasiliane, Afrikane et al is almal goed keelvol vir eeue van Westerse diktasie.

Hoe die Anglosfeer veral, die tydsgees nie kan lees en verstaan nie, en klaarblyklik nie kan besef dat dít is waarom dit vir die res van die wêreld gaan nie (dis nie dat hulle almal Poetin steun, of die Russiese inval en veral die brutaliteit daarvan goedkeur nie – hulle wil net nie meer ‘n wêreld-orde hê wat enkel wentel om Westerse eiebelang en diktaat nie). Gaan OPEC bv. ‘n presedent toelaat van verbruikers wat aan leweransiers begin dikteer wat die prys van olie op die internasionale markte mag wees? (Om maar net een van glurende gebreke in hierdie nuwe plan uit tel lig).

Al wat die Weste se uitsprake doen (en by uitstek dié van Biden en Johnson), is om hulle al dieper en meer sigbaar te kompromitteer as die Oekraïniërs se ware borge, sodat wanneer Oekraïne uiteindelik moet besgee, dit ook baie sigbaar die Weste se nederlaag sal wees. Andersyds, om Oekraïne te kan maak wen (as tog logies die enigste manier om Rusland te maak verloor), sal die Weste noodwendig direk tot die stryd moet toetree – en het ons dadelik die 3e Wêreld-Oorlog, met kernwapens en al.

Die grootste enkele jammerte is dat dit so onnodig is. As die Amerikaners net maar die Franse en Duitsers se leiding wou volg, en ‘n (destyds baie gretige) Rusland probeer intrek het – veral siende dat Sjina tog duidelik die groot kompetisie van die toekoms sal wees – kon al hierdie vermy gewees het. Maar weer het Washington, selfgesentreerd en selfvoldaan, soveel meer probeer afbyt as wat hulle kan kou. Dit moet uitermate frustrerend wees vir die Duitsers en Franse om vasgevang te sit in ‘n situasie waar hulle van die VSA se “beskermende sambreel” afhanklik is vir hulle sekuriteit, maar baie duidelik kan sien dat Amerika vir die soveelste keer kop-eerste gaan vashardloop in ‘n muur waarin daar in werklikheid deure is (President Chirac het destyds vir Bush Jnr. gewaarsku teen Irak weer inval, en het geweier dat Frankryk by daardie petalje betrek word – hoe lank sal dit wees voor Macron, wat duidelik sien wat aan die gang is, ook sal waag om sy stem dik te maak?).

Hoe hoog moet inflasie, voedseltekorte en sosiale onrus styg, voordat na diplomasie as uitweg gereik sal word?

Dit moet weer eens onderstreep word dat die uitspel van hierdie realiteite, nie beteken dat mens die Russe steun, of behae vind uit die Westerse penarie nie. Inteendeel – enigeen met die geringste insig, kan sien hoe desperaat sleg dit vir die wêreldorde gaan wees, veral in lande soos Suid-Afrika, as Poetin en die brutale “mag is reg” benadering sou seëvier. Die wêreld is weer in kampe aan’t verdeel, met die sg. liberale demokrasieë teen diegene wat “stabiliteit” outokraties verabsoluteer.

Met Rusland en Sjina agter hulle, is dit moeilik te bedink dat Derde-Wêreld regerings wat by die 190

stembus verloor (soos wat in Suid-Afrika mag gebeur) gemoedelik die septer sal oorhandig – dit het bepaald nie gebeur in Kuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela en ander sulke “broeder”-bewinde nie...

Met tydsverloop word die Anglosfeer se intense propaganda al minder impakvol – dis ‘n lawwe idee dat die Russe byvoorbeeld by voorkeur hulle missiele op kindertuin-skole, hospitale, woonstelblokke en supermarkte sal wil mors (wat nie die fyn-malende, uitmergelend-brutale aard van die Russiese strategie wil ontken nie). Neem die voorbeeld van die beweerde doelbewuste teiken van ‘n supermark in Kremenchuck enkele dae gelede – die Russe beweer hulle het store met Westerse ammunisie geteiken. Hier is ‘n satelliet-foto wat ek van Google Earth gelig het, saam met video gedra in die Westerse media, van veiligheidskameras in die omgewing:

Kyk nou asb. na hierdie video, wat deur die Washington Post en die Telegraph gedra is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTX-DTxdvKo Dis duidelik uit die video dat die impak-ontploffings in die store was, reg agter die dam, en dat daar toe sekondêre ontploffings was, wat skrapnel en skroot oor ‘n wye gebied laat reën het. Die Russe se verduideliking is dat die gestoorde Westers-verskafde ammunisie (‘n legitieme teiken in oorlogtyd) ontplof het en dat die uitval daarvan die inkoopsentrum aan die brand laat slaan het. As ek hierdie met bloot Google Earth en YouTube kon vasstel, wat sit daaragter dat Westerse joernaliste nie eenvoudig dieselfde kon doen nie?

Hierdie tipe blatante propaganda sal nie vir altyd kan bly stand hou nie, veral nie in die res van die wêreld nie – wie gaan bly glo dat die Russe ‘n fiksasie het met kleuterskole opblaas, soos enkele dae gelede op 26 Junie weer voorgegee is, in die geval van ‘n geteikende aanval op ‘n maatskappy in Kiëf wat missiele vervaardig? (“ ‘The Russians hit Kyiv again. Missiles damaged an apartment building and a kindergarten,’ said Andriy Yermak, head of the president's administration”; daarenteen, weggesteek op latere bladsye van Google, lees mens dat die Westerse tegnologiesanalitiese groep GeoConfirmed “stated that the strikes targeted the general vicinity of the Artem State Joint-Stock Holding Company, a manufacturer of air-to-air missiles, automated air-guided missile training and maintenance systems, anti-tank guided missiles, and aircraft equipment”.

Daar is genoeg wreedhede wat die Russe ongetwyfeld reeds gepleeg het, in hulle stelselmatige, als-vernietigende aanslag, dat dit uiteindelik die Oekraïniërs en Anglosfeer se geloofwaardigheid sal wees wat in die slag gaan bly, as klakkeloos met hierdie tipe “atrocity propaganda” – waarvoor hulle histories so bekend is, ook destyds teen ons eie magte – voortgegaan sou word).

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Só, wie gaan wen? Bepaald nie Oekraïne op sy eie nie. Beslis ook nie met sy huidige strategie wat absoluut in die Russe se hande speel nie, deurdat die Oekraïniërs hulleself hardnekkig bly blootstel aan omsingeling deur grond te probeer hou. Dit terwyl die Russiese strategie (van die begin van Poetin se bewind, met die 2e Tsjetsjen-oorlog, en toe later in Sirië) nie ten eerste die snelle verowering van grondgebied ten doel het nie, maar die totale, sistematiese vernietiging van die opponerende magte, veral d.m.v. intense bombardement – want dan, na die vyand gebreek is, volg die besetting van die grond vanself.

Anders as die Amerikaners met hulle blits-besettings en dan illusies van die “hearts and minds” van die vyand koop met “nation building” welsynsprojekte (wat in elke land wat hulle ingeval het, gefaal het) glo die Russe in die Middeleeuse waarhede van die vyand se vermoë en wil tot verset fisies en sielkundig totaal vernietig, ten einde ook te voorkom dat daarna tot insurgensies oorgegaan word.

Die Russe wil dus soveel moontlik Oekraïniërs óf doodmaak, óf die land uitdryf (meer as agt miljoen het reeds emigreer sedert die oorlog uitgebreek het) en die huidige Oekraïniese strategie stel hulle beste grondmagte op vir sulke fynmaal onder die meedoënlose Russiese lug- en artillerie-aanslag: die Russe vlieg gemiddeld 250-300 gevegsvlugte per dag, teenoor die Oekraïniërs se vyf; die Russe vuur gemiddeld 60,000 kartetse per dag, teenoor die Oekraïniërs se 5,000.

Hoe langer die Oekraïniërs van die onderhandelingstafel wegbly, hoe meer tyd en geleentheid gaan die Russe hê om hulle te degradeer en al meer grondgebied te okkupeer – presies wat Henry Kissinger by Davos gesê het. Die risiko word ook al groter dat die ekonomiese boemerang-effek op die Westerse ekonomieë (veral Duitsland en Wes-Europa) en dus op die sosiale stabiliteit en interne politieke orde in die Weste, ‘n oorlog-satheid en populêre weerstand teen Westerse betrokkenheid tot gevolg gaan hê. Tyd is dus aan Poetin se kant, nie aan Biden en Johnson s’n nie, en ook beslis nie aan die Oekraïniërs s’n nie – veral as die oorlog weer in wintertyd sou ingaan (soos ons reeds in Februarie voorspel het, sal November deurslaggewend wees).

Wat wel nou reeds duidelik is, is dat die valke in Washington wat Rusland so doelbewus uitgetart het, veel meer afgebyt het as wat hulle kan kou (wat ook niks nuuts is nie). Wanneer uiteindelik wel gepraat moet word, en wanneer Oekraïne wel sal moet grond ruil vir voortbestaan, sal dit vir die wêreld duidelik wees dat nie net Oekraïne nie, maar die VSA/Weste verloor het. Rusland het reeds in Desember 2021, in sy laaste skikkingsaanbod voor die inval, duidelik gemaak gehad dat hy nie probleem het met Oekraïne se wens vir lidmaatskap van die Europese Unie nie. Maar waar Rusland toe bereid was dat die Minsk II-ooreenkoms implementeer word (deur Frankryk en Duitsland onderhandel en deur Oekraïne geteken, maar wat lg. toe onder Amerikaans/Britse aanhitsing nie wou uitvoer nie) waarvolgens die Donbass ‘n outonome gebied maar steeds binne Oekraïne se grense sou wees, sal die Russe nou aandrang op behoud van alles wat hulle met die wapen gewen het, en sal hulle waarskynlik mik na fisies-verdedigbare grense – dus, alles Oos van die magtige Dnieper-rivier annekseer om dit as natuurlike buffer te hê, en ook die Suidelike kusstrook aan die Swartsee, insluitend Odessa, ten einde ook met die Russies-sprekendes in Transnistrië/Moldawië op te kan koppel.

Die saakmakendste gevolg van die oorlog, met implikasies vêr buite Oekraïne se eventuele grense, sal wees ‘n sigbare her-skikking van die internasionale magsbalans. Die Neocons in Washington het nou een keer te veel die ballonnetjie van oppermagtigheid waaroor die VSA na WO2 beskik het loop staan en prik. Die politieke, ekonomiese, sosiaal-kulturele en militêre implikasies van die keiser so sonder klere te sien staan, gaan diep sny. Die realiteite van hoe die reële mag ekonomies en militêr geskuif het, sal vir almal duidelik wees (indien dan nie vir die valke in Washington self nie).

