NONGQAI : VOL 11 NO 6 10th Year Anniversary Edition 10de Verjaarsdag uitgawe Table of Contents PAUL ELS ........................................................................................................................................ 9 •
Voorwoord .......................................................................................................................... 9
ADMINISTRATION | ADMINISTRASIE............................................................................................ 9 Publisher | Uitgewer ......................................................................................................................... 9 Contact Details | Kontakbesonderhede ................................................................................... 10 Aim | Doel ................................................................................................................................ 10 Policy | Beleid .......................................................................................................................... 10 WELCOME | WELKOM.................................................................................................................. 10 ELEKTRONIESE BEDIENING: PASTOOR KOOT SWANEPOEL................................................. 11 FRONT COVER | VOORBLAD ...................................................................................................... 12 • Genl.maj. HJT Venter Tweede Hoofsuperintendent van Polisie (20 Maart 1950 - 18 Junie 1959): Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorwegpolisie ................................................................................. 12
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VISIT OUR WEBSITE | BESOEK ONS WEBWERF ...................................................................... 13 POLICE HISTORY | POLISIEGESKIEDENIS ................................................................................ 14 Wolfgang Witschas ........................................................................................................................ 14 • Die Suid-Afrikaanse R4 en R5 Outomatiese Aanvalsgewere: Geskiedenis en Agtergrond van die Twee Wapens ............................................................................................................. 14 Koos de Wet .................................................................................................................................. 18 •
Die Casspir ....................................................................................................................... 18
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Casspir: Absence of air conditioning and doors for driver and co-driver ........................... 19
Nico Moolman (Utrecht, KZN) ........................................................................................................ 22 •
No 17995(B) Konst. CHJ Moolman ................................................................................... 22
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No 6991 Konstabel Leendert Johannes Marais ................................................................ 23
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Circa 1917: Troep 31 ........................................................................................................ 23
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SAP “Rough Riders” ......................................................................................................... 27
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Speurderhoofkonstabel Jordaan | Det.-Head-Const. Jordaan: (SAO-DWO) Bloemfontein 27
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Berede hoofkonstabel (AO) | Mounted Head-Constable (W/O) ........................................ 27
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Kol GMJ van Dam [ZARP, Transvaal Police & SAP] ........................................................ 28
Col Logan Govender (Pietermaritzburg) ........................................................................................ 28 • Warrant Officer Mike Nagamuthoo Govender: 85-year-old stalwart amongst retired police officers in Pietermaritzburg ...................................................................................................... 28 • 1985: Warrant Officer Mike Nagamuthoo Govender: First Indian Branch Commander of the Detectives................................................................................................................................ 29 Photos from HBH’s archive ..................................................................................................... 32 •
Somtsue Rd Police Station ............................................................................................... 32
Genl. Johan van der Merwe ........................................................................................................... 33 •
Boek: Trou tot die Dood toe: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemag .......................................... 33
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Voorwoord ........................................................................................................................ 33
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Hoofstuk 1 (Deel 1) ........................................................................................................... 36
Rosa Swanepoel ............................................................................................................................ 38 •
1914 & 1922: Permitte: Grendelstaat ................................................................................ 38
RSM Craig Bushy Brown ............................................................................................................... 40 •
Const Richard Ernest Bowerbank Day.............................................................................. 40
Hannetjie Terblanche Schoeman ................................................................................................... 40 •
South African Police Service: Railway Police ................................................................... 40 3
Wie se foto’s is die? ....................................................................................................................... 45 •
1939 – 1945: WO2 Italië ................................................................................................... 45
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1946: SAP Depot .............................................................................................................. 46
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1960 Sharpeville ............................................................................................................... 47
Vreemde vlieënde voorwerpe (VVV) en die Pretoria polisie se lugvleuel (HBH) ............................ 48 REVEALED: US Navy fighter jets intercepted eight UFOs and even locked on to one with air-toair missiles, classified reports show ............................................................................................ 48 Brig. Fanie Bouwer ........................................................................................................................ 49 •
SAP: Die Polisie As Loopbaan Vóór 1994 ........................................................................ 49
Johan Stumke ................................................................................................................................ 52 •
Historiese foto van Uitenhage SAP lede van die vroeë sestigs ........................................ 52
SECURITY BRANCH | VEILIGHEIDSTAK .................................................................................... 53 Three days of national mourning for 'brave and patriotic' Denis Goldberg, says Ramaphosa . 53 Who is Dennis Goldberg? .............................................................................................................. 54 •
Denis Goldberg ................................................................................................................. 54
Genl JV “Johan” van der Merwe .................................................................................................... 61 •
John Harris en die Ploftoestel op Johannesburg Spoorwegstasie .................................... 61
Dr Jako Bezuidenhout .................................................................................................................... 65 •
Now in the Past: Remember Church Street, Pretoria........................................................ 65
Lt.-kol. Philip Malberbe .................................................................................................................. 72 • As Terroriste nie met gewapende geweld kon slaag om SA oor te neem nie – wat het dan gelei tot Onderhandelinge? ..................................................................................................... 72 Dr Jako Bezuidenhout .................................................................................................................... 76 •
Nou in die Verlede: Gedenk Kerkstraat, 20 Mei 1983 ....................................................... 76
CRIME & HISTORY OF CRIME | MISDAAD & MISDAADGESKIEDENIS..................................... 84 • Not just man's best friend! Dogs trained to protect wildlife have saved 45 rhinos from poachers in South Africa ......................................................................................................... 84 POLICE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES | POLISIE SOSIALE BYEENKOMSTE .......................................... 85 Warrant Officer Hermanus (Hermie) De Bruin Celebrates 74th Birthday ................................ 85 SA RAILWAYS POLICE | SA SPOORWEGPOLISIE .................................................................... 87 S.A. Spoorwegpolisie: Sake, Verhale en Staaltjies: Brig. Ronnie Beyl .......................................... 87 •
Die “Lang-plaas” ........................................................................................................... 87
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Nommer Twaalf Stewel op die Rempedaal ....................................................................... 88
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My Dienstermyn in die Noorde van Suidwes .................................................................... 89 4
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Die Stigting van ʼn Tuiswag met Reserviste ...................................................................... 91
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Opleiding van Spoorbaanpersoneel .................................................................................. 91
S/Sersant AJ de Jager ................................................................................................................... 94 •
Boek: Die Speurder........................................................................................................... 94
Frans Bedford-Visser ..................................................................................................................... 96 •
24 Julie 1964: Bomaanval Johannesburg-stasie .............................................................. 96
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Keith Alfred Adolf Blake - An Introduction by Frans Bedford-Visser ................................. 99
Reminiscences of a Railways Policeman ..................................................................................... 101 MILITARY HISTORY | KRYGSGESKIEDENIS ............................................................................ 103 Mr Mark Naude (NZ) .................................................................................................................... 103 •
Uniforms of the South African Air Force: A Brief History: Part 2 –1934-1952 ................. 103
Dave Kenny ................................................................................................................................. 111 •
Karoo Schutters .............................................................................................................. 111
Nico Moolman .............................................................................................................................. 113 •
1925 Kruger-eeufees ...................................................................................................... 113
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1938 Ossewatrek ............................................................................................................ 113
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Pappa Brits (UVM) .......................................................................................................... 114
Munroe Swirsky ........................................................................................................................... 114 •
Numbering and Naming of South African WW2 Medals ................................................. 114
Lt Col William Marshall ................................................................................................................ 121 •
Massacre of German Transport Me323’s by South African Fighters............................... 121
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Messerschmitt Me 323 Heavy Transport ........................................................................ 124
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Messerschmitt Me 109F.................................................................................................. 125
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Reggiane 2001 ............................................................................................................... 126
Herman Labuschagne .................................................................................................................. 127 •
LA “Leon” van Riel: The boy who went to war too soon .................................................. 127
ANGLO BOER WAR | ANGLO BOERE-OORLOG ...................................................................... 138 Jennifer Bosch: Colouring of old faded ABW-photographs.................................................... 138 •
1902: Soccer: Boer ‘Penkoppe’ (Boys) as Prisoners of War in Satara Camp, India ....... 138
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Boer Penkoppe in Ceylon POW Camp ........................................................................... 139
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Boer POW’s in Bellevue camp - Albrecht........................................................................ 139
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Boer POWs Simonstown ................................................................................................ 140
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Merebank, Durban, British Concentration Camp ............................................................ 140 5
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Little Boer Girl in a British Concentration Camp .............................................................. 141
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Generals CR de Wet, Koos de la Rey and Louis Botha .................................................. 142
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Portrait of Boer Generals ................................................................................................ 143
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1900: Princess Christian Ambulance Train at Colenso ................................................... 144
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Veldpolitie ZAR: Anthony Govender ............................................................................... 144
“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”: CAPT. CHARLES ROSS (SAN – RTD.) .................................. 145 South Africans Commonwealth War Casualties Buried across the World – Part Twenty-Seven by Captain (SAN) Charles Ross (SA Navy Retired) .............................................................. 145 •
Suez African and Indian Army Cemetery: Egypt ............................................................. 145
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Asmara War Cemetery: Eritrea ....................................................................................... 146
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Meteren Military Cemetery: France ................................................................................. 146
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Naves Communal Cemetery Extension: France ............................................................. 147
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Gaza War Cemetery: Israel ............................................................................................ 148
WO1 (Ret) Ruud Slangen (The Netherlands) .............................................................................. 149 •
The story behind a Headstone: A search for relatives of fallen airmen in the Netherlands 149
SF DEATH NOTICES |VM’e STERFTE KENNISGEWINGS ....................................................... 153 Herinneringe aan ‘n beste vriend en kollega: Kapt. MA “Tubby” Ueckermann. ............................ 153 •
Sandra Coetzee Fourie ................................................................................................... 153
HISTORY: DURBAN BOROUGH POLICE | DURBAN CITY POLICE ......................................... 155 GESKIEDENIS: DURBAN GEMEENTELIKE POLITIE | DURBAN STADSPOLISIE ................... 155 •
Introduction | Inleiding: HBH ........................................................................................... 155
Darryn Newcombe ....................................................................................................................... 158 •
My journey of how I became part of the Durban City Police [DCP] family....................... 158
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HRH Queen Elizabeth 2 and PC D Newcombe, DCP. .................................................... 160
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DCP, Cato Manor............................................................................................................ 160
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1995: Dog Unit, DCP. ..................................................................................................... 161
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1962: Certificate of Appointment: PC GT Newcombe ..................................................... 162
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PC George Newcombe and PC Ivan de Klerk ................................................................ 163
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PC Peter Harris, DCP. .................................................................................................... 164
Darryn Newcombe ....................................................................................................................... 164 •
Ranks of the Durban City Police ..................................................................................... 164
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NONGQAI’S HALL OF FAME | NONGQAI SE HELDESAAL ...................................................... 166 Kol GMJ van Dam – ZARP, ‘Transvaal Police’ & SA Polisie ........................................................ 166 •
Kmdt. van Dam se ZARP-kommando: Johannesburg: 24 Okt. 1899 .............................. 167
Kmdt Gerard Mari Johan van Dam: Johan Wolfaardt (Potchefstroom Museum) ......................... 167 •
Die eerste professionele polisiemag in die Transvaal ..................................................... 167
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ZARP: Johannesburg Polisie .......................................................................................... 168
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Anglo Boere-oorlog ......................................................................................................... 168
1904: Kmdt GMJ van Dam soos beskryf in Onze Krijgs-Officieren .............................................. 169 75375089BV Master WO Craig Stuart Brown MMM JCD ............................................................ 171 Three SAP Firsts in Natal Midlands: Col Logan Govender .......................................................... 184 •
Lt-Col Aaron Bernard Pillay ............................................................................................ 184
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Captain Bob Sewpersad ................................................................................................. 185
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DWO Mike Nagamuthoo ................................................................................................. 185
Frans Bedford-Visser (SARP, British Army & PSS) ..................................................................... 185 POLICE: INTERNATIONAL ......................................................................................................... 186 Mick Shaw.................................................................................................................................... 186 •
Buckinghamshire Police Headdress ............................................................................... 186
Comments by HBH ................................................................................................................ 191 •
1820’s Insp. King: Kaapstad ........................................................................................... 191
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1882 Polisie in Kaapstad ................................................................................................ 191
MILITARY INTERNATIONAL ....................................................................................................... 192 British Stratkom?.......................................................................................................................... 192 • Officer at the Army's secret psychological warfare unit 'pressured veteran who reported his security blunder' .................................................................................................................... 192 China ........................................................................................................................................... 194 • In the shadow of the Wolf Warriors: Chinese nationalists urge President Xi to seize Taiwan as Beijing's bullying could see the island democracy that beat the virus barred from this week's vital WHO summit .................................................................................................................. 194 Angola .......................................................................................................................................... 194 •
Manuel Resende Ferreira ............................................................................................... 194
INTELLIGENCE: INTERNATIONAL ............................................................................................ 197 Dave Kenny ................................................................................................................................. 197 •
WW1: Underground Intelligence ..................................................................................... 197
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MI5 WW1: Pretoria.......................................................................................................... 200 7
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WW1: MI5 Comes to South Africa .................................................................................. 201
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MI5: WW2 Pretoria: Barton Keep .................................................................................... 204
BOOKS | BOEKE ......................................................................................................................... 206 Albert Blake.................................................................................................................................. 206 •
Robey Leibbrandt – ‘n Lewe van Fanatisme ................................................................... 206
LETTERS | BRIEWE .................................................................................................................... 208 Soek besonderhede van No 315654V Johannes Benjamin van Zyl: Nico Moolman ............. 208 Officers Sword: Capt André van Ellinckhuyzen ..................................................................... 208 A specialist replies ................................................................................................................. 209 District 79 (?) Chatsworth ...................................................................................................... 210 Die Woord: Lt.kol. MJJ van Rensburg (SALM Afgetree)........................................................ 211 Nico Moolman: Ou glas-negatiewe ........................................................................................ 212 •
Kommentaar HBH ........................................................................................................... 213
Gesoek: JLJ Jacobs: Genl-maj Gert Opperman .................................................................... 213 Details: Capt. John Frederick Kinnery: SAAF: Ruud Slangen: Bond van Wapenbroeders: The Netherlands ........................................................................................................................... 213 Brig. JB Bester: Nongqai Vol 11 No 5: Genl.-maj. G Murphy ................................................ 215 LAST WORD: REV CHARISSE LE ROUX .................................................................................. 217 INDEMNITY & © | VRYWARING & © .......................................................................................... 218 End | Slot ............................................................................................................................... 218
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PAUL ELS • Voorwoord Na my afgetrede uit die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag in 1996 het ek besluit om ‘n boek, We Fear Naught But God, te skryf wat handel oor die Spesiale Magte waarin ek gedien het. Op daardie stadium was navorsing baie moeilik want niemand wou hulle ervaringe deel nie. My boek is toe in jaar 2000 gepubliseer en het ek besluit om nog boeke te saam te stel. Tydens die navorsing van die eerste boek het ek afgekom op informasie waar die sogenaamde bosoorlog begin het. Nog steeds was inligting moeilik bekombaar en lêers by die Nasionale Weermag argief was geslote. Met my gesoek na inligting oor die betrokkenheid van die Suid Afrikaanse Polisie (SAP) is ek ingelig dat ek Hennie Heymans moet kontak – hy sal weet. So gemaak, hom opgespoor en vir hom gaan kuier. Ek het my behoefte aan hom gestel en hy het ingewillig om te skryf. Hy het my net ingelig hy weet niks van rekenaars nie. Daar het ek sy arm gedraai en verwittig dat hy moet plan maak. Gelukkig was sy seun woonagtig by hom en hy kon help. Dit het moeilik gegaan, maar dit was nie lank nie het ek sy bydrae ontvang. Ek het hom gepols om navorsing te doen en die geskiedenis van die SAP te boekstaaf. So het hy betrokke geraak met die opstel van die Servamus Century of Service 1907– 2007 – 100 Years in 2007, waarvan hy die meeste navorsing gedoen het. Na die bogenoemde projek het hy begin om baie informasie te vergader en sy studeerkamer het begin te klein raak vir al sy navorsingsboeke en -materiaal. Met die kundigheid wat hy toe bemeester het met die gebruik van sy rekenaar het hy in 2010 begin om die gewilde elektroniese tydskrif Nongqai te skryf. So ook het hy die tydskrif van sy stokperdjie, treine, begin met ‘n maandelikse uitgawe. Dis nou 10 jaar later en iedere een van ons kan maar net dankie sê vir wat hy doen vir die bewaring van veral die geskiedenis van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie. Vandag nog vertel hy almal dat ek die oorsaak is vir sy skrywery. Ek salueer U!
ADMINISTRATION | ADMINISTRASIE
Publisher | Uitgewer The Nongqai is compiled by Hennie Heymans (HBH) a retired Brigadier of the late South African Police Force and this e-magazine is published on ISSUU. Hennie lives in Pretoria, ZA. He is 9
passionate about our police-, military- and national security history and holds a MA-degree in National Strategic Studies. Any opinions expressed by him, are entirely his own. Die Nongqai word saamgestel deur Hennie Heymans (HBH), 'n afgetrede brigadier van die voormalige Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemag en hierdie e-tydskrif word op ISSUU gepubliseer. Hennie woon in Pretoria, ZA. Hy is passievol oor ons polisie-, militêre- en nasionale veiligheidsgeskiedenis en het 'n MA-graad in Nasionale Strategiese Studies verwerf. Enige menings wat hy uitspreek, is uitsluitlik sy eie.
Contact Details | Kontakbesonderhede
Aim | Doel Our goal is to collect and record our national security history for publication in the Nongqai for future generations. Ons doel is om die nasionale veiligheidsgeskiedenis in die Nongqai aan te teken en so vir die nageslagte bewaar.
Policy | Beleid We publish the articles and stories as we receive them from our correspondents; we only correct the spelling mistakes. It's important to publish the stories in the form and context as we receive them from our correspondents. Policemen and defence personnel have their own language and the have their own sub-culture. We are not a scientific or literary journal. We only work with historical building blocks. Ons gebruik die artikels en stories soos ons dit van ons korrespondente ontvang; ons maak slegs die spelfoute reg. Dis belangrik om die stories te bewaar in die vorm en in die konteks soos ons dit ontvang. Lede van die veiligheidsmagte het hul eie taal en ons moet dit ook so aanteken. Ons is nie ‘n letterkundige of wetenskaplike joernaal nie. Ons werk slegs met die boustene van geskiedenis.
WELCOME | WELKOM We are so thankful that we could publish the Nongqai for the past 10 years – we are blessed! Ons is bevoorreg om die Nongqai nou vir 10 jaar uit te gee – ons is geseën!
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ELEKTRONIESE BEDIENING: PASTOOR KOOT SWANEPOEL
“Wees iemand met Blydskap” Filippense 4:4 : “Wees altyd bly in die Here! Ek herhaal: Wees bly!” Blydskap is meer as om gelukkig te wees. Nêrens sê die Bybel dat ons altyd gelukkig sal wees nie. Maar die Bybel sê dat ons altyd bly kan wees in die Here. Jy sien, geluk is gekoppel aan omstandighede. Blydskap is gekoppel aan jou verhouding met God. ‘n Bly mens, is ‘n vry mens. Dit is iemand wat kan glimlag vir almal wat hulle teëkom. Dit laat ander voel hulle word raakgesien. Iemand wat blydskap ken maak melding van die mooi dinge in ander se lewe, en vind dit maklik om waardering te gee. Dit laat hulle waardevol voel. Het jy al gevoel jy wil spring van blydskap? In Hand. 3:8 sien ons hoe iemand selfs van blydskap gespring het om God te prys! Ek deel met jou ‘n paar Skrifte oor blydskap. Maak Ps. 85:7 jou gebed: “Sal U ons nie weer lewend maak, sodat u volk in U bly kan wees nie?” Die Boodskap vertaal dit met: “Help ons om weer nuut te begin lewe sodat U kinders vrolik en bly kan wees.” Dan lees ons in 1 Thess. 5:16,18: “Wees altyddeur bly…Wees in alles dankbaar…” Ook hier is die vertaling in Die Boodskap treffend: “Wees altyd vol blydskap...Wees heeltyd dankbaar teenoor God, wat ook al met julle gebeur...” Alleen opregte dankbaarheid teenoor God, sal blydskap verseker. Herlewing sal God se blydskap terugbring in ons harte. Is jy ’n bly mens? Want dan sal jy ’n vry mens wees!
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FRONT COVER | VOORBLAD
• Genl.maj. HJT Venter Tweede Hoofsuperintendent van Polisie (20 Maart 1950 - 18 Junie 1959): Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorwegpolisie Kol Venter – later brigadier en genl. maj. - was die derde Hoofsuperintendent van Polisie en ondersoek (26 Januarie 1944 - 2 September 1946). Om een of ander rede is sy diens, waarskynlik weens die politiek van die dag, as hoofsuperintendent opgeskort en brig. JB Bester, DSO, het hom opgevolg as die 1ste Hoofsuperintendent van polisie. Ons vermoed dat kol. Venter tydens die Smuts-bewind moontlik aan die Afrikaner-nasionalistiese bedrywighede deelgeneem het of simpatie aan die “verkeerde kant” betoon het. Toe die Nasionale Party weer gedurende 1948 aan bewind gekom het is die “onreg” van die verlede herstel en is brig. Bester, ’n oudsoldaat met ‘n skitterende militêre rekord, later weer in ‘n ander hoedanigheid herontplooi en kol Venter, later bevorder tot brigadier, het toe brig. Bester as die 2de hoofsuperintendent van polisie (20 Maart 1950 - 18 Junie 1959) opgevolg. Op aftrede is hy met die rang van genl-maj vereer. Sien Nongqai Vol 11 No 4 en Nongqai 11 vol 5.
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VISIT OUR WEBSITE | BESOEK ONS WEBWERF
http://www.samirror.com
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POLICE HISTORY | POLISIEGESKIEDENIS
Wolfgang Witschas • Die Suid-Afrikaanse R4 en R5 Outomatiese Aanvalsgewere: Geskiedenis en Agtergrond van die Twee Wapens In die laat 1970s het die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag (SAW) 'n nuwe outomatiese aanvalsgeweer bekend gestel en in diens geneem, die plaaslik vervaardigde R4 aanvalsgeweer om die FN. FAL/R1 geweer te vervang en kort op sy hakke het die korter weergawe, die R5 gevolg. Die R4 en R5 is nie 'n suiwer Suid-Afrikaanse uitvinding en ontwerp nie, maar soos die R1 'n verbeterde en vir Suid-Afrikaanse omstandighede aangepaste vuurwapen. Indien dit so is, waar kom die R4 en R5 vandaan? Die R4 en R5 aanvalsgewere het hulle oorsprong van die Israeli vervaardigde familie van die Galil outomatiese gewere. Die outomatiese wapens is in die laat 1960er jare ontwerp deur Yisrael Galil en Yaacov Lior en vervaardig deur die Israel Military Industries (IMI). Tydens die nou alombekende ses dae oorlog in die Midde Ooste vanaf 05 tot 10 Junie 1967 was die "Israeli Defence Force (IDF)" bewapen met die Israeliese weergawe van die FN. FAL aanvalsgeweer (met 'n hout handvatsel en geperforeerde metaal loop en gassilinder omhulsel vir beter ventilasie in die woestyn in plaas van 'n bakeliet handvatsel met drie ventilasie gate aan weerskante soos die FN. FAL en R1 en sonder blitsbreker) en Uzi sub masjiengewere, terwyl die Arabiese magte ten volle met die Russiese AK47 toegerus was. Hierdie Russies aanvalsgeweer het as gevolg van die Vietnam oorlog 'n wêreld bekende wapen geword. Die IDF het toe die behoefte vir 'n meer moderne en 'n meerdoelige aanvalsgeweer gehad. Die Galil se ontwerp was 'n samestelling/mengsel van die tegnologie van die Finse Valmet (wat insigself al 'n verbeterde weergawe was van die Russiese AK47) en die Russiese AK47 Kalashnikov aanvalsgeweer. Die Galil was oorspronklik in twee kalibers ontwerp, die destyds nuwe 5.56x45mm of 7.62×51mm NAVO kaliber. Vuursnelheid: 630–750 rondtes per/minuut. Die Galil is 'n betroubare, veilige, robuuste wapen met 'n lang lewensduur wat hardhandig behandel kan word en is uiters geskik om in nat, modderige, sneeuagtige en stowwerige omstandighede gebruik te word. Met die ontwerp is daarop gekonsentreer om 'n eenvoudige en maklik onder houbare wapen skep. Die wapen is ingevolge antropo-tegniese (human engineering) beginsels vir veeldoelige gebruik en eenvoudige hantering ontwerp. Die spangreep, die outomaties/enkelskoot knip en magasyn knip kan van beide kante van die wapen bedien word sodat beide regs en linkshandige persone die wapen kan hanteer. Die ontwerp van die wapen is gedoen dat dit as 'n 14
aanvalsgeweer of as 'n ligte masjiengeweer, wat dan met 'n vyftig skoot magasyn inplaas van die gewone 35-skoot magasyn aangewend kan word. Die wapen beskik oor 'n opvoukolf, drahandvatsel, tweepoot affuit met 'n draadknipper as deel van die tweepoot affuit se skarnier meganisme nagvisier, blitsbreker. Geweergranate kan sonder enige spesiale toerusting afgevuur word. Die "Israeli Military Industries (IMI)" het twee weergawes van die Galil bekend gestel: • Die standaard uitgawe: GALIL ARM (Assault Rifle/Light Mashinegun) • Verkorte weergawe: GALIL SAR (Short Assault Rifle) Die verkorte weergawe beskik oor 'n korter loop, sonder tweepoot affuit en drahandvatsel. Hierdie wapen is ontwerp vir Israel se spesiale magte, polisie eenhede en grenspolisie. Die Galil ARM was tydens die Yom Kippur oorlog in Oktober 1973 in beperkte getalle deur die Israeliese weermag (IDF) gebruik, nadat dit vroeër gedurende 1973 deur die "IDF" in diens geneem is.
Israeliese GALIL (ARM) Aanvalsgeweer/Ligte masjiengeweer Tegniese gegewens Galil Algemene Data Tipe wapen: Gas aangedrewe aanvalsgeweer/ligte masjiengeweer Lengte met opvoukolf oop: 98cm Lengte met opvoukolf toegevou: 74cm Lengte van opvoukolf: 24cm Gewig met tweepoot affuit en sonder magasyn: 4,15kg Loop lengte: 46cm Visier: Voorste korrel: silindries Agterste korrel: verstelbare gatjie visier/voor en agtertoe Kaliber: 5.56mm Magasyne 35 en 50 skoot magasyn Outomaties of semi-outomaties Trompsnelheid: 960 m/sek Maksimum reikafstand: 500m Vuursnelheid: 650 rpm 15
Die R4 en R5 Aanvalsgewere Die Galil ARM (Assault Rifle/Light Mashinegun) word in Suid Afrika onder lisensie vervaardig en staan bekend as die R4 en is 'n aanvalsgeweer/ligte masjiengeweer met 'n twee poot affuit, drahandvatsel en opvoubare kolf. Kan met 'n 35 of 50 rondte magasyn gebruik word. Die wapen is ook soos die Galil ontwerp om die stampe en stote van enige harde operasionele hantering te kan deurstaan en die onderhoud is ook baie eenvoudig. Die wapen is bestand teen stof, water, modder en sneeu. Die mees sigbare voorkoms verskille tussen die Galil en R4 is die lengte van die hout handvatsel van die R4, wat langer is as die Galil se handvatsel en die stut plaatjie in en vorm van die agterkant van die opvoukolf wat effens langer is. Die verskil is hoofsaaklik omdat die meeste Suid-Afrikaanse mans groter is as die gemiddelde Israeli man. Die 4 en R5 is gedurende middel 1980s in diens geneem.
Suid-Afrikaanse R4 Aanvalsgeweer/Ligte masjiengeweer
Suid- Afrikaanse R5 Aanvalsgeweer Die R5 is identies aan die Galil SAR, is ook 'n verkorte weergawe van die R4, met 'n korter loop en sonder tweepoot affuit en drahandvatsel. Hierdie wapen is ontwerp om gebruik te word deur spesiale magte soos valskerm troepe, verkennings troepe en spesialis polisie/paramilitĂŞre eenhede (SAP Taakmag, Koevoet en die SAS+H Polisie se Spesiale Taakmag) in dig beboste gebiede en vir stedelike terrorisme, gyselaar ontsetting op treine en vliegtuie weens die kompaktheid van die wapen. Die R5 was 'n gewilde wapen wat deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie (SAP) "Koevoet Eenheid" later die SWA Polisie Teeninsurgensie Eenheid (SWAPOL TIN) gebruik was. Eerstens omdat diĂŠ wapen baie meer kompak is as die R4 en tweedens as gevolg van die kort loop die projektiel nie soos die 16
wat deur 'n R4 afgevuur word die pantserstaal van die Casspir mynbestande voertuie kon deurdring nie tydens gevegte met SWAPO terroriste waar daar 'n aantal Casspir voertuie betrokke was tydens die grensoorlog in die destydse SWA/N. Tegniese gegewens R4 Algemene Data: Tipe wapen Gas-aangedrewe aanvalsgeweer/ligte masjiengeweer Lengte met opvoukolf oop: 1005cm Lengte van kolf: 30cm Kolf is 6cm langer as die van die Galil ARM (24cm) Lengte met opvoukolf toegevou: 75cm Gewig met tweepoot affuit en sonder magasyn: 4,3kg 0,15kg swaarder as die Galil ARM Loop lengte: 53,3 cm 9,3cm langer as die Galil ARM Visier: Voorste korrel: silindries Agterste korrel: verstelbare gatjie visier/voor en agtertoe Vuursnelheid: 650 rpm Kaliber: 5.56mm Magasyne: 35 en 50 skoot magasyne Wolfgang Witschas Bronne Tydskrif Waffen Revue: J20465F: Nr. 11: Dezember 1973: Galil: Israelisches Sturmgewehr Boek South African Arms & Armour: A concise guide to armarments of the South African Army, Navy and Air Force, Helmoed - Rรถmer Heitman Onderhoud Wessie Wessels (KOEVOET Veterane Bond): Ten opsigte van die rede waarom Koevoet die R5 bo die R4 vekies het.
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Koos de Wet • Die Casspir
Hier is ʼn foto van die Casspir prototipe geneem in Mei 1979 met die naam CASSPIR op die neus, die eerste keer dat die naam gebruik is en in die publiek gesien is en die letters was van plastiek gemaak. Hierdie voertuig het Mercedes Benz LA1113/42 4x4 komponente gebruik en die oorspronklike OM352 enjin wat 130pk ontwikkel het. Dit was ook hierdie voertuig wat later op die SAP skietbaan deur Sailor van Schalkwyk geskiet is met ʼn AK 47 en die koeëls is deur die sywande. ʼn Hewige stryery het tussen Sailor en genl Verster gevolg want genl Vic was vas oortuig ons het alles reg gedoen en Sailor moes sy ammunisie deurmekaar laat raak het en pantserbreek ammunisie gebruik het. Eers later het ons agtergekom TFM het die Roqtuf en die pantserstaal deurmekaar laat raak en die pantserstaal vir die wig gebruik en die roqtuf vir die sywande. TFM het toe ʼn nuwe voertuig gratis gebou om hierdie een te vervang. Soos Laurette tereg genoem het, het Henred Fruehauf die eerste vervaardigingskontrak gekry (Lou Gaspar van Henred het destyds die kontrak beding) wat ʼn bitter teleurstelling vir TFM was en vir maande daarna wou Gus Modlin van TFM nie met die SAP praat nie. TFM het wel die volgende kontrak gekry en die volgende en die volgende en.... so Gus was op die ou end die wenner.
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• Casspir: Absence of air conditioning and doors for driver and co-driver Koos de Wet shared his reply to Arn Durand regarding the absence of doors for the driver and codriver of the Casspir with Nongqai. Photos – Koos de Wet. Good day Arn, Interesting topic you have raised about the Casspir regarding the absence of driver (and co-driver?) doors and air-conditioning on the Casspir vehicles you used during the Bush War. Let me start off by saying I don't think it was a deliberate decision to let you guys sweat your hearts out (though I think some senior officers would not have minded if you did!) but for other reasons, whether sound or not, these were not fitted. To go back to the start. When the top brass of the SA Police asked me in September 1978 to look at upgrading and converting the monocoque concept developed by CSIR, photo of which attached, the SAP did not really have any firm ideas (or specifications for that matter) on how this upgraded / redesigned personnel carrier design should look, but there were a few non-negotiables which included : 1. the basic monocoque concept developed by the CSIR needed to be used and significantly improved, refined and properly designed and a proper data pack produced in the process as other than a few sketches and drawings, nothing much else existed which could be used to design and build the new vehicle. 2. it had to have a Mercedes Benz (M-B) 4x4 driveline which would allow servicing and repair by dealers in South Africa and in Southwest Africa/Namibia. A major consideration in this regard was that the SAP did not have maintenance and repair facilities like the SADF had, and so would rely on dealers to provide this support. 3. the drivelines would have to be as standard as possible thereby obviating the need for dealers (and the SAP) to go looking for special or modified parts all over the country from non-dealer suppliers. 4. as the M-B drivelines were already viewed as bearing a price premium, lowest priced standard M-B components had to be used wherever possible to keep costs down. NOTE: This was also the main reason the Casspir initially started life with the standard OM352 engine with 130hp when I wanted to fit the more powerful OM352, a turbocharged engine which was rejected by the SAP top brass. Their reasoning was that it would have added to the cost (even though the added costs were relatively small) and furthermore, turbocharged engines supposedly did not last in dusty conditions!! You cannot fart against thunder so I let that go. My proposal to fit air-conditioning was also politely refused for the following reasons"- (1) airconditioning is not needed with good fresh air ventilation!! (2) the rear crew compartment would be open top to allow the crew to stand up and fire out so that air-conditioning would not work (3) additional cost (4) air-conditioning is subject to frequent breakdowns(??) (5) who is going to maintain and service the units in operation? End of discussion. Development of what was later called the Casspir started at TFM in Wynberg in November 1978 and because of the lack of drawings, data and the rationale and logic behind many of the 19
features, we had to call on Dr Joynt from time to time to tell us why certain parts and components were built the way they were and within which limits we could improve the designs. For the most part we largely used our knowledge and common sense to design and develop the prototype. I mention this because the side doors were affected by this. I wanted doors on either side for the driver and co-driver to enter, but the only compromise that was allowed was that we could fit "side escape hatches" so in the event of the vehicle rolling over on to its roof, the driver and rear occupants could get out. Wonder what about the rear doors which would have been an easier way out!! And lastly there was concern that a door cut-out would dangerously reduce the strength of the hull even though this had not been proven. So we were allowed to fit hatches on the prototype behind the driver and co-driver positions just big enough to let someone get out in an emergency and these hatches are shown in the attached photographs of the original Casspir prototype that rolled out of the TFM workshop in April 1979. Hope this provides some answers to your questions Arn. And in conclusion. When I designed the Australian Bushmaster IMV in 1997, I fitted air-conditioning as standard together with 200 litres of onboard chilled water and these vehicles were successfully deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan for almost 13 years now and very few air-conditioning breakdowns occurred in the more that 1000 now produced. Just saying......
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Thanks to Erika van den Bergh.
Nico Moolman (Utrecht, KZN) • No 17995(B) Konst. CHJ Moolman Nico Moolman skryf soos volg: “My pa op die perd Knight. Foto in sy album. Vir my ma gestuur toe hy in die kollege was. . . “
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• No 6991 Konstabel Leendert Johannes Marais Hennie, Hier solank oor L.J. Marais, Naomi se oupa Danie Marais, se broer. Hy sterf aan die griep van 1918. Was Polisieman in Bloemfontein. Was een van die eerste polisie in die Vrystaat. Groetend, Nico
• Circa 1917: Troep 31 Magnommers 6727 tot 7296 was gedurende 1917 uitgereik1,2
Heel agter v.l.n.r.: Look, Brunette, Erasmus, Beylefeldt en Nienaber Staande v.l.n.r.: LJ Marais, Van der Merwe, Claassens, Van Niekerk, Pretorius, Snyman, Van der Schyff en Storm Sittende: Barnard, Viviers, Van Rooyen, troepsersant: korp. Eloff, Van Zyl, Cilliers en Grobler
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Terry King, Gallantry Awards 2000 p 39 – HBH. Sy naam verskyn nie op die ZAP Lijst gedateer 1.4. 1916 – HBH.
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Familie portret: Konst. LJ Marais: Voor links. Onder: Lewenskoste
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Volgens die DK is sy name Leendert Johannes Marais en sy magsnommer is waarskynlik 6991.
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• SAP “Rough Riders”
Voor in die middel (later kol) PL “Piet Aldershot” Grobler, twee keer BO SAP Depot 1.5.1937 – 10.7.1945 en 5.1.1948 – 5.6. 1953. Tydens WO2 was hy eervol vermeld. Die ander here is tans onbekend.
• Speurderhoofkonstabel Jordaan | Det.-Head-Const. Jordaan: (SAODWO) Bloemfontein • Berede hoofkonstabel (AO) | Mounted Head-Constable (W/O)
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• Kol GMJ van Dam [ZARP, Transvaal Police & SAP]
Volgens die 1916 ZAP Lijst: Inspekteur (kaptein) GMJ van Dam, aangesluit op 1 Julie 1908 en aangestel as DK van Potchefstroom.3
Col Logan Govender (Pietermaritzburg) • Warrant Officer Mike Nagamuthoo Govender: 85-year-old stalwart amongst retired police officers in Pietermaritzburg Mike Nagamuthoo Govender celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary, a diamond jubilee, with his dear wife Angie on 8th January, 2020.
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P 167 - HBH 28
Govender was born on the 29th of August 1935 at Magazine Barracks in Greyville. He attended the Somtsue Road4, Temple School on North beach Durban till their relocation to Verulam. His family consisted of 6 brothers and 4 sisters, only 2 brothers and 2 sisters are alive today. He recalls that his late Dad, Nagamuthoo Govender, affectionately known as “Tommy” by family and friends joined the Durban Borough Police in the 30’s. The family later relocated to Verulam, located on the North Coast of KZN in the 40’s. Whilst in Verulam he attended the Oakford Priory School and they were tutored by Nuns. Later he attended Verulam High School. In 1958 he joined the SAP at Somtsue Road. Thereafter he was posted to the Sidar Road Police5 Station in Clairwood. He underwent his basic training at the Wentworth Police Depot. At the Police Depot in Wentworth he met Bob Sewpersad (Captain) and Aaron Pillay (late Lieutenant Colonel). The latter two officers were from Pietermaritzburg. Little did he realize then that they would meet and work alongside each other in the not too distant future. After his basic training he was originally posted to Kliptown in Gauteng (old Transvaal), however this fell through and he was instead posted to Sparks Road, Overport, Durban6. At Sparks Road, one day at a tearoom / greengrocer called “Anandrai” in Brickfield Road during 1959 he met his love at first sight, Angie. He was friendly with her brother, Gopaul, but was not aware that he had a sister. He informed his friend Gopaul that he liked his sister and Gopaul invited him home. The rest is more than 60 years old history. They married in 1960. In 1965 Govender and his bride of 5 years were forced to relocate to Pietermaritzburg. He was transferred to Pietermaritzburg Central (Loop Street). In 1966 he was transferred to Mountain Rise where he served as a Detective under Captain T Nel (late) and Bob Sewperadh (Both Mike and the Captain were around the same age).
• 1985: Warrant Officer Mike Nagamuthoo Govender: First Indian Branch Commander of the Detectives In 1984 he was appointed the first Indian Branch Commander of the Detectives. They were relocated to offices at Pietermaritzburg Central, Detectives as the Mountain Rise Police Station was under reconstruction. Later he was transferred at his own request to Pelikan Park, Cape Town, the Guard Unit. The Section Head was Captain Pillay a former colleague from Sidar Road, Clairwood. Both members were Constables at that stage.