Die nagevolge vir Westerse kultuur en beskawing, van die feit dat die oog van die Sjinese bal af gehaal is, tesame met die daarstel van ‘n nuwe beskermingsambreel vir ondemokratiese bewinde in die Derde Wêreld om onder skuiling te gaan soek as die populêre stem teen hulle gedraai het, mag verrykend wees – veral vir ‘n land soos Suid-Afrika.

Hier is ‘n aantal insiggewende artikels waarna u gerus kan kyk, vir verdere agtergrond (ek het veral die 2e artikel besonder gesaghebbend gevind): https://intellinews.com/don-russia-may-not-be-fighting-for-ground-but-for-a-psychological-tippingpoint-in-the-donbas-247161/ https://nationalinterest.org/feature/causes-and-consequences-ukraine-crisis-203182 192

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3530178-the-ukraine-war-response-is-fast-becomingbidens-second-blunder/ https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/when-the-lies-come-home/ https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/russia-s-oil-revenue-jumps-to-20-billion-in-may-iea-says-1.1779038 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-ruble-currency-russian-economy-sanctioms-2022/ https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/06/15/negotiating-to-end-the-ukraine-war-isntappeasement-00039798 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-ukraine-casualties-spike-frustration-rcna33268 https://www.eurasiareview.com/20062022-the-war-america-is-waging-against-europe-oped/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/14/pope-francis-ukraine-war-provoked-russian-troops https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/putins-billions-have-sanctionsbackfired?utm_medium=email&utm_source=CampaignMonitor_Editorial&utm_campaign=WEEK% 20%2020220625%20%20AL%20%20Fisher%20%20Tracker%20new+CID_18da81a1ea979473a b3f19e43d2512c0 https://asiatimes.com/2022/06/russia-chokes-gas-flow-germans-fear-lehman-moment/ https://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2022/06/28/russia_humbles_experts_who_forgot_the_e conomy_is_global_839389.html https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-economic-sanctions-neverwork?utm_medium=email&utm_source=CampaignMonitor_Editorial&utm_campaign=WEEK%20% 2020220625%20%20AL%20%20Fisher%20%20Tracker%20new+CID_18da81a1ea979473ab3f1 9e43d2512c0 https://asiatimes.com/2022/06/biden-stares-down-from-ukraine-economic-ledge/ https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/06/17/we-shouldve-known-sanctions-on-russia-wouldntwork-as-intended/ https://dnyuz.com/2022/06/21/western-move-to-choke-russias-oil-exports-boomerangs-for-now/ https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2022/06/whatever-moscows-military-defeats-inukraine-vladimir-putin-is-winning-the-energy-war https://www.eurasiareview.com/18062022-unheeded-warnings-vaclav-klaus-at-the-marmaraforum-oped/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/27/ukraine-ammunition-becomes-defining-issue-inbattle-for-donbas https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/24/why-the-west-risks-condemning-ukraine-to-slowstrangulation https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/6/22/at-brics-summit-china-seeking-stage-for https://www.eurasiareview.com/27062022-rationality-is-not-permitted-chomsky-on-russia-ukraineand-the-price-of-media-censorship-oped/ https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/6/2/shooting-themselves-in-the-foot-western-sanctionson-russia https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/france-could-plunge-the-eurozone-into-its-nextcrisis?utm_medium=email&utm_source=CampaignMonitor_Editorial&utm_campaign=BOCH%20 %2018062022%20%20House%20Ads%20%20HT+CID_bff50182549ce4d2a1851a6010937e5c https://www.eurasiareview.com/23062022-theres-no-need-for-war-with-russia-oped/ http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/06/putins-war-delivering-crushing-blow-to.html https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/06/16/when-will-we-accept-the-reality-of-a-new-multipolarworld/ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/jun/17/united-nations-wfp-hell-on-earthukraine-war-russia https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/06/28/russia-will-end-invasion-when-ukraine-lays-downarms-kremlin-says-a78131 https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/06/the-potential-of-a-hot-war-between-theus-and-russia/661158/

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EX AFRICA SEMPER ALIQUID NOVI – EP. 8 Dr. Willem Steenkamp

Slot en slotsom – “anders”, maar eg Op my heimwee-omwandeling wat ek in hierdie reeks dokumenteer het, het ons in vorige episodes aangedoen by Sao Tome en Prinsipe, Ekwatoriaal-Guinee en die SentraalAfrikaanse Republiek. By hulle het ek redelik gereeld uitgekom, vanaf ons residensiële basis by die streek-ambassade in Libreville, Gaboen. Twee ander lande in my streek, was Tsjaad (as die mees noordelike, doer in die Sahara) en Kameroen.

Tsjaad het in daardie jare pas uitgekom uit dekades van burgeroorlog (wat in 1968 begin gehad het). Dit is vererger is deur Ghaddafi van Libië se inmenging en besetting van die noordelike Aouzou-strook. Seker my blywendste indrukke van die hoofstad, Ndjamena, (benewens die droë woestyn-hitte van diep in die veertig grade) was van prakties al die geboue wat die pok-merke van oorlogskoëls gedra het. Ook van die alom-teenwoordige “technicals” (synde bakkies met swaar masjiengewere of selfs lugafweer-geskut agter-op vas gesweis), wat die stof-strate patrolleer het. Die een fase van die oorlog met Libië staan dan ook amptelik in die geskiedenisboeke bekend as die “Toyota Oorlog” (1987), danksy die rol wat die HiLux bakkies daarin gespeel het...

Aan die einde van 1990 het Idriss Déby (gesien as ‘n vriend van Libië) vir die toenmalige president Hisseine Habré in ‘n staatsgreep omvêr gewerp, en is die dispuut oor die Aouzou na die Internasionale Geregshof in Den Haag verwys. Dit is in 1994 in Tsjaad se guns beslis (wat Libië toe wel dadelik aanvaar het) sodat Tsjaad van toe af ‘n periode van relatiewe vrede en stabiliteit beleef het en ons by die ambassade kon begin kyk na die uitbou van ekonomiese bande met hulle.

Links: Die merke van burgeroorlog in Ndjamena (krediet: Robert Nordvik) Dit was bekend dat die streek ryk is aan minerale en energie, maar synde geheel land-omslote, was min daarvan in ontwikkeling – dit sou baie beleggingskapitaal verg om die nodige infrastruktuur te vestig om uitvoer ekonomies lewensvatbaar te maak.

Van kommersiële landbou was daar ook nie veel sprake nie, daar in dié dorsland. Kort voor my besoek daar, het dit wel uitsonderlik goed gereën

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gehad, sodat die Tsjaad-meer (eens Afrika se grootste, maar vir lank reeds erg aan die krimp) goed gevul was.

Ons het uitgery na die meer en ook ‘n ent die woestyn in; dit was duidelik dat die water eintlik maar net dig-om die meer self vir ‘n klompie bome sorg – vir die res, is dit barre woestyn-land.

Tog het ek daar die lekkerste vis-dis van my lewe geëet, wat ek na 30 jaar steeds watertand onthou. Beter as enige Paryse restaurant... Dit was ‘n carpaccio gemaak met papierdungesnyde filette van capitaine (‘n soort varswater-roofvis van daardie streek). Gerook en gemarineer in suurlemoensap. Smul-heerlik!

Tsjaad was verdere bewys van die enorme diversiteit onder die lande van my streek. Dit was die mees eenvormig-Moslem land van die ses, met Arabies dus ‘n belangrike taal. Ook die kultuur en die kuns is beïnvloed deur die geloofsreëls – veral dan dat nie beeltenis gemaak mag word van mens of dier nie. Nou nie so streng soos in bv. Arabië self nie, want die kompromis wat die skilders van Tsjaad aanvaar het, was om mens-figure se gesigte nie te detail nie, maar dit net swart te maak – soos in die skildery hiernaas.

Hulle werke is meesal in die naïewe styl, maar heel knap en sprekend van hulle samelewing en omgewing.

Die ander talent wat hulle het, is om leer te bewerk.

Meesal kameel-vel. Die gelooide en gekleurde leer word tipies as oortreksel gebruik vir artefakte van hout, soos trommels en kissies groot en klein. Dit word dan kunstig embosseer met geometriese patrone.

Veral die nomadiese Touaregs van die Sahara is knap hiermee. Hulle is erg vervolg gedurende die burgeroorlog, sodat baie van die jong mans moes vlug. Party het in Libreville geland, want met die petro-geld in omloop daar, was daar darem ‘n mark vir hulle kuns.

My vrou het “beskermheer” geword vir een van dié Touareg-kunstenaars daar in Libreville, wat elke keer as hy geld nodig gehad het haar kon oortuig dat een of ander nuwe item (van koevert-messies tot enorme dubbelhand-sabels vir kameel-ruiters), absoluut noodsaaklike nuts-items is vir enige selfrespekterende ambassadeur se studeerkamer. Vandag sit ek dus met ‘n horde sulke kameelvelaandenkings; waar ek eens bietjie meewarig die manipulasies verduur het, waardeer ek die goed nou vir die baie mooi herinneringe wat dit terugbring aan ‘n spesiale tyd in ‘n baie spesiale streek.

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Kameroen was ‘n plek met eiesoortighede in oormaat. Eerstens was dit aanvanklik ‘n Duitse kolonie. Na die 1e Wêreld-Oorlog is dit toe onder Franse en Britse beheer geplaas (die westelike strook teen die grens met Nigerië gebruik Engels). Vandag is die land dus tweetalig, Frans en Engels, maar die getalsmeerderheid is oorweldigend aan die Frankofone-kant.

Die president, Paul Biya, is al van 1982 aan bewind. Hy is vandag Afrika se oudste staatshoof en die langs-regerende nie-koninklike staatshoof in die wêreld. Nie flambojant of dikwels in die nuus nie, het hy daardie jare al bekend geword onder diplomate vir sy skrapse beskikbaarheid, sodat dit maar altyd vir al wat ambassadeur was, ge-tarra het om ‘n afspraak te kry ten einde geloofsbriewe te kon oorhandig. In ons geval, is dinge verder bemoeilik deur Biya en sy kring se argwaan oor die besluit om Suid-Afrika se streek-ambassade in Libreville te vestig en nie in Yaoundé, Kameroen se hoofstad nie – want sien, hulle ag hulleself darem baie meer gewigtig as die kleine Gaboen (die werklikheid onderliggend aan ons besluit was egter dat Gaboen se president Omar Bongo ‘n baie meer invloedryke figuur was as Biya, en Libreville se infrastruktuur beter was as dié van Yaoundé, veral in daardie jare – die werklike groot stad met behoorlike lughawe in Kameroen, was Douala).

Die kontak met Kameroen via hulle ambassade was altyd baie kollegiaal-vriendelik, en as ek deur Douala moes vlieg (vir aansluitings) het hulle Protokol-afdeling my altyd baie hoflik by die vliegtuig kom afhaal per motor en hulle BBP-fasiliteite aan my beskikbaar gestel (sien foto links: Doualalughawe was daardie jare al ‘n moderne fasiliteit).