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Somtsue was the Zulu name for Sir T Shepstone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_Shepstone 5 Always known as Clairwood Police Station. Lt Gen LPE Malan was a sergeant at Clairwood. In my time there was a Constable Griesel, he later moved to the Commercial Branch and was also an officer in Bophuthatswana - HBH. 6 The police station was known as Overport – HBH. 29
During February, 1992 he was transferred back to his hometown, Pietermaritzburg. He thereafter retired in March 1992 with 34 years of loyal, dedicated and meritorious service. His dear wife, Angie will turn 78 on the 28th of October 2020. Govender regularly attends the meetings of the Retired Police members in Pietermaritzburg. Members regard him as an Elder and an inspiration to both younger and elderly members. He is a respected and a foundation of our Retired Police Members Social Club. It is a pleasure and a privilege to have him in our midst. Logan Govender
Photograph 1: Detective Mike Nagamuthoo at a SAPS function. Photograph 2: Nagamuthoo and his dear wife Angie when they were much younger.
Photograph 3 The Nagamuthoo family, passengers in a boat in the Europe. From left to right Nagamuthoo, his wife Angie and their daughter Sagree, a nursing sister at a leading private hospital in Pietermaritzburg. 30
Photograph 4: Nagamuthoo and his wife entering a restaurant in 2018 to celebrate a previous birthday. Photograph 5: Nagamuthoo's Wedding Anniversary was celebrated by retired officers- left to right - Captain Sada Pillay; Warrant Officer Mike Nagamuthoo and Colonel Johnny Govender.
Photograph 6 Retired police officers celebrated his birthday in 2018 earlier that day at my home. From left to right - Lieutenant-Colonel Selva Naick; Brigadier Bala Naidoo; Major Yusuf (Pipes) Haffajee; Warrant Officer George Ngcamu; Captain Kerc Pillay; Warrant Officers Mike Nagamuthoo; Krishan Anandlall and Colonel Johnny Govender. 31
Photos from HBH’s archive •
Somtsue Rd Police Station
There was a small dusty road in front of the police station during the 1960’s. Now the “new” Durban Central Police Station – in the background – is literally in SAP Somtsue Rd’s backyard. My father, Sgt Heymans, was stationed here for many years - HBH.
This is the Indian Temple and school in Somtsue Rd. My father knew the priest (pandit) very well. I remember there were at one stage peacocks at the temple – HBH.
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Genl. Johan van der Merwe
• Boek: Trou tot die Dood toe: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemag Genl. Van der Merwe het Nongqai goedgunstiglik toestemming verleen dat sy outobiografie maandeliks in die Nongqai aangehaal mag word. Ons begin hier met die voorwoord en ‘n gedeelte van hoofstuk 1. Ons hoop om elke maand ‘n deel van ‘n hoofstuk te plaas.
• Voorwoord Verskeie van my oudkollegas en vriende het by my gepleit om die gebeure in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie tydens my dienstyd te boekstaaf en só daardie deel van ons geskiedenis in perspektief te plaas. Ek het weggeskram en gehoop een van my voorgangers, genl. Johann Coetzee, sou dié taak op sy skouers neem. Hy het trouens dikwels tydens ons gesprekke te kenne gegee dat dit sy voorneme is, maar hy is oorlede sonder dat hy daarby uitgekom het. As laaste kommissaris van die SA Polisiemag wat oor dekades heen wet en orde in Suid-Afrika gehandhaaf het te midde van terreur en politieke konflik, ag ek dit my plig om my verhaal te vertel as huldeblyk aan al my oudkollegas wat alles vir hul taak veil gehad en hierdie land en sy bevolking met oorgawe gedien het. Hulle het net één strewe gehad: om te beskerm en te dien. My verhaal is ook dié van duisende oudkollegas wat steeds kosbare herinneringe het aan ʼn polisiemag wie se roemryke verlede deur propaganda en politieke uitbuiting besoedel is. Van my voormalige kollegas se wedervaringe word ook geskets om die rol wat die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemag in die geskiedenis van ons land gespeel het, beter toe te lig. Ek wei in hierdie boek nie uit oor die talle heldedade en prestasies van die Polisiemag nie. Om al die feite hieroor weer te gee, sou intensiewe navorsing verg waartoe ek my nie in staat voel nie. Ek laat dit aan my jonger oudkollegas oor. Omdat ek nooit ’n begeerte gehad het om my wedervaringe te boek te stel nie, het ek tydens my dienstyd en later geen aantekeninge gehou of dokumente versamel om as agtergrond te dien nie. Ek maak dus grootliks staat op my geheue, oudkollegas se weergawes, verslae van die Waarheids-en-versoeningskommissie, enkele dokumente waaroor ek nog beskik en algemeen beskikbare bronne. Ek het deurgaans alles in my vermoë gedoen om alle gebeurtenisse so getrou as moontlik te verhaal. Natuurlik is dit nie ʼn objektiewe weergawe nie; daarvoor was ek te intens betrokke by die konflikte van die verlede. Die veiligheidstak en die oorgrote meerderheid blankes het die lede van Umkhonto weSizwe, Apla en ander “bevrydingsorganisasies” as terroriste beskou wat weerloses lafhartig en gewetenloos aangeval het. Vir alle wetlike doeleindes, in Suid-Afrika of internasionaal, het die meeste dade van Umkhonto weSizwe en die ander militante organisasies op terreur 33
neergekom. Elkeen van ons het sy eie morele oorwegings gehad en in ʼn mindere of meerdere mate het die doel soms die middele geheilig. Ek probeer nie om in hierdie verhaal enige dade te regverdig nie, maar bloot om al die faktore aan te stip waarmee rekening gehou moet word wanneer hierdie dade beoordeel word. In die meeste gevalle bestaan daar verskillende weergawes van gebeurtenisse en voorvalle; dit sou ʼn onbegonne taak wees om in elke geval alle feite te verskaf wat die “ware” verhaal sou vertel. Trouens, ek het opnuut besef dat waar drie mense dieselfde voorval aanskou, dit dikwels tot drie verskillende weergawes lei. Dit is waarom dit dikwels gebeur dat die Hooggeregshof ná ʼn lang en indringende verhoor uitspraak lewer wat later deur ʼn volbank omvergegooi word – en soms vind die Appèlhof op sy beurt fout met die volbank se bevinding. Myns insiens het die WVK in dié opsig skromelik gefaal: dat eensydige weergawes van voorvalle as die evangelie aanvaar is. En steeds word wilde beweringe gedoen wat die konflikte van die verlede eensydig en verwronge as die waarheid opdis en die konflik laat herleef. My beskrywing van gebeurtenisse het nie ten doel om enige persoon of instansie in ʼn swak lig te stel nie. Dit is egter belangrik om sover moontlik alle faktore wat ’n rol gespeel het, bloot te lê, byvoorbeeld die verwarring oor die vertolking van opdragte en besluite wat soms op die hoogste vlak voorgekom het. Ek is jammer as ek in my weergawe van gebeure kwetsende opmerkings oor mense maak of hulle te na kom. Ek sou dit graag wou vermy het, maar dan sal dit nie die hele verhaal wees nie. Natuurlik het ons almal foute begaan. Ons is per slot van rekening maar almal feilbare mense. Soms het ons onder politieke druk geswig en in ander gevalle uit patriotisme en nasionalisme vrywillig saamgewerk om bepaalde politieke doelwitte te verwesenlik. Dit het egter altyd in goeie trou geskied sonder enige kwaadwillige bedoelinge. Rassehaat, wraak, persoonlike belang of eer het nooit, ooit ʼn rol gespeel nie. By terugskoue het ek dikwels aan die slotstrofe van Eugène Marais se gedig “Skoppensboer” gedink: Gewis is alles net ʼn grap! Ons speel in die komedie mee geblinddoek met ʼn lamfer-lap wat selfs die son ʼn skadu gee. Wat treur ons tog? Viool en fluit maak nog geluid; en lank die nag wat voorlê nog. Al kan ons nooit volmaaktheid raak, nog blink die oog en gloei die huid wat heel die winter blomtyd maak. Dus onverlee lag ons maar mee met elke toer van Skoppensboer! In my dienstyd het die SA Polisiemag altyd as span saamgewerk. Elke ondersoek of optrede van watter aard ook al het uit spanwerk bestaan. Sonder die hulp en steun van sy manskappe kon geen bevelvoerder sy taak volvoer nie. Ek het tydens my dienstyd in verskillende bevelsposisies die lojaliteit en heelhartige steun van alle lede van die Polisie geniet. Tydens my laaste jare as kommissaris het die generaals se onwrikbare steun dit vir my moontlik gemaak om talle krisisse die hoof te bied en politieke druk uit verskeie oorde te weerstaan. Ek is innig dankbaar dat die bande wat ek met alle lede van die Polisie gesmee het, behoue gebly het en dat dieselfde samehorigheid steeds geld. Aan al my voormalige kollegas my hartlike dank vir al hul ondersteuning onderskraging en lojaliteit
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Ook aan my vrou Ans en ons vier kinders, Len, Zelda, Armand en Werner, my innige dank vir hul liefde en onderskraging. Soos alle lede van die Polisie is ek gereeld verplaas en ons het die land, asook Namibië, deurkruis. Dit het soms groot ontwrigting en ontbering veroorsaak. My oudste seun was in 1964, 1965 en 1966 op drie verskillende skole in onderskeidelik Standerton, Pretoria en Ficksburg. My dogter Zelda moes in 1979 haar studie aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat staak om ons na Namibië te vergesel. Ons het nie kans gesien om haar alleen agter te laat nie. Dikwels moes gesinsreëlings op die nippertjie gekanselleer word. Ons was egter altyd ʼn hegte gesin wat met die koms van kleinkinders nog meer geheg aan mekaar geraak het. My seun Armand het my voortdurend aangepor om my herinneringe neer te pen. Hy het seker dikwels gedink sy pa gaan nooit sover kom nie. Maar uiteindelik is die boek daar. Dankie, Armand, dat jy so aan my getorring het! My hartlike dank aan al my kollegas wat my met die skryf van die boek bygestaan het, in besonder genl. Johan Viktor, wat baie moeite gedoen het en wie se kennis van die verlede van groot waarde was. Hy is een van die veterane van die veiligheidstak en dit is jammer dat sy omvattende kennis nie volledig geboekstaaf kan word nie. Ook aan brig. Hennie Heymans ’n spesiale dankie vir al die hulp en wenke. Ek kan nie nalaat om mnr. F.W. de Klerk te bedank vir die wyse waarop hy altyd na ons geluister het en vir sy bereidwilligheid om te help nie, al het dit nie al ons probleme opgelos nie. Mnr. De Klerk was altyd bereid om ons te woord te staan en al is ek van mening dat hy verskeie oordeelsfoute begaan het, doen dit nie afbreuk aan my innige waardering vir sy gesindheid nie. Genl. Magnus Malan, mnr. Adriaan Vlok en dr. Leon Wessels het ook ʼn besondere rol gespeel wat die dank van al die lede van die veiligheidsmagte verdien. Dr. Wessels het dikwels van ons verskil en ek onthou dat hy by geleentheid opgemerk het: “Kêrels, die duiwel gaan ons nog vang!” Hy het ons egter altyd ondersteun en nooit daarvan teruggedeins om aanspreeklikheid te aanvaar nie, hoewel hy dikwels sy hande in onskuld kon was. Verskeie ander voormalige ministers het ons ook bygestaan en ook aan hulle my dank. Ek wil ook namens myself en voormalige lede van die Polisie my waardering betuig vir die rol wat regter Andrew Wilson, adv. Chris de Jager, mnr. Wynand Malan en adv. Francis Bosman gespeel het om te verseker dat die amnestieverhore in die gees van die slotdeel van die Tussentydse Grondwet verloop het. Hoewel hulle soms ʼn stem roepende in die woestyn was, het dit ʼn groot bydrae gelewer om te voorkom dat die hele proses skeefgeloop het. Adv. Louis Visser en mnr. Jan Wagener wat my en ander voormalige polisielede tydens die amnestieverhore verteenwoordig het, het nie net baanbrekerswerk gedoen nie, maar met hul omvattende regskennis en kundigheid die struikelblokke oorkom wat doelbewus in die pad van lede van die veiligheidsmagte geplaas is. Alle oudlede van die veiligheidstak is groot dank aan hulle verskuldig. Dit is helaas onmoontlik om elke lid van die gemeenskap, kerk en samelewing wat ons deurgaans onderskraag en bygestaan het, by name te bedank. Aan elkeen ’n groot dankie. Ek is ook groot dank verskuldig aan Jelleke Wierenga wat die manuskrip geredigeer het. Sy het die uiters moeilike taak gehad om herinneringe wat oor 42 jaar in die kultuur en gees van die Polisie geweef is, te omvorm sodat dit vir die gewone mens verstaanbaar is. Haar talle skerpsinnige vrae het herinneringe ontsluit waarvan ek vergeet het. Sy het baie foute raakgesien en reggemaak. Sonder haar sou ek verlore gewees het. My grootste dank gaan egter aan ons Hemelse Vader wat ons ondanks al ons gebreke, tekortkominge en foute wonderlik gelei en beskerm het. Aan Hom al die eer, lof en dank. Genl. Johan van der Merwe Montana, Pretoria Augustus 2009. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------35
• Hoofstuk 1 (Deel 1) Kinderjare EK het op Ermelo in Oos-Transvaal grootgeword. Vir ons kinders was dit die paradys. In sy gedig “In die Hoëveld” beeld Toon van den Heever die omgewing daar pragtig uit met sy beskrywing van die oop ruimtes en die hemel wyd daarbo, die kuddes waaigras wat oor die veld huppel – voorwaar ’n plek “waar ʼn mens nog vry kan asemhaal en in ʼn God kan glo”. Ewe treffend skets Eugène Marais die koue winternagte in sy gedig “Winternag”: O koud is die windjie en skraal. En blink in die dof-lig en kaal, so wyd as die Heer se genade, lê die velde in sterlig en skade. En hoog in die rande, versprei in die brande, is die grassaad aan roere soos winkende hande. Tydens my kinderjare het die Groot Depressie en die Tweede Wêreldoorlog nog ʼn sterk rimpeluitwerking op die ekonomie gehad en daar was landwyd groot werkloosheid. Mense het noustrop getrek. My pa was in diens van die Provinsiale Administrasie en verantwoordelik vir die instandhouding van die grondpaaie in die distrik. Sy inkomste was karig en ons moes raap en skraap om kop bo water te hou. Ons was ses kinders. Geld vir luukshede was daar nie, maar daar was nooit ’n gebrek aan kos en klere nie. My ma het naaldwerk gedoen om Pa se inkomste aan te vul. Ons kinders het hard gewerk – voor ek soggens skool toe kon gaan, moes ek drie koeie melk, die stal skoonmaak en die koeie na die koeikamp buite die dorp jaag. My jonger broers moes help stal skoonmaak. Al was ons arm en het ons hard gewerk, was ons gelukkig en daar was baie pret en plesier. Die meeste gesinne in ons omgewing was arm, met die gevolg dat ons nooit selfbewus was oor ons omstandighede nie. Van kleins af het sekere reëls gegeld wat ʼn onuitwisbare indruk op my gemaak het. Een van hulle was: ons moet alles deel. Dit is as ʼn doodsonde beskou as jy een of ander lekkerny alleen eet. Ek onthou hoe ek dikwels met groot teësin pouses my nastergal-toebroodjies met my maats gedeel het. Ons was versot op nastergalkonfyt, maar dit was ’n skaars ding. Die gedagte het egter nooit eens by my opgekom om dit stilletjies alleen te eet nie. Ons skooldrag was kakieklere en skoene het ons net kerk toe gedra. Somer en winter het ons kaalvoet geloop. Wintermaande was die sypaadjies spierwit geryp, maar ons voetsole was taai en gebarste hakskene is met boererate behandel. As oudste kind het ek die voorreg gehad dat ek soms nuwe klere gekry het. My klere wat te klein geword het, het na my jonger broer gegaan, en so op die ry af. As oudste moes ek egter al die take verrig waarvoor my broers te jonk was. Ons was ʼn hegte gesin wat streng godsdienstig grootgeword het. My een oupa was hoof-ouderling in die NG kerk op die dorp, ʼn waardige patriarg wat die familietradisies streng gehandhaaf het. Ek is na hom genoem en dit het byna ʼn familieskeuring veroorsaak. Om die een of ander rede was die dorpsmense lief daarvoor om Engelse name te gebruik, soos vandag nog. Van der Merwe het “Vên” geword en my voorname Johannes Velde is verkort tot “Javey”. My ouers het besluit om my voorname so te registreer: Johannes Velde Javey. My oupa het nie hiervan geweet nie en toe hy dit hoor, was hy woedend. Hy het met die predikant gaan praat en gereël dat ek as Johannes Velde gedoop word. Onbewus van die derde naam het ek tot st. 8 (nou graad 10) net die name Johannes Velde gebruik. Vir my indiensneming by die Polisie was my geboortesertifikaat nodig – toe eers het 36
ek met ʼn skok ontdek dat ek nog ʼn naam het. Ek moes “Javey” van my geboortesertifikaat laat verwyder omdat dié naam op geeneen van my ander sertifikate voorgekom het nie. Ek en my vrou Ans het as kinders saam grootgeword. Sy was in gr. 2 en ek in st. 2 toe hulle ons bure word. Haar ma en pa was geskei en haar ma die enigste broodwinner. Hulle het in ʼn sinkhuisie sonder ʼn badkamer gewoon – as hulle wou bad, moes die sinkbad in die kombuis vol water gedra word. Hulle was egter net twee kinders en het soms meer voorregte as ons geniet. Ek en Ans was op skool net maats. Eintlik het ek en haar suster Alida (Lalla), wat ouer as ons albei was, tydens ons vroeë skooljare meer dikwels saamgespeel. Ans en Lalla het elke Saterdag bioskoop toe gegaan. My ouers het die bioskoop as iets boos beskou en ons het elke Saterdag meewarig na hulle gekyk as hulle op pad na die verderf was. So twee huise van ons af het die Rahl-gesin gewoon. Eslie Rahl, wat ’n bietjie ouer as ek was, was alombekend vir sy vaardigheid met ʼn rekker. Om duiwe met ʼn rekker te probeer skiet, was een van ons grootste vermake. Ons vaardigheid het egter veel te wense oorgelaat en ons was nooit werklik ’n bedreiging vir enige duif nie. Maar Eslie het nooit mis geskiet nie. Ons het dikwels by Eslie en sy sussies gaan speel. Op ʼn dag het hul hond my onverwags bestorm en aan my bobeen gebyt. Daar was twee of drie diep gate. Eslie het terstond besluit die beste raat vir ʼn hondebyt is dat die hond wat jou gebyt het, die wond moet lek. Hulle het die hond nader gesleep en met mag en mening probeer dwing om die wond te lek. Die hond het geknor en geprotesteer en ek moes kort-kort my been wegruk as hy in die gespartel probeer het om nog ʼn hap in te kry. Ná ’n vergeefse gespook het ons maar die poging laat vaar. Ek het van die bytplek vergeet tot ek ’n dag of wat later ʼn hoë koors ontwikkel het. Die bytplek was rooi en opgeswel en my ouers het my dokter toe geneem – iets wat maar min gebeur het. Volgens die dokter het die bytplek amper bloedvergiftiging veroorsaak. Ek het ʼn reeks inspuitings gekry en die wond het lank geneem om te genees. Ons het ʼn tuinwerker met die naam Boesman gehad. Of hy regtig ’n Boesman was, weet ek nie, maar hy was kort en gelerig, vandaar die naam Boesman. Boesman was so sewentien jaar oud en het waarskynlik meer met ons gespeel as wat hy in die tuin gewerk het. Hy het my die naam “Oubaas” gegee en almal het my so genoem toe ek op skool was. My broers, susters en ouer vriende ken my steeds as “Oubaas”. Ek het twee hartsbegeertes as kind gehad: om ʼn trapfiets en ʼn windbuks te hê. My ouers kon dit egter nie bekostig nie. Op ʼn dag het Boesman ʼn trapfiets vir ʼn pond gekoop. Die fiets was in ʼn haglike toestand met binne- en buitebande wat gedaan was. Dit het egter groot opwinding veroorsaak en ons was in die wolke. Ná baie gepleit het my ma vir ons geld vir gom en plakkies gegee sodat ons die binnebande kon regmaak. Maar sodra een lekplek toegeplak is, was daar ’n ander. Ná baie gesukkel was albei bande gepomp en Boesman gereed om die fiets in te wy. Met my voor op die fiets en ten aanskoue van al die broers en susters het Boesman ongeveer twintig treë gery – toe bars albei bande fyn en flenters. Boesman was deel van ons gesin. As ons kinders saam stout dinge aangevang het, het ons saam pak gekry. Oor hierdie pakgeëry was daar ’n amperse drama ... Op ʼn dag het my pa sy hare by Martiens van Staden, die dorp se haarkapper en belangrikste nuusbron, laat skeer. Hy het uiters ontsteld by die huis aangekom. Volgens Martiens het die magistraat die vorige week ʼn man skuldig bevind omdat hy een van sy werkers ʼn pak slae gegee het. Die man is ernstig vermaan dat dit nie weer moet gebeur nie. Wat nou gemaak wanneer Boesman saam met ons kinders gestraf word? My pa het geglo alles sal ten gronde gaan as die roede nie meer volgens Bybelse voorskrif gebruik word nie. (WORD VERVOLG)
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Rosa Swanepoel • 1914 & 1922: Permitte: Grendelstaat
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RSM Craig Bushy Brown • Const Richard Ernest Bowerbank Day
Const REB Day receives a certificate – in left hand - from the Deputy Commissioner.7
Hannetjie Terblanche Schoeman • South African Police Service: Railway Police
7 The Deputy Commissioner looks like Lt Col FJ “Frank” Verster – HBH. 40
Interior views
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Wie se foto’s is die? • 1939 – 1945: WO2 Italië
Soms raak foto’s en die stories geskei. Ek is ook nie ‘n flinke liasseer klerk nie!
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• 1946: SAP Depot
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• 1960 Sharpeville
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Vreemde vlieënde voorwerpe (VVV) en die Pretoria polisie se lugvleuel (HBH) Een aand, seker so 10-jaar gelede, gesels ek met ‘n polisie-vlieënier verbonde aan die lugvleuel. Hy vertel my dat die publiek die Blitspatrollie in Pretoria geskakel het in verband met ‘n vreemde vlieënde voorwerp bokant Pretoria. Hy was aan diens en het my sy helikopter opgestyg en die vlieënde voorwerp in die lug opgespoor. Hy vertel my dat Jan Smuts-lughawe ook die voorwerp kon sien. Die voorwerp het vreemd opgetree en kon vreeslik versnel van een posisie na die ander. Die lughawe het later alle kennis van die voorval ontken. Wel dis maar ‘n storie oor ‘n drankie of twee en dit het in my gedagte maar net “bewerings” gebly.
Vir die tweede maal lees ek in die Britse koerante van VVV’s oor die VSA. Lees asb. die volgende storie: REVEALED: US Navy fighter jets intercepted eight UFOs and even locked on to one with air-to-air missiles, classified reports show
Eight hazard reports filed with the Naval Safety Center were released under the Freedom of Information Act and detail strange encounters between Navy pilots and unidentified flying objects. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8316921/Navy-fighter-jets-intercepted-eight-UFOslocked-one-air-air-missiles.html Natuurlik het die SAP te Fort Beaufort – AO Van Rensburg – jare gelede ook met ‘n VVV te doene gekry! Ons het breedvoerig daaroor verslag gedoen in een of ander Nongqai. Ja, die polisie kry sekerlik met van alles en nog wat te doene, dis waarom polisiewerk so interessant is!
Baie interessante artikel geskryf en saamgestel deur (gebruik met toestemming) Fanie Bouwer
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Brig. Fanie Bouwer • SAP: Die Polisie As Loopbaan Vóór 1994 Ek het destyds in 'n stuk onder andere geskryf dat: "Die polisie was ’n groot organisasie. Ek het altyd gesê daar is vir alle soorte en persoonlikhede plek. Elkeen na sy aard. Almal het egter ’n bydra gelewer om daardie gedugte SAP glad op al sy silinders te laat loop". Gedagtig hieraan, gaan ek onderaan die afdelings/takke/eenhede ens. wat destyds in die SAP gefunksioneer het, sommer vir die interessantheid vir u lys. Dit is verbasend lank..... -------------------------------Die "silinders" waarna ek hierbo verwys, is vervat in die volgende: Die Uniformtak (By HK, in Afdelings, polisiedistrikte en polisiestasies) - Afdeling Binnelandse Stabiliteit (ABS - voorheen onluseenhede) Personeeldienste (Werwing, Opleiding, Opleidingskolleges) Finansiële Dienste Gevorderde Opleiding - Opleiding en Mannekragontwikkeling Bestuursontwikkeling - Instituut vir Gedragswetenskappe Polisieperde Hondeskool (Afdelings: Speurhond, Springstof, Skaaphond, Dwelms, Teeninsurgensie-opleiding & Teel) SA Polisie-orkes Vuurwapeneenheid - Die Sentrale Vuurwapenregister Logistieke Dienste (met verskeie onder-afdelings. Voorheen Kwartiermeester) Tuinbou-Eenheid Wapensmede Roof Reaksie-Eenheid SA Polisie Motorhawens Die Speurtak (By HK, Afdelings, distrikte en takke) Diamant- en Goudtak Die Handelstak Die SA Narkotiese Buro Moord- en Roof Voertuigdiefstal Veediefstal Kinderbeskerming Die Operasioneletak Teeninsurgensie-Eenheid Die Spesiale Wageenheid *Spesiale Konstabels *Munisipale Polisie-Eenheid Vervoerpolisiëringseenheid 49
Lugvleuel Spesiale Taakmag TIN-opleidingsentrums Video-Eenheid Wetenskaplike Tegnies Dienste - Forensiese Wetenskaplaboratorium - Die Eenheid Analitiese Chemie Die Biologiese Eenheid - Die Forensiese Ballistiekeenheid Akoestiekeenheid Kommunikasie (netwerke) Radiobeheer/Patrolliedienste Betwiste dokumente Eenheid SA Kriminele Rekordsentrum Konsultasiedienste Die Veiligheidstak (By HK talle afdelings, seksies en lessenaars; ook provinsiale streekkantore en takke) - Inspektoraat vir Ontplofbare Stowwe Bestuursdienste - Afdeling Openbare Betrekkinge (Mediaskakeling, Interneskakeling, Gemeenskapskakeling, Protokol, Servamus en die SA Polisiemusem (Argief) Doelmatigheidsdienste Regsdienste Inspektoraat Navorsingseenheid Beroepsveiligheid eenheid Pastorale En Maatskaplike Sorg (Verskeie onder-afdelings soos Maatskaplike dienste, Bejaardesorg, Akpol ens.) (Ek aanvaar die lys hierbo is nie 100% korrek nie) *Die Spesiale Konstabels en die Munisipale Polisie-Eenheid: Ekself het hierdie twee groepe se bedrywighede by prov. Hoofkantoor in die Wes-Kaap gehanteer net voordat ek na Namakwaland verplaas is. Generaal-majoor NH (Nic) Acker het diĂŠ portefeulje by Hoofkantoor beklee. ('n Foto van hom en myself is onder geplaas). Hy het daarna die Wes-Kaap se provinsiale kommissaris geword met die rang van luitenant-generaal. Terloops, die wat nie kan onthou nie: die Munisipale PolisieEenheid se lede het so 'n kakie-groen uniform gedra. Hulle was geplaas by aparte polisiestasies in die townships/lokasies buite elke dorp in die provinsie. In die eerste helfte van die 90's was daar so +- 40 generaals. 'n Paar opmerkings: Meeste lede het destyds aangesluit bloot omdat hulle polisiemanne/vroue wou wees. Geykte uitdrukkings soos "om die staat te dien" of "die regering van dag te dien" was nie werklike redes wat deur lede se koppe gemaal het nie. Ons was in elke geval te jonk en te naĂŻef om aan sulke sentimente te dink.
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Genl. Acker en brig. Bouwer Teen wil en dank moes ons - die SAP - toe later ons rug styf maak teen 'n kommunistiesgeïnspireerde aanslag teen die SA'se staat. Ons het nie daarvoor gaan soek nie; dit het na ons gekom. Daar was mense wat sarkasties beweer het dat die regering van die dag én die veiligheidsdienste destyds 'n "kommunis agter elk bos gesoek het". Ekself sê dit wás heeltemal waar, in die sin dat daar inderdaad 'n kommunis of drie, selfs meer, betrokke agter elke onwettige opstootjie, onderduimse bedrywigheid, kampanjes teen die regering van die dag, en selfs met die stigting van Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). Dít was die situasie in die vorige eeu kort na uniewording daar van 1922 af tot en met die 90-tigs. Die geskiedenis het dit bewys. Let wel: hierdie ouens waarna ek in die 2 vorige paragrawe verwys, se missie was om die SuidAfrikaanse staat omvêr te gooi. Hulle finale droom was om met 'n kommunistiese rooi hamer-ensekel vlag én 'n swart-geel-groen vlag van die ANC Pretoria se Kerkplein as oorwinnaars in te marsjeer. (Die PAC het daar aan die eenkant ook só gedroom). Die SAP het egter 'n stokkie voor dit gesteek en daardie naïewe droom verydel. Dit was ons plig. Die nuwe heersers en van deesdae se geskiedskrywers kan maar afwysend na die SAP verwys as die sg. "apartheidspolisie", "ou orde" of wat ook al, maar die lede destyds moes teen wil en dank rug styfmaak teen 'n verbete en doelgerigte aanslag teen die staat soos nog nooit vantevore nie. Daar was nie 'n keuse nie. Ons laaste SAP-kommissaris se boektitel was nie verniet "Trou tot die Dood toe" nie. In die proses (lae-intensiteit oorlog) oor baie jare was daar dus kollaterale skade - beserings en sterftes - soos in enige oorlog (hier het die SAP dit nie geïnisieer nie). As die ander partye in die proses sleg seer gekry, of 'tweede gekom' het, het hulle net hulself te blameer gehad. 51
'n Laaste gedagte: politieke kapitulasie in SA het eers in 1990 gebeur. Is daar 'n 'regte' tyd? Moes dit nie 'n dekade of twee vroeër gebeur het nie? My opinie is 'n besliste 'nee', omdat die ideologie en kommunistiese invloede vroeër van so 'n aard (eerder 'mag', 'n kommunistiese bestel en 'n gewelddadige oorname i.p.v. byvoorbeeld demokrasie en menseregte) was dat dit chaos sou afgee en ons vandag nóg slegter daaraan toe sou wees. Let wel: die denke het later verander, veral omdat die anderkant tot die slotsom gekom het dat hulle (naïewe) drome om die staat omvêr te gooi, nooit enigsins haalbaar was nie.
Johan Stumke • Historiese foto van Uitenhage SAP lede van die vroeë sestigs
Bekende legendes op die foto is oom Cecil Dorflingh, Tol Landman, Hoender Landman, Oom Lieb Liebenberg, Dup Du Preez, Charlie Fortune, Toon Botha, Oom Gert Schoeman en andere. Ons generasie was baie gelukkig om saam met hulle te kon werk. Soos ons almal weet het die lede na aftrede teruggekom in die MAG as spesiale lede. 52
Dit dien gemeld te word dat die laaste oorlewende lid op die foto, oom Sid Williams, onlangs in die rype ouderdom van 93 afgesterf het. Hy was die wêreldrekordhouer in gewigoptel in ‘n baie hoë ouderdomsgroep. Hy word na hierdie prestasie ook opgeteken in Guiness World Book of Records. Ironies genoeg dat daar ook gedurende die SESTIGS ‘n nuwe generasie lede wat hul kop uitgesteek het. n Aantal lede van die Uitenhage speur- en uniformtak genoem. Ons onthou die Speurtak se lede; Gawie Marais, Johan Van Niekerk, Ronnie Claasen, Koos Calitz, Derick Gouws, At Grobler, Kolletjie Colesky, Tallie Taljaard en andere.... te veel om te noem. Die Uniformtak se lede tydens daardie tydperk was die Legendariese ‘Tokkels’ Gerber, Oom George Marais, Lokkies Share, Fred Sciocatti, die Stumke-broers Herman en Johan, Boelie Pieterse, Powelltjie, Ben "Bliksem" Coetzee, Odin Moorcroft8, die Allers-broers Mike en Johan, Louis Groenewald, Loggie van Loggerenbergh, Hannes Vreij en Johan Jonker....... weereens te veel om te noem. Ons eer al hierdie lede vir die onbaatsugtige diens wat hulle vir Uitenhage en die gemeenskap gedoen het. Die lede wat ons reeds vooruit gegaan het............... ONS SALUEER JULLE!! NS. Aan die lede wat die afgelope jare afgetree het voorspoed en geluk word julle toegewens. Laaste maar nie die minste vir die wat steeds die "FORT" hou, VASBYT!!.... MIN DAE!!.
SECURITY BRANCH | VEILIGHEIDSTAK
Three days of national mourning for 'brave and patriotic' Denis Goldberg, says Ramaphosa 2020-05-01 08:38: President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared three days of national mourning for struggle stalwart Denis Goldberg. https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/three-days-of-national-mourning-forbrave-and-patriotic-denis-goldberg-says-ramaphosa-20200501
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Toevallig was mnr Odin Moorcroft destyds my SB te SAP Wentworth. (Ek het intussen met hom geskakel) – HBH.
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Who is Dennis Goldberg? • Denis Goldberg From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia Denis Goldberg
Denis Goldberg speaking at the launch of the Edinburgh World Justice Festival, 12 October 2013. Born
Denis Theodore Goldberg April 11, 1933[1] Cape Town, South Africa
Died
April 29, 2020 (aged 87) [2] Cape Town, South Africa
Nationality
South African
Alma mater
University of Cape Town
Known for
Rivonia Trial
Political party African National Congress Denis Goldberg (11 April 1933 – 29 April 2020) was a South African social campaigner, who was active in the struggle against apartheid. He was imprisoned for 22 years, along with other key members of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. After his release in 1985 he continued to campaign against apartheid from his base in London with his family, until the system was fully disbanded with the 1994 election. He returned to South Africa in 2002. Biography: Early life Denis Theodore Goldberg was born on 11 April 1933 in Cape Town, South Africa and grew up in a family that, unlike most white families at that time, welcomed people of all races into their house. His parents, Annie and Sam Goldberg, were both born in London, the children of Lithuanian Jews who emigrated to England in the latter half of the 19th century. Both parents were politically active communists while living in London, and after moving to Cape Town played an active role in the local Woodstock Branch of the South African Communist Party, while Sam ran a series of small businesses. In March 1950, aged 16, Goldberg began his studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Cape Town. In his final year he met Esme Bodenstein, who came from a family active in the Communist 54
Party, and they married in January 1954. Their daughter Hilary was born in 1955 and their son David in 1957. Anti-apartheid activism in South Africa Modern Youth Society Esme was a committee member of the non-racially segregated Modern Youth Society (MYS), through which Denis became friends with Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, who later cofounded SWAPO (South West African People’s Organisation) and became one of the later leaders of an independent Namibia. The MYS aimed to raise awareness and solidarity by various means, including selling the "New Age" newspaper, canvassing door-to-door and holding night classes to educate and politicise working people. The Goldbergs also became involved in the Congress of Democrats. Although these activities were not illegal, the couple and other activists were constantly harassed by the Security Police, who were building up dossiers on those involved. 1955: Congress of the People In 1953 prominent black academic Z. K. Matthews proposed that a "Congress of the People" be organized to gather and document the wishes of the people. Organizing committees were set up across South Africa and Goldberg joined the Cape Town committee. Tasked with organising residents of the desperately poor Loyolo informal settlement in Simonstown, he visited Loyolo every weekend to help the community elect their delegate. After being spotted there by Security Police, he was fired from his job on the South African Railways. The Western Cape delegates were stopped by the Security Police and held in jail to prevent them attending the Congress of the People in Kliptown, but on 25-26 June 1955, 3,000 delegates gathered there and the Freedom Charter was adopted. This movement led to the formation of the Congress Alliance, bringing together an alliance of four racially-based anti-apartheid political movements: the African National Congress (ANC), the Congress of Democrats (COD), the South African Indian Congress (SAIC) and Coloured People’s Congress (CPC), into one large multi-racial movement, sometimes called the Charterists. 1960: first prison experience In 1957 Goldberg joined the Communist Party (which had been banned in 1950). He was arrested on 30 March 1960 for supporting strikers in the townships in the aftermath of the Sharpeville massacre on 21 March 1960. Along with his mother, he spent four months in prison without trial and subsequently lost his job working on the construction of the Athlone Power Station, which added to the burden placed on Esme; faced with similar circumstances, several comrades left the country. 1961–1963: armed resistance With the government using increasingly violent methods to suppress peaceful protests, Goldberg and others argued for an armed struggle against the police and military. When the underground armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the Nation", or MK) was founded as an armed wing of the ANC in December 1961, Goldberg became a technical officer. The aim was to act only against hard targets such as power pylons and avoid any injury or loss of life. Together with Looksmart Ngudle, Goldberg helped organise a training camp at Mamre, outside Cape Town, in December 1962. The camp was later recognised as the first MK training centre inside South Africa; however, it had to be abandoned early due to Security Police interest. Goldberg’s involvement in the camp formed part of the charges he later faced at the Rivonia trial. Following a wave of sabotage attacks, the government passed two pieces of legislation. The 90Day Detention Law of 1963 allowed the Security Police to detain a person for 90 days without charging them or allowing access to a lawyer and the Sabotage Act of 1962 shifted the onus of proof, requiring the accused to prove their innocence. MK decided that Goldberg needed to leave 55
the country to be trained elsewhere for a while, but he first had to travel to Johannesburg to obtain clearance from the MK High Command. In Johannesburg Goldberg helped in the radio broadcast of a speech on the June 26 Freedom Day by Walter Sisulu, out on bail at the time, to show people that the ANC was still active despite the repression. Lionel Gay, a lecturer in physics at Witwatersrand University, built the radio transmitter. Arrest and imprisonment - July 1963: arrest at Liliesleaf On 11 July 1963 the security police raided Liliesleaf farmhouse in Rivonia in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, at a meeting planned to be the last held there, after the house having been used as secret meeting place for nearly two years. Goldberg was arrested at the farm along with several others, including Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba and Rusty Bernstein. Goldberg was subjected to a series of often aggressive interrogations, sometimes threatened with hanging and at other times offered inducements to turn state witness. He was told about the death of his friend, Looksmart Ngudle, in prison. Esme had also been arrested and was held under the 90day Detention Law for 38 days, during which she was treated harshly and subjected to threats to have her children removed from her. On 8 October 1963, after the 90-day detention period had expired, Goldberg and the others were charged with offences under the Sabotage Act. (Nelson Mandela was in prison at the time of the raid, but documents found at Liliesleaf enabled the State to add him as a co-accused.) The subsequent trial became known as the Rivonia Trial. 1963–1964: the Rivonia Trial Main article: Rivonia Trial The day after being charged, Goldberg and his co-accused met with their lawyers - Bram Fischer, Joel Joffe, Arthur Chaskalson and George Bizos - who told them that their situation was dire and that death by hanging was the likely outcome. Goldberg, in an effort to protect Mandela and the other leaders, offered to take responsibility by saying that he had exceeded his instructions in regard to weapons manufacture, arguing that the evidence against him was the most difficult to refute given that the plans had clearly been written by him. This offer was dismissed by the others. An escape plan was discussed, and Goldberg insisted that Esme and the children go into exile, for fear of repercussions should he be successful. Esme and the children left for Britain in December 1963, but Goldberg was unable to escape. After two of the accused had escaped, the verdict was delivered on 12 June 1964: Bernstein was acquitted and (Bob Hepple) was discharged; the rest were all found guilty. The judge declined to impose the death sentence; instead eight of those convicted were sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment each. At 31 years old, Goldberg was the youngest of those sentenced and the only white man. His mother, who was in the court for sentencing, did not hear the judge, and shouted “Denis, what is it? What did the judge say?", to which Goldberg responded: “Life, and life is wonderful”. June 1964: Pretoria Central Prison Goldberg was sent to the white section of Pretoria Central Prison, while the others were sent to Robben Island. Like the others, he did not appeal his sentence. He was mostly alone in his cell for 16 to 18 hours a day. The prisoners were forbidden to talk amongst themselves and the harsh conditions often led to illness and psychological stress. After four years, Esme was allowed to visit for the first time, but restricted to five half-hour visits; after another four years she was again allowed to visit, but after that never again, with no explanation given. After eight years, his children were allowed to visit and allowed physical contact with him until they reached the age of 16; apart from this, no physical contact was allowed during visits. 56
Only one 500-word letter was permitted every six months but even these were often arbitrarily censored and cut. On his release, Goldberg was given a pack of letters sent by Esme that had been withheld; at the time he had been told they had never arrived. While he was in prison and subsequently, Esme's house in East Finchley in north London provided a haven for many South African political refugees and various other itinerants. Both of Goldberg's parents died whilst he was in prison. They had separated and his mother Annie had gone to live with Esme and the children in the UK. On the day before he was released, Goldberg was allowed under guard to visit his father’s grave. Bram Fischer had led the legal team at the Rivonia Trial. In 1966 he joined Goldberg in prison after being given a life sentence for furthering the aims of communism and conspiracy to overthrow the government. When Fischer became very ill in 1974, Goldberg kept a detailed diary of his medical care. The diary was subsequently smuggled out of prison. After a fall, Fischer was belatedly diagnosed with terminal cancer. Goldberg helped care for him and managed to persuade the prison guards to let him stay with Fischer in his cell overnight. Non-political prisoners rarely served their full term, whereas political prisoners were required to serve every day of their sentence. Only shortly before his death was Fischer allowed to leave the prison, to be put under house arrest at his brother's house in Bloemfontein. A birthday telegram arranged by Goldberg on behalf of the prisoners was not only intercepted, but a prison officer told Goldberg that he would charge him for communicating with a prisoner without permission. The political prisoners were cut off from all news of the outside world, to the extent that an article about the United States Bicentennial was cut from the Reader’s Digest before the magazine was given to the prisoners. In 1977 Goldberg, who was studying law, along with eight fellow-prisoners, brought a case against the Minister of Prisons and Commissioner of Prisons, asking to be entitled to receive newspapers, arguing that they were treated more harshly than other prisoners and the deprivation of news of any kind was an additional punishment to loss of liberty. The case was first heard in the Supreme Court of the Transvaal, with the judgement finding in favour of the State. The case was taken on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal, where it was found that while the commissioner did have sole discretion to determine how prisoners may be treated, the court may "entertain grave doubts as to the wisdom or reasonableness of the determination". Following the judgement Justice John Wessels, accompanied by General Jan Roux, first deputy commissioner, visited the prison. In the presence of Goldberg, Wessels said he was sure that Roux would see to it that they got the newspapers and magazines of their choice. In September 1980, Goldberg was told he could order newspapers - 16 years after being sentenced, he and his fellow prisoners were able to have access to news. 1979: escape for some In June 1978 Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, who had been sentenced to 12 years for illegal political activities, arrived at the prison. Shortly after arrival, Jenkin told Goldberg that he planned to escape, and asked for his help in hiding money that he had smuggled in. Various versions of the escape plan evolved over time, with the size of the escape group growing to a maximum of eight, including Goldberg, at one point. Goldberg realised that an escape would come with a cost to the movement as it would provoke a severe clampdown by the authorities; for this reason, and to secure help with the logistics of the escape, he had to communicate with his comrades in the ANC. He was able to do this through coded letters sent to Baruch Hirson in London, with whom he had served a nine-year sentence, as between them they had created a code by which to communicate. Hirson then communicated with Joe Slovo in Mozambique, arranging an escape vehicle and other details. 57
As the plan evolved it became clear that for the escape to be successful it would have to be restricted to three people, as the final plan was dependent upon hiding for a while in a tiny closet in which only three slim people could fit. The escape preparations brought some differences of opinion amongst the political prisoners, who included David Rabkin, Jeremy Cronin and Raymond Suttner, but they remained comrades and all contributed in some way to the escape effort. Goldberg withdrew from the actual escape, leaving the three who had done most of the planning and had been the main drivers of the idea from the start: Jenkin, Lee and Alex Moumbaris. Goldberg helped to distract the warden while the three escapees made their way out; all three managed to escape to neighbouring countries and freedom. 1985: a negotiated release Goldberg's daughter Hilary was living on a kibbutz in Israel, which had set up a committee to try and obtain her father’s release from prison. Herut Lapid, who campaigned for the release of Jewish prisoners worldwide, became involved and started lobbying political contacts in Britain. It was a difficult time for Goldberg as he did not know the stance of the ANC and his comrades imprisoned on Robben Island towards his possible release. Isolated as he was from both of them and those at liberty there was little opportunity for consultation; however, a message was conveyed to him that the ANC, including those on Robben Island, approved of the initiatives of his daughter and Herut Lapid. In 1985 these ongoing initiatives were complemented by political developments. Under pressure from the United States9, the government offered to release political prisoners if they renounced violence. Goldberg asked to see Mandela and his other comrades in Cape Town, but this was refused. The main condition put to Goldberg was that he would not take part in violence for political ends. Goldberg agreed not to be a soldier anymore, but he did not repudiate his earlier involvement or the need for an armed struggle. In a letter to President P. W. Botha he detailed his position and agreed to an "undertaking to participate in normal peaceful politics which can be freely and meaningfully practised". On 28 February 1985, after 22 years in prison, he was released. While in prison, Goldberg had attained degrees in Public Administration, History and Geography, and in Library Science through the University of South Africa and had undertaken part of a law degree. 1985–2002: freedom and exile in London Goldberg was taken straight from prison to the airport to fly to Israel, where he was reunited with his wife and children. Despite Israel having interceded on his behalf, he was vehement in his criticism of its treatment of the Palestinians and cooperation with South Africa. He went into exile in London with his family and resumed his work in the ANC in its London office. On 26 June 1985, on the 30th anniversary of the Congress of the People (aka Freedom Day), as spokesperson for the ANC, he gave a speech at Trafalgar Square at an Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) rally, also attended by leader of the British Labour Party, Neil Kinnock, and that December went on a six-week speaking tour in Scandinavia. He represented the movement at the Anti-Apartheid Committee of the United Nations and also became involved in Woodcraft Folk, a British civic movement for young people in which his family had been active for many years. His main role through the years until 1994 was to build support for the AAM, and to this end he travelled extensively across Europe and North America, doing speaking engagements and media interviews.