Nooit egter kon ons op ‘n datum ooreen kom vir my om my geloofsbriewe aan Biya te oorhandig nie.

Toe hy my wel uiteindelik op kort kennisgewing ontbied, was ek in Suid-Afrika besig met help reël aan president Omar Bongo se staatsbesoek aan President Mandela (wat ek altyd vermoed het die Kameroeners sou moes geweet het, want dit is standaard diplomatieke praktyk dat die geakkrediteerde ambassadeur betrokke is by enige staatsbesoek tuis deur sy gasheer-president – dit was dus eintlik maar net ‘n slenter, sodat nie gesê kon word dat Biya nooit my wou ontvang nie; waarvoor hulle in werklikheid uitgehou het, was om ‘n eie Suid-Afrikaanse ambassade daar in Yaoundé te kry, wat toe wel ook later gebeur het).

Die staatsbesoek van President Bongo aan Pretoria bring my dan (vir oulaas) terug by Gaboen. As die doyen van die Frankofone-presidente, het ons hard gewerk om vir Bongo een van die heel eerste uitnodigings te kry om so ‘n staatsbesoek te onderneem. Dit was vir hom uiteraard ‘n kwessie van groot eer om dié uitnodiging van President Mandela te ontvang. My taak daar in Libreville, was om vir die Gaboense presidensie dit duidelik te maak dat dinge by ons nie gedoen word soos in die res van Afrika nie, en dat hulle daarby sou moes inpas.

President Mandela het naamlik heel gou geleer dat die meeste Afrika-staatshoofde nie baie stiptelik is nie – veral nie as hulle invlieg Waterkloof-lugmagbasis toe nie. Nou die Afrika-tradisie, in geval van besoeke deur staatshoofde, was dat die gasheerland se staatshoof sy eweknie by die lughawe inwag en daar formeel verwelkom. Dit het in die praktyk egter beteken dat president Mandela vir ure op Waterkloof moes sit en wag vir aankomeling wat maar net nie opdaag soos geskeduleer nie, 196

sodat hy die praktyk ingestel het dat die besoeker die vorige dag moes invlieg (en deur bv. ‘n burgemeester of soortgelyke ampsdraer verwelkom word). Die besoekende delegasie is dan na die presidensiële gastehuis geneem om uit te rus en oornag, en die amptelike besoek het vervolgens die volgende oggend begin, met president Mandela wat die besoeker by die Uniegebou ontvang (en met ons protokol- en beveiligingsafdelings, wat die vervoer ens. verskaf het, wat dan kon sorg dat hulle stiptelik betyds daar opdaag). Bongo-hulle moes toe oortuig word dat hierdie nie ‘n afskeep is nie, maar andersyds ook nie onderhandelbaar is nie – dit is nou maar net soos dit is.

Die ander probleem was dat president Bongo die gewoonte gehad het om Air Gabon se Boeing747 te annekseer vir sulke ekskursies, en dié dan vol te pak met sy tipies-enorme entourage. Ook hier moes hulle maak verstaan word dat die gastehuis net beperkte akkommodasie bied, en dat dus slegs ‘n beperkte aantal gaste deel van die amptelike delegasie kon uitmaak wat formeel ontvang sou word (vir die res, sou die Gaboenese ambassade in Pretoria maar blyplek moes reël).

Hierdie uiteindelik baie suksesvolle besoek deur president Bongo (in November 1996) het my by die skryf hiervan, dadelik herinner aan die besoek wat president FW de Klerk in Mei 1990 aan president Mitterand van Frankryk gebring het, met Parys as eerste stop op ‘n besoek aan nege lande – die eerste so ‘n besoek deur ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse leier in vier dekades. Ons ambassade in Parys (ek was toe Eerste Sekretaris daar) was natuurlik in rep en roer met al die reëlings. Van die interessantste van die verwikkelinge, was dat Afrika-studente verbonde aan die beroemde Sorbonne-universiteit, uit eie beweging ‘n popkonsert tot eer van De Klerk gereël het. Dit is op die Trocadero-plein aangebied (vir dié wat Parys ken, die uitsigpunt wat uitkyk oor die Eiffel-toring). Die organiseerders is toe deur die media gekonfronteer oor hoekom hulle dan so-iets wil doen? Weet hulle dan nie hoe swak Swart Afrikaners se lewensomstandighede is nie?

Die antwoorde het die verskil in belewenis-wêreld en perspektief tussen die gemiddelde Europeër en Swart Afrikaan baie mooi geïllustreer. Een kanaal het video vertoon van behuising in Soweto, met klem daarop dat die tipiese huis net een kraan het. Erbarmlik, uit ‘n Europeër se oogpunt. Die Swart studente? Wow, dis wonderlik – die mense het lopende water in hulle huise! Net so met beeldmateriaal van oumense wat in die winter-koue buite toustaan om hulle pensioen te ontvang – die Swart studente? Wow, daar in Suid-Afrika kry Swartmense staatspensioene!

Als en als, ‘n histories-belangrike besoek wat bo verwagting goed afgeloop het. Maar soos altyd, sluip daar tog foutjies in, met gevolge wat die senuagtiges dadelik na hulle vlugsout laat gryp maar wat by nabetragting bloot net komies was. Dit is ook amper te verwagte dat daar sulke ligte misteikies sou wees, siende dat Suid-Afrika so lank geïsoleer was en dus nie resente ervaring gehad het van hoe om al die protokolêre pretensies te respekteer nie...

Die Lugmag het op kort kennisgewing ‘n Boeing-707 omskep gehad as ampsvliegtuig vir die reis, bloot eenvormig spierwit oorgespuit sonder kleur-tierlantyntjies. Dié sou land op Parys se Orlylughawe, waar die BBP-ontvangsfasiliteite vir sulke hooggeplaaste besoekers geleë was. Met die aankoms het alles perfek verloop, met die Franse Republikeinse Wag in volle gewaad as erewag.

Soos gesê, was die besoek self ‘n reuse sukses. Die “ligte misteikie” het gekom met die uit-vlieg...

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Die erewag was weer op parade daar by Orly, met hulle ge-tosselde kopdeksels. Hulle was opgestel in parallel tot die Boeing, wat reeds besig was om sy enjins op te warm vir ‘n vinnige wegkom na die volgende bestemming. Van die erewag af het die rooi tapyt diagonaal geloop na die vliegtuig, sodat die parade, die vliegtuig en die rooi tapyt, ‘n groot “H” gevorm het.

Na die besoekende staatshoof aan boord gegaan het, bly die erewag op aandag staan, gewere gepresenteer, totdat die vliegtuig dan behoorlik in die lug en vort is.

Wat die loodse veronderstel was om te doen, was om eers stadig te taxi, steeds op lyn van hulle been van die “H” (m.a.w., parallel aan die erewag), vir so ‘n tweehonderd meter of so, voordat hulle die vliegtuig weg-swenk na die aanloopbaan toe. Ons manne, meer gewoond aan diskresionêre veg-vlieg in die bos-oorlog, het ongelukkig nie geweet van dié reël nie. En daar draai hulle toe die Boeing se vier enjins vol-oop en swenk hom kort-om, reg daar op sy as, na die aanloopbaan toe!

Die gevolg was dat die arme erewag die blaas van daardie kragtige motore op kort afstand reg in die gesig gekry het, met tossels en helms wat in alle rigtings trek en Galliese swetse wat vlieg...

Die boodskap is natuurlik dadelik deurgegee, en dié mistykie het uiteraard nie weer gebeur nie.

Goeie vriende wat ons met die Franse magte was, is na die aanvanklike ergernis ook lekker gelag oor ons boer-klonge se onervarendheid...

Maar terug na Gaboen. Op ‘n dag kry ek ‘n oproep van Protokol in Pretoria, wat so ietwat onseker was oor ‘n versoek wat hulle van die Gaboenese ambassade daar ontvang het vir BBP-geriewe beskikbaar maak by Johannesburg-lughawe vir ‘n aankomende “Gaboenese prinses”, ene Ondimba. Volgens Protokol se rekords was Gaboen ‘n republiek, sonder koninklikes – dus, vanwaar dié prinses?

Ek moes hulle toe inlig dat Ondimba die stam-naam is van president Bongo, en dat dit heel tipies is in Afrika om na die dogters van ‘n president te verwys as “prinses” – soos wat die Gaboenese ambassade selfs in hulle nota verbaal aan Protokol gedoen het. Dit was ook onder sy stam-naam dat president Bongo ‘n wynplaas in die Franschhoek-vallei gekoop het – ‘n aankoop vir die einste dogter se genieting, maar wat vir my nogal baie harde werk veroorsaak het (ook tydens my vakansies tuis, daar in die Boland!)

Ek is naamlik een oggend dringend daar na die presidensiële paleis ontbied, want Bongo wou my sien oor ‘n “privaat aangeleentheid”. By instap in sy kantoor (die grootte van ‘n saal, met dosyne TV-skerms teen die mure wat op prakties elke internasionale kanaal ingeskakel is), kon ek sien hy is nogal opgewonde. Dit blyk toe dat hy van ‘n besoekende sakeman daar vanuit die Kaap, gehoor het van ‘n spesifieke wynplaas wat te koop was – ‘n winskoop, want die eienaar was midde-in allerlei probleme. Nou die Bongo’s besit eiendom dwarsoor die wêreld, in al die top-plekke, en hy wou lank reeds sy versameling uitbrei met ‘n aanwins in die Kaapse Wynland.

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Ek het die betrokke plaas geken; die ligging was uitstekend, met ‘n wonderlike uitsig oor die vallei. Dit was duidelik dat Bongo reeds besluit had om dit te koop – die rede vir my daar insleep, was dat hy besef het dat iemand met die nodige kundigheid die landgoed sou moes bestuur (hy’t klaarblyklik geweet van my eie verbintenis met die Vallei van die Hugenote, en het kennelik meer vertroue gehad in my kennis van wat benodig sou word, as in sy eie ambassadeur daar in Pretoria, synde dat sié van wynbou – of enige landbou – maar net mooi niks geweet het nie).

So, wat nou gemaak? Uiteraard val dit heeltemal buite die bestek van ‘n ambassadeur se ampspligte (en sou geen Europese staatshoof droom om so ‘n versoek te rig nie) om vir sy gasheer-president ‘n plaasbestuurder en huis-oppassers te loop soek! Aan die ander kant, sou dit buitelandse beleggingskapitaal inbring, en veral sou dit die goeie bande met een van Afrika se leidende staatshoofde verder kon versterk. Na vinnige oorleg met hoofkantoor (sodat hulle kon weet hier’s niks onder die tafel aan die gang tussen my en die Bongo’s nie!) het ek toe ‘n baie bekwame konsultant kon oplyn vir die bestuur-taak, asook ‘n wonderlike plaaslike egpaar vir die huis oppas.