9
It is my feeling that the US did more for South African Communists in detention than did the USSR – HBH.
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He also established strong relationships with trade unions and long-standing relationships with people who continued to support South Africa after democracy was established. 1994: apartheid ends After the first non-racial elections in South Africa and the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president in 1994, Goldberg decided not to return to South Africa, primarily so he could remain with Esme, his children and grandchildren, who wanted to stay in the UK. He was involved in the early days of Computer Aid International (founded in 1996), and became their Honorary Patron. He founded the development organisation Community HEART. in London in 1995, to help to improve the living standards of black South Africans. Community HEART raised funds for organisations such as Rape Crisis Cape Town as well as for initiatives to provide books and computers to schools. With the support of German friends, he established Community HEART in Essen in Germany in 1996, where he met Edelgard Nkobi. He subsequently visited Germany many times, learning to speak German and establishing a wide network of friends. In 2000 Esme died after emergency surgery to treat a gangrenous bowel. In 2002 Denis and Edelgard married in London; just days later, his daughter Hilary died suddenly, as Goldberg and Edelgard were preparing to return to South Africa. 2002: return to South Africa Goldberg returned to South Africa in 2002 and was appointed Special Adviser to Ronnie Kasrils MP, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry until 2004. He subsequently served as special advisor to Buyelwa Sonjica, successor to Kasrils. Edelgard and Denis lived initially in Pretoria then in Cape Town. Edelgard died in 2006 after a long battle with cancer. Goldberg continued to travel to Germany and other countries to speak about South Africa and the work needed to transform it; in June 2009 he presented a paper “South Africa, the Transition to Democracy and the Banning of Torture” at a seminar at the University of Düsseldorf. In 2009 Goldberg received the Order of Luthuli for his contribution to the liberation struggle and his service to the South African people. In 2010 he published his autobiography, The Mission: A Life for Freedom in South Africa (new edition published in 2016). He became involved in a project to teach high school students about the history of the liberation struggle and also lent support to several projects in Hout Bay, the Cape Town suburb where he lived. This included support to the Kronendal Music Academy (founded 2007) which aims to bring together young people from different communities through playing music. He used his German contacts to help arrange for a jazz band composed of Kronendal students to tour Germany in 2012. 2015: Denis Goldberg House of Hope In 2015, Goldberg and four others established the non-profit Denis Goldberg Legacy Foundation Trust. The primary focus of the Trust is the establishment of an arts, cultural and educational centre, to be known as the Denis Goldberg House of Hope. Despite suffering from lung cancer, at the age of 85 he was continuing to work on the project. In an interview in the 2018 UCT Alumni Magazine, Goldberg spoke of his passion for the project and belief in the role of art and culture in helping to bring about change, saying that South Africa was still a very divided society and that young people needed "to sing together, dance together, make poetry together".
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Like many struggle veterans, Goldberg has criticised corruption in the ANC. Appearing on BBC Radio 5 Live in January 2016 he said "the members of the ANC need to renew the leadership from top to bottom". 2019: Isithwalandwe On 23 January 2019, Deputy ANC President David Mabuza awarded Goldberg the party's highest honour, Isithwalandwe. Awards and recognition • 1988 Albert J Luthuli African Peace Award by a group of 12 US organisations: American Friends Service Committee, American Red Cross and others • 2000 Honorary doctorate from the Medical University of South Africa (now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University) • 2009 Order of Luthuli (Silver) by president of South Africa • 2010 Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Verdienstkreuz am Bande) • 2012 Military Veterans Medal (Platinum Class II) Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha Peace Award by Gandhi Development Trust, Durban • 2012 Randburg Ward 102 branch of the ANC named Denis Goldberg Branch • 2012 World Scholar award from City of Glasgow College • 2018 Honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland • 2019 Isitwalandwe Medal • 2019 Honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Town Works Goldberg, Denis (2010). The Mission: A Life for Freedom in South Africa. Johannesburg: STE. OCLC 723667119. Goldberg, Denis (2012). Mandela-Tambo: friends, comrades, leaders, legacy. Mandela-Tambo lecture series, 4. ISBN 9780955653834. OCLC 870178125. This paper was delivered as the Fourth lecture of the Mandela-Tambo lecture series, 13 September 2012. The lecture was organised by the City of Glasgow College and ACTSA Scotland in association with the SA High Commission. The Glasgow Mandela-Tambo lecture 2011. Goldberg, Denis (2016). A Life for Freedom: The Mission to End Racial Injustice in South Africa. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813166858. (First 7 chapters available online) Film and TV In 2013, the story of the prison escape was dramatized in the 7th episode of the 2nd season of Breakout, a television series made by National Geographic TV channel dramatizing real-life prison escapes. The video features excerpts from interviews with Jenkin, Lee, Moumbaris and Goldberg filmed in 2012, in between re-enacted scenes of the prison escape. In 2017 Goldberg appeared along with remaining surviving co-defendants at the Rivonia Trial, Andrew Mlangeni and Ahmed Kathrada, along with lawyers Joel Joffe, George Bizos and Denis Kuny in a documentary film entitled “Life is Wonderful”, directed by Sir Nicholas Stadlen, which tells the story of the trial. The title reflects Goldberg's words to his mother at the end of the trial on hearing that he and his comrades had been spared the death sentence and Sir Nicholas said that he was inspired to make the film after spending a day with Goldberg. Announced in 2017, a film of Tim Jenkin's book about his escape from Pretoria Central Prison, produced by David Barron and starring Daniel Radcliffe as Jenkin started production in 2018. It was originally announced that Sam Neill would play Goldberg, but when production time arrived, Ian Hart assumed the role. Filming of Escape from Pretoria began in Adelaide, South Australia, in March 2019. 60
Notes ^ Later, in 1957 Chief Hosea Kutako, leader of the Herero people in the then South West Africa (now Namibia), was refused permission by the South African authorities to represent his people at the United Nations. In response Goldberg assisted Ya Toivo to make a tape-recorded message and post it to New York, where Mburumba Kerina brought it the attention of the U.N. The South African authorities then declared Ya Toivo an illegal immigrant and expelled him to the northern part of the country. Sources Goldberg, Denis (2016). A Life for Freedom: The Mission to End Racial Injustice in South Africa. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813166858. Further reading Kenvyn, David (2014). Denis Goldberg: freedom fighter and humanist. Johannesburg: Liliesleaf, in association with Community H.E.A.R.T. OCLC 890580946. These essays are presented to honour Denis Goldberg by South African, British, German, Dutch and Swedish friends and comrades who have known him during his remarkable life. (Back cover) Full text available online on South African History Online. Bernardo, Carla (11 July 2019). "The boy who would build a nation". University of Cape Town.10 Also see https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-30-the-boy-who-would-build-anation/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Afternoon%20Thing%20Wednesday%2030%20April %202020%20OrbVest&utm_content=Afternoon%20Thing%20Wednesday%2030%20April%20202 0%20OrbVest+CID_e6e7f1a6d9e82ba1d3217c3a4fce6ec1&utm_source=TouchBasePro&utm_ter m=Veteran%20activist%20Denis%20Goldberg%20has%20died
Genl JV “Johan” van der Merwe •
John Harris en die Ploftoestel op Johannesburg Spoorwegstasie
IN Julie 1964 het lede van die veiligheidstak in Johannesburg begin om mense wat by die African Resistance Movement (ARM) betrokke was, ingevolge die 90-dae-bepalings aan te hou. Dié beweging het aanvanklik as die National Committee for Liberation (NCL) tot stand gekom en was bekend as die Sabotasiegroep vanweë sy doelwitte. Onder dié wat in hegtenis geneem is, was Hugh
10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Goldberg
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Lewin. John Harris is in daardie stadium ook van ondermynende bedrywighede verdink, maar ons was nie seker of hy ook lid van ARM was nie. Op 24 Julie 1964, net ná halfvyf die middag, het ʼn bom tussen die wagtende pendelaars op die Johannesburgse stasie ontplof. Afgryslike tonele het hulleself afgespeel. Altesame 23 mense is ernstig beseer, onder wie ʼn bejaarde vrou wat later aan haar wonde beswyk het. ʼn Babadogtertjie is erg verbrand. Brig. Van den Bergh, die Minister van Justisie, mnr. John Vorster, en lede van die veiligheidstak het hulle na die toneel gehaas. Die vraag in almal se gemoed was: Wie kon so ʼn lafhartige, gewetenlose en sinnelose daad pleeg? Lt. Johan Viktor (later generaal) en lt. Willem van der Merwe (later kolonel) was met die ondersoek na die bedrywighede van ARM belas. Albei was van diens toe hulle van die ontploffing hoor, maar het hulle onmiddellik na die stasie gehaas. Hulle het vermoed dat ’n ARM-lid die bom geplant het en besluit om Lewin, wat by die polisiestasie in Jeppe aangehou is, te gaan haal en na die Johannesburg-stasie te bring. Die verwoesting en beseerdes het hom erg geskok. Terug op kantoor het Lewin volgehou dat hy nie weet wie die bom geplant het nie, maar dat nog net John Harris van hul organisasie op vrye voet is. Lewin het ook besonderhede verstrek van springstof wat in die noordelike voorstede van Johannesburg versteek is. Lt. Hennie Muller (later brigadier) van die veiligheidstak in Roodepoort is gevra om Harris, wat in Roodepoort gewoon het, in hegtenis te neem en na die Graysgebou te bring, waar die veiligheidstak se hoofkantoor was. Lte. Viktor en Van der Merwe het vroeg die oggend die springstof gekry waar Lewin gesê het dit is. By die springstof was ʼn boekie waarin Harris die tyd waarop die bom sou ontplof, aangeteken het. In sy boek Bandiet out of jail skryf Lewin soos volg oor sy ondervraging oor die bomvoorval: I didn’t know anything about it and offered two scraps of information which I’d withheld before and which I hoped might stop the beating: the fact that I thought I knew where the rest of the dynamite was stored; and the name of a friend, John Harris. Viktor nodded – they’d already heard of him next door. Next door, my former flat-mate, Ernest, was being interrogated. He had been detained the previous day. Four months later, he was the prime witness in the case in which John Harris was charged ... Then suddenly Hokkie [een van die lede wat hom bewaak het] was gone and the room began to fill with other more senior men. Van der Merwe and Viktor were there again, and Swanepoel. I hadn’t seen Swanepoel that night. Swanepoel came in with the rest, looking thunderous, the boss man, I thought. But he was quiet with the rest, standing up and aside as a tall, elegant gent came in, with steel-rimmed glasses and a smart suit, looking like a smooth English businessman, and speaking smooth, elegant English. I recognized him: Brigadier Van den Bergh, head of Security Police, henchman and former detention camp colleague of Vorster. Surprisingly smooth. He was polite and quiet: the man they were looking for, he said, had fair hair, was of medium height, and had used a timer of exceptional accuracy. He had phoned the papers to say a bomb would go off at 4.33 pm, and at 4.33 pm the bomb had gone off. All they wanted, said the brigadier, was his name. They hoped I would cooperate. I explained – through my one closed eye and the other seeing double, seeing two smooth English looking businessmen – I explained that I had, to the best of my ability, cooperated. But I doubted if I could help much because I knew nobody fitting the description (John Harris was almost bald) and we had opposed such activities. He nodded, said “Thank you” and turned to leave, hands in pockets, bowing slightly to the attendant lieutenants. He stopped at the door, looked round at me with a slight smile and said, ‘I hope that by morning you will have decided 62
to give us the name of the man.’ Brigadier Van den Bergh smiled and retired to his office just down the corridor. Die Ernest van wie Lewin melding maak, was die skuilnaam van John Lloyd, wat as staatsgetuie teen John Harris getuig het. Volgens generaals Viktor en Gerrit Erasmus – laasgenoemde was destyds by die ondervraging betrokke – is Harris na aanleiding van inligting wat Lewin verstrek het, aangehou. Hulle kan nie meer onthou of Lloyd die aand van die bomvoorval ook Harris se naam genoem het nie. Harris is deur lt. Erasmus (later generaal) en ander lede van die veiligheidstak ondervra, maar in daardie stadium was die feite reeds so verdoemend dat hy erken het dat hy die bom op die stasie geplant het. Lt. Viktor was nie by sy ondervraging betrokke nie en bewerings deur Gordon Winter dat hy (lt. Viktor) Harris se kop soos ʼn bal gebruik en sy kakebeen afgeskop het, is ongegrond en kwaadwillig. Winter was destyds ’n verslaggewer by The Sunday Express en het later beweer dat hy as agent vir die Nasionale Intelligensiediens gewerk het. Tydens die amnestieverhore het genl. Viktor ʼn amnestieverhoor aan die Oos-Rand bygewoon toe ʼn persoon hom groet met die woorde: “General, you probably wouldn’t recognise me, but I am Hugh Lewin.” Volgens genl. Viktor het hulle lekker gesels en was die atmosfeer meer gemoedelik as toe hulle die vorige keer in mekaar se geselskap was. In die boek Unfinished business wat Terry Bell in medewerking met Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza geskryf het, word daarop gesinspeel dat brig. Hendrik van den Bergh vooraf van die bom geweet en dit doelbewus laat ontplof het om ’n politiek gelaaide atmosfeer te skep: But there are also questions of wider importance and outside of the personal realm. They have a bearing on the way in which the security apparatus acted and the extent to which it cynically manipulated events and created propaganda. What is known is that Van den Bergh and the SB had close links with the Railway Police at the Johannesburg station. These had been reinforced during the police hunt for the underground ANC and SACP leadership, which had culminated in the Rivonia trial. As a consequence, the head of the Railway Police on the station had a direct line to Van den Bergh. It is therefore feasible that the telephoned warning about a bomb on the station concourse was relayed immediately to the head of the SB. It is also feasible that Van den Bergh may, by that stage, have been expecting just such a call. The SB boss, for his part, had a direct line, not just to the ministry of police, but to John Vorster himself. Several questions then arise: was a decision taken ‘at the top’ to allow the bomb to explode on the station? Was the suitcase moved after the warning was given? If so, who moved it and who decided where it should be placed? The police did not issue a general warning, but did they clear their own personnel from the station, apparently for a ‘briefing’? There is certainly evidence to indicate that the ‘station bomb’ may have been one of the earlier – and successful – attempts to cynically manipulate events for political ends. In sy boek Inside Boss beweer Gordon Winter die volgende: Just before eighteen minutes past four on the afternoon of Friday, 24 July 1964, a calm and precise man telephoned a senior official at the Johannesburg Railway Police and said: “This is the African Resistance Movement. We have planted a bomb in a large brown suitcase twenty feet from the cubicle above platforms five and six on the concourse of the new Johannesburg Railway Station. On the handle of the suitcase is tied a label bearing the words ‘Back in ten minutes.’ It is not our intention to harm anyone. This is a symbolic protest against the inhumanity and injustices of 63
apartheid. The bomb is timed to explode at 4.33 pm. Clear the concourse by using the public address system at once. Do not try to defuse the bomb as the suitcase is triggered to explode if it is opened.” The man who made that call then telephoned a briefer message to the liberal Rand Daily Mail which, believing human life to be in danger, quickly phoned the Security Police at their Johannesburg headquarters. The anonymous caller telephoned a third warning to the pro-government newspaper Die Transvaler. All these calls are on record and were later admitted as evidence in the High Court. Yet no warning was broadcast over the loudspeaker system at the Johannesburg Railway Station and the bomb exploded at 4.33 pm throwing the beautifully tiled concourse into utter chaos and injuring twenty-three innocent people. Weer eens is dit ’n subtiele verdraaiing van die feite. Daar is nooit tydens die verhoor van John Harris enige getuienis gelewer dat iemand die Spoorwegpolisie geskakel het soos Winter beweer nie. Daar was wel getuienis dat die Rand Daily Mail en Die Transvaler kort voor die ontploffing per telefoon gewaarsku is. Daar is toe naarstiglik probeer om die Spoorwegpolisie betyds te laat weet, maar die bom het toe reeds ontplof. Die beweringe bots so radikaal met alle logiese en rasionele oorweginge dat ’n mens maar net oor die stompsinnigheid daarvan kan wonder. Waarom sou Harris regte springstof gebruik het as hy nie bedoel het dat die bom moet ontplof nie? Wat het ’n pendelaar verhinder om die tas te neem? Die sogenaamde etiket ‘Back in ten minutes’? Die vooroordeel en kwaadwilligheid van die insinuasies word verder duidelik as ʼn mens kyk wat – volgens die wilde beweringe – alles binne 15 minute moes gebeur het. Eerstens sou ʼn lid van die Spoorwegpolisie die telefoniese waarskuwing aan sy hoof moes oorgedra het. Laasgenoemde moes ʼn Spoorwegpolisieman gestuur het om ʼn tas op te spoor wat op die perron tussen verskeie mense gestaan het sonder dat iemand hom aan die tas gesteur het. Bewus daarvan dat die tas na bewering ʼn bom bevat wat enige oomblik kon ontplof, moes die lid van die Spoorwegpolisie die tas net so gelaat het – sonder om die omstanders te waarsku of die tas te verwyder – en aan sy hoof gaan verslag doen het. Die hoof moes toe brig. Van den Bergh op sy direkte lyn geskakel het, wat onmiddellik met die diaboliese plan om die bom te laat ontplof, vorendag moes gekom het. Brig. Van den Bergh moes op sy beurt mnr. John Vorster geskakel het, wat dadelik met die bose plan moes saamgestem het. Daarna moes brig. Van den Bergh weer die hoof van die Spoorwegpolisie geskakel en hom gevra het om een van sy lede te stuur om die tas onder ʼn bank te gaan wegsteek waar die pendelaars dit nie sou opmerk nie. Bewus daarvan dat die bom enige oomblik kon ontplof, moes die Spoorwegpolisieman doodsveragtend die koelbloedige handeling uitvoer wetend dat verskeie mense binnekort kon sterf of ernstig vermink kon word. Daar was op dié tydstip talle pendelaars op die perron en hulle sou almal getuies wees. Die meer waarskynlike oogmerk met die telefoniese waarskuwings was om lede van die Spoorwegpolisie na die toneel te lok sodat hulle saam met die pendelaars in die ontploffing kon sterf of beseer kon word. Dit is ʼn bekende tegniek – lede van die ANC/SAKP-alliansie het tydens die amnestieverhore erken dat dit in verskeie gevalle gebruik is. In die aanhaling uit Bell en Ntsebeza se boek word gesê die hoof van die Spoorwegpolisie op Johannesburg-stasie het ʼn direkte telefoonverbinding met brig. Van den Bergh gehad het. Elke lid van die veiligheidstak wat skakeling met brig. Van den Bergh gehad het, weet dit is louter snert. Hoe enigiemand dit sou kon regkry om sake te laat verloop soos geïnsinueer, sal net Bell en Ntsebeza weet. Geen bewyse is ooit gevind om hul beweringe te staaf nie. 64
Die vraag ontstaan waarom hulle sulke kru, irrasionele en ongestaafde beweringe die wêreld instuur. Is dit haat en wrewel jeens die veiligheidstak? Is dit die rede waarom Ntsebeza en sy geesgenote steeds probeer om lede van die veiligheidstak verdag te maak en te vervolg? Daar is ook beweer dat die CIA brig. Van den Bergh ingelig het dat John Harris die bom geplant het. Brig. Van den Bergh het egter tydens die ondervraging van Hugh Lewin nog geen benul gehad dat Harris die bom geplant het nie, soos vroeër beskryf is.
Dr Jako Bezuidenhout • Now in the Past: Remember Church Street, Pretoria At 16:19 on 20 May 1983, Church Street (today known as Stanza Bopape Street) in Pretoria (today known as Tshwane) was bustling with life as employees of its buildings were getting ready to go home for the weekend. Also, on the street was a white Colt Galant parked directly outside the South African Airforce (SAAF) Headquarters at Nedbank Square, Maritime House. The car itself was ordinary enough, but its contents were extraordinary. Inside the Colt Galant was a powerful car bomb that was about to change the lives of those on Church Street that day. This week we commemorate one of the deadliest terror attacks on South African soil. One day before, a 41-year-old Belgian citizen, Hélène Pastoors, entered South Africa from Swaziland with the white Colt Galant. She was a member of the Special Operations Unit of Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC). Her commander was Aboobaker Ismail, who instructed her to drive the car from Swaziland to a specified place in Pretoria. The car had been stolen on 19 June 1982 in Edenvale in the then Transvaal Province. Placed inside the boot of the car was a massive 40-kilogram bomb that would be detonated by remote control. According to Pastoors’ court statement, she met “Commander Bai” (presumably Ismail) in the parking lot of the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Manzini, Swaziland where she took possession of the car, a radio to activate the bomb, as well an air ticket. “I don’t know where or how the actual bomb was hidden, but I inspected the car and it looked OK to me for transport.” She then got to the border where “inspecting soldiers (SA) saw the radio in my luggage but didn’t ask questions”. Pastoors took a rural road and replaced the licence plates, which would be changed again to Transvaal licence plates in Pretoria. She describes the drop-off: I reached Mamelodi station (outside Pretoria) around 6-7pm, locked and parked the car as agreed with keys left inside, made my way to Pretoria central station where I phoned to Bai in Swazi to confirm delivery… I then took a train to Johannesburg, stayed one night in a hotel and flew back with Air Swazi to Swaziland in the afternoon of May 20. I never knew what the exact target was until the news came through the media. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Maseko and Freddie Shongwe took possession of the car. Maseko had been arrested years ago for housebreaking, theft and armed robbery and was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to imprisonment. It was disclosed later in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings that they had been recruited into MK by a man called John Mnisi and sent for training in Swaziland. Mnisi had also been arrested by the security police in 1981, but after his arrest, it was decided not to prosecute him due to the valuable information he had provided them. According to 65
former commissioner of the South African Police, Johan van der Merwe, Mnisi had been “linked to the Vlakplaas unit as askari, where he was initially cooperating fully. His brother was also later arrested and used as askari, but the two later fled and re-joined the ANC”. Mnisi not only recruited Maseko and Shongwe, but he would also assist Ismail in placing the bomb and remote mechanism into the vehicle. According to Maseko’s mother, her son called her early on 20 May and told her that he was on his way to their home in Mamelodi East from Swaziland. She said that Maseko and another man arrived later in a Colt Galant and proceeded to remove the engine number of the car with an angle grinder. Maseko also had with him a metal case containing R3 000 in cash which he left at the house. Maseko and Shongwe then left for Pretoria with the Colt Galant and Maseko’s Kombi. They then dropped the Kombi in the area and took the Colt Galant to Nedbank Square Maritime House. It seems that the plan was that one of them would stay in the car to activate the receiver device while the other would ready the transmitter device in the Kombi. The idea was that the transmitter, once activated, would send out radio waves, to be picked up by the receiver device. The receiver would then cause detonation of the explosives. As soon as the receiver was activated, the one in the Colt Galant would get out and walk towards the Kombi which would be the getaway vehicle. Once in the Kombi, they would activate the transmitter, thereby detonating the bomb. The time of detonation was planned for 16:30 as it would be the end of the week and the street would be teeming with people, thus maximising on human casualties. As it turned out, Shongwe remained in the car while Maseko walked back to the Kombi. At 16:20 Maseko returned and gave Shongwe the signal to activate the receiver. Shongwe took the mechanism and turned the switch. At the same time 22-year-old Neville Clarence, a fighter controller instructor for the SAAF, was on his way from Waterkloof Air Force Base to the SAAF Headquarters to collect documentation for recruiting purposes. The SAAF Headquarters occupied the first, second and third floors of the 16floor Nedbank Square Maritime House. The other thirteen floors were used by civilian companies. On the ground floor was a café as well as other businesses. Clarence recalls: “We proceeded to Air Force Headquarters but didn’t allow enough time for the traffic on a Friday afternoon… At that time the Air Force use[d] to work until half past four, so by the time we arrived there were already people leaving the building.” Clarence found parking in the loading zone directly in front of the building. “I was still trying to decide whether it was now worthwhile to go up into the building to go and fetch the documentation I wanted or whether to proceed on our way” when he heard what sounded like a click sound…” Suddenly, there was a tremendous explosion. The blast ripped through Nedbank Square Maritime House. Andre Mostert had walked out of the Poynton Building and was just about to walk into Church Street to fetch a vehicle but “before I got into the area, I heard a huge blast. It was by pure luck that I was not involved”. The 19-year-old Lydia van der Merwe had just finished work for the week at her office near the Bosman-Church streets intersection and was sitting on the bus to take her home when she felt and heard the “loudest explosion of her life”. She immediately got off the bus and ran in the direction of the sound: “[A]nd when I turned in Church (street), I was met by a sight so horrific it couldn’t have been real”. The windows of high-rise buildings on either side of the street were blown out and “so many people along the street that each glass shrapnel hit a body and drew blood”. She 66
recalls the sight of blood everywhere and the confusion of the moment, mixed with the “sounds of wailing, injured people”. Meanwhile, Clarence was trapped in his car and had sustained shrapnel and glass injuries to his face which resulted as well as damage to his eardrums: “A few seconds later I felt myself being pulled out of the car and I was laid down on a pavement and at that stage I couldn’t see.” He would later find out that he would be blind for life. However, Clarence was, in many respects, extremely lucky. He had inadvertently parked “about a meter” behind the Colt Galant, but his car managed to absorb most of the blast, thereby sparing his life. However, not everyone was that ‘lucky’. Directly outside the entrance to the building was a bus stop where many people, white and black, were waiting to get picked up. This bus stop was completely destroyed and many people were killed here instantly. Extensive damage was also done to the SAAF Headquarters and surrounding offices and buildings. To many eyewitnesses, the scene resembled a warzone. Meanwhile, Colonel Basie Smit and Major Suiker Britz of the Detective Branch were at Club 34,11 not far from the scene. They rushed to Church Street where they were met with death and destruction. There were corpses, severely injured or maimed people, limbs, bones and bloodstained clothing scattered everywhere. In front of the building Col. Smit and Maj. Britz saw the wreckage of a car with human remains, believed to be the origin of the explosion. Soon the SAP Forensic Science Laboratory under General Lothar Neethling carefully surveyed the scene to locate crucial evidence. The authorities were uncertain whether this was the start of a series of coordinated bomb attacks across the city, so the investigation needed to be speedy. The engineering division of the SAP Quartermaster examined the car wreckage and explosives experts combed the scene to determine the type of explosives used and how much explosives were used. The SAP Forensic Science Laboratory later determined which limbs belonged to whom by doing blood and tissue tests. Soon after arrival Maj. Britz noticed one of the corpses lying close to the wreckage of the Colt Galant. The corpse was partially burned but Maj. Britz thought the face looked familiar. When he got home, he consulted his files and photographs of people whom he had arrested. Sure enough, the corpse belonged to Ezekiel Maseko. Freddie Shongwe was the corpse in the wreckage. After a quick but thorough investigation, which involved talking to both Maseko’s and Shongwe’s mothers as well as a forensic analysis of the iron filings found at Maseko’s home, the police confirmed the identities if the perpetrators. The investigation would also lead police to the location of the Kombi. Inside it they found the transmitter to activate the receiver of the explosives. Remnants of the receiver were also found in the wreckage of the Colt Galant. The police concluded that both men must have been confused with the order in which both devices needed to be activated. The transmitter in the Kombi was activated first, instead of the receiver. The signal from the transmitter was already live, so when Shongwe
11
SAP Officer’s Club for district Pretoria – HBH.
67
switched on the receiver, the signal was received immediately which resulted in instant detonation. Both men died instantly. Initially 16 other people were believed to be killed by the bomb, 6 of them were SAAF personnel. However, one SAAF member, Airman Wayne Lawrence Kirtley (19) was still missing. After an intensive search of the area, authorities discovered his body the next day. The violent force of the blast had hurled Airman Kirtley’s body across the street where it hit a lamp post before landing on the balcony of a residential flat. In the end, 19 people – including the perpetrators – were killed. Ten of the victims were civilians, of which 7 were black people who were waiting at the bus stop. A total of 217 people was injured, with many of them losing limbs due to the injuries sustained by the blast. In her statement, Pastoors noted that “three senior comrades discussed this action” with her once she arrived in Mozambique. The three were: “Commander Bai (presumably Ismail), Comrade (Joe) Slovo and Comrade President Oliver Tambo”. She recalled that none of them were ‘jubilant’ over the action. To the contrary, they “all stated that it was very hard to have to use these kinds of weapons, but it was necessary for the struggle”. About her own involvement in the operation Pastoors said: “[I]t was difficult to come to terms with it emotionally, but I accept it was necessary and don’t question the judgement of the leadership in this regard.” It took a while for Tambo to claim ANC responsibility for the attacks. In fact, only after a retaliatory bombing raid by SAAF jets on ANC facilities in Maputo three days later, did he announce that MK had planned and organised the Church Street attack and that he had authorised it. During his application for amnesty at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings held 13 years later, Ismail submitted that Tambo gave authorisation for his Special Operations Command unit to orchestrate and execute an attack following the assassination of anti-apartheid activist and Slovo’s wife, Ruth First on 17 August 1982, as well as an assault in December 1982 by South African security forces on fifteen ANC targets in Maseru, resulting in the deaths of 42 people, with at least 7 being women and children. According to Ismail, Tambo “had raised the issue that if the then government justified its action on the basis that civilians were killed because the ANC had set up bases amongst the civilian population, then would it also not be justified for the ANC to carry out operations against enemy headquarters and bases located within built-up areas?” The TRC was told by Ismail that the Special Operations Command accepted that the Church Street bombing, though primarily aimed at “military personnel” gathered at the bus stop, would “also result in civilian casualties”. Bizarrely, the TRC described the attack which claimed killed and maimed more civilians than “military personnel” as follows: The blast was an act of war which struck a severe blow at the ANC’s enemy and which introduced a new phase of guerrilla warfare in the struggle. Although the consequences of the blast were gruesome and tragic and affected many innocent civilians, we, after careful consideration, are of the view that the manner of the execution of the operation was not disproportionate to the political objectives pursued. It must be noted here that the Church Street attack occurred two years before the ANC and South African Communist Party’s (SACP) Kabwe Conference in Zambia in June 1985, where it was decided that civilian casualties could no longer be avoided when planning military operations. Thus, the “new phase of guerrilla warfare” should have actually started in 1985 and not 1983. The TRC conceded that the bombing took place before the Kabwe Conference but stated that this did not 68
mean “that the target selection was against ANC policy. It was always the policy of MK to target security force personnel and, with regard to the civilian casualties, the operation was given prior approval by the highest authority in the ANC”. The reputable historian, Leopold Scholtz, argues that the armed struggle up until 1983 testified “to a moral unwillingness to shed blood. But the South African attack on ANC targets in Matola, Maputo in 1981, caused a mind shift, and Oliver Tambo promised vengeance”. This would explain why the attack happened long before an official decision was made by ANC and SACP leadership to not take civilian casualties into consideration. It seems that the motive for the attack was pure vengeance. Yet, the TRC attributed it as a “political objective” to conduct “a highly visible attack against military personnel which could not be covered up…” In addition, the TRC described the Church Street attack as “guerrilla warfare”. But what is guerrilla warfare? According to the Oxford Dictionary it is the “engagement in or the activities involved in a war fought by small groups of irregular soldiers against typically larger regular forces”. In other words, it is irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants use military tactics including sabotage, ambushes, raids, hit-and-run-tactics as well as mobility to fight and disrupt a larger and less-mobile traditional military. In contrast, ‘terrorism’ is defined as: “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians in the pursuit of political aims.” Of course, there are many variants to this definition that go further and describe terrorism as the coercion or intimidation of government or societies in the pursuit of not only political goals but could also include religious or ideological goals. A state can also be guilty of terrorism if it coerces or intimidates its citizens with unjustified violence. Indeed, the apartheid state constantly used violence to suppress opposition to its policies, with the Maseru raid and the assassination of Ruth First being prime examples. The common denominator in all of these definitions is the use of unlawful violence to achieve a political goal. It seems that in this instance, the TRC panel had mistaken terrorism for guerrilla warfare. Be that as it may, if this was an “act of war” as the ANC and TRC claims it was, it transgresses the internationally recognised Geneva Conventions and protocols of 1949 which apply at times of war and armed conflict. Common Article 3 applies to armed conflicts that are contained within the boundaries of a single country. It provides limited protection to persons taking no active part in hostilities, in other words, civilians. Also included in this category are “military persons who have ceased to be active as a result of sickness, injury or detention”. According to this Article, civilians should not be targeted in pursuit of a military objective. At their own admission, the ANC leadership knew that civilian casualties would be a probability. But this probability was nullified by their desire to send a violent message to the South African government: the ANC was prepared to inflict civilian casualties in their fight against the apartheid authoritarian state. This message was loud and clear. But what is that, if not terrorism? Even if it was for a noble cause, killing unarmed civilians in a bomb blast in pursuit of a political objective is cold-blooded murder, just like indiscriminately killing women and children in the process of taking out ANC cadres during a military raid. In fact, in law it is the worst possible form of intent, namely dolus indeterminatus because it is the intention to murder without caring who the victims may be (whether they are men, women, the elderly or children), or how many victims there will be. Terrorism is terrorism, no matter who perpetrates it. 69
However, the TRC felt that those who were involved in the attack and had applied for amnesty should receive it. In total, three people, including Ismail and Pastoors applied for amnesty for the Church Street bombing. All three were granted amnesty. Oliver Tambo and Joe Slovo both died before the TRC hearings started and both perpetrators died in the blast. However, it is not far-fetched to think that members of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) or top MK commanders in 1983 ought to have known about the planning and execution of the attack. Some of these members, such as Thabo Mbeki, Mac Maharaj and Jacob Zuma are still alive today. None of them applied for amnesty at the TRC. In contrast, many apartheid-era security policemen were refused amnesty for their roles in the deaths of anti-apartheid activists. Even though he never applied for amnesty, General Magnus Malan was prosecuted for the role he played as Minister of Defence for the deaths of 13 people, including 7 children, at KwaMakhutha in 1987, though eventually he was acquitted. Adriaan Vlok, former Minister of Law and Order, did apply for and received amnesty for his part in various atrocities, but he was prosecuted for a ‘lesser’ crime of attempted murder, along with former South African Police Commissioner Johan van der Merwe. However, a plea bargain with the state saved them from jail sentences. Then there is also Janusz Walus, convicted assassin of MK chief of staff and general secretary of the SACP, Chris Hani. When Walus and fellow convicted murderer, Clive Derby-Lewis applied for amnesty, the TRC refused. Indeed, the murder of Chris Hani almost precipitated a civil war, which was the intention of Walus and Derby-Lewis all along. That fact makes the crime even more of an abomination. However, what was the Church Street attack if not a crime against humanity? Many people were killed and over 200 injured in this single attack, yet those responsible went on with their lives unpunished. Is the value of one life equal to the lives of many, depending on whom that one life belongs to? The TRC seemed to think that it did. Undoubtedly, the TRC’s intentions were for the most part good, but there has been a lot of criticism levelled against its effectivity from all sides based on these kinds of inconsistencies. Unfortunately, this has also allowed far right-wing groups to push their own political agendas, while using the Church Street attack as an emotive issue. On 20 May 2015, members of the right-wing group Front Nasionaal as well as AfriForum Youth gathered at the scene in Church Street to commemorate the bombing. Front Nasionaal leader, Willie Cloete said that the day was important because of its impact on South African history: “Innocent people were killed by a bomb that shouldn’t have been planted in the first place.” Cloete vowed that his group would continue to commemorate this day. Assistant General Manager of Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa (TAU SA), Henk van de Graaf added that the bombing was “the beginning of a terrorist war that was continuing today in the form of farm murders”. A year later, Wessel Basson of the National Conservative Party led the speakers in front of a mixed crowd of survivors and party members. According to the Pretoria East Rekord Basson also placed a small white coffin that held six flags next to the spot where the bomb went off. A granite plaque with the names of the 17 victims was also unveiled before Basson added: “If the city ever removes the stone, it will be like they are killing all those people again.” Even right-wing entertainers such as Sunette Bridges and Steve Hofmeyer led those commemorating the attack in singing Die Stem van Suid-Afrika. The problem with these kinds of groups is that they hijack the commemoration process and reignite anger and hatred in an attempt to score cheap political points instead of allowing the survivors and families of the victims to grieve and remember them. By feeding off this anger and hatred, these 70
political groups are not much better than the ANC leadership who knew and sanctioned the attack. The difference is that these groups do not use a physical bomb. Instead, they attempt to detonate an ideological bomb into the consciousness of those easily influenced by that kind of rhetoric. Unfortunately, for the survivors and the victims’ families no one else seems to care nowadays. It seems as if they have become an inconvenient truth that counters the ANC liberation narrative. In fact, the very street in which the bombing took place has recently had its name changed. It seems odd that for a relatively neutral name such as “Church Street”, the government felt the need to rename it after a couple of struggle heroes. For many of the families and survivors, they feel as if their suffering is second-rate. All they want is for the ANC to issue an apology so that their trauma and sacrifice can be officially recognised for what it was. For Lydia van der Merwe no care had been given for the psychological well-being of people like her: “A public apology would make such a difference.” But this is yet to be given. The Church Street bombing is one of the worst terror attacks in South Africa. To hide from that fact is to ignore and dishonour its victims. Apartheid was a truly evil system of oppression that disfigured every facet of society in South Africa. That should also never be forgotten. But at the same time, it should also be remembered that it was not the only evil. In fighting the system, liberation movements were often guilty of heinous crimes themselves. Therefore, it must be remembered that the constitutional democracy we enjoy today, is thanks to all those who sacrificed their lives during the “armed struggle”, not only those who the ANC wish to remember. But to remember the attack today as a country is not to condemn or to condone the act. Rather, it is to acknowledge how we have progressed as a country since that terrible day in May 1983. That is the greatest tribute we can pay to those victims and it is the greatest lesson we can learn from them. Bibliografie • Devine, C. 2012. Debating the Church Street Bombing. SA History Online, (15 November): https://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/debating-church-street-bombing. • Jordaan, A. 2013. Lothar Neethling: ‘n Lewe vertel. Pretoria: Litera Publikasies. • Kuaho, T. 2015. Church Street bombing remembered. Pretoria East Rekord, (20 May): https://rekordeast.co.za/52002/church-street-bombing-remembered/. • Makhubu, N. 2015. Church Street bombing horror recalled. IOL, (21 May): https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.iol.co.za/amp/news/church-street-bombing-horror-recalled1861562. • Maree, H. 2015. Freedom Park won’t honour Church Street bomb victims – AfriForum Youth. PoliticsWeb, (20 May): https://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/freedom-park-wont-honour--church-street-bombvictim. • Meijer, K. 2016. Church Street bombing remembered. Pretoria East Rekord, (21 May): https://rekordeast.co.za/93946/church-street-bombing-remembered-2/. • Mtshali, N. 2013. Bomb survivor waits for compensation. IOL, (22 May): www.google.com/amp/s/www.iol.co.za/amp/news/bomb-survivor-waits-for-compensation1519773. • Ngoepe, K. 2016. Mbeki, Zuma, Maharaj must be charged for Church Street bombing – apartheid police general. News24, (20 May): https://m.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/mbeki-zuma-maharaj-must-be-charged-for-church-streetbombing-apartheid-police-general-201600520. 71
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Soule, A., Dixon, G. & Richards, R. 1987. The Wynand du Toit Story. Johannesburg: Hans Strydom Publikasies. • Scholtz, L., 2011. The conference of Kabwe and the ANC/SACP’s armed struggle - Review. SUN Scholar Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20652. • Stiff, P. 1999. The Silent War: South African Recce Operations, 1969-1994. Alberton: Galago. • Van der Merwe, J. Unknown date. Kerkstraatbomvoorval. South African Mirror: https://www.samirror.com/kerkstraatbomvoorval.html. • Writer unknown. 1998. ANC Mastermind Campaign Justifies Pretoria Church Street Blast. SAPA, (6 Mei): https://www.justice.gov.za/trc/media/1998/9805/s980506b.htm. • Writer unknown. 1996. Human Rights Violations Submissions – Question and Answers: Neville James Clarence. Truth and Reconciliation Commission, (13 August): https://www.justice.gov.za/trchrvtrans/pretoria/clarence.htm. • Writer unknown. 1983. Car bomb in South Africa kills 16. BBC, (21 May): http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/20/newsid_4326000/4326975.stm.