Voorwaar anders as hoe die diplomasie in die Eerste Wêreld bedryf word...

Ek moet ook darem hier met u deel dat Bongo se gesinslewe ietwat van ‘n deurmekaarspul was.

Hyself was ‘n haan onder die henne. Sy eerste vrou, die moeder van sy kinders, was ‘n bekende pop-sangeres. Dinge het tussen hulle skeef geloop toe sy ‘n verhouding aangeknoop het met een van die lede van haar orkes. Om voorsiening te maak vir die gerieflike voortsetting van haar lewenstyl, het sy en dié minnaar (vergesel deur haar lyfwagte, met masjiengewere gewapen) toe – net voor hulle wyslik land-uit gevlug het – eers gou besoek gebring aan die nasionale bank van Gaboen, waar hulle die personeel “oorreed” het (na ‘n paar sarsies die plafon in gejaag is) om ‘n “onttrekking” toe te laat van ‘n substansiële deel van die land se kontant op hande... (Kontant was onder hulle beslis koning – ek het met my eie oë gesien, tydens ‘n afspraak met president Bongo daar in sy enorme kantoor, hoe hy uit so ‘n regop outydse brandkluis in die hoek agter sy lessenaar, ‘n vuis-vol hoë-denominasie dollar-note uithaal en aan die einste dogter gee vir sakgeld).

Een van my besoeke aan die paleis wat my die meeste persoonlike plesier verskaf het, was toe ek Mnr. Thabo Mbeki vergesel het vir ‘n ontmoeting met Bongo – dit wat my so lekker laat kry het, is hoe spontaan-natuurlik ons klompie na Afrikaans oorgeslaan het onder mekaar, wanneer ons nie wou hê dat die Gaboense ons moes verstaan nie...

Maar genoeg van hogere diplomasie. “Anders” was Gaboen kennelik wel deeglik. Maar tog baie eg, en baie menslik-meelewend. Ons het dit beleef met ‘n motor-ongeluk wat ons kode-dame, Wida Cloete, daar heel aan die begin in 1993 oorgekom het. Sy het kort tevore haar privaat-voertuig gekoop gehad (so ‘n kort-stert 4X4 Mitsubishi) en was onderweg op die hoofpad al langs die rivieroewer af, die sg. “bord de mer”, toe ‘n Libreville taxi-man voor haar skielik ‘n klant aan die kant gewaar en net daar vervaard ankers uitgooi. Die pad was boonop nat, so sy kon nie betyds gestop kry nie (die feit dat ‘n groot persentasie van die taxis daar frommel-sterte het, wys dat dit nogal ‘n algemene probleem is). Ewentwel, sy het met ‘n gebreekte sleutelbeen daarvan afgekom – maar nogal ‘n slegte breuk, wat met plaat en skroewe herstel moes word.

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Soos voorheen reeds verduidelik, is die Gaboenese oor die algemeen maar aan die kort kant. Wida, daarenteen, is ‘n dame van aansienlike lengte (sy’s 2e van links op die foto hiernaas). Kort voor lank kom daar toe ‘n Gaboenees daar by ons aangejaag met die boodskap dat ons “reus” in ‘n ongeluk was en na die Jeanne Ebori staatshospitaal geneem is (wat gelukkig digby die ongelukstoneel was). Dit was ons eerste kontak met Gaboenese mediese dienste, en was ons aangenaam verras.

Die Gaboenese sjirurge wat die operasie aan die skouer sou doen, het my vrou uitgenooi om die prosedure daar in die teater waar te neem, o.a. sodat Wida kon voel sy het bystand van haar eie mense. Hulle het spesiaal vir my vrou ‘n staan-leer opgestel, sodat sy van buite, bo-oor die gordyn-kampie kon afkyk op die operasie-tafel (gelukkig gril sy nie vir bloed nie). Lang storie kort – toe Wida ‘n paar weke later kon vlieg en in SuidAfrika alles kon laat nagaan, was ons dokters vol van net die hoogste lof vir hulle Gaboenese eweknieë se handewerk, en het hulle dit nie nodig ge-ag om enigsins daaraan te torring nie.

Tropiese oer-bos wat dit is, is Gaboen nie ‘n land van paaie nie. Daar is bv. geen pad-verbinding nie tussen Libreville as hoofstad, en die 2e grootste plek, Port Gentil (die belangrike olieuitvoerhawe). Mens moet óf vlieg (so 25 minute), of die boot neem.

Meeste plekke in die binneland, soos Moanda (die mangaan-mynsentrum) is ook maar maklikste per lug bereikbaar. Wás ek darem vir jou stomverbaas, die eerste keer toe ek met een van Air Gabon se Fokker-28 passasier-stralers op Moanda land en ‘n enorme stof-wolk ons omgeef – die aanloopbaan was van grond! (Mangaan is een van die belangrike gedeelde ekonomiese belange tussen Suid-Afrika en Gaboen). Op die foto hiernaas, staan daar juis so ‘n Fokker op die stofstrook daar by Moanda.

Uit Libreville self loop daar net een pad uit na ‘n ontspan-plek vir die gesin, nl. na Cap Esterias, ‘n strand-plekkie so 30km noord met oulike informele restaurante. Ongelukkig is die water erg vuil en die strand baie besoedel, want (soos Libreville self) lê dit aan die noord-oewer van die Komo-rivier.

Met die Benguela-seestroom wat noordwaarts beur langs die kus op, word die rivier se modderwater plus die stad se afval, dan op hierdie strande uitgestoot. Die strande aan die suidekant van die rivier, by Point Denis (die naam van die sand-spit by die riviermond – die Komo vloei hier 13km breed!) en verder af Suid langs die kus is wonderlik mooi, met die reënwoud wat reg agter die spierwit sand begin. Maar om daar te kom, moet jy natuurlik ‘n boot hê... Dis nou waar die goeie skip Springbok, nommer L.653A, (al 8 meter van hom) in die prentjie kom.

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Die Springbok digby die mond van die Komo-rivier by Point Denis, en ‘n strand Suid daarvandaan.

As gesinsman met drie jong tiener-kinders, was uitkom oor naweke uiteraard nodig, en daarby was die omgewing daar oorkant die rivier en langs die ongerepte kus af eenvoudig net só, só pragtig (veral vir my wat stigter en voorsitter was van Vrystaat-universiteit se onderwater-klub) dat die vaartuigie ‘n essensiële aankoop was. Die naam Springbok is nie net patrioties ontleen nie – veral was dit paslik uit hoofde van sy vaart-karakteristieke: sowat van bokspring op die geringste “chop”!

(Die romp was nog vis, nog vlees – nie heeltemal plat vir oor die water heen skaaf nie, en ook nie heeltemal diep “V” vir verplasing nie). En as daardie magtige rivier afkom, en die gety kom in teen hom op, plus die wind wat ook kant kies in die stryd, dan kon daar ‘n erg voelbare “chop” opstaan...

So, van al die bokspring het toe die naam Springbok gekom.

Nietemin, die goeie skip Springbok het aan ons (en ons ambassade-kollegas wat gereeld saam gaan piekniek hou en visvang het) groot plesier besorg. Veral wonderlik was om buite-om Point Denis te vaar, Suid langs die kus af. Silwer strande met kristal-helder water net vir jouself – nie ‘n ander mens in sig nie... Ons het dan die anker so ‘n entjie van die strand uitgegooi, lyn gegee en die boot op die strand opgeloop, om die braai- en piekniek-goed en die vrouens af te laai. Dan het ons hom terug getrek na die anker-punt, om vir gety-wisseling te voorsien; oppak-tyd het ek en my seun uitgeswem en die Springbok dan weer prakties op die sand laat loop vir maklik laai (synde die doldrums, was die waters aan die kus veral gedurende die reënseisoen net so kalm soos op die foto regs bo – en die reën het tipies maar net vir so 15 minute geval, gewoonlik net na middag-ete).

Die eintlike verhaal wat ek van die Springbok wil vertel (as voorbeeld van hoe dinge daar in Gaboen werk), het egter aan die einde van my termyn gekom. Toe ek hom uiteraard moes verkoop. Een van my top plaaslike kontakte, Michael Moussa (beste vriend van Omar Bongo se seun Ali, wat nou president is – Michael self was redelik onlangs minister van verdediging) het absoluut by my aangedring dat ek die bootjie aan hóm moes verkoop. Siende dat hy nie gekibbel het oor my vraprys nie, het ek so gedoen. Toe ek Michael egter op ‘n oriëntasie-vaart uitvat sodat hy kon sien hoe alles werk, kom ek agter dat hy nie besonder baie belangstelling toon nie. Hy was op daardie stadium die voorsitter van die bestuursraad van Gaboen se hawe-owerheid, so ek het aanvaar hy weet dan seker genoeg van bote, sodat ek hom nie met meer onderrig hoef te bodder nie...

Die Springbok het ‘n onderdak-staanplek gehad by die Libreville-bootklub, welke huur-kontrak vir die “boks”, Michael ook oorgeneem het. Kort voor lank kry ek toe egter ‘n foon-oproep van die klub, om te sê die boot staan steeds in die boks (het klaarblyklik nog nie weer beweeg gehad nie), maar die huur word nie betaal nie.

Ek kontak toe dadelik vir Michael om die situasie opgeklaar te kry, en dié vertel my toe met baie genot dat hy nie meer eienaar is van die Springbok nie. By navraag van wie dit by hom gekoop het, vertel hy toe met smaak en sonder bloos, dat die bestuursraad van Gaboen se hawens (waarvan hy wat Michael is, soos gesê die voorsitter was op daardie stadium) die Springbok as hawepatrollieboot gekoop het, vir drie keer die prys wat hy my betaal het...

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Nou met die beste wil in die wêreld kon die Springbok nooit vir ‘n patrollieboot aangesien word nie.

Al waarvoor dit dus gedien het, was om die fakturering van die transaksie tussen Michael en sy bestuursraad moontlik te maak, wat toe vir Michael as raad-voorsitter, ‘n goeie klompie wins-geld in die sak gebring het (my prys aan hom was beslis mark-verwant, vir volle waarde, so sy prys was alles waarmee hy gedink het hy kon wegkom...)

Die vrees-aanjaende toekomstige patrollieboot van die Gaboenese hawens, buite sy parkeer-boks:

Die riviere van Gaboen staan in vir die gebrek aan paaie. Hierdie water-hoofweë word in hoofsaak bevaar met kano’s – meesal uitgeholde boomstompe wat geroei word, maar dan ook taxi-dienste met pangas: groter veselglas-kano’s met buiteboord-motors.

Die grootste rivier in Gaboen is die Ogoue (nog groter as Libreville se Komo, en na bewering in volume-terme die 2e grootste in Afrika, na die magtige Kongo). Dit vloei verby die beroemde Dr. Albert Schweizer se sending-hospitaal by Lambarene en mond uit digby Port Gentil. Tydens ‘n naweek-besoek aan Lambarene het ons met so ‘n panga ‘n vaart onderneem na die voël-reservaat op een van ‘n stel eilande in die rivier, al deur die ongerepte reënwoud. Ons bootsman / gids het ongelukkig ‘n erge hakkel-probleem gehad (nog erger as sy buiteboord-motor, wat ook maar gevaarlik gestotter het) sodat ons maar min van die diere en voëls wat hy wou uitwys, gesien het – teen die tyd dat hy klaar die ding se naam uitgekry het, was ons reeds verby...

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Dis nogal ‘n belewenis om met so ‘n vaartuigie op daardie groot rivier vol seekoeie te gaan vaar vir ‘n wesentlike afstand, vêr weg van die naaste dorp, midde-in die woud en wetende dat die enkele motor maar tarra, plus dat ons radio’s vêr buite hulle reik-afstand was (my moeder was ook nog by – hier op die foto sit my spannetjie en wag vir die bootsman om anker te lig).

Die hantering van die seekoeie (wat bekend is as die dier wat elke jaar die meeste mense-lewens neem in Afrika) was die interessantste. Soos die bootjie aankom, duik hulle weg en in daardie modder-water het jy geen idee watter koers hulle mog ingeslaan het nie. Onse bootsman het dan telkens verbete afgepeil op juis die plek waar die seekoei weggeduik het. Toe ek hom uitvra na die rede hiervoor, verduidelik hy dat die enigste plek waar jy verseker kan weet die seekoei nié sal wees nie, is juis daar waar hy weggeduik het – want sien, hulle bly nooit stil in dieselfde posisie as hulle duik nie; altyd versit hulle ‘n goeie entjie, op die bodem langs, in een of ander rigting. Eerder dus as om te probeer raai waarheen seekoei se kind verdwyn het, is die beste raad: mik na waar hy pas was...

SLOTSOM: Afrika is “anders”. Met belewenisse wat in jou hart bly, wat jy op geen ander plek kan ervaar nie. “Anders” beteken natuurlik verskillend van mens se eie verwagtinge. In vele opsigte beter as wat mens verwag het, en in ander veel slegter. Soos die matelose korrupsie wat net bloot as “normaal” aanvaar word. Gewis is daar ook altyd gevaarlike “seekoeie” net onder die oppervlak, vet gevreet aan die kontinent se rykdom. Ondanks dat (of as oorsaak daarvan) dat soveel van die bevolking honger ly. Gewis moet mens weet hoe om hierdie gevaarlike Afrika-strome te navigeer.

Soos die spreekwoord sê: Afrika is nie vir sissies nie...

Is die Afrikane vir dit alles te blameer? Sekerlik kan hulle nie die blaam in geheel verplaas nie – veral nie die leiers nie. Maar dit is ook waar dat Afrika se hedendaagse probleme grootliks spruit uit sy koloniale erfenis – veral dan die kunsmatige manier waarop lande geskep en geografies begrens is, sonder om in ag te neem hoe die bevolking stam-gewys daar uitsien. Dit is ook ‘n mite om te dink dat kolonialisme in Afrika verby is – die bestuursmodel waarmee die Weste steeds Afrika uitbuit, het bloot net verander. Eerder as om hulle eie goewerneurs en administrasies soos van ouds te hê, gebruik hulle nou plaaslike “agente” wat totaal van die Weste afhanklik is vir die mag om te regeer – en dus gaan die ekonomiese uitbuiting voort (dis bv. nie ‘n wonder nie dat Frankryk se handel met Afrika, ondanks die relatief klein volume, vir hulle so ‘n enorme wins inbring – veel groter proporsioneel as met enige ander kontinent).

Soos wat Europa eeue gevat het om sy nasie-state uit te sorteer (en dit steeds nog nie perfek reggekry het nie) vrees ek dat Afrika nog vir baie, baie lank gaan ly onder etnies-gedrewe interne konflikte. Ook omrede die koloniale moondhede (in hulle “verdeel en heers” model) telkens die ou gevestigde regeerders onderdruk en die voorheen onderdruktes verhef het tot hulle “askari”bondgenote. Dus die tradisionele bestaande orde op sy kop gedraai het. Vandag se konflikte het heel dikwels sy wortels in die aspirasies om die ou orde te herstel. Maar veral sal die internasionale gemeenskap ‘n manier moet vind om billik en vreedsaam die kern-probleem van inter-etniese geskille oor begrensing op te los (nie net in Afrika nie – ook in Oos-Europa byvoorbeeld).

Ondertussen sal die realiteit van multi-kulturele lande met minderheidsregte wat beskerm moet word, voorop moet wees. Met devolusie van gesag na die laagste vlak. En met korrupsie (waarvoor daar altyd twee partye teenwoordig is, dus ook die nie-Afrikane wat korrupteer) en post-koloniale uitbuiting wat wortel en tak uitgeroei sal moet word.

Dankie dat u hierdie reeks gelees het!

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HUMOR IN UNIFORM … MENEER AS DIT DIE MANIER IS… Brig Theo Kleynhans Jare gelede toe ek nog verbonde was aan die Bedrogeenheid op die derde vloer by die destydse John Vorsterplein het hierdie insident hom aldaar afgespeel.

Speurder-sersant Louis Lubbe het in ‘n groot kantoor op sy eie gesit. Hy was besig om ‘n verdagte te ondervra wat soos ons gesê het ‘70-30 skuldig’ was. Louis moes met die “finishing touches” met sy ondersoek afhandel en die saak was hof gereed.

Direk langs Louis Lubbe se kantoor was ‘n baie klein kantoortjie wat nie net sy eie deur in die gang gehad het nie, maar het ook ‘n deur aan die kant gehad wat toegang tot Louis Lubbe se kantoor verleen het. In hierdie klein kantoortjie het speurder-sersant Tersius Barnardt gesit. Ook hy was besig om ‘n verdagte te ondervra. ‘n Indiër man en die was soos ons dit gestel het, so skuldig as die hel.

Die verdagte in Louis Lubbe se kantoor wou nie byt nie en het alle betrokkenheid met die beweerde misdryf ontken. Louis het gesukkel. Eers die kant toe, dan die anderkant toe, maar die man wil niks weet nie.

Hierteenoor het Tersius Barnardt weer ‘n “cast iron” saak teen die Indiër man gehad en het hom nie eers ondervra nie. Hy het sommer direk voortgegaan met die neem van vingerafdrukke ens. Die enigste manier wat die Indiër man onskuldig kon kom, was as hy die drie bewysstukke (drie tjeks) kon vernietig.

Wanneer ‘n speurder ‘n verdagte aankla is daar ‘n horde vorms wat voltooi moet word. Sy vingerafdrukke moet geneem word asook ‘n foto vir die verdagte album.

In hierdie proses moes Tersius noodwendig omdraai, na sy kas stap wat vak agter sy rug gestaan het, om nog vorms uit te haal.

Dis net daar wat die Indiër man sy kans waarneem en die drie tjeks uit die dossier pluk, in sy mond prop in ‘n poging om dit in te sluk.

Tersius Barnardt sien dit, hy vlieg oor die tafel, gryp die Indiër man aan die strot, druk sy arm omtrent ‘n voet in die verdagte se keel af in ‘n poging om die tjeks terug te kry.

In die “commotion” val Tersius Barnardt en die Indiër man deur die kant deur tot binne in Louis Lubbe se kantoor waar hy steeds besig is om die taai ou te ondervra.

Die taai man sien wat gaan aan en sê: “Meneer as dit die manier is wat julle met mens werk, pleit ek skuldig.”

Hy het ook.

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ARTIKEL-REEKS: BEMEESTER VERANDERING #2 Dr. Willem Steenkamp • DIS TYD VIR PADLANGS PRAAT – KRY ‘n “PLAN B” IN PLEK...

2.1 Wat vrees meeste Suid-Afrikaners? Wat beperk mens se opsies?

Voel u saam met my dat dinge bes moontlik na ‘n krisis aan’t beweeg is in Suid-Afrika? Soos my Grootneef en naamgenoot, die bekende militêre historikus, dit noem: ‘n dreigende “era van anargie”?

Voel u ook aan u lyf die noodsaaklikheid om, koelkop-realisties en verantwoordelik teenoor self en geliefdes, solank te begin dink en werk aan ‘n moontlike “Plan B”? Vir die wis en die onwis? Veral nou dat – benewens die probleme met ESKOM, konflik, kriminaliteit en korrupsie – inflasie ook nog boonop mense se inkomste veel erger gaan begin knyp?

U is gewis nie alleen nie, as u so begin voel. Soos BusinessTech ses maande gelede rapporteer het: “South Africa is in the middle of a massive emigration wave.” Net twee maande gelede het Business Insider berig dat 1.2 miljoen Suid-Afrikaanse studente in ‘n meningsopname vir die versekeraar PPS, aangedui het dat hulle eerder in die buiteland sal wil gaan studeer. Van die land se totale tersiêre studente-bevolking, het net 20% positief gevoel omtrent ‘n toekoms in die land...

Drie maande gelede het MoneyWeb rapporteer: “The number of South Africans considering emigrating exploded after the July 2021 rioting in KZN and Gauteng”. Volgens amptelike statistiek het daar tussen 2015 en 2020 reeds bykans ‘n miljoen Suid-Afrikaners formeel emigreer (en mens kan dink hoeveel méér het net bloot informeel, sonder om deur die papierwerk te gaan, land-uit getrek...). Verlede maand (op 6 Mei) het dieselfde MoneyWeb berig dat: “Wealthy South Africans are leaving in droves”, dus – die tendens is aan’t versnel...

Maar in daardie laaste opskrif lê opgesluit die probleem wat meeste gewone Suid-Afrikaners se opsies kortwiek: die “wealthy” kán, want daar is een basiese voorvereiste: GELD, ten einde werklik ‘n realistiese en prakties-haalbare “Plan B” in die agtersak te kan reg-hou. Harde geld, verkieslik in die vorm van inkomste verdien in ‘n standvastige wêreld-geldeenheid soos die VSA-dollar. Met daarby die noodsaak om dan in die buiteland steeds ‘n inkomste te kan bly verdien – met ander woorde, nie daar aan te kom en mens dan vas te loop in allerlei beperkings en gedwonge herkwalifikasie vereistes nie (soos wat ongelukkig vir meeste professies, prakties oral van krag is).

Ook net om inflasie in die oë te kan kyk, is die kern-vereiste om ‘n ekstra inkomste daar te stel – een voortvloeiend uit ‘n beroep wat mens in eie tyd kan bedryf, van die huis, en sonder dat dit die bank gaan breek, wat betref die aanvanklike belegging i.t.v. aanvangskapitaal wat dit sal benodig.