Lt.-kol. Philip Malberbe • As Terroriste nie met gewapende geweld kon slaag om SA oor te neem nie – wat het dan gelei tot Onderhandelinge? Internasionale Dimensies en Wit-tweedrag Die grootste druk en oorweging het nie gedurende 1985 van die African National Congress (ANC) en sy alliansie vennote gekom nie, maar wel, as ʼn byproduk van die onrus in die vorm van internasionale reaksie. Laat Julie en Augustus, het die Suid Afrikaanse (SA) regering deurgeloop onder verskeie internasionale terugslae. Bekommernis rakende die onstabiliteit in Suid Afrika (SA) en druk vir onttrekking van beleggings het die Chase Manhattan Bank in die Verenigde State van Amerika (VSA) laat besluit om finansiële lenings van VSA$500-miljoen te onttrek en alle krediete met vervaldatums op hande op te roep, asook om alle krediet te bevries. Ander lande het Amerika se voorbeeld gevolg. Die Europese Ekonomiese Gemeenskap het gedreig met ekonomiese sanksies tensy die regering finaal afstand doen van apartheid. Tien Oos-blok lande het hulle ambassadeurs van SA onttrek; die Franse regering het alle investering in SA verbied; en die VSA het toegestem tot sanksies teen SA. In reaksie hierop het die Johannesburgse aandelebeurs ʼn “bloedbad” beleef, met die kapitaalmark wat 9.5% geval het, waarop die internasionale rand se waarde met 12% verminder het. Die skielike agteruitgang in SA se internasionale posisie het ʼn wanhopige reaksie van president PW Botha tot gevolg gehad wat handel en nywerheid geskok het. Hy het naamlik gedreig om 1.5 miljoen immigrante werkers terug te stuur na die buurlande en alle ekonomiese bande met hulle te breek indien die internasionale gemeenskap nie afsien van hulle sanksies nie. 72
regeringsadviseurs het ʼn minder drastiese benadering bepleit. Hulle het gehoop dat Botha gedurende die tweede week in Augustus ʼn aankondiging sou maak rakende die afskaffing van apartheid om die Rubicon te kruis na ʼn nuwe nie-rassige toekoms. Plaaslike en internasionale verwagtinge was hoog. Op 15 Augustus, lewer Botha ʼn vingerswaaiende en vurige toespraak teen die internasionale gemeenskap en die ANC en sy alliansie vennote. Vertroue in SA op internasionale markte het soos ʼn “klip grond toe geval” en die rand se waarde het die laagste in sy geskiedenis geval met 21% laer as einde Julie se vasstelling. Paniek het in regeringskringe toegeneem tot totale wanhoop. Die ANC se morele argumente vir ʼn ekonomiese isolasie het skielik ʼn lelike nadraai gehad SA het skielik ʼn swak riskante belegging geword a.g.v. die ANC se poging om SA onregeerbaar te maak.12 Instansies het saamgespan om steun te verkry by internasionale beleggers om hul geld te onttrek uit pensioen en skenkingsfondse. Teen 1990 het meer as 26 state in die VSA en 90 stede ekonomiese aksies geneem teen besighede wat in SA handel gedryf het. SA het wêreldwyd ʼn geweldige finansiële risiko geword. Finansiële Krisis Die finansiële krisis het gepaard gegaan met stakings en ʼn verbruikersboikot. Die ANC se ekonomiese oorlogvoering, industriële sabotasie en aanvalle op regerings geboue het die land tot stilstand gebring. ʼn Noodtoestand is afgekondig en daar is verwag dat die regering hervormingsmaatreël sou aankondig om die eskalerende druk aan te spreek. Botha het egter die wêreld meegedeel dat die regering nie sal toegee onder enige druk nie. Kort daarna het Chase Manhattan Bank aangekondig dat hulle geen kort-termyn lenings sou hernu nie, wat ʼn likiede krisis tot gevolg gehad nadat ander instansies ook hulle krediet onttrek het. SA se ekonomie was hoogs afhanklik van buitelandse kapitaal inspuitings om sy enorme skuldlas te verlig. Dit het tot gevolg gehad dat die geldwaarde met 50% geval het wat ʼn ernstige kapitaal skaarste ontketen het. Konstruktiewe verbintenis Gesien teen die globale konteks van dekolonisasie en ontwikkeling van menseregte, het apartheid veroorsaak dat SA ʼn internasionale uitgeworpene vir dekades sou word. Daar kan ook geargumenteer word dat die Koue Oorlog konfrontasie gekombineer met die winsgewende beleggingsomgewing het die Westerse regerings aanvanklike aangemoedig om die Nasionale Party (NP) te ondersteun as ʼn bondgenoot. Na die verbrokkeling van kommunisme in die Oos-blok Europese lande, het hierdie polarisasie ʼn afname getoon en Westerse bondgenote het begin druk toepas op die regering om te hervorm. Aanvanklik het verskeie regerings geweier om sanksies en ander strafmaatreëls in te stel. Hul was onseker of dit die gewenste ekonomiese effek sou hê, en was bekommerd dat die regering se meer ontoegeeflike houding meer skade aan die kwesbare swart gemeenskappe sou meebring. Op daardie stadium was die hoof opponente teen sanksies mev Maragaret Thatcher en president
12
Die ANC-regering ly steeds a.g.v. hierdie negatiewe, afbrekende, strategie – HBH.
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Ronald Reagan. Ontleders het die effektiwiteit van konstruktiewe verbintenis gedebatteer. Mnre Stanford Ungar en Peter Vale se aanhaling plaas dit in konteks: “Nadat die VSA en Engeland vir vier en ʼn half jaar verskeie wortels aan die regering aangebied het as vergoeding vir sigbare hervormings, het die SA regering eenvoudig ʼn wortelgereg daarvan gemaak en dit geëet.” Die Reagan- en Thatcher-regerings het egter kontak behou en op die ou end het hulle daarin geslaag om hervormings te verseker. Die mees belangrikste toegewing was die vrylating van mnr Mandela. Sanksies en die besluit om te onderhandel Nieteenstaande verskeie inisiatiewe gemik om druk op die regering uit te voer om ontslae te raak van apartheid, was dit nie beslissend nie. Die NP en ANC het besef dat hul oogmerke die beste via politieke onderhandeling beredder sal moet word. Die apartheidsisteem was vol gate met ekonomiese oneffektiewe en opsigself nie volhoubaar. Strukturele probleme is vererger deur die finansiële krisis en vererger deur die groeiende wydverspreide ekonomiese sanksies en die verbod op invoer van goedere – wat ook ʼn simboliese impak gehad het. Hierdie faktore het baie invloedryke besighede in SA tot die besef laat kom dat daar na ʼn meer dramatiese oplossing gesoek moet word. Die ekonomiese uitdagings en politieke ontwikkelings is vergemaklik deur die val van kommunisme. Die ANC het skielik ondersteuning verloor van die kommunistiese regerings. Met die steun van die buurstate wat verval het, was die ANC afgesny van hul vorige basisse. Die gevaar het ook bestaan dat internasionale sanksies sou meebring dat verandering onder die wit gemeenskap kon posvat om te hervorm. Hierdie steun is getoets gedurende 1992 toe mnr FW de Klerk ʼn risiko referendum uitgeroep het om die wit steun te toets. Die oorweldigende oorwinning het bevestig dat die meerderheid wit gemeenskap hervormings ondersteun het. Die uiteindelike deurslag was die leierskap deur pro-onderhandeling van al die politieke organisasies wat verantwoordelik was vir die suksesvolle oorgang. Die eksterne druk van die Verenigde Nasies via internasionale sanksies en onttrekking van beleggings en besighede uit die land, wat gepaard gegaan het met druk op die finansies, handel, industrieë, sport, media en kommunikasie deur al SA se hoof ruilhandel en ekonomiese vennote, het hul tol begin eis met ʼn negatiewe uitwerking op die ekonomie. Die geforseerde onttrekking van die SA ekonomie, wat afhanklik was van die internasionale handel en beleggings het die kameel se rug gebreek. SA was verstoot met die gevolg dat die besigheidsgemeenskap begin mobiliseer het om die regering te beïnvloed om te onderhandel vir verandering. Openbare besprekings en debatte in besigheidskringe het nou gefokus op hoe die land kan verander. Die sogenaamde hoë weg teenoor die lae weg scenario (onderhandeling om ʼn politieke ooreenkoms teenoor konfrontasie wat mag lei tot ʼn burger oorlog) het publieke ondersteuning geniet en was geborg is deur Anglo American se Clem Sunter. Akademici, geestelike leiers en burgerlike gemeenskappe wat deel was van die vestiging het ook die apartheidsbeleid begin bevraagteken en het aktief begin druk uitoefen vir verandering. Dr Frederick van Zyl Slabbert, oud-opposisie leier, en van die “Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa” (IDASA), het met samesprekings in die buiteland begin – wat vir ʼn konsternasie gesorg het. 74
Noue vennote van die regering het ook hul stemme begin hef. Die Afrikaner Broederbond (AB), wat vir dekades een van die mees invloedryke instrumente agter apartheid was, het openlik begin aandring op veranderings, deur die leier prof. Pieter de Lange. Die selfde met kerkleiers soos dr. Johan Heyns, die moderator van die Duitse Gereformeerde Kerk, wat deur baie gesien is as die kerk agter apartheid. Terwyl die grootste meerderheid van die regering die behoefte aan verandering ondersteun het, het mnr. PW Botha daarteen geskop. In 1989 het hy ʼn beroerte opgedoen en het bedank as NP leier. Mnr FW de Klerk, wat nooit deel was van mnr Botha se binnekring nie, is verkies as nuwe leier. Alhoewel hy as konserwatief beskou is, het hy onmiddellik begin met samesprekings oor hervorming in en buite die land op soek na advies. Enige ander leier wat mnr Botha sou opvolg sou dieselfde gedoen het. Mnr De Klerk, as demokraat en pragmatis het die behoefte aan verandering besef. Op 2 Februarie 1990 kondig hy in die parlement aan dat alle politieke partye ontban is en dat mnr Mandela en alle politieke gevangenisse vrygelaat sou word. Daar was geen voorwaardes nie en die pad was nou oop vir onderhandeling. Die beloning was die potensiële verligting van sanksies en isolering. Wêreldleiers het hom ondersteun. Die ANC het voortgesette sanksies geëis totdat die veranderinge afgehandel is. Dit was egter die vrylating van mnr Mandela wat veroorsaak het dat die internasionale rolspelers die hele onderhandelingsproses aan SA oorgelaat het. Sommige sanksies het behoue gebly, maar nie met die selfde terme en effek nie. Sanksies is geleidelik verslap en die ANC het tot die besef gekom, dat hoe langer SA sou swaarkry, daar lang-termyn implikasies sou wees. Wat in gedagte gehou moet word, is die feit dat die SA regering meer druk ondervind het om die politieke gewapende geweld in die land te kontroleer (wat geweldige druk op die geldkas geplaas het), as die druk van oorsee. Die onderhandeling het met rukke en stote begin as ʼn proses van praat en vooraf onderhandelinge. In die 1970’s het politieke geweld gemiddeld 44 persone se dood geëis, 1980’s was dit 86 en 1990’s 250.13 Die geweld het ook verander van vertikaal (gemeenskap teen die staat en staat teen die gemeenskap) na horisontaal (gemeenskap teen mekaar). Die konflik in swart woongebiede het die hoogste tol geëis. Tydens die onderhandelings Februarie 1990 tot April 1994, terwyl die posisie veronderstel was om te normaliseer, het 14,807 persone omgekom. Dit is in kontras met die vorige vyf jaar waar 5,387 mense weens politieke onrus gedood is. Soos die onderhandelings gevorder het, het die NP, betrokke geraak in ekonomiese sabotasie om te verseker dat die ANC ʼn swak staat sou erf.14 Mnr De Klerk het begin om die semi-staatsinstellings te privatiseer en staatsgrond en het fasiliteite begin weggee. Die staat het 20 miljoen hektaar aan die tuisland leiers in Bophuthatswana, KwaZulu en Lebowa as ʼn verkiesings aansporing en 96% van wit staatskole15 aan die gemeenskap oorhandig. Die ekonomie is radikaal oopgemaak om die nuwe regering te forseer om ʼn reeks internasionale en plaaslike vennote aan boord te bring om die
13 Ongevalle per maand – Philip Malherbe (PM). 14 Dit is wat die bronne beweer – PM. 15 Model ‘C’-skole – PM.
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wit-eienaars se ekonomiese belange te beskerm en party bestendigheid van die ou ekonomiese orde te verseker. In Februarie 1992 het die ANC se vorige ondersteuner, Rusland, volle diplomatieke verhoudings met mnr De Klerk se regering aangeknoop, wat ʼn oortreding was van die Verenigde Nasies se resolusies. In konteks met Rusland se eie ekonomiese probleme, het mnr Gorbachev en later mnr Yeltsin, kort paaie gesoek om hul eie ekonomiese verval weer op te hef om, met die oogmerke om vinnige krediet lenings en beleggings te bekom van die De Klerk-regering en wit-eienaar besighede. Die Westerse regerings was self besig om agter die skerms die ANC te beïnvloed om ʼn vrye-mark ekonomiese stelsel te volg, en sy verbintenis tot sosialisme te laat vaar. Dit het die onderhandelings proses aansienlik gestabiliseer, en gemene grond tussen die ANC en die NP geskep. Dit het die NP meer mag om die onderhandelings tafel gegee. Die prioritisering van ekonomiese stabiliteit het bo alles verseker dat die wit-dominerende ekonomie nie hersien kon word nie. Uiteraard was die ekonomiese faktore die belangrikste faktor in die onderhandelings ooreenkoms. Die mees belangrike historiese ooreenkoms het uitgeloop op onderhandelinge waar toegewings aan beide kante ʼn bloedbad verhoed het, en gelei het tot beleggingsvertroue waarna die ekonomie weer op ʼn gesonde basis kon funksioneer. Bronne: https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/negotiationhttps://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/chapter-9tactics-talks-tactics-confrontation-road-vula-july-1985-december-1986 https://www.c-r.org/accord/incentives-sanctions-and-conditionality/international-isolation-andpressure-change-south https://www.csvr.org.za/publications/1709-who-pays-for-peace-implications-of-the-negotiatedsettlement-for-reconciliation-transformation-and-violence-in-a-post-apartheid-south-africa s-and-transition
Dr Jako Bezuidenhout • Nou in die Verlede: Gedenk Kerkstraat, 20 Mei 1983 Woensdag, 20 Mei 2020 Om 16:19 op 20 Mei 1983 was Kerkstraat (vandag bekend as Stanza Bopapestraat) in Pretoria ‘n byenes van bedrywighede terwyl werknemers van die aangrensende geboue gereed gemaak het om vir die naweek huistoe te gaan. In die straat reg voor die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag (SALM)hoofkwartier by die Nedbankplein, Maritime House-gebou, was daar egter ook ‘n wit Colt Galant geparkeer. Die tipe kar het daardie jare taamlik algemeen voorgekom, maar hierdie een het ‘n uiters buitengewone vrag gedra. Binne-in die Colt Galant was ‘n kragtige bom wat op die punt was om die lewens van ‘n aansienlike aantal mense wat op daardie tydstip in Kerkstraat was, onherroeplik te verander. Hierdie week gedenk ons een van die dodelikste terreuraanvalle op Suid-Afrikaanse bodem. Die dag vantevore het ‘n 41-jarige Belgiese burger, Hélène Pastoors, Suid-Afrika vanuit Swaziland binnegekom met ‘n wit Colt Galant. Sy was ‘n lid van die Spesiale Operasies-eenheid van Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK), die militêre vleuel van die African National Congress (ANC). Haar bevelvoerder, 76
die 28-jarige Aboobaker Ismail, het haar opdrag gegee om die voertuig na ‘n bepaalde plek in Pretoria te neem. Die kar was op 19 Junie 1982 in Edenvale, in die destydse Transvaal, gesteel. In die bagasiebak van die kar was ‘n kragtige 40-kilogram bom wat deur middel van afstandbeheer geaktiveer kon word. Volgens Pastoors se verklaring aan die hof, het sy “Commander Bai” (vermoedelik Ismail) in die parkeerarea van die Raleigh Fitkin Memorial-hospitaal in Manzini, Swaziland, ontmoet waar sy in besit van die voertuig gestel is, asook van ‘n radio om die bom te aktiveer, en ’n vliegtuigkaartjie. “Ek weet nie waar of hoe die bom eintlik versteek was nie, maar ek het die kar geïnspekteer en dit het OK gelyk vir my as ‘n vervoermiddel.” (Vertaling uit die Engels my eie; ook elders, tensy anders vermeld). Toe sy by die grens aankom het sy gevind dat “SuidAfrikaanse soldate wat die voertuig geïnspekteer het het die radio in my bagasie opgemerk maar geen vrae gevra het nie”. Pastoors het ‘n landelike roete gevolg en die kar se nommerplate vervang, wat later weer vervang sou word met Transvaalse nommerplate in Pretoria. Sy beskryf haar aflewering van die voertuig as volg: Ek het Mamelodi-stasie (buite Pretoria) rondom 6-7 namiddag bereik, die kar geparkeer en gesluit met die sleutel binne-in, soos ooreengekom, na Pretoria Sentraal-stasie gegaan, vanwaar ek Bai in Swazi geskakel het om die aflewering te bevestig … Ek het daarna ‘n trein na Johannesburg geneem waar ek een nag in ‘n hotel gebly het voor ek die middag van 20 Mei met Air Swazi na Swaziland teruggevlieg het. Ek het nooit geweet wat die presiese teiken sou wees nie, totdat die nuus deur die media bekendgemaak is. Intussen het Ezekiel Maseko en Freddie Shongwe besit van die kar geneem. Maseko was ‘n paar jaar tevore aangekeer vir huisbraak, diefstal en gewapende roof en nadat hy op alle aanklagte skuldig bevind is, is hy tot gevangenisstraf gevonnis. Dit is later tydens die Waarheids- en Versoeningskommissie (WVK) se verhore geopenbaar dat hulle deur ‘n man met die naam van John Mnisi vir MK gewerf is en vir opleiding na Swaziland gestuur is. Mnisi is ook in 1981 deur die Veiligheidspolisie gearresteer, maar weens die waardevolle inligting wat hy verskaf het is daar besluit om hom nie aan te kla nie en hy is vrygelaat. Volgens die voormalige kommissaris van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie, generaal Johan van der Merwe, is Mnisi “by die Vlakplaaseenheid as ‘n askari ingeskakel, waar hy aanvanklik sy volle samewerking verleen het. Sy broer is ook later gearresteer en as askari gebruik, maar die twee het later gevlug en hulle weer by die ANC geskaar” (Nie vertaal nie. Terloops, die oorspronklike betekenis van askari is ‘‘n inboorlingsoldaat in OosAfrika’, maar binne hierdie konteks beteken dit bloot ‘n voormalige lid van die ANC, PAC of soortgelyke organisasie wat as informant of operateur vir die Veiligheidspolisie gewerf is.) Mnisi het nie net vir Maseko en Shongwe gewerf nie, maar hy het ook vir Ismail gehelp om die bom en afstandbeheermeganisme in die voertuig te plaas. Volgens Maseko se ma het haar seun haar die oggend van 20 Mei geskakel en meegedeel dat hy oppad na hulle huis in Mamelodi-Oos was vanaf Swaziland. Sy vertel verder dat Maseko en nog ‘n man later daar opgedaag het met ‘n Colt Galant en toe voortgegaan het om die enjinnommer af te skuur met ‘n hoekslyper. Maseko het ook ‘n metaalkissie met R3000-00 kontant by hom gehad wat hy by die huis gelos het. Maseko en Shongwe het hierop na Pretoria vertrek in die Colt Galant en Maseko se kombi, waar hulle die kombi in die omgewing geparkeer en met die Colt Galant na die Nedbankplein Maritime House-gebou gery het.
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Dit kom voor dat die plan was dat een van hulle in die kar sou bly om die ontvangstoestel te aktiveer terwyl die ander die sendtoestel in die kombi in gereedheid sou bring. Die idee was dat die sendtoestel na aktivering radiogolwe sou uitstuur wat deur die ontvangstoestel ontvang sou word. Die ontvangstoestel sou dan die bom aktiveer om te ontplof. Die plan was dat nadat die ontvangstoestel geaktiveer sou wees, die een in die Colt Galant sou uitklim en na die kombi loop, wat ook die ontsnappingsvoertuig sou wees. Sodra beide in die kombi sou wees, sou hulle die sendtoestel aktiveer, wat dan sou lei tot die bomontploffing. Die beplande tyd vir die ontploffing was 16h30 aangesien dit die laaste dag van die werksweek was en die straat vol mense sou wees; derhalwe die optimale hoeveelheid potensiële lewensverlies. Wat egter uiteindelik wel gebeur het, was dat Shongwe in die kar gebly sit het terwyl Maseko na die kombi teruggestap het. Teen 16h20 het Maseko na die Colt Galant teruggekeer en aan Shongwe die teken gegee om die ontvangstoestel te aktiveer. Shongwe het hierop die skakelaar op die ontvangstoestel gedraai om dit te geaktiveer. Op hierdie stadium was die 22-jarige Neville Clarence, ‘n vegvliegtuigbeheerinstrukteur van die SALM, vanaf Waterkloof-lugmagbasis onderweg na SALM-hoofkwartier om dokumente af te haal vir werwingsdoeleindes. Die SALM-hoofkwartier het die eerste, tweede en derde vloer van die 16vloer Nedbankplein Maritiem-gebou beslaan. Die oorblywende 13 vloere is deur burgerlike organisasies gebruik. Op die grondvloer was ‘n kafee en ander besighede. Clarence onthou: “Ons is na die Lugmag-hoofkwartier maar het nie rekening gehou met die hoeveelheid verkeer op ‘n Vrydagmiddag nie … Op daardie stadium het die lugmag tot halfvyf gewerk, so toe ons daar aankom was mense alreeds besig om die gebou te verlaat.” Clarence het op ‘n laaisone reg voor die die gebou geparkeer. “Ek was nog besig om te besluit of dit die moeite werd sou wees om nou by die gebou in te gaan om die verlangde dokumente te kry of om maar liewer te ry” toe hy iets gehoor het wat vir hom soos ‘n “kliek”-geluid geklink het … Skielik was daar ‘n geweldige slag. Die ontploffing het deur die Nedbankplein Maritiem-gebou geruk. André Mostert het pas uit die Poynton-gebou gekom en was op die punt om Kerkstraat binne te gaan om ‘n voertuig te gaan haal maar “voordat ek in die gebied kon kom het ek ‘n geweldige ontploffing gehoor. Dit was blote geluk dat ek nie daardeur getref is nie”. Die 19-jarige Lydia van der Merwe het sopas haar werk vir die week by haar kantoor by die kruising van Bosman- en Kerkstraat afgesluit en het op ‘n bus gesit om haar huistoe te neem toe sy volgens haar “die hardste ontploffing in haar lewe” gesien en gevoel het. Sy het onmiddellik van die bus afgeklim en in die rigting van die ontploffing begin hardloop: “[E]n toe ek by Kerkstraat indraai, het daar ‘n skouspel my ingewag wat te verskriklik was om waar te wees”. Die vensters van die hoë geboue weerskante van die straat was uitgeskiet en daar was “so baie mense op straat dat elke glasskerf ‘n liggaam getref en bloed getrek het”. Sy onthou die toneel van bloed oraloor en die verwarring daardie oomblik, met “die geluide van kermende, beseerde mense” tussendeur. Intussen was Clarens in sy voertuig vasgekeer, sy gesig verwond deur skrapnel en vlieënde glasstukke en sy oordromme beskadig: “’n Paar sekondes later het ek gevoel hoe ek uit die voertuig getrek en op die sypaadjie neergelê word. Op daardie tydstip kon ek nie sien nie.” Hy sou later vasstel dat hy vir die res van sy lewe blind sou wees. Desnieteenstaande was Clarens in baie opsigte besonder gelukkig. Hy het onbewustelik “omtrent ‘n meter” agter die Colt Galant geparkeer,
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maar sy voertuig het egter grootliks die slag van die ontploffing geabsorbeer, waardeur sy lewe gespaar is. Almal was egter nie so ‘gelukkig’ nie. Reg voor die ingang van die gebou was daar ‘n bushalte waar verskeie persone, swart en wit, gewag het om opgelaai te word. Hierdie bushalte was totaal verwoes en baie mense het oombliklik hulle lewens daar verloor. Uitgebreide skade is ook aan die SALM-hoofkwartier en omliggende kantore en geboue aangerig. Vir baie ooggetuies het die toneel ooreengestem met dié van ‘n oorlogsone. Intussen was kolonel Basie Smit en majoor Suiker Britz van die speurdiens by Klub 34, nie baie ver van die toneel af nie. Hulle het hulself na Kerkstraat gehaas waar hulle ‘n toneel van vernietiging en dood aangetref het. Daar was liggame, ernstig verwonde en beseerde mense, arms en bene en bloedbesmeerde klere oor die toneel versprei. Voor die gebou het kolonel Smit en majoor Britz die wrak van ‘n voertuig gevind met menslike oorskot daarin, wat hulle geglo het die oorsprong van die ontploffing was. Lede van die polisie se forensiese wetenskaplaboratorium onder generaal Lothar Neethling was vroeg op die toneel op soek na deurslaggewende getuienis. Omdat die owerhede nie geweet het of dit die begin was van ‘n aantal gekoördineerde bomaanvalle in die stad nie, was tyd van uiterste belang en is die ondersoek verhaas en hoogste prioriteit gegee. Die ingenieursafdeling van die SAP se Kwartiermeester het dadelik die motorwrak begin ondersoek en plofstofdeskundiges het die toneel gefynkam op soek na tekens wat kon aandui wat die aard van die plofstof was wat gebruik is en ook die hoeveelheid daarvan. Die forensiese wetenskaplaboratorium kon later by wyse van bloed- en weefseltoetse vasstel watter ledemate by watter liggaam hoort. Kort na sy aankoms op die toneel het majoor Britz ‘n liggaam opgemerk wat naby die wrak van die Colt Galant gelê het. Hoewel die liggaam gedeeltelik verbrand was het die gesig vir majoor Britz bekend voorgekom. Terug by die huis het hy sy foto-albums van persone wat hy al gearresteer het bestudeer en so vasgestel dat dit die liggaam van Ezekiel Maseko was. Freddie Shongwe was die lyk in die wrak. Na ‘n vinnige, dog deeglike ondersoek, wat ingesluit het onderhoude met beide Maseko en Shongwe se moeders asook forensiese analise van ystervylsels wat by Maseko se huis gevind is, was die polisie daartoe instaat om die identiteit van die verantwoordelike persone vir die ontploffing, te bevestig. Die ondersoek het die polisie ook na die kombi gelei, waarbinne hulle die sendtoestel gevind het, wat die sein na die ontvangstoestel moes stuur om die bom te laat ontplof. Oorblyfsels van die ontvangstoestel is ook in die wrak van die Colt Galant gevind. Die polisie se slotsom was dat die twee manne waarskynlik verward geraak het met die volgorde waarin die twee toestelle geaktiveer moes word. Die sender in die kombi is eerste geaktiveer, in plaas van die ontvanger. Die sein van die sendtoestel was dus alreeds geaktiveer toe Shongwe die ontvangstoestel aktiveer. Die sein was dus onmiddellik deur die ontvangstoestel ontvang wat gelei het tot die onmiddellike ontploffing. Beide mans is op slag dood. Aanvanklik is geglo dat 16 mense behalwe die bomplanters in die ontploffing dood is, waarvan 6 SALM-personeel. Maar een SALM-lid, lugman Wayne Lawrence Kirtley (19) was op daardie stadium nog vermis. Na ‘n intensiewe deursoeking van die omgewing is sy liggaam egter die volgende dag gevind. Die geweldige krag van die ontploffing het lugman Kirtley se liggaam regoor die die pad teen ‘n paal vasgeslinger voor dit op die balkon van ‘n woonstel beland het. Uiteindelik het 19 mense 79
insluitende die bomstellers – in die ontploffing gesterf. Tien van die slagoffers was burgerlikes, waarvan 7 swart mense was wat by die bushalte op ‘n bus gewag het. In totaal is 217 mense in die ontploffing beseer, met heelwat van hulle wat ledemate verloor het as gevolg daarvan. In haar verklaring het Pastoors gemeld dat “drie senior ‘comrades’ het die aksie met haar bespreek” by haar aankoms in Mosambiek. Hierdie drie was: “’Commander’ Bai (vermoedelik Ismail), ‘comrade’ (Joe) Slovo en ‘comrade’ president Oliver Tambo”. Sy het onthou dat nie een van hulle in die wolke was oor die voorgenome aksie nie. Inteendeel, hulle “almal het verklaar dat dit baie swaar is om hierdie tipe wapens te gebruik, maar dit was noodsaaklik vir die stryd”. Wat haar eie betrokkenheid in die operasie aanbetref het Pastoors gesê: “[D]it was moeilik om myself emosioneel daarmee te versoen, maar ek het aanvaar dat dit nodig was en het nie die oordeel van die leierskorps in dié verband bevraagteken nie.” Dit het ‘n rukkie geneem voor Tambo namens die ANC verantwoordelikheid vir die aanval aanvaar het. Om die waarheid te sê, eers na SALM-stralers drie dae later ‘n wraakbomaanval op ANC teikens in Maseru uitgevoer het, het Tambo aangekondig dat MK die Kerkstraat-bomaanval beplan en uitgevoer het nadat hy dit goedgekeur het. Tydens sy aansoek om amnestie voor die WVK 15 jaar later, het Ismail aangevoer dat Tambo toestemming aan sy Spesiale Operasies-eenheid verleen het om die aanval te beplan en uit te voer in reaksie op die sluipmoord op die anti-apartheid aktivis en Joe Slovo se vrou, Ruth First, op 17 Augustus 1982, asook op die aanval deur Suid-Afrikaanse veiligheidsmagte op 15 ANC teikens in Maseru gedurende Desember 1982 waartydens 42 mense, waaronder ten minste 7 vroue en kinders, omgekom het. Volgens Ismail het Tambo “dit opgehaal dat as die destydse regering sy optrede regverdig het dat burgerlikes gedood word omdat die ANC sy basisse tussen die burgerlike bevolking oprig, sou dit dan nie geregverdig wees vir die ANC om ook operasies uit te voer op vyandelike teikens wat binne beboude gebiede geleë is nie?” Die WVK was deur Ismail meegedeel dat die Spesiale Operasies-eenheid aanvaar het dat die Kerkstraatbomaanval, hoewel dit hoofsaaklik gerig was op “militêre personeel” wat by die bushalte sou saamdrom, “ook sou lei tot burgerlike sterftes”. Vreemd genoeg beskryf die WVK die aanval wat gelei het tot die dood en verminking van heelwat meer burgerlikes as “militêre personeel” soos volg: Die ontploffing was ‘n oorlogsdaad wat ‘n ernstige slag teen die ANC se vyande geslaan het, en wat ‘n nuwe fase van guerrilla-oorlog in die stryd ingelei het. Hoewel die gevolge van die ontploffing grusaam en tragies was en baie onskuldige burgerlikes geaffekteer het, is ons, na sorgvuldige oorweging, van oordeel dat die manier waarop die operasie uitgevoer was, nie buite verhouding staan tot die politieke doelstellings wat nagejaag is nie. Dit is van belang om daarop te let dat die Kerstraat-bomaanval plaasgevind het twee jaar voor die ANC en die Suid-Afrikaanse Kommunisteparty (SAKP) se Kabwe-konferensie in Zambië in Junie 1985, waar daar besluit is dat burgerlike ongevalle nie meer vermy kan word by die beplanning van militêre operasies nie. Die sogenaamde “nuwe fase van guerrilla-oorlog” moes dus eintlik eers in 1985 ‘n aanvang geneem het, en nie in 1983 nie. Die WVK gee wel toe dat hierdie bomaanval voor die Kabwe-konferensie plaasgevind het, maar gaan dan voort om te bevind dat dit nie beteken “dat hierdie teikenidentifisering teen ANC beleid was nie. Dit was nog altyd MK-beleid om die veiligheidsmagte se personeel te teiken en, wat betref die burgerlike ongevalle, die operasie is goedgekeur op die hoogste gesagsvlak van die ANC”. Die hoogsgerespekteerde historikus, doktor 80
Leopold Scholtz, toon aan dat die gewapende stryd tot en met 1983 getuig het “van ‘n morele onwilligheid tot bloedvergieting. Maar die Suid-Afrikaanse aanval op ANC-teikens in Matola, Maputo in 1981, het gelei tot ‘n kopskuif, en Oliver Tambo het vergelding belowe”. Dit kan verduidelik waarom hierdie aanval plaasgevind het lank voor die amptelike besluit deur die ANC- en SAKPleierskap om nie meer deur moontlike burgerlike ongevalle weerhou te word by die beplanning van aanvalle nie. Dit kom dus voor dat die doel van hierdie aanval uitsluitlik vergelding was. Desnieteenstaande het die WVK hierdie as die uitvoering van ‘n “politieke doelstelling” aanvaar om “‘n hoogs sigbare aanval op militêre personeel te loods, wat nie weggesteek sou kon word nie …”. Boonop beskryf die WVK die Kerkstraat-bomaanval as “guerrilla-oorlogvoering”. Maar wat is in werklikheid guerrilla-oorlogvoering? Volgens die Oxford Dictionary is dit die “engagement in or activities involved in a war fought by small groups of irregular soldiers against typical larger forces”. Met ander woorde, dit is ongereelde oorlog waarin klein groepies of individuele soldate taktiese militêre metodes soos sabotasie, lokvalle, strooptogte, verrassingsaanvalle sowel as hul beweeglike gevegsvermoë gebruik om ‘n groter, minder beweeglike tradisionele militêre mag te beveg en te ontwrig. Daarteenoor word “terrorisme” gedefinieer as “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians in the pursuit of political aims”. Daar is natuurlik heelwat variasies op hierdie definisie wat selfs verder gaan en terrorisme definieer as die afpersing of intimidasie van ‘n regering of gemeenskappe in die najaging van nie net politieke oogmerke nie maar ook godsdienstige of ideologiese doelstellings. Selfs ‘n staat kan skuldig wees aan terrorisme as dit sy burgers afpers of intimideer met onregmatige geweld. Die apartheidstaat het inderdaad op ‘n gereelde grondslag geweld gebruik om teenstand teen sy politieke beleid te onderdruk, met die Maseru-aanval en die sluipmoord op Ruth First goeie voorbeelde daarvan. Die gemene deler in al hierdie definisies is egter die onregmatige gebruik van geweld ten einde ‘n politieke oogmerk te bereik. Dit kom voor asof die WVK in hierdie geval terrorisme verkeerdelik aangesien het as guerrilla-oorlog. Hoe dit ookal sy, as hierdie ‘n ‘oorlogsdaad’ was, soos die ANC en die WVK beweer dit was, oortree dit in elkgeval die Geneefse Konvensies en protokolreëls van 1949, wat van toepassing is tydens oorlog of ander gewapende konflik. Artikel 3 is van toepassing op gewapende konflikte tussen burgers binne die grense van ‘n enkele land. Dit verskaf beperkte beskerming aan mense wat nie aktief by die vyandelikhede betrokke is nie, met ander woorde, burgerlikes. In hierdie kategorie word ook ingesluit “militêre persone wat opgehou het om aktief deel te neem weens siekte, besering of aanhouding”. Volgens hierdie Artikel mag burgerlikes nie geteiken word ter bereiking van ‘n militêre oogmerk nie. Volgens hulle eie erkenning het die ANC-leierskap geweet dat burgerlike ongevalle ‘n waarskynlikheid sou wees tydens hierdie operasie. Maar hierdie waarskynlikheid is doelbewus deur die ANC geïgnoreer in hulle allesoorheersende begeerte om ‘n gewelddadige boodskap aan die Suid-Afrikaanse regering te stuur: die ANC is bereid om die lewe van burgerlikes te neem in hul stryd teen die apartheid outoritêre staat. Die boodskap was helder en duidelik. Maar wat was dit dan as dit nie terrorisme was nie? Selfs al was dit vir ‘n edele doel, die doelbewuste doodmaak van ongewapende burgerlikes in ‘n bomontploffing in die najaging van ‘n politieke doelstelling is niks anders as koelbloedige moord nie, net soos die voor die voet uitwissing van vroue en kinders in die 81