Dit is dus ‘n realiteit dat toekomstige vryheid en sekuriteit onlosmaaklik gekoppel is aan ‘n betroubare, saakmakende ekstra inkomste daarstel, verkieslik in ‘n harde geld-eenheid en van ‘n aard wat later insigself ‘n voltydse nuwe eie onderneming/beroep kan word. Hetsy om inflasie mee 205

hok te slaan, of om die opsie van emigreer ‘n realistiese moontlikheid te maak, of net om die vryheid te kan smaak van woon waar jy wil, en te werk hoe en wanneer jy wil – om nie meer slaaf te wees daarvan om jou tyd te verkoop aan ‘n werkgewer vir ‘n salaris, sodat dié kan ryk word nie...

MAAR HÓÉ???

Wat hierdie artikel gaan toelig, is ‘n antwoord op hierdie pyn-punt, hierdie kern-probleem: wat kan mens doen (indien jy nie, soos die rykes hierbo genoem wat nou oppak, reeds groot geld het nie) om jouself in te werk in ‘n posisie waar jy – indien dit nodig sou word – wel haalbare opsies sou hê?

2.2 Ou beroepe val weg in die nuwe ekonomie, maar nuwes wink: Alle denkende, ingeligte mense is sekerlik in hierdie tye minstens ietwat bekommerd of hulle werk dalk mag wegval – of dat inflasie ‘n bestaande pensioen of salaris gaan opvreet. Ook bekommerd oor die moontlikheid dat Suid-Afrika aanstons net eenvoudig ‘n onmoontlike tuiste mag word, wat veral vir mens se kinders nie ‘n veilige en billike toekoms sal bied nie...

In ons vorige artikel oor die verandering wat die wêreld so dol-snel beleef (geplaas verlede maand: KLIK HIER) het ons ‘n grafiese voorstelling geplaas van watter werksgeleenthede in die nuwe digitale ekonomie gaan wegval. Net soos wat die maak van perdekarre ‘n eeu gelede deur die motorindustrie vervang is. Die swart-gekleurde bane op daardie doem-grafiek van die Amerikaanse Buro vir Arbeid-statistiek, het gewys hoe enorm impakvol die versnellende verandering gaan wees op die voortbestaan van bepaalde tipes tradisionele werkgeleenthede – veral dié in die sektore wat tans nog die meeste mense in diens het, soos verkope en bemarking, en bv. die bestuur van voertuie.

Net soos wat die motor-industrie die doodsknel was vir alles wat om perde as vervoermiddels gewentel het (en vervolgens toe self, as nuwe industrie, ‘n enorme hoeveelheid meer waardevolle nuwe werkgeleenthede geskep het), so sal die nuwe digitale ekonomie ook wegneem en toevoeg.

Wat egter hierdie keer merkbaar anders kan wees (en bepaald baie voordelig vir diegene wat hulleself tydig toerus om die nuwe geleenthede te baat te neem) is dat daar met die tegnologiese rewolusie ‘n paradigma-skuif gekom het in hoe ‘n inkomste verdien kan word.

Toe die perdekar-bouer opgeneem is in die motor-industrie, het hy steeds die ou paradigma bly beleef van sy tyd verkoop vir ‘n salaris – toe net nog meer geregimenteerd en horlosie-geroetineerd (danksy produksie-stelsels van “assembly line” monteer-lyne). Hy was ook, wat werkplek betref, totaal fabriek-gebonde, en dus sonder enige persoonlike vryheid m.b.t. wanneer en waar gewerk is.

2.3 Vry-makende, lonende nuwe aanlyn-beroepe is nou hier (nie kits-rykdom reseppe nie!)

Die nuwe digitaal-gedrewe ekonomie bring egter (vir diegene wat die kop-sweet en tyd gaan investeer om hulle daarvoor te bekwaam) innoverende geleenthede vir persoonlike vervulling, finansiële sekuriteit en die vryheid om self eie tyd en plek van woon en werk te kies, buite die ou paradigma van “my tyd verkoop”. Hierdie eienskappe maak van hierdie nuwe beroepe, wat globaal is, uitermate aantreklike opsies. Dis ook dienlik vir bloot ‘n ekstra inkomste verdien, ter aanvulling van ‘n salaris of ‘n pensioen. Soos bv. vir ‘n moeder met jong kinders, wat uit die huis uit wil werk, of vir “digitale nomade” wat al reisende hulle brood verdien met hulle skoot-rekenaars (dis interessant om te sien hoeveel afgetredenes hulleself ingrawe in hierdie nuwe geleenthede!).

Uiteraard kan hierdie nuwe beroepe ook voltyds beoefen word as ‘n geheel nuwe loopbaan, veel-al as basis vir ‘n nuwe eie onderneming. En omdat dit onbelemmerd wêreld-wyd gepraktiseer kan word, via die internet (wat vry, uniform en globaal is) behels dit nie, in geval van emigrasie, dat die beroepsman van voor-af oor moet her-kwalifiseer volgens die nuwe land se “nasionale norme” nie, soos wat bv. die geval is met ander beroepe, soos selfs mediese dokter.

Met die oog op moontlike eventuele emigrasie, of bloot net vir woon / werk oorsee ter wille van die avontuur en ervaring, bied die digitale ekonomie dus ideale nuwe nerings om in te belê.

2.4 Praktiese onderrig wat nie die bank breek nie, en goedkoop opstel in besigheid daarna ‘n Werklik belangrike voordeel wat uitstaan omtrent die hoe en hoeveel wat geassosieerd is met die bemeester van hierdie nuwe beroepe en entrepeneursgeleenthede, is dat dit ‘n minimum van aanvangskapitaal verg. Omdat dit aanlyn doseer word, is daar nie enorme universiteits-tipe onderrig-fooie te betaal nie, of jare se klas-draf om deur ‘n ongefokusde, teorie-gesentreerde leerplan te worstel nie (en dan anderkant uit te kom sonder enige prakties-toepasbare vaardighede!). As synde aanlyn selfstudie, kundig gelei deur suksesvolle praktisyns met eie eerstehandse beroepservaring (d.w.s., nie junior universiteits-lektore met net maar boeke-kennis 206

nie) kan jy dit doen vanuit die gerief van jou eie blyplek, volgens jou eie skedule, teen tipies eentiende van die koste van ‘n unversiteitskwalifikasie bekom.

Ekself kan daarvan getuig dat hierdie nuwe manier van ondervinding-gebaseerde aanlyn-onderrig (“experiential learning”) ligjare meer gesofistikeerd, professioneel, didakties-funksioneel en ook leereffektief is as enigiets wat ek op die vele universiteite waarvan ek eerstehandse kennis dra, ervaar het. Ek sê dit met die gesag van my eie eerstehandse ervaring daarvan, gemeet ook teen my eie dubbele akademiese loopbaan in die Regte en die Sosiale Wetenskappe, lg. tot op doktorale vlak, asook dit wat ek omtrent effektiewe onderrig geleer het as voormalige hoof van die diplomatieke akademie sowel as direkteur van studies van twee internasionale taalskole – ek het dus ‘n grondige kennis van onderrig-metodiek en ook ‘n breë basis vir vergelyking.

Dit moet hier beklemtoon word dat hierdie nuwe beroepe wat intap in die digitale ekonomie, beslis nie vinnige, maklike nuwe “kits-ryk” skemas is nie. Ja, soos ons sal wys word baie mense goed ryk daardeur, net soos wat daar altyd ryk en arm prokureurs was. Net soos om enige ander professionele nering werklik te kan bemeester, verg die bemeestering van die geleenthede gebied deur die digitale ekonomie bowenal toewyding: die bereidwilligheid om werklik die nodige sweet en tyd te belê in jouself (en, let wel, dit verg nie rekenaar-programmering/ koderingsvaardigheid of indiepte tegnies kennis van, of aanleg vir die hardeware-tegnologie nie). Die nuwe beroepe tap weliswaar in die nuwe digitale ekonomie in, maar dit gaan hier oor die besigheidsaanwending van die tegnologie, nie oor die tegniese bedryf van die sagte- en hardeware self nie – dus, net soos wat daar ‘n verskil is tussen weet hoe om ‘n slimfoon te gebruik, en hoe om een se kodes te programmeer.

Anders as die “ou” beroepe egter, kan hierdie tipe beroepsvaardigheid tipies in minder as ‘n jaar van intensiewe, professioneel-geleide selfstudie en in-oefen bemeester word, teen ‘n onderrig-koste van tussen US$500 en $1,000 (afhangende van watter instelling mens kies om by in te skryf).

Daarna, om te begin praktiseer, is die basiese benodighede ‘n skoot-rekenaar (“laptop”) ‘n internetkonneksie en ‘n eie web-werf. Hier is dus die geleentheid om finansiële sekuriteit en vryheid te skep, sonder ‘n onoorkombare toetree-drempel i.t.v. aanvangskapitaal. Desondanks is dit beslis nie “get rich quick” skemas nie (al lê daar bewysbaar groot verdien-potensiaal in). Dit gaan harde werk verg om te bemeester, net soos om vir enige ander beroep (eerder as bloot ‘n werk of tydverdryf) te kwalifiseer. En, net soos met enige ander professie, gaan nie almal sukses hê daarmee nie.

2.5 Nie net die tegnologie en werkgeleenthede is aan’t verander nie Soos wat Suid-Afrikaners maar alte goed weet, is die plaaslike risiko-profiel wesentlik aan’t styg, op politieke, sosiale, ekonomiese en veiligheidsterrein. Reeds het die tendens oor die afgelope dekades Suid-Afrikaners se welvaart verniel – byvoorbeeld deur die val in die waarde van die Rand (toe ekself destyds my aftree-beplanning gedoen het, was die Rand sterker as die VSA-dollar, teen toe ZAR0.70 vir US$1.00. Dit het sedertdien twintig-voudig in wissel-waarde geval, sodat my destydse oudag-voorsiening vandag in dollar-terme net 5% verteenwoordig van wat dit veronderstel was om te wees – met die reële koopkrag daarvan natuurlik nog verder verswak deur Suid-Afrika se altyd hoë (en nou sommer weer baie hoër) inflasiekoers.

Daarby is die wêreld-ekonomie onstuitbaar oppad na resessie – die Amerikaanse sakenuus-kanaal CNBC het bv. op 9 Junie 2022 bekend gemaak dat nie ‘n enkele een van die talle korporatiewe Hoof-Finansiële Beamptes vir wie hulle begin-Junie geraadpleeg het, van mening was dat ‘n ressessie vermybaar is nie. Dit beaam Elon Musk se “baie slegte gevoel” oor die ekonomie, en Jamie Dimon (hoof van die wêreld se grootste bank, JP Morgan Chase) se onlangse stelling dat ‘n “ekonomiese orkaan” aan die kom is. Resessie gekoppel met baie hoë inflasie sal dus oor die planeet uitkring. Dit sal Jan Publiek se koopkrag en dalk ook werksekerheid, ernstig beproef – met die voorspelbare gevolge rondom openbare orde en veiligheid, ook betreffende kriminaliteit, wat boonop ver-erger sal word deur voedsel-skaarstes en ander ekonomiese probleme voortvloeiend uit die oorlog in Oekraïne.

Gegewe ook die ernstige tweespalt binne Suid-Afrika se regeringsparty en die konflikpotensiaal daaraan gekoppel, wat tot ‘n herhaling van Julie 2021 se geweld en strooptogte kan lei – ‘n “era van anargie” – dink vele patriotiese Suid-Afrikaners dus baie logies en realisties aan die dringende noodsaak van ‘n plan “B” in plek kry, vir die wis en die onwis – vir hulleself, en ook hulle kinders. ‘n Plan wat mens se inkomste moet kan beskerm, ideaal deur ‘n eksterne verdienste in ‘n harde 207

geldeenheid soos die VSA-dollar daar te stel, en/of die bestaande familie-inkomste op kan top teen inflasie. Les bes, moet die Plan “B” ook die moontlikheid daarstel vir gladweg oorsee te kan verhuis en daar dan soomloos voort te kan bly praktiseer in mens se nuwe internet-beroep (die ding wat meeste Suid-Afrikaners pootjie m.b.t. die emigrasie-opsie, is juis tipies die noodsaak om hulle finansiële self-onderhoudendheid te kan bewys).

Hierdie nuwe nerings daargestel deur die digitale ekonomie, voldoen aan al daardie vereistes: inkomste in VSA-dollar (die geldeenheid van die internet), dis enige plek op aarde praktiseerbaar, en is – vanweë die uitnemende plooibaarheid daarvan – ook ideaal-geskik as inkomste-aanvuller (indien dit aanvanklik deeltyds infaseer word, en nie uit die staanspoor as nuwe eie voltydse besigheid beoefen word nie).

Kom ons begin nou in meer detail kyk na die wie en wat van hierdie nuwe beroepe, en dit wat aan hulle ‘n eie identiteit en bestaansrasionaal gee – met ander woorde, wat is die logika agter hulle vinnige groei en die plooibaarheid/vryheid, plus lonende opbrengste, wat dié beroepe op hulle unieke manier lewer.

2.6 Die geheel nuwe beroepe (en nuwe vorme van ou beroepe) wat deur die internetekonomie moontlik gemaak is Die digitale era het ‘n breë spektrum van geheel nuwe professies moontlik gemaak, sowel as geleentheid om ou bestaande vaardighede (soos bv. om knap te kan skryf) op nuwe wyses baie lonend self te kan monetiseer, as ‘n eie nuwe besigheid.

Ons het byvoorbeeld in hoofstuk een uitgewys dat aanlyn-onderrig die snel-groeindste sektor in die nuwe ekonomie is, met reeds ‘n waarde van een biljoen VSA-dollar per dag. Vele platforms is dus geskep om vir die individu te help om aanlyn kursus-pakkette saam te stel en te bemark, oor enigiets onder die son. Die grootste van hierdie platforms is Udemy, maar daar is ook Teachable, en die Sensei-platform op WordPress. Om aanlyn onderriggewer/kursusaanbieder te wees, of ook berading te doen (“coach”), is dus een van die bewese nuwe maniere om ‘n eie nuwe inkomste mee te kan verdien.

Omdat hierdie produkte (soos ‘n aanlyn-kursus wat mens ontwikkel en d.m.v. platforms soos Udemy verkoop) ‘n prakties onbepaalde rakleeftyd het, ontsnap dit ook aan die paradigma van mens se tyd direk vir ‘n salaris verkoop. Dit verdien die mees ideale vorm van inkomste – dit wat genoem word passiewe of residuele inkomste, wat gegenereer word selfs wanneer mens slaap – want die aanvanklike belegging in tyd om die produk daar te gestel het, sal bly vrug afwerp lank na die werk ingesit is om die kursus-materiaal te skep. Omdat dit via die internet bemark word, is die potensiële mark letterlik wêreldwyd, en die verdienste is in die geldeenheid van die internet, synde VSA-dollars.

Skrywers kan ook nou, via die internet, hulle boeke self-publiseer, sonder die tussenkoms van ‘n uitgewer.

Selfs kunstenaars en hand-vaardiges kan hulle eie kunswerke en produkte nou direk bemark aan die ganse mensdom, via die internet (mits natuurlik hulle die vaardighede bemeester het om op die oorbevolkte internet tot hulle potensiële klante se aandag te kan kom en met hulle te konnekteer).

Sonder sulke internet-spesifieke bemarkingsvaardigheid, sou dit wees soos om die wêreld se aantreklikste kiosk met die beste pryse en lekkerste boerewors-rolle te hê, maar weggesteek in die middel van ‘n woestyn waar niemand verbykom nie – dit gaan bepaald nie geld kan maak nie!

Die benutting van die internet op hierdie spesifieke wyse, nl. om jou eie produk of diens te verkoop, vereis uiteraard dat die verkoper ‘n produk of diens moet hê om aan te bied – dus self-geskepte inhoud (oftewel “content”). Oor hierdie opsie sal ons in latere artikels meer detail verskaf.

Wat egter gemaak, as mens geen eie “content” het nie – geen eie produk of diens – om op die internet te verkoop nie? Is mens dan uitgeslote, sonder moontlikheid om hierdie nuwe medium te baat te kan neem?

Die antwoord is, kort en kragtig: NEE. Jy kán meedoen, en goed geld maak – mits jy verstaan watter vaardigheid die internet se aanwending bowenal vereis, en jy daardie nuwe beroep deeglik bemeester. ‘n Nuwe beroep wat jou ook die sekuriteit en welvaart van ‘n grootliks passiewe inkomste sal gee, plus die vryheid en plooibaarheid van woon en werk waar en wanneer jý wil.

Daardie vaardigheid is internet-spesifieke bemarking van ander se dienste en produkte – bekend as geaffilieerde bemarking. Dis nog nie ‘n begrip waarvoor mens soek-sukses gaan hê, as jy dit in Afrikaans op bv. YouTube sou probeer soek nie (daarom dat ek hierdie artikel in Afrikaans skryf, 208

juis om dié aantreklike nuwe nering beter bekend te maak onder ons mense). Onder sy Engelse benaming, nl. affiliate marketing, is daar al heelwat gratis materiaal beskikbaar op YouTube.

Maar voor ons uitkom by die detail van wat presies “affiliate marketing” is, moet ons eers bietjie stilstaan by hoe die internet die hele kuns en wetenskap van bemarking as geheel, grondiglik verander het – sodat u kan verstaan hoekom hierdie nuwe bemarkingsvorm so suksesvol is.

2.7 Bemarkingsvaadigheid as die ontsluiter van die internet se verkoop-potensiaal Of jy nou jou eie produkte of dienste via die internet wil verkoop, of ander mense s’n – die sleutelwaarheid is dat puik “inhoud” absoluut noodsaaklik is, maar dat dit nie insigself genoeg is om sukses te verseker nie. Aanvullend tot ‘n werklik puik produk te hê, moet jy weet hoe om op die internet te bemark. Ek het hierdie waarheid self beleef, m.b.t. die bemarking van my vrou se aanlyn-taalskool (as u ooit Spaans wil bemeester, hou ons asb. in gedagte: www.edele.org ).

Kom ons kyk vinnig na die geskiedenis van bemarking, ter agtergrond en vir begrip van hoe en hoekom bemarking verander het.

In dae van ouds, as jy in jou dorpie iets gehad het om te verkoop, moes jy daarmee na die markplein, of andersins moes jy maar van huis-tot-huis smous, straat-af. Dit het natuurlik gehelp as andere jou produk kon aanprys (sg. “word of mouth”) vanweë die geloofwaardigheid wat dit verleen. Maar jou reik-afstand was uiteraard baie beperk. Só het dit gebly totdat die kennis-rewolusie na die Donker Middel-eeue, mense geletterd gemaak het en die drukpers die uitgee van koerante en verkoopsbrosjures tot gevolg gehad het. Dáár is die moderne advertensiewese gebore, en ook bv. die verkoops-katalogus.

Na die koms van radio en televisie, het die praktyk van massa-kampanjes via die media loods, hoogty gevier. Die probleem hiermee was egter dat jou advertensie (vir bv. aambei-behandeling), wat jy graag etenstyd op TV wil laat loop – want dis wanneer meeste mense ingeskakel is – omtrent die allerlaaste ding is wat mense saam met hulle ete wil inneem. Dit was dus ‘n haelgeweerbenadering, met 99% van die pare oë waarvoor jy betaal, wat allermins op die tydstip van publikasie van jou advertensie, daaraan behoefte had. Trouens, as jou advertensie bv. hulle gunsteling-sepie sou onderbreek, dan kon dit negatiewe emosies rondom jou produk vestig, eerder as enigiets positief.

Wat sou dan enige adverteerder se droom wees? Om sy advertensie onder die oë te kan kry van ‘n prospektiewe koper, presies op die moment dat daardie koper self ernstig aan’t soek is vir die eksakte oplossing wat jy aanbied. Verder, dat jy as bemarker dan net aan die vertoon-platform van jou advertensie, hoef te betaal vir die presiese aantal oë wat wel doelbewus na jou tipe produk se promosie gesoek en gekyk het.

Vir lank was hierdie utopie natuurlik net ‘n blote adverteerder-droom en moes hulle maar lukraak in die bondel bly skiet op TV, radio en in die drukpers – totdat die internet en Google op die toneel verskyn het!

Nou kan jy jou aambei-advertensie onder arme Koos se neus inskuif, presies op die oomblik dat Koos naarstigtelik op sy slimfoon soek na raad en hulp vir daardie einste pynlike probleem. Met gevolglik ‘n besonder groot kans dat Koos wel sal koop. En sonder dat jy vir Sannie en Jannie, wat sonder kwint of kwaal lekker gemaklik sit en sepies kyk, met jou intervensie bodder, of dat jy boonop vir sulke kwaai oë hoef te betaal.

Wat verklaar waarom vandag, van die totale wêreldwye spandering op advertensies van US$836.9 biljoen, die leeue-aandeel van US$602.3 biljoen oftewel 72% aan internet-bemarking bestee word.

En hoekom Google se advertensie-inkomste jaarliks meer as US$200 biljoen bedra. Want sien, hoe dit werk is dat Google vir mense wat produkte wil verkoop sê: wanneer Koos vir aambei-kure soek, sal ons algoritmes weliswaar jou produk in rang-orde aan hom voorlê, en dis gratis – maar daar mag ander fabrikate wees wat volgens die algoritmes hoër op rangeer as jy, sodat jy op bladsy sewe of verder terug mag verdwyn; sou jy egter ‘n klein ou bedraggie aan ons betaal – en dit boonop enkel en alleen indien, en slegs wanneer Koos wel op jou advertensie gekliek het (sg. “pay per click” of PPC) dan sit ons jou produk bo-aan bladsy een, onder die tersaaklike advertensies....