proses om ANC vegters buite aksie te stel tydens ‘n militêre strooptog. Dit verg eintlik die laakbaarste vorm van opset by moord om so ‘n daad te pleeg of te laat pleeg, naamlik dolus indeterminatus of opset om te moor sonder om ‘n spesifieke slagoffer of getal slagoffers in gedagte te hê en dus nie om te gee wie of watter getal slagoffers daar sal wees, of wat die aard van die slagoffers (vrouens, kinders, bejaardes) sal wees nie. Terrorisme bly terrorisme, ongeag wie dit pleeg, en hierdie was terrorisme in sy ernstigste en grusaamste vorm. Die WVK het egter gevoel dat dié wat vir hierdie aanval verantwoordelik was en amnestie gevra het, dit moet kry. Net drie mense, onder wie Ismail en Pastoors, het vir hierdie Kerkstraat-bomaanval amnestie gevra en aan al drie is amnestie toegestaan. Oliver Tambo en Joe Slovo is voor die begin van die WVK-verhore oorlede en die twee bomplanters is beide in die ontploffing dood. Dit is egter nie vergesog om te aanvaar dat heelparty lede van die ANC se Nasionale Uitvoerende Komitee (NEC) en van die senior MK bevelvoerders in 1983 moes geweet het van die beplanning en uitvoering van die aanval en hulle aktief daarmee vereenselwig het nie. Sommige van hierdie lede soos Thabo Mbeki, Mac Maharaj, en Jacob Zuma leef vandag nog en nie een van hulle het om amnestie aansoek gedoen vir hierdie terreurdaad nie. In teenstelling daarmee het verskeie apartheid-era polisiemanne onsuksesvol aansoek gedoen vir amnestie vir die rol wat hulle gespeel het in die dood van anti-apartheid aktiviste, en hoewel hy nie om amnestie aansoek gedoen het nie is generaal Magnus Malan selfs vervolg vir die rol wat hy as minister van verdediging gespeel het in die dood van 13 mense waaronder 7 kinders by KwaMakhutha in 1987, maar die hof het hom onskuldig bevind. Adriaan Vlok, voormalige minister van wet en orde het wel aansoek gedoen om amnestie vir verskeie vergrype wat hy tydens sy bewind gepleeg het en dit gekry, maar hy is ook strafregtelik vervolg vir ‘n minder ernstige misdaad as moord waarvoor hy nie amnestie gekry het nie, saam met die voormalige kommissasris van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie, generaal Johan van der Merwe, en net ‘n pleitooreenkoms het hulle van gevangenisstraf gered. Dan is daar natuurlik ook Janusz Walus, veroordeelde sluipmoordenaar van die MK-stafhoof en algemene sekretaris van die SAKP, Chris Hani. Toe Walus en sy medeveroordeelde moordenaar, Clive Derby-Lewis vir amnestie aansoek doen, het die WVK dit geweier. Dit is wel so dat die moordenaar(s) van Chris Hani byna ‘n burgeroorlog veroorsaak het, wat inderdaad ook uit die staanspoor hulle doel met die moord was. Daardie feit maak die misdaad soveel meer verfoeilik. Aan die ander kant, wat was die Kerkstraat-bomaanval anders as ‘n misdaad teen die mensdom? Baie mense het gesterf en meer as 200 is beseer in hierdie enkele aanval, maar dié wat daarvoor verantwoordelik is gaan ongestraf met hulle lewens voort. Is een lewe net soveel werd as vele, afhangende van aan wie daardie een lewe behoort het? Die WVK was oënskynlik die mening toegedaan dat dit wel die geval is. Die WVK se bedoelings was sonder twyfel in meeste van die gevalle suiwer, maar daar was heelwat kritiek van alle kante van die spektrum op sy effektiwiteit, veral weens hierdie tipe onkonsekwenthede. Ongelukkig het dit ook daartoe bygedra dat verregse groepe hulle eie politieke agendas bevorder deur van die Kerkstraat-bomaanval ‘n emosionele twispunt te maak. Op 20 Mei 2015 het lede van die regse groep Front Nasionaal saam met AfriForum by die toneel in Kerkstraat byeengekom om die bomaanval te gedenk. Willie Cloete, Front Nasionaal se leier, het verklaar dat die dag van belang is weens die impak daarvan op Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis: “Onskuldige mense is gedood deur ‘n bom wat in die eerste instansie nooit geplant moes gewees het nie.” Cloete het onderneem dat sy groep sal voortgaan om hierdie dag te gedenk. Die adjunk-algemene bestuurder van die 82
Transvaalse Landbou-unie van Suid-Afrika (TLU) Henk van de Graaf, het bygevoeg dat die bomaanval “die begin was van ‘n terroriste-oorlog wat vandag nog voortgesit word in die vorm van plaasmoorde”. ‘n Jaar later het Wessel Basson van die Nasionale Konserwatiewe Party die toesprake gelei voor ‘n gemengde gehoor bestaande uit oorlewendes en partylede. Volgend die Pretoria-Oos Rekord het Basson ook ‘n klein wit kissie met ses vlaggies op die plek neergesit waar die bom afgegaan het. ‘n Graniet gedenkplaat met die name van die 17 slagoffers wat in die ontploffing gesterf het, is ook onthul waarna Basson bygevoeg het: “As die stad ooit hierdie steen verwyder, sal dit wees soos om al hierdie mense weer dood te maak.” Selfs regtervleuel vermaaklikheidskunstenaars soos Sunette Bridges en Steve Hofmeyer was daar om die mense wat die aanval gedenk het, te lei in die sing van Die Stem van Suid-Afrika. Die probleem met hierdie tipe groepe is dat hulle die gedenkproses kaap om daarmee woede en haat te laat ontbrand of herleef ten einde goedkoop politieke punte te probeer aanteken, eerder as om die oorlewende slagoffers en hulle vriende en familie, asook die gestorwenes se familielede, geliefdes en vriende toe te laat om te gedenk en te rou. Moet die sewe swart mense wat in die aanval gesterf het se geliefdes en vriende nou ook hulle verliese gedenk deur die sing van Die Stem van Suid-Afrika? Deur te teer op hierdie woede en haat beweeg hierdie groepe op dieselfde morele vlakke as die ANC leierskap wat van die aanval geweet en dit goedgekeur het. Die verskil is net dat hierdie groepe nie ‘n fisiese bom gebruik nie. Hulle probeer om eerder ‘n ideologiese bom te laat ontplof in die gewetens van diegene wat maklik beïnvloedbaar is deur hierdie tipe retoriek. Ongelukkig vir die oorlewendes, asook die oorledenes se geliefdes en vriende, kom dit wel voor dat niemand anders deesdae meer omgee nie. Dit kom voor asof dit maar net beskou word as die ongemaklike waarheid wat die ANC se vryheidsnarratief trompop loop. Die straat waarin die bomaanval plaasgevind het, het inderwaarheid ‘n ruk gelede ‘n naamsverandering ondergaan. Dit lyk vreemd dat die owerhede dit nodig gevind het om ‘n relatief neutrale naam soos ‘Kerkstraat’, te vervang met die name van ‘n klompie helde uit die stryd teen apartheid. Vir heelwat van die families en oorlewendes, voel dit asof hulle lyding deur die owerhede as onbenullig beskou word. Al wat hulle van die ANC verwag is om ‘jammer’ te sê sodat hulle trauma en opofferings die erkenning kan geniet wat dit verdien. Vir Lydia van der Merwe en mense soos sy was daar nog geen sielkundige berusting nie: “’n Openbare apologie sal so ‘n groot verskil maak.” Maar dit moet nog gegee word. Die Kerkstraat-bomaanval was een van die ergste terreuraanvalle ooit in Suid-Afrika. Om dit te ontken is om die slagoffers te ignoreer en te onteer. Apartheid was inderdaad ‘n bose sisteem van onderdrukking wat elke faset van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing ontsier het. Dit moet ook nooit vergeet word nie. Maar terselfdertyd moet onthou word dat apartheid nie die enigste boosheid was nie. In hulle stryd teen apartheid, was bevrydingsorganisasies self ook dikwels skuldig aan die mees verfoeilike misdade. Daarom moet nie uit die oog verloor word nie dat die konstitusionele demokrasie wat ons vandag geniet, te danke is aan almal van hulle wat hulle lewe afgelê het in die “gewapende stryd”, nie slegs dié wat die ANC graag wil onthou nie. Maar deur die aanval as ‘n land vandag op ‘n waardige wyse te onthou, moet dit nie gekondoneer of veroordeel word nie. Daar moet liewer erkenning gegee word aan hoe daar vordering gemaak is in hierdie land sedert daardie verskriklike dag in Mei 1983. Dit is die grootste eerbetoon wat ons aan die slagoffers kan gee en die grootste les wat ons van hulle kan leer. Erkennings: Spesiale dank aan Sieg Minnie en brigadier (afgetree) Hennie Heymans vir hulle raad en belang. 83
Bibliografie • Jordaan, A. 2013. Lothar Neethling: ‘n Lewe vertel. Pretoria: Litera Publikasies. • Kuaho, T. 2015. Church Street bombing remembered. Pretoria East Rekord, (20 Mei): https://rekordeast.co.za/52002/church-street-bombing-remembered/. • Makhubu, N. 2015. Church Street bombing horror recalled. IOL, (21 Mei): https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.iol.co.za/amp/news/church-street-bombing-horror-recalled1861562. • Maree, H. 2015. Freedom Park won’t honour Church Street bomb victims – AfriForum Youth. PoliticsWeb, (20 Mei): https://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/freedom-park-wont-honour--church-street-bombvictim. • Meijer, K. 2016. Church Street bombing remembered. Pretoria East Rekord, (21 Mei): https://rekordeast.co.za/93946/church-street-bombing-remembered-2/. • Mtshali, N. 2013. Bomb survivor waits for compensation. IOL, (22 Mei): www.google.com/amp/s/www.iol.co.za/amp/news/bomb-survivor-waits-for-compensation1519773. • Ngoepe, K. 2016. Mbeki, Zuma, Maharaj must be charged for Church Street bombing – apartheid police general. News24, (20 Mei): https://m.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/mbeki-zuma-maharaj-must-be-charged-for-church-streetbombing-apartheid-police-general-201600520. • Onbekende skrywer. 1998. ANC Mastermind Campaign Justifies Pretoria Church Street Blast. SAPA, (6 Mei): https://www.justice.gov.za/trc/media/1998/9805/s980506b.htm. • Onbekende skrywer. 1996. Human Rights Violations Submissions – Question and Answers: Neville James Clarence. Truth and Reconciliation Commission, (13 Augustus): https://www.justice.gov.za/trchrvtrans/pretoria/clarence.htm. • Scholtz, L., 2011. The conference of Kabwe and the ANC/SACP’s armed struggle - Review. SUN Scholar Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20652. • Soule, A., Dixon, G. & Richards, R. 1987. The Wynand du Toit Story. Johannesburg: Hans Strydom Publikasies. • Stiff, P. 1999. The Silent War: South African Recce Operations, 1969-1994. Alberton: Galago. • Van der Merwe, J. Onbekende datum. Kerkstraatbomvoorval. South African Mirror: https://www.samirror.com/kerkstraatbomvoorval.html.
CRIME & HISTORY OF CRIME | MISDAAD & MISDAADGESKIEDENIS • Not just man's best friend! Dogs trained to protect wildlife have saved 45 rhinos from poachers in South Africa By Kate Dennett for Mailonline - May 15th 2020, 1:38:00 pm A group of dogs have been trained to stop poaching by the Southern African Wildlife College in Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa. They train from birth before working at 18 months old. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8322921/Dogs-trained-protect-wildlife-saved-45-rhinospoachers-South-Africa.html
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POLICE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES | POLISIE SOSIALE BYEENKOMSTE
Warrant Officer Hermanus (Hermie) De Bruin Celebrates 74th Birthday Warrant Officer Hermie de Bruin is a loyal shopper at Mills Spar, Hayfields. The General Manager of Mills Spar, Mr Ravi Moodley, usually provides him with a free hearty breakfast on his birthday, for his loyalty towards the store and his 38 years of dedicated and devoted service to his community whilst serving SAPS. Due to the "Lockdown", Mr Moodley provided him with a free cake to celebrate his birthday. On behalf of de Bruin I should like to express our sincere appreciation to Moodley for his kindness and goodness shown to our fellow retired members. Logan Govender
Photograph 1 Mr Ravi Moodley hands a free Black Forest Gateaux birthday cake to Warrant Officer Hermanus (Hermie) de Bruin. 85
Photograph 2 Copy of the media report that appeared in Maritzburg Fever 20th May 2020. 86
SA RAILWAYS POLICE | SA SPOORWEGPOLISIE
S.A. Spoorwegpolisie: Sake, Verhale en Staaltjies: Brig. Ronnie Beyl • Die “Lang-plaas” Verskeie ongerapporteerde skietvoorvalle het snags plaasgevind en tydens sommige van hierdie skietvoorvalle was daar altyd ‘n koedoe, gemsbok of ʼn eland betrokke. Die “lang plaas” (dit is die gedeelte aan weerskante van die treinspoor wat as die meganisasie pad bekend gestaan het) het ʼn uiterste bekoring vir die lede ingehou. Hulle kon maar net nie van die lang plaas wegbly nie. Gelukkig het niemand bokkoors gekry nie en slegs enkele skote was tydens die jag ekspedisie afgevuur. Die verskoning was natuurlik dat die spoorlyn gedurende die nag beskerm moes word en om dit te kon doen, moes daar van die meganisasie pad gebruik gemaak word. Die Hippo was die ideale voertuig vanweë sy vermoë om “bundu bashing” te doen. Die slag van die bokke en die maak van biltong was ʼn hoogs geheime operasie wat gewoonlik in die motorhuise van die lede wat te Grootfontein gestasioneer was, plaasgevind het. Die vernietiging van die bewysstukke en afval het op ʼn hoogs georganiseerde wyse plaasgevind. Na die geheime operasie het die lede wat iets vir die pot SASP Hippo (Bron: Dan de Lange) geskiet het, trots vir foto’s saam met die horings geposeer. Die feit dat daar tot vandag toe nog geen navrae of ondersoeke na die voorval was nie bevestig die mate van geheimhouding waarin dit plaasgevind het. (Tjaka Neethling)
• Namutoni Wildreservaat 87
Daar was ook nie net op die lang plaas gejag nie. Een van die patrollies wat die Namutoni grenslyn gepatrolleer het, se voertuig was met twee skietligte toegerus. Een aand was daar meteens twee blink oë aan die binnekant van die heining in die Namutoni Wildreservaat opgemerk. Dit was nie net leeus nie, maar ook gemsbokke wat daar rondgestaan het. Vyf manne het oor die heining geklouter en, nodeloos om sê, was die bevelvoerder van die groep, luitenant Tjaka Neethling, een van hulle. Die ander lede wat by die voertuig gewag het, het die leeus se aandag op hulle getrek en toe het die skoot geklap. Die vyf manne binne die heining het die gemsbok met behulp van die manne by die voertuig oor die draad gegooi asof dit ʼn sak mielies was. Die groep het as verskoning aangevoer dat, indien daar ʼn slaghuis nader aan hulle basis was, dit nie vir hulle nodig sou gewees het om vir die pot te jag nie. Nie almal het dit so maklik gehad nie. Luitenant Johan Nel en sy groep, wat op ʼn latere stadium die dienste verrig het, het in die landdroshof in Tsumeb verskyn vir ʼn koedoe wat hulle onwettig geskiet het. (Tjaka Neethling)
Luit. Tjaka Neethling (Bron: David Raul Joao
• Nommer Twaalf Stewel op die Rempedaal Ek was ook een van die bevoorregtes wat die geleentheid gehad het om spesiale dienste in die noorde van Suidwes te gaan verrig. Ons Bevelvoerder was kaptein Dennis Keyter en ons basis was op Otjiwarongo. Vandaar het ons die treine na Grootfontein en Tsumeb in die noorde, en na Omaruru in die suide, begelei. ʼn Hippo voertuig, wat deur die S.A. Polisie aan die Spoorwegpolisie beskikbaar gestel was, was gebruik om die lede na en van die treine te vervoer. Om die Hippo te kon bestuur moes jy eers ʼn kursus deurloop en oor ʼn swaarvoertuiglisensie beskik het. Dit was ʼn groot en lompe voertuig, maar het beskerming aan die insittendes teen kleingeweervuur en landmyne verleen. Op ʼn dag het kaptein Keyter, konstabel Roets (die bestuurder) en myself gery om die lede te gaan oplaai. Met die terugkeer na ons basis het kaptein Keyter besluit dat hy wou voel hoe die Hippo bestuur het. Roets was opdrag gegee om die Hippo tot stilstand te bring en die stokke aan die kaptein te oorhandig. Nes ʼn vliegtuig, het ons ook nou ʼn kaptein agter die stuur. Kaptein Keyter het hom met die ratte vergewis en alles wat nodig was om die swaar en lompe voertuig te kon bestuur. Dit het nogal ʼn ent geneem totdat die Hippo spoed opgetel het en ʼn steilte kon net in die verte wink, en die Hippo het klaar spoed verloor. Dit was gewoonlik dan wanneer die Hippo na derde rat teruggeskakel moes word om spoed op te tel. So het ons die steilte genader en die tyd het aangebreek dat kaptein Keyter na derde rat moes terugskakel. Die terugskakeling na derde rat moes Kaptein Dennis Keyter met die Hippo (Bron: Facebook groep) 88
vinnig geskied ten einde te verhoed dat die Hippo te veel spoed verloor. Dit was tydens hierdie flinke proses dat kaptein Keyter met sy volle krag en met sy nommer twaalf stewel op die rem pedaal getrap het. Hy was onder die indruk dat hy die koppelaar intrap en gelukkig het ek agter by die deur gesit met my veiligheidsgordel stewig vas; vasgedruk in my sitplek. Die manne wat nie hulle veiligheidsgordels gebruik het nie, het in die gangetjie na die voorste sitplekke afgevlieg. Die Hippo het ʼn paar bokspronge gemaak en tot stilstand gekom en gelukkig was niemand in die voorval beseer nie. Stel jou voor; op volle vaart en dan word die rem pedaal teen die vloer vasgetrap. Nadat almal, insluitende die kaptein van die voertuig, tot verhaal gekom het, het ons almal lekker oor die voorval gelag. Dit was op hierdie stadium dat die Hippo voertuig, sonder enige geredekawel of besware, van bestuurders verwissel het. (Philip van Rooyen)
• My Dienstermyn in die Noorde van Suidwes Op 16 Februarie 1976 was ek vanaf Johannesburgstasie na Walvisbaai in Suidwes-Afrika oorgeplaas. As sersant het ek die Spesiale Taakmag kursus by die Infanterieskool te Oudtshoorn se Kansas City opleidingsterrein deurloop. Die kursus het vanaf September tot Desember 1975 gestrek (SPECTA 2) en so het ek die eerste opgeleide lid van die taakmag in SWA geword.
Ek was vir verskeie spesiale take soos onder andere die beskerming van ministers en hooggeplaaste spoorwegpersoneel tydens besoeke in Suidwes-Afrika aangewend. Ek het die ingenieurs van die spoorweë na elke pad- en treinbrug in Suidwes-Afrika vergesel waar hulle die konstruksie daarvan geëvalueer het met die oog op die beveiliging en versterking van die strukture. 89
Die doel daarvan was om die skade te beperk in die geval van ‘n sabotasie aanslag. Hierdie taak het ongeveer vier maande geduur om af te handel. Ek was afgesonder om die begeleidings dienste van treine in die noorde van Suidwes-Afrika te inisieer en ondersteuning te verleen weens my spesiale opleiding en ondervinding. Tydens hierdie tydperk van drie tot vier jaar was ek gemiddeld nege maande van die jaar met spesiale dienste of met kursusse van die huis afwesig. Ek was só by alle aspekte van die beveiligingsdienste van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie in die noorde van Suidwes-Afrika betrokke dat ek besluit het om te spesialiseer. Gedurende Augustus – September 1980 het ek ʼn springstofkursus by die spoorwegkollege te Esselenpark deurloop. Saam met my op die kursus was adjudant-offisier Eugene De Kock van die SAP, wat toe op daardie stadium te Oshakati gestasioneer was. Ons was die enigste twee lede van Suidwes-Afrika op die kursus wat deur die SAP Veiligheidstak van Pretoria aangebied was. Alhoewel ek na die kursus steeds as drywer van die motortrollie aangewend was, het ek ook betrokke geraak by die beveiliging, opruiming en die ondersoek van sabotasie tonele op en van spoorwegpersele. Dit het tot gevolg gehad dat ek baie nouer saam met lede van die S.A. Polisie se springstofdeskundiges in die noorde van Suidwes-Afrika begin werk het. Tussendeur was ek ook aangewend om behulpsaam te wees met die opleiding van reserviste in die S.A Spoorwegpolisie. Gedurende 1983 is ek tot die rang van adjudant offisier bevorder en na Tsumeb as speur-adjudantoffisier in beheer van padmededinge verplaas. My verantwoordelikheidsgebied het die hele noordelike gebied vanaf Otjiwarongo ingesluit en ek het ook deurentyd bystanddienste as springstofdeskundiges verrig terwyl ek ook op die bystandslys van die S.A. Polisie te Tsumeb geplaas was. Gedurende my tyd in Tsumeb het ek baie nou saam met die SAP Veiligheidstak onder bevel van Brigadier Boontjie Boonzaaier gewerk. Een oggend, gedurende 1983, terwyl ek besig was om getuienis in ʼn padvervoer saak te lewer, het ʼn terroris homself in die buite toilet van die landdroshof op Tsumeb opgeblaas. Hy was besig om ʼn self geprakseerde bom met ʼn F1 handgranaat aanmekaar te sit wat hy in die landdroshof wou laat ontplof het. Dit was ʼn gemors om die oorblyfsels op te tel en die plek op te ruim. Die feit dat ek in Suidwes-Afrika gestasioneer was en derhalwe nie die geleentheid gehad het om verdere taakmag opleiding in Suid Afrika te ontvang nie, het meegebring dat ek nie toegeken is met vlerkies van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie se Spesiale Taakmag nie. Dit het nooit my geesdrif as lid van die S.A. Spoorwegpolisie gedemp nie. Ek het myself altyd, tot en met vandag, as ʼn trotse lid van die S.A. 90
Spoorwegpolisie se Spesiale Taakmag beskou. Op 1 Oktober 1986, na die ontbinding van die SA Spoorwegpolisie, was ek na die S.A. Polisie te Walvisbaai as adjudant offisier oorgeplaas. (Koos Strydom)
• Die Stigting van ʼn Tuiswag met Reserviste As die grootste enkele werkgewer in SWA, het die spoorweë ʼn baie groot rol in die ekonomie van SWA gespeel. Die oorgrote meerderheid van die spoorwegpersoneel was egter van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika afkomstig. Die moord op mnr. van der Bank by Uchab-stasie het groot onrustigheid onder die spoorwegpersoneel tot gevolg gehad. Hulle het onveilig gevoel en hul families was bekommerd, veral wanneer hulle eggenotes vir lang tye van die huis af weg was, of wanneer hulle dienste in die noorde van Suidwes moes gaan verrig het. Om die personeel gemoedsrus en sekuriteit te gee, was kaptein Ronnie Beyl van Hoofkantoor met ingang 1 Januarie 1980 na Windhoek verplaas. Sy opdrag was om die burgerlike personeellede van die spoorweë as reserviste (tuiswagte) op te lei ten einde hulle in staat te stel om hulleself en hulle gesinne te beveilig en te beskerm. Die burgerlike personeel was baie opgewonde en entoesiasties oor die konsep en bykans elke personeellid te Lüderitz, Keetmanshoop, Upington, Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Usakos, Walvisbaai, Tsumeb en Grootfontein het by die reserviste aangesluit en die opleiding deurloop. Om uitvoering aan die opdrag te kon gee om die personeel se families en eiendomme te beskerm, het die spoorweë 19 Mazda 323 motors aangekoop wat vir patrollie doeleindes gebruik was. Die treindrywers, kondukteurs, spoorbaanpersoneel en busdrywers het opleiding ontvang om hulself, die passasiers en die eiendom van die spoorweë teen moontlike terroriste aanvalle te beveilig en beskerm. Die opleiding het hoofsaaklik bestaan uit wetsaspekte, die identifisering van verdagte toestelle, skietkuns, die hantering van die 9mm HMK, R1 geweer en gevegsaanduidings. Die spoorwegpersoneel wat in die kantore diens verrig het, het dieselfde opleiding as hulle kollegas wat op die seksie gewerk het, ontvang. Hulle taak was egter om die personeel wat Kaptein Beyl (Bron: J.R. Beyl) nagdiens gewerk het en die wat op die seksie uit was, se families en eiendomme saans te beskerm. Hulle was in groepe verdeel en het vanaf tien uur die aand tot ses uur die volgende oggend die woonhuise van hulle kollegas besoek. Die personeel sterkte van elke stasie het bepaal hoe gereeld elke groep per maand sou werk. Die feit dat die burgerlike personeel by die beskermings aksie betrek was, het rustigheid en ʼn gevoel van sekuriteit onder hulle gevestig. Hulle het ook gevoel dat die bestuur oor hulle veiligheid en dié van hulle families besorgd was. Dit het die moraal onder die werkers aansienlik verhoog en hulle kon derhalwe hul dagtaak met selfvertroue en entoesiasme uitvoer. Vriendskappe wat tussen die reserviste in daardie jare gesluit was, leef vandag nog onder baie van hulle voort, selfs nadat hulle al jare gelede na die RSA teruggekeer het. (Ronnie Beyl)
• Opleiding van Spoorbaanpersoneel Die S.A. Spoorweë was die lewensaar van Suidwes-Afrika se ekonomie. As gevolg daarvan was dit ʼn teiken vir die terroriste ten einde te poog om die land ekonomies op sy knieë te dwing. Bo en behalwe die goedere wat op groot skaal vervoer was, was dit die enigste openbare vervoerstelsel vir die algemene publiek wat landwyd beskikbaar was. Gereelde sabotasie van die spoorlyne het 91
daartoe gelei dat die bedryfspersoneel soos treindrywers, kondukteurs en die stasiemeesters met hulle personeel opgelei moes word in die identifisering van die verskillende ploftoestelle. Talle lesings en demonstrasies was deur kaptein Ronnie Beyl en later deur ander lede wat as inspekteurs van plofbare stowwe opgelei was, aan spoorwegpersoneel gegee. Besondere aandag was aan die opleiding van die manne wat die spoorlyne daagliks gepatrolleer het, geskenk. Ek het ook die lesings aan die personeel te Upington gegee. Een oggend gedurende September 1982, was ek in my kantoor toe een van die patrolliemanne my geskakel het. Die patrollieman het baie benoud geklink en gesê dat ek dadelik na die treinbrug moes kom wat by Upington oor die rivier gaan, want daar was iets op die spoorlyn wat gelyk het soos ʼn toestel wat hy tydens een van die lesings gesien het.
Kaptein Beyl gee lesing oor terroriste wapens (Bron: J.R. Beyl
Met nadere ondersoek het ek ʼn Limpetkleefmyn op die spoorlyn gevind. Die Limpetmyn het nie gedetoneer nie aangesien die twee terroriste wat die myn daar geplaas het dié betrokke dag, saam met kleurling vroue van Upington gekuier het. Hulle het aan die drink gegaan en met hulle dronk lywe probeer om die Limpet-myn te aktiveer. Hulle het die myn net so gelaat en op die vlug geslaan toe die trein in sig kom en later was vasgestel dat dieselfde twee terroriste ook vir die sabotasie van ‘n spoorlyn in Natal verantwoordelik was. Hulle was ook by ʼn skietery in Boksburg betrokke waar hulle deur die S.A Polisie gearresteer was. (Apie van Lill)
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S/Sersant AJ de Jager • Boek: Die Speurder Die volgende uittreksels kom van Johan de Jager se boek, “Die Speurder”. Johan is ‘n oudspoorwegpolisieman, voormalige speurdersersant, aan wie die Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorwegpolisie Ster vir Verdienste toegeken is. Dit was altyd Johan se begeerte gewees om ‘n top speurder te word. Dié boek is oor sy ervarings en pogings om sy droom te bereik. Johan het die boek ongeveer 8 jaar gelede (2012) geskryf en gepubliseer. Hier volg hoofstukke 4~6. Dit word met sy toestemming in Nongqai gepubliseer.
S/sers A.J. (Johan) de Jager word vereer met die toekenning van die SA Spoorwegpolisie Ster vir Verdienste op 1983.05.20 toegeken deur Minister Kobie Coetzee, L.P. minister van justisie en gevangenisse. (Bron: A.J. de Jager)
Hoofstuk 4 - Toebroodjiedief Ek is klaar met die basiese opleiding in die polisiekollege en word oorgeplaas na OosLonden se spoorwegstasie om daar diens te verrig. Die eerste dag van diens begin en ons almal, ongeveer 25 polisiebeamptes, word geparadeer (dit beteken dat almal op parade staan, inspeksie gedoen word, en pligte en opdragte uitgereik word vir die skof wat gewerk moet word). Die wyksersant, dieselfde sersant wat van sterk tee hou, neem die parade waar. Ek word opdrag gegee om na vore te tree en op aandag te bly staan.
Die wyksersant, aan wie ek baie geheg geraak en hy ook aan my, sit met trots sy arm om my skouers en kondig aan dat ek nou ’n volwaardige, behoorlik opgeleide polisiebeampte is, en dat ek nou op die drumpel van die grootmenswêreld staan. (Ek was 18 jaar oud). Ek word gepos op rondte nr. 1; die hoofperron op die stasie, en patrolleer ook die aanklagtekantoor omgewing. Ek staan bekend as die “wakker” konstabel wat altyd in die moeilikheid is as gevolg van my ywer om ’n goeie polisiebeampte te wees. Die wyksersant nader my eendag met ’n groot opdrag: om asseblief die skelm te vang wat sy heerlike toebroodjies elke aand steel. MY EERSTE SAAK! Ek word gewys waar die toebroodjies gebêre word, en word ingelig dat die dief elke aand twee van die ses snytjies brood steel. Ek word weereens versoek om die lastige dief te vang. Daar was geen verdere diefstal van die heerlike toebroodjies nie. Die wyksersant het deurentyd geweet wie die dief was wat sy smaaklike toebroodjies nie kon weerstaan nie. Hy het suksesvol daarin geslaag om jakkals skaapwagter te maak! Hoofstuk 5 - Silent Joe 94
Dis 02:00 die oggend en ek word deur die wyksersant, Paul Kruger, versoek om vir ons tee te maak Ek het die Saterdagmiddag rugby gespeel en nie veel geslaap nie. Ek was seker dat die ou Jakkals (sersant Paul) dit ook besef het. Terwyl ek die ketel volmaak met water, gooi die sersant iets in my rigting. Gelukkig vir my val dit in die ketel met water. By nadere ondersoek sien ek dat dit ’n klapper is! Ek het ’n ander klapper bekom, dit in die loop van my .38 rewolwer geplaas en bekruip die aanklagtekantoor. By aankoms daar het ek konstabel Joe met sy voete op die tafel, aan die slaap gevind. Ek het die klapper aan die brand gesteek en vir Joe geskreeu: “Jou pes jy slaap al weer”. Die klapper het afgegaan, ’n lange vlam het uit die loop van die rewolwer geblits in die rigting van Joe, Joe het met stoel en al agteroor geval en met beide sy hande oor sy bors bevoel en gevra/geskreeu: “Hoekom, hoekom skiet jy my!?” Al wat ek kan sê is dat ek moes vlug vir my lewe! Hoofstuk 6 - Byname Ek dink nou terug aan al die interessante lede van die Mag wat ek die voorreg gehad het om te ken, en toe kom baie van die byname onwillekeurig weer by my op. Ek het ook pyp opgesteek by sersant J.C. Coetzee, een van my vorige kollegas en my wyksersant. Hy het my gehelp om van die name en vanne sowel as byname te bekom. Sersant S.D. Roberts, ’n regte grapmaker van die eerste water en ‘n spesialis in byname, was ook van onskatbare waarde met die samestelling van hierdie hoofstuk. Van die name wat onthou word:• • • • • • •
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Stofpoeper “Duppie” du Plessis: hy was seker die kortste persoon in die Mag en ook die naaste aan die grond. As hy ‘n windjie sou laat, sou jy net stof sien trek! Jan F-k Jan Posthumus: hy was baie lief vir die F-woord. Hangbal Coetzee: J.C. Coetzee, hy beweer dat iemand hom afgeloer het en net jaloers was. Vroeër jare was dit ’n geweldige waagstuk en niemand het hom openlik so durf aanspreek nie! Gabby de Reuk: hy kon pragtig sing en het deurentyd op sy skof loop en sing. Armpie de Jager: weens die gebreekte arm wat nooit reguit aangegroei het nie. Spoegbek de Wet: hy het baie opgewonde geword as hy praat. Bones of Splash Murphy: Adjudant Naude, die posbevelvoerder op die stasie: hy kon ook nie ’n geheim bewaar nie en het jou altyd in die kantoor ingelaat, deur toegemaak en dan ernstig gesê: “Broer, ek sê jou nou, tussen hierdie vier mure, die dak, vloer en die deur. Daar is nou groot moeilikheid!”. Piet Electric: Groot Gert Diedericks: hy was altyd met krag doenig gewees. Trooster Jordaan: S/sersant Jorrie Jordaan: ek het hom destyds gevra waar hy die bynaam gekry het. Hy self het nie geweet nie, maar gesê dis Trooster. Piet Mechanic, Piet Spanner, Piet Electric: Steve Robberts, hy het die meeste byname gehad. Dit was seker sy verdiende loon met al sy gespottery teenoor andere. Ek onthou hom as Robbie. Silent Joe H: Bouwer: hy was nie baie spraaksaam nie. Kierie Hoffman: Sersant Hoffman: (Gesensor) Geen kommentaar! Blinde Gert: Gert Potgieter: die storie soos oorgedra word, beweer dat hy die Mag wou verlaat as gevolg van sy swak oë (mediese ontslag). Hy het glo die oogarts besoek en kon nie, of wou nie die toetskaart raaksien nie! Die aansoek vir mediese ontslag het toe jammerlik gefaal. 95
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Buk En Bekruip: Van Vuuren: hy was baie groot en lank en is so genoem as gevolg van ’n boggelrug en die manier waarop hy geloop het. Valkie Maritz: Bennie Maritz: hy het altyd vir die sersant valkies tussen die kranse uit die neste gehaal. Die sersant het voëls versamel. Avbob Human: hy was na die begrafnisonderneming vernoem omrede hy so stadig beweeg en reageer het. Volstruis Olivier: hy was van Knysna afkomstig. Boela Manthe: hy het vir lang tye doodstil op sy stoel in die hoofkantoor gesit en glad nie beweeg nie. Tiny Koch: hy was ironies ’n baie, baie groot persoon. Jas May: Konstabel May wat deurentyd, somer en winter, die polisiereënjas gedra het. Duiker Oog : Konstabel van Dyk weens die probleem met een van sy oë. Gleufie Van der Westhuizen: hy was die Munisipale Bul van die Mag. Hy was nie veilig by enige van die dames nie (of was dit andersom?)! Choppie of Tweet-Tweet Whê van Zyl: omrede hy so vinnig gepraat het. P@#l Nek Van Rensburg: hy het ’n groot adamsappel gehad.
Dan was daar ook byname waarvan die oorsprong nie bepaal kon word nie:• Piet Maritz, Malak • A/O Naude, Valie • Van Wyk, Lofty
Frans Bedford-Visser • 24 Julie 1964: Bomaanval Johannesburg-stasie Op 24 Julie 1964 om 16h33 ontplof bom op Johannesburgstasie (foto 1). 77 Jarige vrou beswyk drie weke daarna en driejarige erg verbrand. Driejarige word deur haar Vader weggeraap (foto 2). Bom ontplof 12 dae nadat Rivonia-verhoor ten einde geloop het. John Harris is op 1 April 1965 vir sy misdaad gehang.
Die destydse BO Kolonel B van Heerden duidelik sigbaar. Ook s/sers, L.Geyer en S/Konstabel Andrew van Niekerk en Sersant C Korff. Kaptein Jordaan ook sigbaar. (Bron: Cedric Rademan) 96
Lede van die Spoorwegpolisie hou terug die skare na die ontploffing. (Bron: Cedric Rademan)
Bo – Beseerde drie-jarige kind (Bron: Cedric Rademan) Die Terroris 97
Frederick John Harris (4 Julie 1937–1 April 1965) (bekend as John Harris) was 'n Suid-Afrikaanse onderwyser en teen-apartheid demonstreerder wat tot terrorisme gedraai het en ná 'n bomaanval op 'n spoorwegstasie tereggestel is. Hy was voorsitter van SANROC (South African Non Racial Olympic Committee), wat in 1964 die Internasionale Olimpiese Komitee versoekskrif het om Suid-Afrika uit die Olimpiese Spele uit te neem as gevolg van hul Blankes-alleen Olimpiese span. Nadat hy vir sy politieke aktiwiteite gearresteer is, het hy 'n lid van die African Resistance Movement (ARM) geword. Links – Harris gedurende 1964 na hy in hegtenis geneem is. (Bron: SAPS Museum)
Die Aanval Op 24 Julie 1964 het Harris Johannesburg se Park-stasie binnegestap met ‘n aktetas wat hy onder ‘n rusbank op 'n Blankes-alleen platform geplaas het nadat hy die bom binne in die aktetas geaktiveer het. Hy het kort daarna ‘n oproep aan die Johannesburgse Spoorwegpolisie gemaak om hulle in te lig dat 'n bom op 'n Blankes-alleen platform van Johannesburg Park-stasie geplant is. Die bom ontplof ongeveer 16h33 - 13 minute na die telefoniese waarskuwing - en 'n 77-jarige dame, Ethel Rhys, en haar 12-jarige kleindogter, Glynnis Burleigh, wie albei op die rusbank gesit het waar die bom geplant is, is ernstig beseer. Burleigh het meer as 70% brand-wonde aan haar lyf, en Mev Rhys het 3 weke later aan haar beserings beswyk. Nog 22 mense is beseer, onder andere 'n driejarige dogter, wie se foto bo verskyn.