Enige adverteerder met net ‘n halwe brein kan dus insien dat sulke geteikende advertering wat net vir werklike resultate betaal, verkieslik is bo die skoot-in-die-donker, haelgeweer-benadering van kampanjes in die openbare media. Met 72% van advertensie-geld dus nou op die internet spandeer.

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Maar daar is egter nog een verdere verfyning moontlik, danksy die internet se onvergelykbare soepelheid. Want sien, mense is van nature beide skepties en slim genoeg om te verstaan dat elke verkoper sy eie produk natuurlik sal ophemel. Mense verstaan ook dat ‘n betaalde eie advertensie minder betroubaar is as ‘n aanbeveling afkomstig van ‘n kundige derde party. Vir maksimumgeloofwaardigheid, moet die moderne adverteerder dus probeer terug-tap in daardie oer-oue konsep van “word of mouth”, met ideaal soveel derdes as moontlik wat jou produk voorstoot.

Neem nou verder in ag dat die tipiese mark boonop erg gesegmenteer is, i.t.v. byvoorbeeld ouderdomsgroepe, geslag, stand, kultuur, onderwysvlak en nasionaliteit. Dit help dus die verkoper om ‘n hele spektrum van diverse bemarkers vir sy produk te hê. Sulke diversiteit sorg dan dat kopers binne elke bepaalde marksegment, hopelik ‘n gefokusde bemarker / boodskap sal teenkom om persoonlik by aanklank te vind – veral as daardie onafhanklike oftewel geaffilieerde bemarker nie self direk aan jou maatskappy gekoppel is nie, en hy/sy reeds eie geloofwaardigheid en invloed het en ‘n internet-gevolg opgebou het.

Dis hierdie laasgenoemde nis, nl. vir onafhanklike, vaardige bemarkers wat teen kommissie, met hulle eie middele en geloofwaardigheid, bepaalde marksegmente kan be-arbei, wat aanleiding gegee het tot die geboorte van ‘n nuwe beroep. Hierdie is ‘n nuwe klas van onafhanklike bemarkers wat nie ‘n lewe maak daaruit deur bloot hulle eie produkte of dienste bemark nie. Hulle fokus is op die bemarking van die produkte van andere, teen kommissie. Hierdie nuwe beroep staan bekend as Geaffilieerde Bemarking oftewel “Affiliate Marketing” (dit het so teen 2008 begin opgang maak).

2.8 Geaffilieerde Bemarking: Die infogram hieronder, wys dat geaffilieerde bemarkers, globaal gesien, reeds meer advertensie-geld gekaap het as die totale tradisionele bemarkingsbesteding aan tydskrif-plasings, en dat geaffilieerde bemarking goed op koers is om besteding aan radio en koerant-advertensies ook aanstons verby te steek.

‘n Onlangse peiling wat gedoen is onder maatskappy-direkteure verantwoordelik vir bemarking, het onderstreep hoe belangrik en nuttig geaffilieerde bemarking geag word vir internet-sukses. Dit het die heel hoogste rangeer, selfs hoër as die bemarking-staatmakers van ‘n paar jaar gelede, soos adverteer op sosiale media, of banier-advertensies plaas.

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Wat die diagram hiernaas toon, is dat die direkteure gevra is om die gelyste advertensie-kanale te orden in terme van hulle nut om klandisie te werf. Affiliasie-bemarking was die hoogs-gelyste kanaal vir beide 1e, 2e en 3e keuses.

Ander data wat hierdie onderskraag, is: * Geaffilieerde bemarking genereer 16% van alle aanlynaankope; * Meer as 80% van adverteerders en 90% van uitgewers bedryf 'n geaffilieerde program; * 79% van bemarkers gebruik geaffilieerde bemarking om bestaande kliënte te betrek, en 83% om algemene handelsmerkbewustheid te verhoog; * 40% van Amerikaanse handelaars sê geaffilieerde programme is hulle beste nuwe kliënt-verkrygingskanaal; * Verbruikers het laasjaar meer as 5 miljard keer geklik op, en geaffilieerde bemarkings-netwerke het meer as 170 miljoen transaksies wêreldwyd uitgevoer; * Sowat 37% van aanlynkopers wat hul eerste aankoop sedert April 2020 gedoen het, het dit deur 'n geaffilieerde kanaal gedoen; en * 74% van aanlynkopers in die VSA gaan vergelykenderwys eers verskeie geaffilieerde webwerwe na, voordat hulle enige aankoop voltooi.

Die diagram hierbo, toon die groei in besteding aan geaffilieerde bemarking – anders as advertensie-besteding in die algemeen, wat in 2020 met die pandemie merkbaar geval het, het hierdie tipe bemarkingsbesteding konstant bly styg. Neem ook in ag dat hierdie tipe besteding direk na die sakke gaan van geaffilieerde bemarkers, in die vorm van kommissie wat reguit in hulle bankrekenings inbetaal word.

2.9 Geaffilieerde bemarkers se verdienste So – hoeveel verdien ‘n geaffilieerde bemarker tipies? Volgens Kinsta se jongste peiling, het 81.2% van geaffilieerde bemarkers wat respondeer het, gesê dat hulle meer as US$20,000 per jaar daarmee verdien. ‘n Ander opname, gedoen onder lede van die betaalde klub vir geaffilieerde bemarkers, STM, het soos volg reageer: 211

Hierdie groep klub-lede is waarskynlik van die meer suksesvolle voltydse geaffilieerde bemarkers (m.a.w. wat dit heeltyds, as eie onderneming doen), sodat hulle verdienste nie noodwendig verteenwoordigend is van die groot gros geaffilieerde bemarkers nie – veral wanneer mens bv. nuwelinge ook insluit, en diegene wat dit as ‘n aanvullende inkomste na-ure bedryf. ‘n Ander peiling, wat meer breed gebaseer is, wil dit hê dat 10% van geaffilieerde bemarkers jaarliks meer as $50K maak, en 35% maak meer as $20K. Jason Stone, oftewel die “Millionaire Mentor”, het bv. sewe miljoen dollar in een jaar uit geaffilieerde bemarking verdien, en hy is verreweg nie die enigste miljoenêr-bemarker nie. Meer as vier uit vyf geaffilieerde bemarkers glo dan ook dat hul inkomste sal toeneem.

In volgende maand se artikel sal ons dieper delf in hierdie nuwe beroepsrigting, veral rondom die praktiese vrae van hoe mens jouself daarvoor kan kwalifiseer en watter tipe aanvangsbelegging dit verg. As vroeë aanduiding – mens kan bv. ‘n als-in-een opleidings- en toerustingspakket vir so min as $49 per maand kry, van ‘n aanlyn-opleidingsinstelling met ‘n A+ gradering van die Better Business Bureau en 4.9/5 van TrustPilot, en wat kan spog met reeds 2.6 miljoen studenteinskrywings sedert 2005, om jouself volledig op te lei en ook met al die nodige toerusting uit te rus.

Dit bied dan die moontlikheid om binne drie na ses maande ‘n inkomste daarmee te begin verdien. ‘n Drie-jaar B. Comm. graad aan Stellenbosch sal jou R150K kos, sonder om jou praktiese in-oefen ervaring te gee of enige verdien-geleentheid terwyl jy leer, en sonder die verskaffing van die nodige bedryfstoerusting. Dus verg hierdie nuwe aanlyn-beroep ‘n minimale belegging, in baie korter tyd.

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BOOKS | BOEKE

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LETTERS | BRIEWE 1989: VAANDELPARADE Vaandelparade van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie Video 1989-11-28 deur Gustav Kriel.

Geplaas op Facebook: SA Polisie Mag deur Fanie van Vuuren.

Skakel na video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDTufYrtZhQ

‘n LESER SKRYF “Ek het Wynand Schoeman se artikel oor die opleidingsterrein in die Caprivi baie interessant gevind!

Hy skryf baie goed. Sy broer Dirk ook vaardig met die woord”.

POLISIEPISTOOL IN JOHN VORSTERPLEIN SE FONDAMENTE Genl HJ Ferreira Beste Hennie So ‘n rukkie gelede het ons gesels oor die twee polisiemanne wat in die sestigerjare betrap is toe hulle besig was om petrol uit ‘n Cortina in Sunnyside, Pretoria te steel. In ‘n onbesonne oomblik het een van die lede sy dienspistool gegryp en die persoon doodgeskiet.

Die lid het toe die pistool in die fondasies van die John Vorsterplein polisiestasie wat toe in aanbou was, gegooi.

As ek die storie reg onthou, sou hulle nooit met die moord verbind kon word as dit nie was dat die skieter se gewete hom so gery het dat hy gaan bieg het nie.

Hulle is verhoor en die skieter is deur regter Theron ter dood veroordeel en die ander lid tot gevangenisstraf gevonnis is.

Die skieter se vonnis is later versag tot lewenslange gevangenisstraf. As ek my geheue my nie in die steek laat nie, was die lede se name Alberts en Erasmus.

Ek wonder of daar enige van ons lesers is wat die voorval onthou en of hulle dalk meer inligting of dalk ‘n koerant- of tydskrif uitknipsel daarvan het nie.

Ek wil graag ‘n artikel daaroor in my volgende Generaalsklub-nuusbrief daaroor skryf.

As enigiemand kan help, sal ek bly wees as hy of sy met my in verbinding tree. My selnommer is 0836252380 en e-posadres is jhferreira0@gmail.com Baie dankie Johan Ferreira

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BARRY FOWLER Dear Hennie, These things always take much longer than I expect, but I have published/made available the first draft of the border base book I contacted you about at the end of last year.

It is downloadable as a pdf free of charge at https://www.academia.edu/81030772/SADF_Border_Base_Layouts or https://www.dropbox.co m/.../AADTrWLBJF3HrcU0UQRKJ47ka....

3 former police officers contributed - one doesn't know it yet! :-) If appropriate please announce it on Nongqai and give the download links. It is also available as an Amazon Kindle, but apart from the freebie promotions one week every 5 months, Amazon Kindle requires a price to be asked (which I’ve kept minimal). I am keen for the book to reach as many people as possible, hoping that people will provide more information.

Thank you very much for your help and encouragement.

With best wishes, Barry

Dear Hennie, Thank you. I'm sorry the downloads didn't work. They do for some people but not for others. I attach it here.

Thank you very much for including Willem Steenkamp. I have several of his books, but I didn't think of trying to contact him.

I hope this works - I can keep you updated with improvements to the book if new information comes in and is added.

Thank you for your help and encouragement!

With best wishes, Barry •

Indien iemand die boek soek, kontak my per e-pos, dankie - HBH

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