Bo – Die ontploffingstoneel, Johannesburg Park-stasie. Mev Rhys en Mej Burleigh het op dié rusbank gesit (Bron SASP Gedenkalbum) 98
Verhoor en Teregstelling Harris is verteenwoordig by verhoor deur David Soggot, wat later een van Suid-Afrika se mees prominente burgerregte-prokureurs geword het. Harris is skuldig bevind aan moord, en het op 1 April 1965 tereggestel. Harris was die enigste Blanke wat tereggestel is vir misdade wat met weerstand teen apartheid gepleeg is. Spoorwegpolisielede se Herinneringe Freddie Mels - Ek het kort na die ontploffing gearriveer op Johannesburg vanaf Kaalfontein. Was daai tyd in die Spoorwegpolisie kollege. Op betaaldag by die kollege het ons rekrute halfdag afgekry. Ek sal dit noot vergeet nie, 24 Julie 1964 was payday. Martins Botha - Na my Polisie diens het ek vir meer as 10 jaar vir die gevangenisdiens gewerk. Ek het daar Kolonel Vorstman ontmoet wat by was toe Harris gehang was. Hy het my vertel dat die Regter16 wat die lasbrief uitgelees het Harris se sak van sy kop afgehaal om Harris in sy oë te kyk. Harris het geen berou getoon asook die Regter in sy gesig gespoeg. Die Regter het ʼn lang ruk gewag om Harris se optrede dop te hou voordat hy die hefboom getrek het om die valdeure oop te maak. Bronne • Cedric Rademan • S.A. Spoorwegpolisie Gedenkalbum • S.A.P.S. Museum • Wikipedia • The Guardian Newspaper
• Keith Alfred Adolf Blake - An Introduction by Frans Bedford-Visser Soon you will be able to read the reminiscences of Keith Alfred Adolf Blake, serialised in Nongqai, South Africa’s premier online magazine which celebrates the achievements and protects the history of our proud Security Services. You may ask “Who is Keith Blake?” Well let me tell you. Keith Alfred Adolf Blake, known to me simply as “Blake”, is a former South African Railways Policeman. Keith and I were in College together, at Esselen Park, between January and June of 1978. We were in different platoons – Keith in Platoon 127 and I, Platoon 129. None the less, we shared many similar experiences. Although we did not get to know each other well in College, as, to be frank, we were likely too busy trying to survive! Keith was from the Cape, and in an environment, which was totally foreign to him. I wasn’t too far from home, but also thrown into the cauldron that was the South African Railways Police College.
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Dit is die balju wat die vonnis voltrek – HBH.
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For the first month we were not allowed to walk anywhere! Everything was done “at the double”. If you wonder what this means it means that you run everywhere! EVERYWHERE! Even when doing you business on the loo! Whilst seated your legs are going ten to the dozen! If not and bearing in mind there was no such thing as privacy in the loo! No sir! The toilets were positioned next to each other, in a long row, without doors and with a low privacy shield only rising as high as your seated shoulders! The instructors could, and did, see right in, and if you weren’t doing your business at the double, then it was PT parade later on. En toe tjop jy eers af! So, as I mentioned, we did not get to know each other in College other than in the passing, as he, my senior by 2+ years (I was only 17 at the time), were mainly trying to survive. Certainly, for the first month anyway. After that the PTI, Sergeant Barnie van der Walt, could do what he liked, we were that fit it mattered not a jot! Six months at the College passed in a flash, and Keith and I were posted to Johannesburg’s Park Station, where we cut our teeth together as “Stasieblompotte”. We both rode “Remissie” or Remittance, collecting the cash boxes from the stations on the then East Rand, and both served in the Mobile Unit, doing our best to Keith Alfred Adolf Blake catch those who would steal from the Railways. Our paths diverged after that and Keith was eventually posted to the Cape Town docks, (Source: K.A.A. Blake) where he spent the rest of his service with the Railways Police. I left the Railways Police in 1982 to follow pastures new, but Keith remained, although by then we had lost touch.It was not until years later, shortly after Keith’s retirement from the South African Police Service in 2008 that our paths crossed again, this time on social media. We connected and since then I have kept an eye on Keith’s activities. I have to say, that I am privileged to know Keith. Retiring from the South African Police Service on the last day of May 2008 with the rank of Captain, Keith could have Keith in action at an Ottery Boys Rally drumming up food for taken it easy. But he didn’t! Keith and his wife Tina (whom I have never met) the disadvantaged children! (Source: K.A.A. Blake) set about to help the residents of their neighbourhood in Ottery. Keith has a heart the size of a Soweto taxi! There is always room for more! He and his wife became activists, ensuring that the families and in particular, the children, of the poor did not go hungry. They fed them from their own kitchen, relying on God to provide when times were tough, as they are just now! And He never let them down! In 2013 Keith was voted in as Deputy Chairperson of the Lansdowne Community Police Forum, and he continues to strive to improve relations between the Police and the local community. Keith, and his wife Tina, are amazing people. Salt of the earth! People one can rely up to do the right thing, no matter how difficult that may be! He is a man whom I am proud, and humbled, to call a friend. I hope you enjoy his writings as much as I have. Keith Blake 100
Reminiscences of a Railways Policeman Keith Blake began his career as with the South African Railways Police in January 1978, serving with them until their amalgamation with the South African Police on 1st October 1986. Keith changed uniforms and served with the S.A. Police, and later SAPS, culminating his career as Visible Policing Commander at Table Bay Harbour Police Station on 31 May 2008 when he took early retirement. Keith spent much of his career with the S.A. Railways Police working at the docks in Cape Town, and this continued after his transfer to the S.A. Police. Prior to this he worked at Johannesburg’s Park Station, and latterly also completed a stint on the South West African (now Namibia) border, having volunteered for this duty. Since his retirement Keith has become a well-known community activist in his hometown of Ottery, running a weekly Captain (Ret.) Keith A.A. soup kitchen in an informal settlement not far from where he lives. Blake He has also become known among the destitute neighbourhoods as somebody who helps. Whenever there is a problem in his community, whether of a criminal or social nature, Keith spearheads talks with the relevant authorities to address and correct the issue. The popular Ottery resident was elected by the community as the Deputy Chairperson of the Lansdowne Community Police Forum on 21 January 2013. Favour from Family's Friendliness What a heading, where on earth am, I going with this family curriculum vitae, but be patient as we have tons of time during this Lockdown presidential order. In 1978 I reported a "Kaapenaar" at the S.A. Railway Police College at Esselen Park in the then Transvaal dressed in a suite that looked like a miniature version of a chessboard it was in black and white small blocks. I was with other fellow students but each one was more terrified than the next and I believe I was on top of the list. Carrying my two huge suitcase that felt like two antique cupboards I was brought into the presence of my troop sergeant, to whit Sgt Myburgh. His welcome and introduction speech send fearful pangs all over my spine and here is just a titbit to whit in Afrikaans and I quote, "Kyk voor jou, die Spoorweg kyk agter jou, Hier gaan jy verlang na mense wat jy nie ken nie." The next trail of fear was when he took me to meet the rest of the platoon. After introducing me to my new colleagues who all stood, followed by me like stiff poles next to a highway. I was allocated bed nr. 110. When Sgt. Myburgh left here I was left with the most unfriendly group of so-called colleagues. They looked at me almost to say what fat cat had dropped in. What struck me in my cold fear and terror was that all these unfriendly young men were surrounding a much older colleague by the name of Roy Walker he was about 10 years older than all of us. They stood around him almost in a form of worship and they hanged onto every word he said. He was the "main ou", the one everyone wanted to be friends with. I stood one side when to my shock this Roy Walker, the "main ou" called me over to where he was sitting on a desk next to mine. Slowly very slowly I stepped towards him and the others gave way and so I stood right in front of Roy. I looked around me not one friendly or smiling face only faces moulded in ice cold marble. At that moment the only person I longed for at that moment was my mommy. Roy stone faced told me he heard my surname was Blake to which I whispered "yes". He then asked me if I knew an Oom Stanley Blake from a farm in Phillipi in Cape Town. I responded that Oom Stanley was my daddy's brother. At that moment, at the highest peak of terror Roy's face lit up and he jumped up, shook my hand, almost hugged me and told the rest of the platoon what a wonderful family Oom Stanley had. He was almost like a son to my Oom Stanley. All of a sudden everyone smiled, everyone, shook my 101
hand and welcomed me and all because of Oom Stanley I was part of the manne, the pack, till I completed my 6-month training. College Memories As I looked at the pictures of the "COLLEGE" I remembered the early mornings getting dressed, the discipline neatness of my quarters, the moving around on the "taxis", the first smoke those days I smoked pipe, the warm coffee and the rusks. The sound of the “kat”17 going off the rushed to form our individual platoons, the drilling and lectures, the breakfast and suppers. Everything was always so neat, prim and proper and disciplined. When I saw the picture of Brig. Delport, he was a captain in my days in 1978. I remembered his instructions to me and Michael Burns to phone him every time the dog gave birth to a puppy. He Platoon 127, Cross Country Trophy winners gave me stick for winning (beating) Hentie Van Rooyen in a wrestling match in the gym. I remember his car those years was a Chevrolet 4.1, and that he was into flying pigeons. What an officer and a gentleman! Good days that changed my life for the better for ever and memories no one can take away, no-one. Pap en Vleis. In 1978 first half when I was in the college at age 20, in the then Sgt. Ampie Myburgh’s platoon we went the first day for practical shooting on the range and all of us had to give R2-00 towards the braai. While we were busy my eyes fell on the massive black “drie-poot” pots on the fires. What also intrigued me was that those by the pots had what seemed like wooden oars inside these pots and it seemed they were rowing or rather stirring something in these pots. When lunch was announced by means of commands and slow march, I discovered that these pots contained a dry form of crummy maize meal and was part of the menu to be served with a “tomato and onion-sous” with the chops and “wors”. Fellow English-speaking students and Cape Town residents made comment we only eat maize for breakfast served after grace of course with sugar, milk and a touch of cinnamon BUT not with meat. After much legal bribery and gentle persuasion, I ventured to try this Transvaal delicacy and the rest is history, it is still at my age of 55 a must on my menu.
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The siren – HBH.
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MILITARY HISTORY | KRYGSGESKIEDENIS
Mr Mark Naude (NZ) • Uniforms of the South African Air Force: A Brief History: Part 2 – 1934-1952 With thanks to Tinus le Roux for allowing the use of photographs from his excellent SAAF Heritage website Full Dress Officers’ Full Dress became a bit more ornate than before. It still consisted of a high-necked navyblue patrol jacket but collars were now red and traced with gold lace. Twisted shoulder cords of gold were worn with embroidered pips. Wings and half-wings were embroidered in gold wire. A white pith helmet or blue undress cap with white cover was worn with this dress.
Captain Viljoen (SAAF), Major Meredith Full Dress as worn by Col KR van der (SA St C), Colonel Brink (SA St C) and Spuy MC, as displayed in the SA National 103
Maj Gen Brink (SA St C) in Full Dress at Museum for Military History. (Author’s the opening of Parliament. photo). (Photo: SANMMH). Barend Viljoen was later Air Chief of Staff from 1956 to 1965 retiring as a Major General. Charles Meredith later served in the Royal Air Force as Air Officer Commanding, Rhodesian Air Training Group, retiring as an Air Vice Marshal with a knighthood for his services. George Brink was OC Cape Command when this photograph was taken. His later appointments included Deputy Chief of Staff, GOC 1 SA Division, GOC Inland Area and Director-General Demobilisation. He retired as a Lieutenant General. AJE Brink, who was Chief of SA General Staff in the photo was recalled from retirement in WWII to be Commandant-in-Chief of the Commandoes.
Sir Kenneth van der Spuy was one of the first South African trained pilots. He served in the SA Aviation Corps and Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Later he held a number of command and staff appointments over the years. During the 1930s he was OC Natal Command and OC Cape Command. In the Second World War he served as South African Military Representative in London and as Director-General Technical Services as a Major General. When he died aged 99, he was South Africa’s oldest aviator.
A light fawn (light khaki) version of Full Dress was also introduced with white collar. Undress Undress was much the same as before but no longer came with special shoulder straps to convert it to Review Order. Service Dress For officers, Service Dress consisted of a four-pocket jacket with four buttons down the front. Drab (a greenish-brown colour) replaced the earlier grey-green. These were usually manufactured from barathea cloth. Later Whipcord versions also appeared. The drab jacket was worn with drab trousers or with lighter khaki shorts, socks and brown boots or shoes. The Sam Brown belt and cross strap was worn but later a cloth belt was introduced during the war as an economy measure. Headdress with this uniform was typically the Service Dress Cap in the same colour or a Field Service Cap. A light khaki or ‘Fawn’ version of the uniform was allowed in hot climates. These uniforms tended to be made from gabardine material and in practice varied greatly in colour, some having a greenish tinge and others a brownish hue. The variation was due to officers having tailored uniforms and especially during the war years it seems tailors made do with whatever cloth they could lay their hands on. Other ranks were issued a uniform of Khaki Drill similar in cut to that of officers. It also had a step collar and four pockets but had five buttons down the front instead of four and was made of the 104
cheaper and rougher khaki cotton drill fabric. Other ranks wore SAAF/SALM shoulder titles. Officers wore only rank badges on their shoulder straps. Buttons were the same as the Royal Air Force namely an eagle under a crown. Colonels/Brigadiers and General Officers wore the same buttons as their army equivalents.
Drab Service Dress (Author’s collection)
A SAAF WOII in Drab SD (IWM)
Col HG Willmott wearing Service Dress. Maj Gen Sir Kenneth van der Spuy’s Note standard SA Staff Corps cap badge warm weather service dress on display at SANMMH. Note standard army general’s gorget 105
and collar gorgets as worn by the army patches. Buttons would normally be the at the time. same as army generals however Sir During the second World War, Harold Kenneth appears to have retained ‘Whisky’ Willmott was OC 3 Wing in standard SAAF buttons on this jacket. North Africa, OC Coastal Air Force and (Author’s photo) Deputy Director-General of the SAAF. He was Director-General of the Air Force from 1945 to 1946 and again from 195152.
Badges Cap and collar badges for the ranks from Air Mechanic to Lieutenant-Colonel were the same, namely the eagle within a wreath under a crown. SAAF-SALM shoulder titles were worn by Air Mechanic to Warrant Officer Class I as well as by Pupil Pilots and other Air Pupils during training. Commissioned Officers did not wear shoulder titles. For a brief time during the 1930s, permanent force officers trained in both army and air force roles. These were known as ‘amphagarous officers’ and wore a unique cap badge that included an eagle, field gun, wreath and crown. SAAF officers wore the standard SAAF collar badges with this cap badge. Colonels and Brigadiers wore cap badges of the South African Staff Corps i.e. the Royal Crest of a lion guardant upon a Tudor Crown on a dark orange-red cap band. Dark orange-red gorget patches were worn on the collar. The colour of the bands and gorgets was officially ‘Orange, Sealed Permanent Force Shade’. It was more an orangey shade of red than orange. In more recent SADF history, the colour is known as Chilli Red rather than ‘Orange, SPFS’. General officers wore the same cap badges as army generals and also the same gorgets.
Amphagarous Badge on a Mess Dress Cap in the SANMMH (Author’s photo)
Capt Peter wearing ‘amphagarous’ (via Tinus le Roux)
Metlerkamp cap badge
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Wings Pilot wings were unchanged from 1923. A half-wing for Observers was introduced. Observers were later renamed Navigators. An Air Gunner half wing was issued later on with the letters “AG” within a brown wreath. There appear to have been two variations of the AG half wing one having a crown above the letters. The SAAF did not have Flight Engineers or Air Bombers (‘Bomb aimers’) of its own. When heavy, four-engined bombers were introduced later in the war, that required these roles, the positions were filled by men from the rest of the Commonwealth.
Sgt S Berschowitz in Khaki Drill Service Dress. Note Air Gunner wing with crown. (via Tinus le Roux)
WOII W Wannenburg. Note Air Gunner wing without crown. His shirt may have been of US origin. (via T Le Roux)
Field Dress A four pocket Khaki Drill Frock with stand-and-fall collar introduced around 1938 as an attempt at a more practical field dress which did not require a collar and tie to be worn. It appears to have mainly been worn by Artillery and Air Force members. The KD frock was worn with a variety of headgear, including Polo helmet, Field Service Cap or Service Dress Cap. It appears to have been worn within the Union only. During the Second World War it appears to have been worn in training, presumably until stocks ran out. In 1940 the Bush jacket replaced the Drill Frock and was initially issued to personnel who were to serve abroad. Eventually it replaced the high-necked frock altogether. The bush jacket was a very practical garment with four pockets and an open collar. After ironing and the addition of a belt it could be a very smart garment as well. All ranks were issued the bush jacket. Depending on the occasion, a cloth belt or webbing belt was worn. Officers could also 107
wear the Sam Brown. It appears to have been quite common for SAAF members to convert their bush jackets to short sleeves. This outfit was worn extensively in the East Africa campaign of 1940-41. Khaki Drill ‘Aertex’ shorts also made their appearance and were widely worn. These shirts had detachable shoulder straps to which rank pips could be affixed and the straps easily removed if the shirt needed washing. Later khaki drill slip on ranks were adopted and worn with the shirts and bush jackets and later Battle Dress as well.
A well-known publicity shot of Capt Jack Frost DFC, Lt Bob Kershaw DSO, and Capt SV Theron DFC. Frost and Theron are wearing Khaki Drill shorts and shirts. Kershaw is wearing the Khaki Drill Bushjacket. (Photo: via Tinus le Roux).
A colourised version of a famous publicity photo showing Maj Jack Frost with the SAAF Ensign in the background. Frost was the first SAAF ‘ace’ of the Second World War. He is wearing a Khaki Drill shirt, Pattern ’37 webbing and a B Type flying helmet. (Photo: Tinus le Roux) Battledress Battledress was issued form 1941 onwards. It consisted of a jacket, officially termed a ‘blouse’ of drab serge and matching trousers. Headdress was the normal variety worn in the SAAF… Service Dress Caps, Field Service Caps, Khaki General Service Caps and Khaki Berets. The GS cap was similar to a beret but made from several pieces of material. It resembled a Scottish tam-o-shanter or balmoral but without a tourie (‘pom-pom’) on top. Berets were popular with ground crew and members of the Balkan Air Force. It was understood that one was less likely to be mistaken for a German if you came down over the Balkans wearing a beret.
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Capt Bob Kershaw in Battledress. (Photo via Tinus le Roux) There were at least three different patterns of BD jacket, the early type had pleat pockets and concealed buttons. An economy version was produced in the UK from 1942 which had two nonpleated button-down patch breast pockets and exposed buttons down the front. There was also a War Aid version produced by the United States of America which also had exposed buttons on the pocket and cuff but hidden buttons down the front. South African officers were also known to favour New Zealand made battledress which tended to be better quality than the British made variety. Khaki Drill and Battledress was worn in a variety of combinations in field. Battledress continued to be worn post war and was also worn (with minor changes) in the Korean War and thereafter. This will be covered in future articles.
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Members of 40 Squadron, SAAF. Note mixture of KD and BD being worn. (Photo: IWM)
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Dave Kenny • Karoo Schutters Here’s an interesting E&E18 story. The attached badges come from the WW1 unit, the Karoo Schutters. The unit was based at De Aar. Now if you look closely at the badge, you’ll see a ship at sea. Now anyone with any sense of geography will know that De Aar is a looong way from any sea (it’s a long way from anywhere!). So, what are they doing with a ship on their badge? If you look even more closely, you’ll see a guy swimming in the sea too. We have a name of both the swimmer and the ship. The swimmer is the founding OC of the unit, named Steyn19. The ship is a Russian one, moored in Columbia Harbour (Ceylon) and named the KERSON20. On the night of 13 Jan 1901, Steyn and four buddies (en-route to be interned in Ceylon) slipped off the CATOLINA and swam away. Steyn, Botha, Haussner and two brothers Steytler snuck off. They reached the Russian ship and claimed asylum. After coming back the long way around, they returned to SA. Steyn was a Smuts-man so when the GSWA campaign started he led one of the first units out there. Elements of the Karoo Schutters also served in France. There are a couple of books about their exploits, including Die Groot Boere Ontsnapping (Willie Steyn) and Die Vyf Swemmers. (C.J. Barnard). Also included is a photo of the internment camp. As a matter of interest, my Great Uncle was incarcerated there. On his return he brought a couple of dried lemons. Each household of his extended family planted a tree from those lemons in memoriam. As a small aside, the attached images reflect one of the challenges of historical research. Detail is important, so can anyone say how many funnels the Russian ship had; one, two, or three? Answers on a postcard etc.
Cap badge with one funnel.
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Escape & Evasion - HBH Willie Steyn 20 It had tree funnels - HBH 19
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Two funnels
Three funnels
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Nico Moolman • 1925 Kruger-eeufees
Nongqai het die foto met Johan Wolfaardt (Potchefstroom Museum) bespreek. Hy merk op: “Staatspresidentswag (van die ZAR), maar die foto is geneem 1925 met Kruger-eeufees.”
• 1938 Ossewatrek
Nico skryf: “Lyk soos my pa ... sewende van links”. Johan Wolfaardt skryf dis deel van die 1938 SAP/UVM optog na Kerkplein met die Kruger-koets. By Kerkplein sou optog die ossewaens van die 1938-ossewatrek ontmoet word. Ons weet nie presies waar die foto in Pretoria geneem is nie.
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• Pappa Brits (UVM)
Die “Ou Kroks”. Die befaamde “Pappa” Brits agterste ry – tweede van regs.
Munroe Swirsky • Numbering and Naming of South African WW2 Medals
South African WW2 service medal and campaign stars are almost unique in that they are officially named. The British did not name their campaign medals. 114
The decision to name the medals was made by the South African Union Defence Force Authorities to which we as collectors must be eternally grateful for. The format of the naming was a simple number, initials and surname. On the Campaign Stars, they are named in 3 lines. Top line: Service (enlistment number) Middle line: Initials Bottom line: Surname
Naming on SA WW2 Stars On the War Medal, Defence Medal and African Service medal the number initials and surname are in one continuous line. Unfortunately, the rank and regiment or branch of service is not shown; however, a roll of volunteer block numbers exist. The block numbers are a helpful guide to showing soldier unit/regiment he volunteered for. The Permanent Forces (PF), or standing army did not renumber and continued to use their own number series during the war. The Medals are manufactured in South Africa The medals themselves are also different in style to their British Counterparts. They were made by the South African Mint (SAM) under licence. All stars have a slightly different suspender and are gilded. The gilding is very light, and once it wears off, they look similar to the British issues.
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SA 1939-45 Star and British 1939-45 Star
SA Italy Star and British Italy Star
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Rarest South African Star – Air Crew Europe Star – South African Issue The War Medal, Defence medal and Africa Service Medal have larger suspenders than found on the British issue. The Africa Service Medal is struck in sterling silver. However, it appears that there are different issues with some are found to be Sterling Silver (925) disks and the suspenders only 600 silver.
SA Defence Medal vs UK Issue – Note Suspender
SA Issue WM vs British Issue – Note the suspender
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South African Africa Service Medal The SA Mint started naming medal in the late 1950s, and the UDF started dispatching in 1951 in padded envelopes which are different to the box style used in the UK. Each dispatch included an issue slip with the stars, medals and bars issued ticked and a total given. A different sheet was issued to casualties with the person’s name written as “the late”. Only casualty slips are named, and all others are generic. Note that the size of the letters used to stamp the campaign stars is different to the war medals. And the letter type is unique to UDF WW2 medals. In the 1990’s the SADF issued a new order to top up their stocks, and these medals are very different. It was at this time that they stopped naming their medals and all medals are now issued blank.
Original WW2 SAM mint made vs 1990’s “Top Up” issue 118
Volunteer Block Numbers The volunteer service numbers started with 1 and end with 640 640. The UDF started issuing numbers in Natal and worked through all the ACF units before moving onto the corps. This register of block numbers will be published in a separate article shortly. Please note that these numbers did not apply to the Permanent Forces (PF) Examples of the block numbers are: 1-125 A Battery Natal Field Artillery 125-200 B Battery Natal Field Artillery 201-600 1 Royal Natal Carbineers 601-100 2 Royal Natal Carbineers The first SAAF units to be numbered were: 3751-3850 14 (B) Squadron SAAF 3851-3975 1 (F) Squadron SAAF The first Naval allocation was 66376-69375 RNVR (South Africa) 69376-72375 Seaward Defence Force The first Southern Rhodesians (with prefix SR) are: 598207-598319 Southern Rhodesians with 1st City Regiment 598230-598433 Southern Rhodesians with 1st Wits Rifles 598230-598433 Southern Rhodesians with Artillery Many times, these numbers are seen with a V before or after the number. The V stands for Volunteer and is not seen on period issue medals but only on very late claims and this leads me onto the next part of this article. Medal Prefixes Prefixes were allocated before to the numbers. (I have noted if they are considered rare) Prefixes proceeding the number M Indian and Malay Corps H Indian and Malay Corps (Hindu religion) (rare) C Cape Corps CJ Junior Cape Corp (rare) CN Cape Navy (coloured sailors serving in the Navy – rare) F Woman’s Auxiliary Air Force W Woman’s Auxiliary Army Service WN Woman’s Auxiliary Navy Service SWANS (rare) P SA Permanent Forces ACF Other Ranks serving part time in Active Citizen Force eg NVB (not volunteers. (rare) MN Merchant Navy (rare) ESPC Essential Service Protection Corps (not in Cape Town Durban, East London or Port Elizabeth) (rare) SAR South African Railways (rare) 119
NRV National Reserve Volunteers (rare) RLY Railways, ESPC/CPS Companies on railway protection (rare) CT ESPC/CPS – Cape Town (rare) D ESPC/CPS – Durban (rare) EL ESPC/CPS – East London (rare) PE ESPC/CPS – Port Elizabeth (rare) SAP South African Police SARP South African Railway Police (rare) SR Southern Rhodesian, serving with SA UDF Forces NN To a person without a service number (rare) Now comes the interesting part. 1. When you find the ACF, P, SAP, SARP prefix with no number and only the initials, this means these are to officers only. 2. Nurses in the SAMNS do not have any prefix before the number even if they are a woman. 3. N/N or NN is to a person without a service number. 4. SAP before the number is to a member of the SAP who volunteered and who served outside of the Union of South Africa. The number that follows this prefix is the SAP members military (UDF) number. SAP in (SAP) after the number is to a SA Policeman serving within the Union. The number that appears with this prefix is the SAP members Police Force number. These members volunteered to serve outside the Union but were instead utilized within the Country. 5. Many times, with Pilots and other members who joined the Permanent Forces (PF) after being volunteers, they retained their numbers and just added the P before the number. The most extensive early SAAF block number was 94076-104075. This number can be found with a P prefix. 6. Normal P numbers are not in the block numbers unless as detailed in 6 above. This will be the subject of another article. 7. WN is not always found before their numbers. 8. MN is never found on an Africa Service Medal. They did not sign the “red oath” to serve outside the borders of the Union and therefore did not qualify for the ASM. At the beginning of the war “J” for Jew was added to Jewish Servicemen and although “H” for Hindu was being used, this was hotly opposed and was removed. However, the SAMNS did not get this instruction till much later and many name (dog) tags with “J” before the number are found to Jewish nurses. The “SR” prefix found only the Africa Service Medal (ASM). Their other medals and campaign stars are issued unnamed by the Southern Rhodesian Army Council. Southern Rhodesians not in the UDF did not receive the ASM. However, all medals to casualties were named in a specific style by a contractor in Bulawayo. Again, this will be the subject of another article. The South African War Services Medal for 1939-1945, is not named so does not form part of this article. This is the first in many articles on South African WW2 medals.
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Lt Col William Marshall • Massacre of German Transport Me323’s by South African Fighters
On the 22 April 1943, at about 08:30 hours, Allied fighter aircraft destroyed the whole of an enemy transport force, practically the whole of its fighter escort over the Gulf of Tunis in what has been, up to now, one of the most complete air victories of the war. Enemy Forces The enemy force consisted of 30 Me 323 transport aircraft, escorted by 10 Me 109F or G’s as fighter escort and two Italian Mc 202’s and one Reggiane 2001. The transport aircraft appeared to be in one large v-formation stepped-up possible with smaller v-formations of three aircraft. Fighter escorts were close in the rear and above the transports from 1,000 to 3,000 ft. The Polish engaged them at these hights. Allied Forces No 1 Squadron SAAF flying Spitfires Mk IX’s consisting of three sections of four aircraft in line abreast in fluid box formation at an altitude of 11000 ft. No 2 SAAF, no 7 SAAF Wing, Squadron flying top cover in ten Kittyhawk I’s. Medium cover was provided by No 4 SAAF Squadron in twelve Kittyhawk Mk 1 aircraft at 3000 ft. Leading the formation was No 5 SAAF Squadron in 12 Kittyhawk Mk 1 aircraft at 1,000 ft. Independent top cover was provided by six Polish Spitfires IX’s at 15,000 ft. At about 08:30 the Allied patrol was flying north-east where they spotted the large formation of German Me323 transport aircraft flying South-West towards Tunis on the deck. The Polish top cover reported the German formation to No 1 Squadron. Being unable to communicate with the Kittyhawks due to frequency problems the Kittyhawks did not see the formation. The Polish top cover of six aircraft attacked the German Me109F fighters’ escorts with great dash and determination while Flight Lt Pniak stayed up as top cover. Flight Sgt Sztrambo destroyed a MC 202 at close range from astern and then shot down a Me 109F in a head on attack after having been attacked from the front by the same Me109F. Flight Officer Sporny did a stern attack on a Me109F from 200 yards which left the pilot of the enemy aircraft bailing out. He then set fire to and destroyed another Me 109F. Flight Lt Horbaczenski set fire to a Me109F which left the pilot bailing out, he then shot the tail off another Me109F and it fell into the sea in flames. Total for the Polish flight was six German fighter escorts. Maj Moodie of 1 Sqn SAAF ordered Red and Green section down to attack, while he remained up with his section and the Polish flight to protect the Kittyhawks. 121
Lt Robinson attacked one of the Me109F’s above and behind the German transport in a series of bursts from about 100 yards. The long-range tank caught fire and he became a flamer hitting the sea. He then climbed up and attacked another Me109F ahead of him from 200 yards to 80 yards. The Me109F went down into the sea belching smoke and flames. Lt Hugo chased a Me109F away from the German transports and then did a quarter attack on a Me323 transport aircraft which went down in flames after receiving the finishing touches from Lt van der Veen. Another Me323 was burnt-up by a quarter stern attack after Lt Hugo had been hit in the fuselage by machine gun fire from the rear gunner of another Me323 which he then attacked from the beam. He came home when there were no Me323’s left. Lt Gilson made 2 beam attacks on Me323’s after shooting at four Me202’s. The Me323 went down in flames. Lt van der Veen finished off a Me323 which his No 1, Lt Hugo had set alight. He then made an attack on another which burst into flames. His cannons stopped firing, so he finished off another with machine gun fire which het the sea in flames. Two Me109F’s chased him home past the bombline and being out of fuel he had to belly land 15 miles SW of Sousse. No 2 Sqn SAAF was able to destroy a single Re2001 which was shot down by Lt W.L.O. Moon who shot it down after a quarter stern attack from above, it started smoking, he then shot it down into the sea from dead astern. No 4 Sqn SAAF destroyed nine Me323’s and had one of their own shot down and reported missing. Lt de Kock after attacking one Me 323 without success het went onto another with a quarter stern attack which caused the Me323 to break-up on hitting the sea. Lt Marshall, shot down a Me323 in flames after setting the whole plane on fire. The next Me323 exploded in the air with a tremendous flash after a quarter frontal attack. He shared another with a Kittyhawk in a stern attack, this Me323 also went down in flames. Lt McDougal attached a Me323 front starboard beam which burst into flames and hit the sea. Lt Green hit the first Me323 in a beam attack and it went into the sea in flames. His second Me323 was destroyed with a quarter stern attack which set alight the wing to the port engine and it also hit the sea and boke-up. He then chased a third Me323 which was trying to get away, it eventually went into the sea and disintegrated, this one was shared with Lt Marshall. Lt Crosley dived on a Me323 and with a 2-second burst the aircraft caught fire and hit the water. Lt Brunton gave a Me323 a long burst of gun fire from line astern and it caught fire and went into the sea. No 5 Sqn SAAF, shot down 15 Me323’s after chasing the fighter escort away and then turning on the transport aircraft. Maj Pearson shot down two Me323’s from a quarter front attack, both going down in flames. Lt van Niekerk did a full stern attack and set light to aMe323 and in a similar attack share one with an unidentified pilot of the same squadron. Lt Pollock attach ahead on from 500 ft above and set fire on 2 engines and the port wing, the Me323 nosedived into the sea. Lt Clark attacked another Me323 causing it to explode and pieces falling into the sea. Lt Black raked a Me323 with a beam attack from nose to tail and it crashed steeply and turned onto its back in the sea. Lt Sanson did a quarter stern attack on a me323 which burst into flames and crashed. Lt Butten did a head-on attack which was not a success and then a quarter stern attack resulted in the Me323 flaming into the sea. Lt Humphrey got a stern attach on a Me323 which set fire to one engine and it crashed into the sea. A second stern attack on another Me323 sent it also into the sea with a great splash. Lt Werngatz did an attach and set fire to the starboard engines of a Me323 which became enveloped in flames and crashed into the sea. This pilot heard the Squadron Leader call that on 122
Me323 was getting away. He chased it and attacked it from behind and above causing it to break into pieces and fall into the sea. Lt Coad made a quarter stern attack on another Me323 which caused it to burst into flames and hit the sea, one moreMe323 was hit in the engine and it burst into flames and crashed into the sea. Total enemy aircraft destroyed per Squadron: Polish Flight No 1 Sqn No 2 Sqn No 4 SAAF SAAF SAAF 5 Me 109F
6 Me 323
1 MC 202
2 Me109F
1 Re 2001
9 Me323
Sqn No 5 SAAF
Sqn
15 me 323
Grand totals of types destroyed: Enemy Fighter AC
1 Mc 202 1 Re 2001 7 Me 109F
Total Enemy AC
9 Transport 30 Me 323
Total
30
Own losses
1 (pilot No 4 Sqdn SAAF missing)
Enemy Defensive Action Escorts. Were largely ineffective with their interference although Lt Robinson was hit several times and Lt van der Veen was chased home by two Me109F’s. Defensive Fire from Me323’s. Rear gunner hit Lt Higgo in the fuselage and 4 Squadron pilots mentioned small arms fire from the windows of the transport aircraft. It appears to have been quite ineffective. Me 323’s flew in tight formation to the end. Signed: Colonel Senior Admin Officer Air, SAAF HQ, RAF - Middle East 2 May 1943.
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• Messerschmitt Me 323 Heavy Transport
General characteristics Crew: 5 Capacity: 130 troops or 10,000–12,000 kg (22,046–26,455 lb) payload Length: 28.2 m (92 ft 6 in) Wingspan: 55.2 m (181 ft 1 in) Height: 10.15 m (33 ft 4 in) Wing area: 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft) Empty weight: 27,330 kg (60,252 lb) Gross weight: 29,500 kg (65,036 lb) Max take-off weight: 43,000 kg (94,799 lb) Powerplant: 3 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-48 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines 1,180 PS (1,164 hp; 868 kW) for take-off RH rotation fitted to starboard 1,049 PS (1,035 hp; 772 kW) at 4,795 m (15,730 ft) Propellers: 3-bladed Chauvière variable-pitch propellers LH and RH rotation Performance Maximum speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn) Cruise speed: 218 km/h (135 mph, 118 kn) Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi) Ferry range: 1,100 km (680 mi, 590 nmi) Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft) Rate of climb: 3.6 m/s (710 ft/min) Armament Guns: multiple MG 15 -7.92 mm, MG 81 or MG 131 -13 mm machine guns
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• Messerschmitt Me 109F
General characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 8.95 m (29 ft 4 in) Wingspan: 9.925 m (32 ft 7 in) Height: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) Wing area: 16.05 m2 (172.8 sq ft) Empty weight: 2,247 kg (4,954 lb) Gross weight: 3,148 kg (6,940 lb) Max take-off weight: 3,400 kg (7,496 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine 1,475 PS (1,455 hp; 1,085 kW) Propellers: 3-bladed VDM 9-12087, 3 m (9 ft 10 in) diameter light-alloy constant-speed propeller Performance Maximum speed: 520 km/h (320 mph, 280 kn) at sea level 588 km/h (365 mph; 317 kn) at 4,000 m (13,123 ft) 640 km/h (400 mph; 350 kn) at 6,300 m (20,669 ft) 616 km/h (383 mph; 333 kn) at 8,000 m (26,247 ft) 125
Cruise speed: 590 km/h (370 mph, 320 kn) at 6,000 m (19,685 ft) Range: 850 km (530 mi, 460 nmi) Ferry range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi) with droptank Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft) Rate of climb: 17 m/s (3,300 ft/min) Wing loading: 196 kg/m2 (40 lb/sq ft) Power/mass: 0.344 kW/kg (0.209 hp/lb) Armament Guns: 2 × 13 mm (.51 in) synchronized MG 131 machine guns with 300 rpg 1 × 20 mm (.78 in) MG 151/20 cannon as centerline Motorkanone with 200 rpg or 1 x 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon as centerline Motorkanone with 65 rpg (G-6/U4 variant) 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 underwing cannon pods with 135 rpg (optional kit—Rüstsatz VI) Rockets: 2 × 21 cm (8 in) Wfr. Gr. 21 rockets (G-6 with BR21) Bombs: 1 × 250 kg (551 lb) bomb or 4 × 50 kg (110 lb) bombs or 1 × 300-litre (79 US gal) drop tank Avionics FuG 16Z radio
• Reggiane 2001
General characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 8.36 m (27 ft 5 in) Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft 1 in) Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in) Wing area: 20.4 m2 (219.58 ft2) Empty weight: 2,495 kg (5,500 lb) Loaded weight: 3,280 kg (7,231 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Alfa Romeo R.A. 1000 RC. 41-I Monsone (license-built DB 601Aa), 864 kW (1,175 PS) Performance Maximum speed: 542 km/h (337 mph) Range: 1,100 km (684 mi) Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,090 ft) Rate of climb: 780 m/min (2,591 ft/min) Wing loading: 1.38 kg/m2 (32.93 lb/ft2) Armament Two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in upper cowling Two 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in wings 126
Herman Labuschagne • LA “Leon” van Riel: The boy who went to war too soon The boy who went to war too soon. By Herman Labuschagne 20 May 2020 mellivora@hotmail.com When you are a militaria collector, it sometimes morphs into more than just that. For those of us who love people, you often find yourself becoming a custodian of not just a few trinkets, but indeed, someone’s entire life. And it happens occasionally, that you end up adopting, or being absorbed into that person’s family. Even though it is often centred around someone that had lived and died before you’d ever known him. I became the custodian of an old man’s life, more or less over the telephone. I don’t remember how the connection came about, but somehow, I ended up speaking on the phone with a kindly-sounding man who said he was the son of a living WW2 veteran. They were slowly starting to make retirement plans, and they were worried about what should happen to his father’s memorabilia. They were hoping to find someone would be a custodian for the next generation. And so, I found myself on an unexpected road trip to Hermanus. I remember as I passed near Albertinia, I began to ask myself what I thought I was doing? On the phone it sounded like it would be a rare kind of medal group. Service throughout WW2. Six years in the SA mounted police. And a lifetime as sergeant-major, first in the South African army, and then in the South African air force. This had to be a special group, I thought. It turned out that it was – but not for the reasons I was expecting. When I saw the medal group I was confused. There was something wrong. Some of the medals seemed to be missing. And why wasn’t there at least a military merit medal? It was about that time that that I began to wonder whether I had done the right thing? It was a three-hour drive to Hermanus and a 3 hour drive back. Plus, a night in a B&B. All this time, expense and effort for a set of medals plus some as yet unknown additional memorabilia, the value of which I wasn’t sure of anymore? But it was too late to turn around now. And I had a feeling there was something behind the story, although I didn’t quite know lay my finger on it yet. I just had a feeling that I was possibly not going to be disappointed. Meanwhile, remember what I said about the medals. Because the strangeness of the medal group later becomes a very meaningful part of the story. But I’m saving that for later. In the meantime, upon arrival in Onrusrivier, I was met by Len van Riel and his charming wife Lorraine. The kind of lovely people you just feel instantly related to. I was genuinely relieved to find that there was an immediate connection. And that even just for meeting these beautiful people, the trip had already been worth it. Len began to show me a few things. Little items from his father’s life of service. His sergeant-major’s batons. His uniforms. His photographs. News clippings. His service revolver. A huge variety of small bits and bobs that he had kept together all his life.
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And then he began to tell me about his father – who was still very much alive and in very good health. I don’t know why it has taken me a goodly number of years to tell this story. I always knew I would one day. I knew it even as Len started speaking about his father that morning. I could recognize a tale worth telling when I heard it. But I have learned that often a story chooses its own timing. And when it does, you tend to learn afterwards that there was a reason for the delay. If you had told it sooner, it would have been premature. So, the story started on the rolling green wheat fields of the southern Cape, roughly in the district of Bredasdorp. A postcard pretty part of South Africa. Lambert Albertus van Riel was born in 1926, and he was known as Leon. He was the youngest of ten children to Hendrik Willem van Riel and Martha Johanna Fick Vermeulen. Young Leon grew up on a small farm just outside the small town of Napier in the Western Cape. His father had died when he was little, leaving his mother a widow with a large family to support. Most of his youth coincided with the Great Depression, and times were hard for the family. He completed standard 6 at Viljoenshof Primary School at the age of 12. He very dearly wanted to continue studying, but that was no longer possible. But then something changed. In 1939 Hitler invaded Poland, and before the world was even ready for it – the Second World War broke out. Leon’s older brothers enlisted and departed for the fight in North Africa. That left him as a 14-year-old boy of small stature to look after his mother on the farm. It was during this time that he gradually began to realize that if he enlisted as a soldier, he would earn more to support his mother, than the pitifully small amount that he was earning in his current job as a mere farm labourer. And so, he ran away from home, and presented himself at the nearest military recruiting office. He was taking a chance, though, because he looked no older than 14 at best – and that was far below the minimum recruitment age. But he had a plan. With him, he had his birth certificate, on which he had managed to alter his own name slightly and modified the numbers for his date of birth, which made him old enough to be accepted. How they accepted a lad who so clearly was still a child is a mystery that we will never know the answer of. But the military machine knew it would be in need of gun fodder – and so they took him, and dressed him in uniform and boots that must have been among the smallest that they had. And that’s how young Leon van Riel became a soldier in the service of the Union of South Africa and of the King of the British Empire. In September 1939 the small country boy found himself a private in Special Services Battalion at Wynberg, with a monthly pay of R2,50 per month, plus a free haircut. In June 1940 he quit service in order to enrol for “Basic Technical Training” at the Technical College Cape Town, in order to qualify for service in the air force. In November 1940 he was accepted into the air force in Milnerpark, Johannesburg, where he received further training as flight monitor II. After that more training at Swartkops flight training school 31, and then a transfer to Air school 45, Oudtshoorn in August 1941. That completed the first phase of his training, and also yielded him his trade certificate. At Oudtshoorn he also began playing rugby for the first time, and managed to play in the 1st team against a combined Karoo team. On the 17th of November 1942, young Leon married an Oudtshoorn girl, Hendrika Cornelia Gesina Mulder. He was only 16 years old at the time, and she was only 15.
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Young Leon van Riel’s time at war appears to have been relatively pleasant in the beginning. He would have been part of the South African 8th Army at first, which was operational in the signature battlefronts against the Italians and the Germans in North Africa. He was on active duty with 26 Squadron at places such as Casablanca, Accra, Sekondi, Dakar and others. But things began to change as the war progressed. When the war operations shifted to the invasion of Italy, he was now attached to the South African 6th Armoured Division. And in places there was heavy combat between the South Africans and the German Wehrmacht, which was determined to put up a heroic defence. It was during one of these battles that young Leon unexpectedly ran into his two older brothers in a trench in Italy. They were very surprised to find their little brother there – and immediately announced their intention to send him back to his mother. Young Leon bolted, and – as his son explained – from then on, he had to spend the war trying to stay out of the hands of not only the Germans, but also his two older brothers. During these bitter times, the young farm boy from Napier experienced what it was like to have to kill in order to survive. And very likely he was not ready for it. From what I came to understand about him, he struck me as a quintessential soldier from a perspective of efficiency. But he did not have the heart of a killer. And that was not unusual, because some of the greatest soldiers who ever lived had indeed been men who never had a killer’s heart. They were just methodical and motivated. And I think the boy soldier had been one of them. Meanwhile, in the trenches his older comrades soothed the boy’s nerves by giving him his first taste of rum. And in the barracks, they toted him with more. And so, the young farm boy soldier far away from home, began to understand that you could be a man if you could kill another – and if you could take your rum in a way that would impress others. Len gave me two photo albums that his father had annotated after the war. From notes inside the albums I could see that he spent a lot of effort years after the war, to try and find his old war comrades. He found two of them eventually, but both had already died. The widow of one of them – Kosie van Zyl – sent him her husband’s photo albums. And so, he came into possession of a mind map of the war, which his friend had painstakingly put together over the years. A lot of the photos in this collection come from these albums. After the war, Leon came home like thousands of others who had survived the biggest conflict in the history of the world. He tried to complete his standard 7 school qualification during service at no. 10 air wing at Pietersburg, but before the end of 1946 he was told that the air force would not be funding his studies any longer. They did, however, allow him to write his final exams. These he passed with honours in English and Business accountancy. Back on the farm with his mother, he now had to decide what he was going to do with his life. There were not many options. Not if you had a widowed mother, and almost no savings from the war, from having diligently sent your pay back home all the time. With only a standard 7 certificate, he had no chance competing in the job market against much older soldiers with better papers. What was he supposed to do? Young Leon managed to join the South African Police in 1946, just like so many other returned soldiers did. In 1950 he qualified as sergeant class 2, and was transferred to Pietermaritzburg, and in 1955 to Kimberley, where he achieved his junior certificate.
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In 1953 Leon became involved in a very interesting police case. As it turned out, the event of his career proved to be a murder that had happened long ago. One night at St. Helena Bay in 1942, the body of Bettie Smith, a pretty little 16-year-old farm girl who went to school in town was found a few miles downriver. The local police immediately suspected foul play. The story was that she must have fallen into the flash flood during interval at a school concert. But it would have been impossible for her to have been carried 5 miles, and through five wire fences, and to then wash out wearing her still clean white dress, minus only her shoes and stockings. Also, there were marks on her that seems as if she had been strangled. When the police officer pointed out this evidence, the local doctor who performed the autopsy, aggressively told him to remember who was the doctor between the two of them, and not to speak of matters that he knew nothing of. He, accordingly, dismissed the matter as a drowning and said so on the death certificate. Despite the publicity and the talk of townsfolk, the case was quietly closed. That should have been the end of the matter. But it was not forgotten. But people have long memories in Namaqualand. 11 years later they began to talk about it again. And then someone went to make enquiries at the police station in Vanrhynsdorp. It was then detective sergeant Dirk Vermeulen and sergeant Leon van Riel decided to pay the old witnesses a visit again. Several of them had by this time passed away. But according to Leon van Riel, the whole thing reeked of a conspiracy, even at a distance. The names that were mentioned in connection with her death were well-known people, who had opportunity. And one had had the motive of a spurned lover. The matter was important enough, however, to become the first murder story to be published in the Huisgenoot magazine. And in that issue Leon van Riel’s picture appeared as part of the investigating team. The investigation eventually leads to the trial of three suspects who would be accused of the murder of Bettie Smith. They were Johannes (Jopie) Louw a 37-year-old railway bus driver from Calvinia, John Krohn, a 49-year-old garage owner from Vredendal, and Andries Brink, a 55-year-old hotel oner from Franschhoek. Jopie had grown up on the farm next to that of Bettie Smith. He wanted her madly but she was not interested in him. One day, he declared, “if I can’t have Bettie, then no-one else will either.” Then the story took a bizarre twist. One day, a young man called Stefanus Achenbach, sent Bettie a token of his love for her – a small parcel that arrived by mail. In a part of the country where diamond smuggling was a favourite activity, word quickly spread and it was soon believed that Bettie had received a parcel of diamonds. Bettie’s friend told Jopie, and Jopie told the other two conspirators that he thought he knew about a local school girl who possessed a box of diamonds. And so that night, during interval, Jopie lured her into the darkness, where the man dragged her into a pickup. They demanded to know where the diamonds were? Bettie protested in vain that that the package had contained only a wrist watch. She even offered to give the watch to them, but they did not believe her. John Krohn, the garage owner, squeezed her throat to frighten her, but before he knew it, she was lifeless in his arms. That’s when they decided to drop her body downriver. Trial began in Vanrhynsdorp and ended in the Cape Town supreme court. There, after a trial of 28 days, all three conspirators were pronounced innocent. When they walked out the courtroom, they laughed in the faces of Bettie Smith’s grief-stricken parents. 130
The whole ordeal was one from which the bereaved parents would never recover. Their lives simply withered away from then on. Not much is known of what became of the conspirators. Bettie’s sister said she later heard that Andries Brink had died after a long and painful illness. John Krohn had been caught smuggling diamonds inside biltong. What became of the spurned lover, Jopie, she never heard? Huisgenoot published a follow up in 2016, and that is how I was able to obtain these details. Meanwhile, Leon van Riel passed his sergeant’s class I exam in 1963, and the following year found himself transferred to Johannesburg, where he finally achieved his matric certificate in 1965. A year later he enrolled for a BA degree, which was part of a life-long ambition. As he wrote in a type-written summary, “to study is difficult when you are almost 45 years old, and when a home and professional responsibilities already require so much of one’s life.” Leon eventually left the police force and became accepted into the South African army, where he eventually became a sergeant-major. Len said his father was meticulously neat. He conducted his life with a precise regularity that was military in every way. In his job also, he worked with military exactness of a kind that could be useful in logistics. And that’s how he became involved in stores and supplies. At home, however, there were problems. The boy who had gone to war as a child must have done what even many other older soldiers had done as well. He’d brought the war home with him. It was always in his mind. And when the memories became too loud, he poured a glass of spirits, until their sharpness could be dulled. Leon van Riel was a loving father, his son assured me so many times that I fully believe it. You cannot speak with so much love and admiration of someone who hadn’t been a great father. But he was a strict disciplinarian and he was hard on his household. And on dark nights when the war came into his he would march up and down the passage and rant in German – the language of his erstwhile enemies. He was angry at the way that his country – and the world was going. In the lives of the men whom I have researched over the years, I have seen so many times how it was almost the norm that marriages did not last too long. People did not get help in those days. They had no one to talk to. And their wives and children certainly – were among those who would understand least of all. But one thing that is more powerful than all the shadows of the past, is true love. And the girl that Leon had married after the war had been exceptional. She stood by her soldier through all those years. And if anything had ever become too much for him to carry, then she had always been there to pick up the load and give him just the little bit of help that he needed to complete his journey. In later years, the commander at Ysterplaat air force base near Cape Town, complained to the commander of the military base where Leon was stationed, that he had store problems that they could not sort out. He wanted to know whether the army didn’t perhaps have a talented organizer that they could borrow or take over? As it was, the army had exactly the right man. And he could be found in the meticulous organizer called Leon van Riel. The transfer wasn’t easy, though, as the different services cores on this occasion did not enjoy the thought of having to obtain relief from an army man for a problem that they couldn’t solve themselves. It was a matter of pride and honour. But eventually it was arranged, and that is how Leon made the transition from army back to air force. 131
Here he served until his retirement after a long and colourful career. But even after that he joined the citizen’s force. And when the country began to go to pieces, he quietly joined the ABW. All of these pieces of information came together before me over a period of years. We didn’t have very many conversations, but the ones we had were long and meaningful ones and I knew I had to listen and remember carefully. I’d driven 1,800 km by that time in visiting Onrusrivier, but strangely, I’d never been able to link up with the veteran himself. On the few occasions that I could go there he had been unavailable or out of town. But the next year, 2018 there was an opportunity. I had to go to Cape Town and I had time for a detour. Len had often said I would enjoy his father so much, and that he was so keen to talk about all his experiences. I was therefore excited about what was going to be a surprise visit. I’d booked accommodation in Hermanus, and packed the car. But just as I stepped out the garage to lock the house and leave – there was a message on my father. It was from Len. And it said, “Dad passed away this morning.” When you write an article, you craft a story line. It is a ladder. You get onto it at one point and it builds up to the last level. But at a moment such as this one, it feels to me that one should just insert a blank paragraph. A long one. And maybe two or three more. Because what do you say that can explain how one feels about the irony of life’s timing at occasions such as this one? I don’t understand the reason. He’d been 91, and in relatively good health. There comes a time for all of us to die eventually, and for old people death is more of a friend than it is to us. But still. The irony of it all. And the sense of defeat that I felt at that moment. It seems a little beyond the ability of words to describe. My arrangements had been made already, and the car was packed. But it was a long and quiet trip without a purpose after that. What can one say about it? Life is what it is. I went to the militaria shop at Romantiques and I told Adam why I was there. He said he remembered the kind old gentleman fondly. He used to take his walks in the afternoon, always wearing a military association blazer. And then he’d occasionally come into the shop and have a conversation. It was strange to think of a world from which such a colourful legend of a man was now gone. But the story wasn’t over, at least. There is a little more than I can still tell. It was a part of the story that Len had told me, his father wouldn’t have wanted to be told while he was still alive. It involves his father’s medals. I told you to pay attention to the medal mystery. And it is actually small but interesting part of the story. If this medal group should come into the collector’s market, I know what would happen. Professionals would immediately suspect that the group might possibly not be complete. And by comparing the medal issue certificates with the names imprinted on the WW2 medals, they would notice a discrepancy. Normally collectors would then conclude that the group had been tampered with. Accordingly, they would probably mostly lose interest or suggest a reduced value. In this particular, rather rare instance, however, the experts would be more or less wrong. If you knew the story behind the medal group, then what appears to be an anomaly, would in my opinion count as a novelty feature instead. A feature that certainly makes the group a lot more interesting than any of comparative nature. The explanation behind the medals is fascinating, and also a little sad. I have already explained how the young boy had falsified his name and birth certificate in order to be accepted into service. This 132
altered identity of his stuck, and when the medals were issued after WW2, they were stamped with the name that he had given at his attestation. This was something that, for the rest of his life, Leon had worried about. He’d always been concerned that this act of fraud should be discovered and that he would be called to task, even in his old age. Of course, this happened often enough during the war, and breached protocols from WW2 were of no interest to military bureaucrats of the modern era. But still. That was an unusual part behind the story of the medals. The other explanation involved the apparent incomplete series of medals. Firstly, there was no police medal simply because I think he hadn’t served long enough to quality. The SADF medals, however, were visibly lacking a 20 years’ service and 40-year service medal. Why was that? I suspected initially that he would have been awarded them, but that he had probably just never gotten around to having them mounted. The family also didn’t know, and when I asked them to look for the missing medals, they told me there were none. Also, the 10 years medal had a commando ribbon which should have been replaced years before. It was only right at the end that I found the reason. And the reason had to do with what happened when he was a boy in Italy. If I understand the psychology involved, then, I think when the boy was given rum to calm his nerves in the trenches of Italy, and again afterwards in the mess, it may have subconsciously taught him two things: Firstly that alcohol has its use for calming an agitated state of mind. And secondly that alcohol can establish a young man’s position in the social hierarchy. In other words, it can make a boy into a man. What happened occasionally over the years, is that the quiet, meticulously organized sergeantmajor would sometimes have a few glasses too many at the mess. And when that happened, the war came back for him. He became a fighter again. And that’s when the small man’s fists began to fly. I don’t have the details, but apparently one disciplinary incident was regarded as so serious that he was going to be dismissed from service. On this occasion, his career was saved when his wonderfully faithful wife took it upon herself to plead his case in person before his commanding officer. And accordingly, he was forgiven and handed another chance. This is perhaps part of the reason why it has taken me so long to tell the story. Because in so many cases where I have the honour of becoming the custodian of someone’s memory, I end up learning about everything. The dark side as well as the light side. And there are some details that I know I can never tell. But sometimes one can. Partly because they are interesting and of historical value and can cause no more embarrassment. But also, for another reason. Sometimes it reminds us that we are all just human and that none of us are immune from making mistakes. And those mistakes become lessons and sources of encouragement to those around us. We can learn from the accounts. They can change our lives. In the case of Leon van Riel, I see something beautiful that made me decide to tell the tale after all. But before I explain the whole reason why, I need to tell a little more of the story first. It so happened the in his later years, Leon van Riel rediscovered religion. When that happened, he found himself again. He stopped drinking. And he became a changed person. There war would always be with him, but I think that’s when he was finally able to make peace. Unfortunately, the change in his life came too late for him to be able to fix all of the damage. His wife died a few years later, and his children had already grown up. But at least he had some time. And he used it wisely to repair what he had left of the future.
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So, this is why I decided to tell the story in its complete form after all. Because when you summarize his life, you are left with a beautiful story that is partly tragic, but which is mostly inspiring all the same. It is the story of a boy who went to war when he was still a child. He wasn’t ready for it. he should never have gone so soon. You shouldn’t send children to a war. Some are younger than their years, even if they seem old enough on paper. There are a lot of things that shouldn’t be done in war. But it did work out that way. And the boy brought the war back with him. It had seeped into his mind and became a constant companion. And while it was there, it continued to destroy his life. But one day he discovered that the way to end a war is to declare peace. All you have to do one day is stand up and declare that you are not fighting anymore. And that’s when the pain and the suffering and all the bleeding stops. That doesn’t mean that the effects will necessarily go away. Sometimes they will remain for the rest of your life and that can’t be changed. But at least from then on you can learn to deal with it in a kind and positive way. I also got to know him as a determined fighter. He wanted an education at all odds. And he kept working at it no matter what the cost. He survived the war. He survived himself. And he achieved his dream. From the respectful recollections of those who had known the old man who walked the streets of Onrusrivier nearly every day, I have become convinced that he had been a kind and a happy soul towards the end of his life. The boy who had gone to war too soon, had finally come home as a man in charge of his own life. To me he is an inspiration. And to me he was a hero, because he triumphed over more than just his enemies. He triumphed over himself. And that, in many ways, is the most difficult triumph of all. For interest’s sake, it might be worth noting that Leon van Riel’s older brother, Johan Leonard, became a colonel in the police. His son, Len, who had become a treasured friend of mine, wanted to join up for military service as well but he was already working for the later Telkom at that time, and they physically recalled him from service twice, insisting that he was too essential to go. His brother, Hendrik Mulder van Riel, became a teacher. But he also had a life-long association with the military, serving in signals during the border war and in the commando beyond. Hendrik never married and had no children, so when he passed away at a relatively young age, his John Chard Medal and heavy silver John Chard Decoration went to his brother, and from there on to me. His third brother, Johan, also served during the Border War. And so, from a collector’s point of view, it has become my honour and privilege to be the custodian of the military memorabilia of an honoured WW2 veteran and also of his son. I know some will ask – as many usually do – why a family would dispose of such belongings to a stranger? The answer is one that I have often heard before. It is to me, a very sensible answer. In this case, Len explained it very nicely to me. He said they discussed it as a family, and were honest with themselves. His grandchildren are scattered across the world. They are respectful and appreciative about their great-grandfather’s memory, but they realized that they do not have a profound interest to understand what they might become custodians of. Military history is not their passion and not something they know much of. And they don’t really have the space for more clutter. Len and his wife are preparing to move to a retirement estate, where there also, they will have much less space for storage. In the end, they said, they knew that when they died or moved into frail care eventually, excess belongings would simply become scattered to the winds. 134
And so, it seemed the more responsible thing to do to transfer their memories now to a custodian who would value and treasure it, and be in a better position to care for it for many more years. Even though I have heard this same answer before, I always appreciate hearing it. Because then I know that I am dealing with quality people with honourable motives and a loving heart. And it makes me all the more determined to be a worthy custodian for the long term. Finally, I have to say that it has pleased me more than I can say to discover that quietly over the years, I have felt as though I have become part of the family. Leon van Riel has become a grandfather to me, a friend, and an appreciated companion on the journeys of my imagination. And his sons, Johan, Hendrik and Len have become brothers and friends as well. It brightens up my day when Len sends me a message. And I’m always glad to know that they are well and that life is good for them. This then, was the story of the boy who went to war too soon. It had a bit of a tone of sadness, I should, I think. But to me it had a happy ending. And it has enriched my life in a variety of ways. I am grateful to have been part of this unusual journey. https://www.facebook.com/hermanlab/posts/10157431027712404 Photo albums: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jnTvV7CDanhqu9757
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Khaki for the mounted police and blue for the foot police – HBH.
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ANGLO BOER WAR | ANGLO BOERE-OORLOG
Jennifer Bosch: Colouring of old faded ABW-photographs • 1902: Soccer: Boer ‘Penkoppe’ (Boys) as Prisoners of War in Satara Camp, India
Original photo: Elria Wessels. [Penkoppe are young boys who went on commando with their fathers/uncles/grandfathers.] These children are POW’s.
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• Boer Penkoppe in Ceylon POW Camp
Original photo credit: Nico Moolman
• Boer POW’s in Bellevue camp - Albrecht
Top right on the steps: Major RFW Albrecht, a German officer, who was in charge of the OFS State Artillery. 139
• Boer POWs Simonstown One man wears the uniform of the Johannesburg Volunteer Corps. Photo Credit - Jonathan Rudolph
• Boer Internees, Merebank, Durban, British Concentration Camp
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• Little Boer Girl in a British Concentration Camp
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• Generals CR de Wet, Koos de la Rey and Louis Botha
(Original: Nico Moolman)
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• Portrait of Boer Generals
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• 1900: Princess Christian Ambulance Train at Colenso Colenso, 19 March 1900. 'Princess Christian' ambulance train the first to cross the trestle bridge
Photo source: atom.drisa
• Veldpolitie ZAR: Anthony Govender
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“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”: CAPT. CHARLES ROSS (SAN – RTD.)
South Africans Commonwealth War Casualties Buried across the World – Part Twenty-Seven by Captain (SAN) Charles Ross (SA Navy Retired) South Africans participated 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 very small group of South Africans are buried.
• Suez African and Indian Army Cemetery: Egypt During the Second World War, a large garrison was stationed in and around Suez. The cemetery contains 183 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. There are 14 South African casualties from the Second World War buried in the cemetery.
Suez African and Indian Army Cemetery.
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• Asmara War Cemetery: Eritrea The Italian stronghold of Keren was taken by Commonwealth forces at the end of March 1941 and the retreating Italian force pursued to Asmara, which was occupied on 1 April. Asmara War Cemetery contains the graves of those killed in the latter stages of the East African campaign, or who died subsequently at the garrison stationed at Asmara. The cemetery contains 273 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 14 of them unidentified. There are also six war graves of other nationalities and five non-war burials. There are 22 South African casualties from the Second World War buried in the cemetery. While visiting the members of the South African Defence Force deployed on the Organisation of African Unity (OLMEE) and the United Nations (UNMEE) peace missions in December 2003 the visiting group was taken to the cemetery. It was my introduction to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which I joined after retirement in 2009.
• Meteren Military Cemetery: France Meteren was occupied by German forces early in October 1914 and on 13 October, their entrenched positions covering the village were captured by the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division. The village then remained in Allied hands until the German offensive of April 1918. The 33rd Division held it against heavy German attacks on 13 April, but it was lost on the 16th. The sector was then taken over by French troops for a time, but on 19 July, the 9th (Scottish) Division (2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and South African Composite Battalion) recovered the site of the village after a fortnight's bombardment which completely destroyed the houses. The cemetery was made in 1919 by the French authorities, who brought in Commonwealth, French and German graves from the neighbouring battlefields and from other cemeteries, which included the following: -
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Berthen Churchyard, in which 13 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom, two soldiers from Canada, and one soldier from Newfoundland were buried (by Field Ambulances or fighting units) in 1916 and 1918. Le Roukloshille Military Cemetery, Meteren, a little South of the hamlet of Le Roukloshille, between Meteren and Godewaersvelde. Here, in April-August 1918, 38 soldiers from Australia, 26 soldiers and airmen from the United Kingdom and one French soldier were buried by fighting units. Meteren Churchyard, in which 11 soldiers from the United Kingdom were buried (one in 1914 and the others in 1917) by Field Ambulances or fighting units. Mont-Des-Cats British and Indian Cemeteries, Godewaersvelde, a quarter of a mile South-East of the gates of the Trappist monastery. The hill was captured on the 12th October 1914, by the 4th Hussars, the 5th and 16th Lancers and "D" Battery, R.H.A. Two small graveyards were made in April 1915, one containing the graves of nine soldiers from the United Kingdom and two from Canada, and the other those of 16 soldiers from India. Six other British soldiers, buried within the Monastery, have also been reinterred in Meteren Military Cemetery. The German and some of the French graves have since been removed to other cemeteries. Meteren Military Cemetery now contains 768 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 180 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to five casualties believed to be buried among them. There are also special memorials to one soldier buried in Meteren Churchyard, and one Indian soldier buried in Mont-des-Cats Indian Cemetery, whose graves were destroyed in later fighting. There are also 69 French burials here. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. There are 26 identified and 5 unknown South African casualties from the First World War buried in the cemetery.
• Naves Communal Cemetery Extension: France The Extension was begun by the 49th (West Riding) Division in October, 1918, after the capture of the village on the 10th. The 31 graves then made are now in Plot V; Plots I to IV were made after the Armistice, by the concentration of graves from smaller cemeteries and from the battlefields of Cambrai. Among the graves thus concentrated were those of many Lancashire Fusiliers and King's Own Royal Lancasters who fell in August, 1914. There are now nearly 450, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over a quarter are unidentified and special memorials are erected to four soldiers of the 8th Northumberland Fusiliers, buried in Eswars 147
German Cemetery, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The grave of one American soldier has been removed to another cemetery. The Extension covers an area of 1,446 square metres and is enclosed by a low red brick wall. The following were among the burial grounds from which British graves were removed to Naves Communal Cemetery Extension: Eswars Communal Cemetery German Extension, which contained the graves of seven soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Canada who fell in October, 1918. Hilltop Cemetery, Lesdain, between Lesdain and Seranvillers, containing the graves of 17 New Zealand and six German soldiers who fell in October, 1918. Maurois British Cemetery, on the Maurois-Maretz road, containing the graves of 15 South African soldiers who fell on the 14th October, 1918. Paillencourt British Cemetery, close to the Sensee river, containing the graves of twelve soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Canada who fell on the 16th October, 1918. Thun-St. Martin British Cemetery, in the middle of the village. Here were buried 18 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly of the 51st (Highland) Division) and three from Canada, who fell in October, 1918. There are 15 identified South African casualties from the First World War buried in the cemetery.
• Gaza War Cemetery: Israel Gaza was bombarded by French warships in April 1915. At the end of March 1917, it was attacked and surrounded by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the First Battle of Gaza, but the attack was broken off when Turkish reinforcements appeared. The Second Battle of Gaza, 17-19 April, left the Turks in possession and the Third Battle of Gaza, begun on 27 October, ended with the capture of the ruined and deserted city on 7 November 1917. Casualty Clearing Stations arrived later that month and General and Stationary hospitals in 1918. Some of the earliest burials were made by the troops that captured the city. About twothirds of the total were brought into the cemetery from the battlefields after the Armistice. The remainder were made by medical units after the Third Battle of Gaza, or, in some cases, represent reburials from the battlefields by the troops who captured the city. Of the British Soldiers, the great majority belong to the 52nd (Lowland), the 53rd (Welsh), the 54th (East Anglian) and the 148
74th (Yeomanry) Divisions. During the Second World War, Gaza was an Australian hospital base, and the AIF Headquarters were posted there. Among the military hospitals in Gaza were 2/1st Australian General Hospital, 2/6th Australian General Hospital, 8th Australian Special Hospital, and from July 1943 until May 1945, 91 British General Hospital. There was a Royal Air Force aerodrome at Gaza, which was considerably developed from 1941 onwards. Gaza War Cemetery contains 3,217 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 781 of them unidentified. Second World War burials number 210. There are also 30 post war burials and 234 war graves of other nationalities. There are 6 identified South African casualties, 4 from the First World War and 2 from the Second World War buried in the cemetery. •
Let’s pause for a moment and think of their supreme sacrifice – HBH.
WO1 (Ret) Ruud Slangen (The Netherlands) • The story behind a Headstone: A search for relatives of fallen airmen in the Netherlands Ruud Slangen Warrant-Officer 1st Class (Rtd) Royal Netherlands Army When you travel along the coastline of the IJsselmeer, a large lake in the middle of the Netherlands, you may notice a monument that has been set into the water. The four-meter-high monument is in memory of the 117 fallen allied aircrew members that crashed in the vicinity of Harderwijk. The monument represents a World War 2 bomber crashing into the water. Harderwijk fisherman used this area of the lake for their trade. The area is known as “De Knar” or “Harderwijker Spiek”. Their fishing boats brought ashore corpses of crashed airmen on a regular base from 1941-1945. Allied and German men, sometimes found after months, were picked up or washed ashore. The Allied airmen came from 24 aircraft that crashed in the water, or on dry land, in the vicinity of the town, including one Handley Page Hampden and 2 Halifax, 4 AVRO Lancaster, 4 Vickers Wellington, 3 Short Stirling and 2 De Havilland Mosquito. Many bombers flew over the country on their way to bomb Germany and, when lucky, on their way back home. As chairman of a Dutch veteran’s association, I had the privilege to be present at the unveiling of the monument on 18 April 2012. During the ensuing years, no events took place at the location of that monument, no ceremonies, just the occasional flowers laid by unknown people but nothing more. Raising this at one of our meetings, a local veteran mentioned 45 graves in the Oostergaarde Cemetery in Harderwijk. Origionally there were 57 graves including those of 12 American airmen buried from the USAAF whose bodies were exhumed in 1946. Some went back to the USA; others were buried in American cemeteries in Belgium and the Netherlands. After a reconnaissance to Oostergaarde and a chat to the cemetery caretakers, I formulated a plan that I put to the next association meeting. A permit from the council was requested, a piper and bugler were found, appropriate music was made available on a stereo system and national flags, wreaths, flowers etc. were organized. The first ceremony was scheduled for Saturday 12 November 2016. A phone call was received from the 149
regional TV station. This was unique; for the first time in history, a group of people were going to pay their respects to these fallen men. The TV being present was a great opportunity to explain why this ceremony took place in November as, in the Netherlands, the Dutch victims of WW2 are remembered on 4 May. This explanation was necessary because of a “misunderstanding� between the council and myself. Harderwijk still remembers the allied victims in May despite what is common in the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Picture 1 Remembrance Day 2019, with the author leading the ceremony. Banner, veterans, invitees and Army Cadets present. Evaluating the ceremony, a few questions came up. Who were those men, where did they come from, what did they look like, what was the story behind their headstones? Of the forty-five airmen, thirty-five were from the United Kingdom, five from Canada, one from New Zealand and one from South-Africa. The names and nationality of the other three is unknown. A search on the internet started and a local man came up with 13 pictures of individual airmen. The South African was a man by the name of John Frederick Kinnery, a captain, serving in No. 29 Squadron RAF during World War 2. He was a young man of 26 from Orange Grove, Johannesburg, Transvaal. On the night of 2 December 1944, he took off from RAF Hunsdon (Essex) in his De Havilland Mosquito MM5, 19 Squadron code RO, for a night intruder mission to Lippstadt Germany. Together with his navigator/bomb aimer, John Derek Morgan, Kinnery went on this special night mission, consisting of just one airplane, to shoot down Germans above their own 150
airfield. The intruder flew the entire route just 50 to 100 meters above the ground to avoid German radar. As soon as the plane reached its target, the pilot started flying slowly in a circuit. As soon as the German planes were getting ready to land the lights on the airfield were switched shortly on and off, to give the landing planes direction. This was the sign for the Mosquito to attack. Mosquito MM519 did not return from her flight. The plane crashed into the IJsselmeer North West of Harderwijk. Kinnery’s body washed up near Harderwijk on 27 May 1945, the 21-year old navigator Morgan is still missing in action. His name is written on panel 208 of the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede in Surrey (England). Captain John Frederick Kinnery lies buried in Oostergaarde Cemetery, Harderwijk, the Netherlands. That’s all we know about this young man from the S.A.A.F. that gave his live for our freedom. We still do not know what he looked like.
Picture 2 Announcement in the Harderwijk Newspaper 8 June 1945 The above story is one of many. It is the story behind one of 45 headstones here in Harderwijk. To be able to honour these men in a proper way, we should know the stories. Another story is of Sergeant Eric Sidney Goodridge, who bailed out a crashing Lancaster. He landed in the middle of a wood and broke both legs. He was found a month later by a labourer and it was said the area around him was bare and all the grass was short as if it had been eaten off. At 23:00 hours on 28 July 1942, Vickers Wellington BJ661 AA-X took off from RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, for a raid on Hamburg, carrying 3.240 lbs of incendiary sticks. After a successful flight, they were on a course for home when, at 03.05, they were attacked from under the fuselage by a German night fighter. The pilot, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Kuthe, approached the Wellington from its blind spot in his Messerschmitt BF110G. The Wellington was raked by both machine guns and 20 mm canon. The Germans named this “Schräge Musik” (Jazz Music) the term for the upward-firing canon, mounted in the night fighter aircraft. The Wellington pilot, S/Sgt. Gilbertson, fought to maintain control while the two air gunners returned the fire. Both turrets failed to turn because the mechanism had been shot away. The navigator, F/Sgt. Byrne had been shot in the back but managed to clip on his parachute. He then fell back in his seat. The aircraft hit the water near Schellingwoud, northeast of Amsterdam. Wireless Operator Sgt. Callaghan and Air gunner Sgt. Rutherford where in the middle of the aircraft when it broke in two, hitting the water. They floated into the water, wearing 151
their lifejackets and were picked up by a German rescue team in the early hours of the morning. S/Sgt Gilbertson’s body was recovered from the plane, he was still holding the controls with a peaceful smile on his face. Sgt. Titcomb, air gunner, washed ashore on the eastern part of the lake, near Harderwijk, on 10 August 1942 and was buried on Oostergaarde cemetery.
Picture 3 The wreckage of Wellington BJ-661 AA-X The search for information still goes on. From twenty-two men we now know what they looked like but there are still twenty-three to go. There is contact with relatives but, the search goes on. We want to put a picture to every headstone so that we can honour these forty-two brave men that died for our freedom. The search goes on to let relatives know the names of these young men are not forgotten. The search goes on for the story behind a headstone.
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SF DEATH NOTICES |VM’e STERFTE KENNISGEWINGS
Herinneringe aan ‘n beste vriend en kollega: Kapt. MA “Tubby” Ueckermann. • Sandra Coetzee Fourie
Waar begin ek na so veel jare? ‘n Paar herinneringe van onse dae van Veiligheidshoofkantoor se dae. Ons ken mekaar al van 1971/72. Tubby het saam met my oorlede man A/O Johan Coetzee magsnommer 54825B gewerk en in Januarie 1972 het luitenant Hennie Heymans ook by die manne aangesluit as hoof van hul kantoor. Hulle was ‘n hegte kantoor-familie, ek en my man Johan het byname gehad nl. "Dexter-bulletjie en Dexter-koeitjie". Ons was nogal bekend op kantoor, jonk en verlief. Ons was albei kort en stewig gewees daarom die byname! En ek dink gegee deur Tubby of luit. Heymans! In 1980 moes ons n belangrike besluit neem om permanent na SWA te verhuis na Kaokoland, Opuwo, by die Teeninsurgensie-eenheid Z 5. 153
Daar aangekom in 1981 en my natuurlik dood gehuil oor die stowwerige klein dorpie met die witpoeier grond straatjies.. Ek het huisvrou geword en kort daarna ‘n mamma. Eendag stap ek op na die kantoor en daar loop ek toe in Tubby vas! Ek was so bly om hom weer te sien en hy en sy beste vriend "Dexter" is weer herenig! A/o Tubby Ueckermann het toe die admin hoof geword en natuurlik ook die radio beman soos geen ander lid dit ooit kon doen nie. Hy was gereeld vroeg op sy pos, netjies in sy camo-uniform. Hy was ‘n baie aangename mens met die diep stem. Hy het ook natuurlik die Buddies (specials)(plaaslikes) op hulle plekke gehou en opdragte streng uitgevoer onder bevel van majoor J. Steyn die bevelvoerder wat weer onder bevel van genl. Sterk Hans Dreyer (RIV) was. Hy het altyd gesorg dat die manne se voertuie in orde was, vol diesel en proviand vir enige gebeurlikheid. Op ‘n dag in 1983 het Tubby by my huis opgedaag met die nuus dat my man in ‘n kontak beseer was en dat ek moet gereed maak om af te vlieg na Pretoria toe om hom te besoek by 1 Militêre hospitaal. Sy linker-oog en linkerkant van sy liggaam was vol skrapnel. Tubby was altyd ‘n vriend in nood ter enige tyd. In 1984 na die geboorte van ons jongste dogtertjie moes ek afvlieg na Pretoria om kinderarts te sien omdat sy geen melk kon inhou nie. Ek daar aangekom die Donderdag 17 Mei 1984 en Saterdag die 19 de Mei ‘n besoek gehad van die diensoffisier en kapelaan met die tyding van my man se dood op diens die oggend van 19 Mei. Weer was Tubby vir my daar in nood per telefoon. Ek was ondersteun deur majoor J. Steyn. Hy het my bygestaan met die uitkenning van sy liggaam by die ondernemer. Na reëlings getref is vir dis begrafnis was Tubby weer daar vir my en ook ‘n draer van sy oorskot by die begrafnis. Sy makkers van Z5 was almal draers. En weer het Tubby sy beste vriend permanent verloor. Ek het aangesluit by Koevoet om die huis te kan behou en so was ek ingesweer en het ek saam met Tubby die kantoor beman met een ander kollega. Hy het my als geleer wat ek moes weet en hoe dit gedoen was. Hy was n uitstekende leermeester. Ek het die wêreld se respek vir hom gehad. In einde1986 het ek die KOEVOETE gegroet en terug PTA toe gekom. Waar Tubby my weer besoek het om te hoor of ek nog “OK” was. Hy het intussen verhuis na Kaapstad en steeds kontak behou met my. Na ‘n wyle het hy pakket geneem en die polisie verlaat en verhuis na Joubertina, daar het hy erge diabetes opgedoen en het sy gesondheid begin kwyn. Menigte nagte het hy my wakker gebel en moed verloor. Die laaste oproep van hom was 27 April. Hy het plek gekry in n versorgingseenheid in Pretoria waar hy op 6 Mei arriveer het en dieselfde nag is hy oorlede. Ek Salueer jou Kaptein Tubby Ueckermann my vriend en broer wat ek nooit gehad het nie. Mag jy in Vrede rus met geen pyn of eensaamheid nie. Dexter wag op jou, wat jou vooruit gegaan het. Tussen die twee van julle en die ander makkers wat julle vooruit gegaan het gaan julle lekker opvang. Ek sal onse geselsies baie mis. Sandra. Spesiale dank aan die Z5 Groep nl.: • Lappies Labuschagne • Rika de Villiers (weduwee van Jumbo de Villiers) • Rassie Erasmus • Thys de Jager • Wilma Bouwer • Petro Brits (weduwee van Dawie Brits) 154
•
Strys Strydom
En dan baie spesiaal aan Sly Shreiber vir jou huldeblyk ek haal aan: "RIV Ou Tubs.....jy was n yster, saam gekuier in Opuwo. So val nog ‘n groot boom innie woud, jou stam was stewig, jou wortels het diep afgegaan, jou takke het wyd gegroei....jou lowergroen blare het ver heen gewaai...jou breë glimlag en groot hart was ‘n skuiling vir menigte jou stem was sag met bemoedigende woorde in nood... Jy was maar net "ONE OF A KIND" Nooit sal ek daai dag vergeet... Jou stem op die radio toe jou stem opkom.....ek wil net weer thnx sê Tubs. Dit was grate om ‘n oorlog saam met jou te kon baklei.....
Vlnr: Sandra en Johan (Dexter) Coetzee, Johan te Opuwo en Sandra in uniform.
HISTORY: DURBAN BOROUGH POLICE | DURBAN CITY POLICE GESKIEDENIS: DURBAN GEMEENTELIKE POLITIE | DURBAN STADSPOLISIE • Introduction | Inleiding: HBH Geagte Genl's i/s Durban se Gemeentelike Polisie Net ter inligting en interessantheid tov van die "Durban Burough Police". Ek dit altyd "Durban Burough Police" genoem in Afrikaans; totdat ek die wetlike weergawe van die naam in wet 14 van 1912, (Zuidafrikaanse Politie) [wat eers in 1958 deur wet 7 van 1958 gewysig is] gekry het. Art 3 van Wet 14/1912 soos volg lui: "Special Provision as to Burough Police Forces in Natal" en in Nederlands: "Biezondere Voorziening ten aanzien van Gemeentelike Politie in Natal". Toe Durban as 'n stad verklaar is, het die naam van die plaaslike polisie verander na Durban City Police en eers later in Afrikaans as: Durban Stadspolisie. [Dr HJ Terblanche, die destydse taalstryder is jare gelede deur die "Durban City Police" aangekla. (Terloops ek het sy boek op my rak en het dit baie jare gelede gelees nalv 'n staaltjie wat my Vader vir my vertel het.) Dr Terblanche is toe aangekla deur die City Police en die stadsverordeninge - die 155
sg. City By-Laws - was net in Engels beskikbaar. Hy het 'n goeie betoog vir Afrikaans gelewer tot by die hoogste gesag en het toe later die "tender" gekry om die verordeninge te vertaal. Daarna het die amptelike naam in Afrikaans gelui: "Durban Stadspolisie".] Durban was 'n unieke plek gewees om te polisieer - nog 'n woord wat eie is aan Durban is die naam van die sg. "waterpolisie" wat agtereenvolgens deur verskeie polisiemagte verrig is. Die plaaslike gemeentelike polisie het die taak verrig, opgevolg deur die Natal Police [NP] tot in 1913, toe ????, toe is dit oorlog in 1914. Daar is toe 'n ander mag tydens die oorlog in die Hawe - naam vergeet toe is dit SAP van 1918 tot c1935 waarna die SAS&H Polisie oor gevat het. Na amalgamasie het die SAP weer die taak oorgeneem en nou die SAPD. Al die ou SAP stasies buite “ou” Durban was agtereenvolgens eers deur die NP, die SABS en toe deur die SAP beman terwyl die gemeentelike politie die “burough" met sekere beperkings gepolisieer het. In die tyd van die ZABS was die SAP se KOD verantwoordelik vir die "groot sake". Die DK was toe 'n luitenant. Ek kon nog nie bepaal wie die hawe van 1913 - 1914 gepolisieer het nie. Die Natal Police was daar - Natal is in 1913 deur die ZABS gepolisieer. (Na 1914 met die uitbreek van die oorlog tel ek weer die drade op.) Gedurende 1916 was daar minder as 20 SAP's in Durban volgens die ZAP Lijst. [Die SAP Museum kon my tot dusver nie help met wie tussen 1913 en 1914 daar was nie] Hennie Heymans Bo word ‘n brief gedateer 2011-01-06 aangehaal aan genl. Van der Merwe en dr. Burger wat ek nalv een of ander navraag met hulle gedeel het. Relevansie: Die brief word aangehaal om te toon dat die Nederlandse (Afrikaanse) naam vir die polisie volgens wet, die Durbanse Gemeente Politie was.
I am a Durban born and bred policeman. (I am now retired.) We in the SAP were used to working with various law enforcement agencies in Durban, there were the SAR Police, and the so-called Water Police, the Durban City Police (the oldest continuous police force in South Africa), the Municipal “Black Jacks” and inspectors of the then Bantu Affairs Dept. and the NPA traffic division. My memories of my stint in Durban was that we enjoyed close co-operation with all the various police and law enforcement agencies. The picture below brings back many memories, it could have been me in the photo (but it is not). We had good and close cooperation:
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City Police and SA Police attend to an accident Since retiring I have collected a lot of information on various Southern African police agencies and especially Scotland Yard i.r.o. the “town police-concept” and the Irish police i.r.o. “rural policing” that is where our police roots lie. In South Africa we kept the Roman Dutch Law but with the 2nd occupation by the British we followed the English and Irish police patterns. I have opened various files – the computer people call them “folders” - and I have saved many articles and photographs. As an introduction to the DBP & DCP I will share some information: The Durban Borough Police was modeled on the Bobbys of Scotland Yard. Here are some early Durban policemen.
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Here below are both mounted (bottom far right) and foot police in West Street, Durban.
Darryn Newcombe a former Durban City Police [DCP] member with a passion for the history of the DCP has made contact and who will become a monthly contributor to the Nongqai. The ties between the Durban Borough Police and the Nongqai goes back many years!
Darryn Newcombe
• My journey of how I became part of the Durban City Police [DCP] family. I was still at primary school Standard 4 or Standard 5 when the Durban City Police visited our school and did a talk and demonstration about the DCP. That was it! This was the day my calling was born! I remember these two Policemen towering over all of us including the teachers, with all their issued equipment, shining buttons, polished black leather belts, with lots of metal shining buttons on their belt and buckle belt, you can say they had all the bells and whistles, I wanted to be one of them. Funny thing, I could not remember what they were teaching as I was just hypnotized by their presence. 158
Years went by and I took up casual jobs for pocket money, delivering newspapers and then I took a part time job as a casual cashier in Pick n Pay. I was now in Std. 8. One day I was working at the Cigarette Kiosk and this day was going to wake up my “calling”. Everything froze around me when I saw a Police Officer enter the shop, wearing the same uniform, shining black leather belt and all the other leather fittings, shining buttons as I remembered it way back in primary school. I was thinking this was my only chance to approach this Policeman and ask him how do I go about joining the DCP and my inner self told me if you want to be a Policeman, you must not let your fear hold you back. I then approached him and introduced myself and he did as well, as Sergeant Alex Wright. I felt so relaxed and comfortable talking to Mr. Wright and this was the beginning of my long journey, unaware at the time that I was going to be a Durban City Police officer. Remember, I had family friends in the SAP and my Oupa was in the SAP Horse Unit in the late 40’s/50’s I'm guessing, also, so they asked me why don't you join the SAP if you want to be a Policeman? My answer was, I had this “calling” to be a DCP officer, just this damn inner calling, nothing else. It had nothing to do with the perks of the job, not even the salary, just this inner calling. Back to Sgt. Wright. And he asked me what I was doing at the time, and I told him that I was completing Standard 8. Mr. Wright told me to complete Std. 8 and speak to him again. I did that. I saw Sgt. Wright again and gave him my good news that I had completed Std. 8, and he replied “good my boy” then told me to complete Std. 9. I did that and again ran up to Sgt. Wright and again he said “good my boy", and that it would be greatly to my benefit to complete Matric the following year. I felt at this time that Alex Wright was trying to tell me that I was not the right candidate for the DCP. Oh well, I did my Matric and passed. I was still working as a casual cashier and when I again saw Sgt. Wright and told him my good news that I had completed Std. 10. Again, Sgt. Wright complimented me but now he said “go and do your national service” as this was a requirement for applicants to the DCP. I took his advice and did my National Service. I went to Sgt. Wright and showed him my “klaar uit" document. Now he said I was ready to apply for the position as a recruit. I waited for at least five months for the next intake. Going to the DCP HQ, there were thousands of young men standing in a long single row. I eventually gave in my CV. One day at home, I went to the post box and received my letter accepting me as a possible candidate. I was finally going to my new home that my soul was longing for all these years and Sgt. Wright must have seen my calling somewhere in me. I saw this lesson as part of his way, of moulding me into a future Police Officer, and what they would be looking out for in future Police recruits. This is where my new life and journey started as a Police Officer for the next 10 best years of my life serving the public of Durban and enforcing the law with the utmost honour, loyalty and pride. I salute you Acting Chief Constable Alex Wright. Lastly, little did I know my Dad and Uncle served in the Police 30 years before me! I lost my Uncle before I was born and lost my Dad when I was 8 years old. My Mom told me that they were in the Police but never knew they were both in the Durban City Police. Very little was known about their days with the Durban City Police, and not many photos found. I will keep searching! I will be sharing our stories with you of The Durban City Police.
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• HRH Queen Elizabeth 2 and PC D Newcombe, DCP.
In the first image is me in full dress, special duties escorting Queen Elizabeth around Durban in 1995. Lunchtime here at her yacht, the Royal Yacht Britannia. The ERII symbol above right on the bow. Image taken in Durban Harbour.
• DCP, Cato Manor
Second image. Here I am working special duties in Cato Manor. Monitoring the influx of land invaders. Around 1993. 160
• 1995: Dog Unit, DCP.
Third image. Dog Unit was established in 1995. I went on second course January 1996. Each course consisted of 7 officers/handlers. Crime was increasing. Reason Dog Unit established. To work closely with the SAPS to fight serious crime. We did not move away from other duties whilst in the Dog Unit e.g. dealing with Traffic offences, accidents, enforcing all other laws. We were very flexible and had to be able to deal with any situation. Next month: The Mounted Branch of the DCP
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• 1962: Certificate of Appointment: PC GT Newcombe
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• PC George Newcombe and PC Ivan de Klerk
My dad, PC George Newcombe, is on the left and on the right is PC Ivan de Klerk. Notice the different uniforms. My dad wearing standard uniform and Ivan wearing full motor patrol uniform. They never wore helmets back then. Helmets came in the 70's – Darryn Newcombe.
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• PC Peter Harris, DCP.
Fourth image. My Uncle Peter Harris. He joined with my Dad in the 60's. This is my Mom’s sister’s Husband. I will get more info on the uniform back then. Notice the sleeves rolled up. No weapons and only issued a Police whistle. Will also check if they were issued with any other equipment.
Darryn Newcombe • Ranks of the Durban City Police Ranks in the DCP were as follows. • PC - Police Constable. • Sergeant 164
• Inspector • Chief Inspector. • Deputy Chief Constable. • Chief Constable.21 The Police Constables were addressed by members as Police Constables for eg. PC Newcombe. But we never had name badges on our uniform in the DCP. My first PC Badge was PC 253. The numbers would be adjusted when there were gaps in the PC ranks due to members promotions from PC's to Sergeants/Retiring/Resigning or for any other reason being. My last badge was PC 47. A Sergeant would have name badge on his uniform. They were addressed as "Sarge". We would call him by his rank and name if there were more than two Sergeants together or we were identifying a specific sergeant in question. Inspectors, Chief Inspectors, Deputy Chief Constables, and the Chief Constable had name badges but were addressed as "Sir". Very seldom would you here lower ranks calling the officers by their names unless it was in conversation for example, by identifying which officer gave the order/instructions. As discussed, DCP Constables held the same status as the SAP/S Constables but were identified as "PC" for a DCP Constable and "Constable" for an SAP/S Constable. This was not cast in stone but was adapted by all Police Officers.
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This is a British tradition. There is a great difference between a Chief Constable and a Head Constable (Head Constable later an SAP W/O). The problem is to translate Chief Constable into Afrikaans, as a Head-Constable is a hoofkonstabel (usually the station commander) while Chief Constable has the status of a District Commandant, he is the head of the whole police force in the county, town or city. Pre-SAP days we had for e.g. the Chief Constable of Port Elizabeth and he had commissioned officers, NCO’s and troopers under his command. There was the interesting case of Chief Constable (later Major) RA Robey of East London who was appointed as a “Head Constable” in the new SAP and he had to appeal to the Commissioner to be instated as a commissioned officer in the new SAP while some of his of juniors were appointed commissioned officers with status as Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors. As Chief Constable he was in fact a Chief Inspector i.e. Major. The Commissioner promoted him (See: A Limb of the Law - an autobiography) – HBH. 165
NONGQAI’S HALL OF FAME | NONGQAI SE HELDESAAL
Kol GMJ van Dam – ZARP, ‘Transvaal Police’ & SA Polisie
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• Kmdt. van Dam se ZARP-kommando: Johannesburg: 24 Okt. 1899
Foto 1 – Zetef du Plessis. Foto 2 – Nico Moolman. Foto 3 – Zetef du Plessis. Foto 4 – Zetef du Plessis.
Kmdt Gerard Mari Johan van Dam: Johan Wolfaardt (Potchefstroom Museum) Gerard Mari Johan van Dam is gebore op 9 Oktober 1855 te Delftshaven, Nederland. In 1868 immigreer sy familie na die Transvaal, waar sy vader, George, ‘n koopman asook poskantoor-klerk was. GMJ van Dam dien ook as klerk van die hof en regsamptenaar, voor hy in 1876 na Kimberley verhuis. In 1877 keer hy terug Potchefstroom toe, waar hy hom skaar by die protes beweging teen die Britse anneksasie. Hy word in 1879 aangestel as die sekretaris vir die Volkskomitee, en neem deel aan die samesprekings met Britse koloniale sekretaris Hudson by Kleinfontein. In November 1880 was hy lid van die Potchefstroom Kommando, Wyk Schoonspruit, maar op 12 Desember 1881 word hy Volksraad sekretaris vir die ZAR. Dit blyk egter dat Volksraad sittings onmoontlik is, en in Januarie 1881 gaan hy na die Natalse front as gewone burger. Hy neem deel aan die Slag van Majuba op 27 Februarie 1881 Met vredesluiting keer hy terug Potchefstroom toe, en word aangestel as geregsbode te Klerksdorp. In 1887 word Van Dam aangestel as sersant in bevel van die polisiemag wat die Klerksdorpse goudvelde moet polisieer. Hy brei die mag uit na 15 voetpolisie en 25 beredepolisie.
• Die eerste professionele polisiemag in die Transvaal Van Dam het die eerste professionele polisie mag in die Transvaal op die been gebring deur gesoute polisiemanne te laat oor plaas vanaf ander poste af. Hy het ook op reis gegaan en die polisiemagte 167
in Natal, Kaap Kolonie en Griekwaland-Wes gaan bestudeer, die offisiere daar se kundigheid benut en het ook nuwe polisielede gewerf vir Klerksdorp. Van Dam het gepleit dat ‘n polisiekaserne en tronk gebou moet word en dat ‘n speurdiens op die been gebring word. Van Dam se geïnspireerde leierskap het daartoe gelei dat die delwers respek en agting gehad het vir die polisie, en dat die polisie onder sy bevel gemotiveerd en pligsgetrou was. Misdaad in Klerksdorp is hokgeslaan en tussen Desember 1888 en April 1889 het 454 suksesvolle arrestasie plaasgevind. Met die kwyning van die Klerksdorpse goudvelde is die polisiemag daar verklein en Van Dam se pos as polisie kommandant is afgeskaf.
• ZARP: Johannesburg Polisie Van Dam is in 1892 aangestel as tweede in bevel van die Johannesburg Polisie, en het die Voetpolisie daar reggeruk. Van Dam het ook die administrasie van Johannesburg polisie hervorm. Van Dam is egter sterk gekritiseer oor sy keuse om eerder “uitlanders” wat polisie ervaring gehad het aan te stel bo “landzonen”. Al Van Dam se harde werk het egter vrugte afgewerp toe die nuwe Polisie Wet van 1896 aanvaar is wat alle regulasies en ordonnanse vir die ZAR Polisie bevat het. Met die Jameson Inval van 1896 het Kommandant Van Dam die strategiese implikasies vir Johannesburg ingesien en het gewapende polisie gestasioneer in en om die kaserne asook op hoogte punte rondom die stad. Hy het saam met Kommandant van Diggelen van die Johannesburg Vrywilliger Korps planne in gereedheid gebring om ook alle regeringskantore te verdedig. Die opstand in Johannesburg het egter nooit gebeur nie, en Van Dam was getaak gewees daarmee om lasbriewe ter arrestasie uit te reik vir die oproeriges en lede van die Rand Reform Committee. Die mees blywende monument tot Van Dam is die ZARP uniform self, die regulasie waarvan hy opgestel het in 1895.
• Anglo Boere-oorlog Met die koms van oorlog het Kommandant van Dam gedien om die militêre beheer kommissie wat planne opgetrek het vir die beveiliging en polisiëring van Johannesburg. Spesiale polisie en ‘n Kommissie van Wet en Orde is in plaas van die Zarps aangestel vir Johannesburg, en Kommandant van Dam is saam met ‘n kommando bestaande uit polisie van Pretoria en Johannesburg Natal front toe. Van Dam se kommando veg te Colenso, en word later geskuif na die Stormberg en Colesberg fronte toe. Met die Britse opmars na Paardebereg, is Van Dam en sy kommando slaags by Abrahamskraal en Klipriviersberg. In September 1900 in ‘n skermutseling by Sesmylspruit word Van Dam swaar gewond. Op 19 April 1901 aan die Swaziland grens word hy weer swaar gewond en gevange geneem. Hy is aangehou in krygsgevangene kampe te Ladysmith en Durban, en is finaal oorgeplaas na Groenpunt waar hy die durasie van die oorlog spandeer. Hy is na die oorlog saam met sy goeie vriend Generaal Ben Viljoen en sy aangetroude neef, Generaal Cronje na die VSA toe waar hy deel geneem het aan die St Louis Boere Sirkus. In 1906 sluit hy weer aan, die keer by die speurdiens in Krugersdorp. In 1908 word hy aangestel as inspekteur van polisie vir die Transvaal. Hy dien later as bevelvoerder van die Potchefstroom en Rustenburg Polisie. In 1919 tree hy af. In 1878 is hy getroud met Martha Magdalena Steyn (1855-1928), en uit hul huwelik is 9 kinders gebore. Kommandant van Dam is oorlede op 12 Junie 1940 te Pretoria. Bronne: • www.geni.com • Die Boere Offisiere 1899-1902; Jacques Malan, JP van der Walt, 1990 • Argiefjaarboek 1975, Die Polisiediens van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, GN van den Bergh, Staatsdrukker, 1980.
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1904: Kmdt GMJ van Dam soos beskryf in Onze Krijgs-Officieren
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75375089BV Master WO Craig Stuart Brown MMM JCD
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75375089BV MWO Craig Stuart Brown MMM JCD “Service with Loyalty” RSM of First City 01/11/2004 – 31/07/2013 (Acting RSM of First City 01/09/2003 – 31/10/2004)
The love of the Army started with the top four family members: Mr Grandpa Brown who served in both World Wars my Father who served in the Second World War and the SWA Bush War my Mother who served in the Second World War and as a Civilian in the SADF after the war and my Grandfather Wiggill who also served in both World Wars
Six Generations of Brown Family Soldiers & four Generation Family medals Born in King Williamstown on the 22/06/1959 grew up on farms until 1963 when his father re-joined the PF and they lived in the Grahamstown Military Base until 1971, later lived in the Military base in Kimberley and also grew up in the three Drill Halls where his Mother work First City in Grahamstown, Kimberley Regiment in Kimberley and The Kaffrarian Rifles in East London 172
Home T185 in Grahamstown Military Base getting ready to be picked up by the Bedford BUS Christmas Party with Father Christmas Staff Sergeant George Parker SAMC School Cadet Detachment: Learnt to march and shoot Cadet Detachment No 6 - Graeme College Junior Company 1970/71
Cadet Detachment No 3 & Queens College Balmoral badge Cadet Detachment No 3 - Queens College Std 6 Company 1972/73 Cadet Detachment No 59 -Kimberley Boys High School Company - S/Sgt 1974/77 Cadet Detachment No 3 - Queens College Senior Company 1978
Taking the Salute at the 160th of Queens College at the Trooping of the Colour 2018 With the Head Master and the second photo attending the parade as RSM 2012 Military Service National Service First call up on 5th July 1978 6th South African Infantry Battalion found to be permanently medically unfit for military duties, later applied to join the Rhodesian Army but after applying to CS Army was reclassified at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein and found to be G1K1 was then called up for a second time this time to 1SAI.
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Discharge certificate signed by Mr Raven at 6SAI Permanently Medically Unfit for military Service
Basics National Service: 10/01/1979-08/01/1981 Called up for a second time reported to 1SAI on the10th of January 1979 and completed Basics there and transferred to Equestrian Centre Potchefstroon did the Trackers course at Modderfontein while on strength of 31Bn SWATF but in 3SAI Bn lines, moved to Danie Theron Combat School and completed the Snipers course, then to 11 Commando and completed the Sniper Collectors course before moving to Omega 31Bn and trained by their Recce Wing in Minor Tactics. Moved to 53 Bn and then on to 37 Bn SWATF where Nation Service was completed.
37 Bn Opuwo Basic, 2nd Phase, 3rd Phase & Coin 1st SAI Bn 1979 Battalion Reconnaissance:
Tracker 1979 174
Snipers 1979 Night Vision Equipment 1979 Snipers Collectors 1979
Minor Tactic 1979/80 31 Bn Recce Wing
Support Weapon 81" Mortar, 37bn, 1980 & Skeleton Coast Patrol 1980
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Rob and Craig “Brothers in Arms” Bloemfontein and Grootfontein Permanent Force: 08/01/1981 – 31/31/1982 Sector 10 HQ, Oshakati and Ondangwa
Air Support Dispatcher OS School, Course done at Ondangwa Air Base during Operation Daisy1981 Citizen Force and Short Term: 01/01/1983 91 SWA Brigade – SWATF
Sergeant 13/05/1985. 1985 with his Father. With Col Bailie and Brig Fourie. 18/08/1983 – 30/11/1990 The Kaffrarian Rifles & Group 8 Senior Regimental NCO Eastern Province Command Special Task Force: Ex Rhodesians Selection Phase Transkei Special Force Regt 1984 Tracker Phase Transkei Special Force Regt 1984 3rd Phase SARP Regional Task Force 1985 4th Phase 1 Recce Command 1985
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Platoon Commanders Infantry School 1986 Weapon Inspector EPC TSC 1987 Communication Operations EPC 1987 Sergeant to Staff Sergeant DTCS 1987
Military Wedding 31/10/1987
Staff Sergeant 01/05/1988 different Regimental uniforms Mess Dress Undress Greens Nutria Stepouts
National Colour Parade – Grahamstown 1989 & 31/05/1989 Colour Sergeant, National Colour Parade, The Kaffrarian Rifles 177
Colour Sergeant The Kaffrarian Rifles Freedom of the City parade 1988 & 1989 01/12/1990 – 31/08/1993 First City CSM
01/09/1993 – 01/09/1898 Gately Commando, Unit Counter Intelligence Office 80th Anniversary Of The “Battle Of Delville Wood” In France (15/07/96-21/07/96)
BVR and First City Colour with the new Battle Honours 07/04/1998 – 30/08/1999 First City CSM CSM / RSM Infantry School 2001
Warrant Officer Class 2 01/08/2002 & with EPC WO’s from East London 01/09/1999 – 30/08/2003 The Buffalo Volunteer Rifles CSM
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First City 01/09/2003 Warrant Officer Class 1 01/11/2003 Regimental Sergeant Major 01/11/2003 (Level 4) Master Warrant Officer 01/06/2008
2012 MWO Weekend Natal Carbineers Three different Highland Regiments in Stepouts and Mess Dress 01/09/2003 – 31/10/2013 First City RSM resigned
Last Time holding the Colour and last day in the Army
Receiving the MMM and the Medalje Vir Troue Diens 30 Years
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Medals: 1. Military Merit Medal G/O 555/02 dd 25/11/2002 14254 2. Pro Patria Medal G/O 123/81 dd 21/08/1981 19455 3. Southern Africa Medal G/O 105/92 dd 22/02/1992 5641 4. General Service Medal G/O 591/96 dd 10/10/1996 49361 5. Ciskei Defence Medal G/O CDF dd 01/09/1993 none 6.Tshumelo Ikatelaho G/O 127/08 dd 14/05/2008 7586 7. Unitas Medal G/O 653/95 dd 12/07/1995 85692 8. Medal for Loyal Service G/O 050/09 dd 27/02/2009 17701 & 30 Year Bar/Clasp G/O 050/09 dd 27/02/2009 none 9. John Chard Decoration G/O 146/02 dd 25/04/2002 2200 10. John Chard Medal G/O 172/89 dd 18/10/1989 606 11. SA Security Officers’ Board Medal for Bravery (Gold Class) 30/10/1997
Badge for Voluntary Reserve Service G/O 519/06 dd 15/12/2006
Emblem for Voluntary Service Awarded dd 29/05/2001
Cartoons and sketches 180
Receiving the GOC Commendation certificate & Assisting at BVR medal parade Goc Inf Fmn Commendation Certificate dd 03/12/2007 464/07 Fort Ihlosi Commendation Certificate dd 19/03/2010
First City Commanders Commendation First City Commanders Commendation First City Commanders Commendation First City Commanders Commendation
FC 01/04 FC 30/06 FC 02/07 FC 02/07
dd 27/11/2004 dd 11/11/2006 dd 24/11/2007 dd 22/11/2008
008 017 023 029
Kaf R's Unit Commanders Commendation years 1983, 85, 87, 99 BVR's Unit Commanders Commendation years 00, 01, 03, 04, 05 & 06 SAS Port Rex Commanders Commendation year 01 Amatola Commanders Commendation year 06 EP Command Certificate of Achievement, Awarded, dd 18/05/1984
Craig’s Pub at HOME
While RSM of First City, First City won the Trophy for the Best Regiment in the Infantry 181
3 Years in a Row from having a Regiment of 12 men
With the First City/Cape Town Highlander & WO2 de Lange first Reserve Force member to receive Air Assault Wings Military Operations in Which MWO Brown Served: South West Africa / Angola Operation Witos Jan/Feb 1980 (Clandestine Number 015)
Operation Skeptic “Smokeshell� Jun 1980
Operation Klipkop
Aug/Sept 1980
Operation Daisy Nov 1981
Operation Buffalo Oct/Nov 1983 182
Operation Spider Web 1985-86 Internal Operations Operation Poncho 1985 - 1986 Operation Xenon 1987 Operation Ember 1988 - 1989 Operation Damadar 1990
Operation Shield 1995 - 1999 Operation Castanet 2000 Operation Intexo 2007
With the Sergeant Major of the Army
The Drill Hall and Town Hall with the Colour
Daily Despatch: The Kaffrarian Rifles Marching through East London
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With General Alexander and with the Prince and Countess of Wessex
RSM’s 6 SAI, First City and Prince Alfred’s Guard, RSM outing 2012 Table Mountain.
Every year as RSM of First City the RSM had a coin made this was the last one 2013.
Three SAP Firsts in Natal Midlands: Col Logan Govender • Lt-Col Aaron Bernard Pillay Aaron Bernard Pillay (late - Lieutenant-Colonel). The first Indian LieutenantColonel in the KwaZulu Natal (Natal Midlands Division) and Spiritual & Pastoral Head.
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• Captain Bob Sewpersad Captain Bob Sewpersad, the first Indian Station Commander at Mountain and also in the KwaZulu Natal (Natal Midlands Division).
• DWO Mike Nagamuthoo Warrant Officer Mike Nagamuthoo, the first Indian Branch Commander of the Detective Branch (CID), Mountain Rise.
Frans Bedford-Visser (SARP, British Army & PSS)
Frans Bedford-Visser served in the South African Railways Police from 1977 to 1982, when he left the police to pursue a civilian career. He worked in sales for several years, during which time he immigrated to the United Kingdom with his wife, Sue, settling in Scotland in 1987. They celebrated the birth of their only child, Jack, in 1990. Frans continued to work in several civilian posts, again initially primarily sales, but by 1999, he qualified as a business analyst whilst working for Sky Television. In this role he assisted with the design, testing and implementation of Sky’s digital 185
television platform. Having proven his worth in this field, Frans qualified as a project manager, gaining the prestigious Prince 2 qualification in Project Management. The desire to be part of a uniformed family never left him, however, and in 2002 he took a Commission as a Lieutenant in the British Army Reserve Forces. Frans continued throughout this time to work with Army Cadets, both of the Army Cadet Force as well as the Combined Cadet Force. After leaving Sky in 2004, Frans became a regular instructor or “Directing Staff” on the advanced cadet courses after having completed all the instructor courses offered by the British Army in this regard. In this role he helped to shape the cadets’ futures as his had been so many years ago by the S.A. Railways Police’s very able and professional instructors. At this time Frans also worked with one of Scotland’s top public schools, Loretto School, near Edinburgh, where he not only became involved with training their cadets, but also took on the role of the school’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme Officer. This involved imparting the values of self-belief and self-confidence on the young participants, guiding them in achieving their Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Having decided at an early age that he wanted to be a policeman, however, Frans found that this calling had never left him, and in 2006 he joined the then Lothian & Borders Police. With 28 years between one police college and the next, and at 46 years of age, despite being by far the oldest recruit in the training company, Frans excelled passing out 15 weeks later with distinction, having earned the Endeavour Award, presented to the student who contributed most to the course throughout. As Right Hand Marker of his training class, Frans assisted his class in their quest to win the David Connor Memorial Drill Trophy, which he accepted on their behalf. Still a serving police officer with the Police Service of Scotland, formed after the amalgamation of Scotland’s eight regional forces in 2013, Frans is looking forward to his retirement, after which he plans to divide his spare time amongst his many hobbies. One of these has been the championing of the preservation of the history of South African Railways Police, and in recent times Frans has been working closely with Brigadier (Ret) Hennie Heymans, formerly of the South African Police, who publishes the very successful online Security Forces magazine, Nongqai. Under Frans’ guidance the section dealing with the history of the S.A. Railways Police has grown exponentially and continues to do so. Frans also assists with several other sections of the magazine, helping to prepare these for publication. It is worth bearing in mind though, that little of this would be possible without the continued support of and contributions by his former Railways Police colleagues, whose photos, stories, and anecdotes bring history to life!
POLICE: INTERNATIONAL Mick Shaw •
Buckinghamshire Police Headdress
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Buckinghamshire Police Headdress In 1856 the Government passed an Act making it compulsory to establish a paid police force in the country. On the 6th February 1857, the Buckinghamshire Constabulary was established. Thirty-two candidates applied for the post of Chief Constable and at the Epiphany Sessions, held on the 6th February, Captain Willoughby Carter was appointed as the first Chief Constable of this Force. The Force was to see another four Chief Constables before it amalgamated with Oxford City Police, Oxfordshire Constabulary, Berkshire Constabulary and the Reading Borough Police on the 1st April 1968 Forming the Thames Valley Constabulary, later renamed the Thames Valley Police. When the first uniformed constable started patrolling, back in 1857, he would have worn a black frockcoat, black belt, trousers, and a stovepipe hat. At first constables were not allowed to carry any kind of stick or umbrella although, after a short period of time, sticks were provided after First police head gear a severe attack took place on a constable. So, the initial head gear for a constable took the form of a black top hat or stovepipe hat. Both hats have a flat crown but the way the cylinder runs into the crown is different. The top hat is flared at the tip where it connects to the crown and the cylinder is wider at the top than it is at the bottom. The stovepipe hat is straight. The brim is around 2 inches wide and it has a black leather top: inside there were stays of cane on either side. The stovepipe hat on the right is very similar to the ones issued. You will notice there is no badge or helmet plate. The group photograph is not that of Buckinghamshire Group of officers wearing the stovepipe top hat. Police Officers.
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Unfortunately, I do not have one in my collection. But this is a good example of both the uniform and hat. In the early 1860s the top hat was replaced by a helmet. The picture is a photograph of an original helmet of the time. The helmet was starting to look more traditional although the brim was flat. A helmet plate, dark bronze in colour, was now introduced with the name of the Police Force ‘Bucks County Constabulary’ around the centre of a shield containing a swan. The swan in this case is the emblem for Buckinghamshire. A laurel wreath is around the outside, topped off with the Queen’s Crown (Queen 1860s Police Helmet Victoria 1839 to 1901). Holes were made at the very top of the helmet to allow air through, keeping the constable’s head cooler. A chin strap enabled the helmet to stay firmly on his head. The photograph below is of the Buckinghamshire Constabulary South Buckinghamshire Constabulary South Eastern Division 1866 constables Eastern Division 1866 wearing this style of helmet. and is the only photograph I have in my collection with constables wearing this style of helmet. I am not quite sure when the helmet style changed but by 1880 constables were wearing the more recognisable helmet. This time the air vents were in the side and top and a chinstrap remained. Different police forces adopted different styles. Some favoured a spike or small round ball on the top: some had the cockscomb style, similar to the helmet, above with the air vent in the top and - in the case of the Buckinghamshire Constabulary a rose top as seen in the picture. The helmet plate remained remarkably similar to the one on the first helmet. Unfortunately, I do not have a photograph of one of these period helmets but the picture on the left is just the same, only with the King’s Crown. You will notice little has changed with the helmet plate except for the Crown (Edward V11 1901 to 1910). The helmet design and the helmet plate remained very similar until around the 1930’s. This photograph is taken from the Central Milton Keynes (CMK) Police Museum of which I am the curator. The helmet is fundamentally the same but with a new style black helmet plate and rose. A silver metal Buckinghamshire swan is in the Bucks Constabulary Helmet Helmet with King’s Crown 1935-1952 centre, surrounded by ‘Bucks Constabulary’ and a more recognisable star shaped helmet plate. On the top is the King’s Crown so now we would be looking at the period of George V1 (1936 to 1952). 188
At the advent of the Second World War (1939 to 1945) constables were also issued, in the event of an air raid, with a tin helmet22 that they would carry on their gas mask pouch and strap (issued in case of a gas attack). These are just the same as were issued to the British Army, only painted blue with POLICE in white Brodie type Police helmet across the front. 1939-1945 (WWII) When Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne (1952) the helmet plate changed to the Queen’s Crown but remained totally black, with the Bucks Constabulary exception of the chrome swan. In 1965/6 officers were issued with nighttime helmet 1965-68 two helmets. One had the black helmet plate, shown on the helmet in the picture below left; this was a ‘night-time helmet’ and a silver one, below right, was for daytime use. This remained the case until the amalgamation on April 1st, 1968, as mentioned at the beginning of this article. The five forces that amalgamated to form the Thames Valley Constabulary had their own style of helmet plate and one Reading Borough - used the coxcomb style helmet. It was Bucks Constabulary decided to adopt this style for the daytime helmet plate newly formed Thames Valley 1965-68 Constabulary, differing from the ‘rose style helmet’ the Bucks Constabulary had adopted. Before I mention the next helmet, you may have noticed that Insp. Charles Floyd Anthony the officer on the left in the second group photograph with the 1877-1911 first helmet is wearing a different style hat. This style appears to have been worn by officers, possibly until the early 1920’s, when the flat cap was issued to senior officers instead. Remember I am talking about the Bucks Constabulary. I have seen evidence that this style of hat was issued to rank and file constables in some police forces. The officer in the photograph is Inspector Charles Floyd Anthony (Bucks Thames Valley Constabulary Modern Thames Valley helmet – Pre-1970 Police Helmet
22
The Brodie helmet is a steel combat helmet designed and patented in London in 1915 by John Leopold Brodie. A modified form of it became the Helmet, Steel, Mark I in Britain (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodie_helmet )
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Constabulary 1877 to 1911) This picture was taken when he was officer in charge of Newport Pagnell Police Station (1897 to 1911). Back to the helmets. The photograph, left, was Thames Valley Constabulary’s first helmet; in the cockscomb style. The same style is still used today. The helmet plate was the star shape, completely in silver. In the centre was ‘ER’ surrounded by ‘Thames Valley Constabulary,’ topped by The Queen’s Crown - our present Queen Elizabeth II. Thames Valley Constabulary was renamed Thames Valley Police in the early 1970’s. The helmet plate changed again. It was still silver in colour; the ‘ER’ was replaced by the new Thames Valley logo, shown above left, and the wording changed to ‘Thames Valley Police’. The logo has taken the form of a shield with five small crowns, each 1980s Thames Valley Police representing the five forces that formed the Thames Valley Police. The two wriggly lines represent the River Thames. You will notice Riot Helmet with Visor that in the early 1990s the shield was coloured green and the wording was backed in blue During the 1980s, to protect the officer’s face during riot situations, a visor was made to fit on the front of the helmet which afforded the officers some small protection. This was soon replaced by a full head and face NATO style helmet giving much more protection. For a very short period, in 2009, the helmet was dropped from the police uniform and all ranks wore the ‘flat cap’ which previously had only been used when riding in vehicles as the helmet was inappropriate. The helmet came back into use a few years later and is still used today. This article only refers to the Bucks Constabulary and Thames Valley police helmet. Women Police Officers were not issued helmets but wore hats which changed over the years. Officers from inspector above wore flat caps with various markings on the Modern UK Police peak. Motorcycle Police Officers wore Riot Helmet Police Flat Cap headgear more suitable to their role and these also changed over the years. Traffic police officers used the flat cap with a white top so they would show up better at night. This photo of Bucks Constabulary taken between the 18th May and the 22nd August 1908 at the rear of Newport Pagnell Police Station, a station I worked at for a number of years during my service, was what really started me off on my research. I managed to name every officer and date the photograph. Newport Pagnell Police Station closed in 2019 after 147 years of serving the public. The photo that started it all 190
Comments by HBH After the British took possession of the Cape for the second time, the British brought in the Scotland Yard-type of policing and uniforms to go with it. The early towns had “town police” i.e. unarmed foot police while the country districts had armed mounted police. (The Scotland Yard model for towns and the Irish model for the rural areas.) The SA Police inherited the same model – “blue” for foot police with helmet and “khaki” for the mounted police. On 31st of May 1961 South Africa became a republic and the present blue and grey uniforms were introduced. There was no longer a visible distinction between foot and mounted police as the Force became more mechanised.
• 1820’s Insp. King: Kaapstad Die nagevolge van ‘n insident op die Parade in Kaapstad was die invoer van ‘n insp. King van die Londense polisie. Hy het beheer geneem oor die mag in Kaapstad en het amper twee eeue gelede vier sub-inspekteurs, vier sersante en veertig konstabels tot sy beskikking gehad. King se salaris was £200 per jaar. Hy het voor ‘n gekose komitee van die volksraad getuig dat hy nie meer as £200 per jaar gevra het nie omdat hy gedink het dit sou nutteloos wees om vir ‘n groter salaris te vra. ‘n Konstabel se salaris het tot £60 per jaar gestyg. (£5 per maand.) In 1860 word die eerste blou uniforms uitgereik en nege jaar later het die Kaapstadse polisie grys helms met die letters VR (Victoria Regina) in ‘n lourierkrans daarop gedra. Ratels en lanterns het plek gemaak vir knuppels.23, 24, 25 Die polisie-uniform op die Londense model gedurende die termyn van insp. King.26
• 1882 Polisie in Kaapstad Polisielede van Kaapstad afgeneem ná die opening van die Parlement in 1882. Let op die ou uniforms gebaseer op die Britse Bobby-model.27
Green, 1951: 45 – 46. Die Nongqai 1947-04-458. 25 Die Nongqai: 1938-08-792. 26 Die Nongqai: 1947-04-458. 27Die Nongqai: 1918: 526. 23 24
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MILITARY INTERNATIONAL
British Stratkom? • Officer at the Army's secret psychological warfare unit 'pressured veteran who reported his security blunder' • • •
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Burridge lost a pile of cards with his contact details He is in the 77th Brigade which leads efforts against Covid-19 disinformation The cards were spotted on a street in Cottesmore, Rutland, by an Army veteran
By Mark Nicol for the Mail on Sunday Published: 00:46 BST, 17 May 2020 | Updated: 00:59 BST, 17 May 2020 A senior officer at the Army’s secret psychological warfare unit has been ticked off after losing a dozen of his business cards in the street – and then using military police to pressure the veteran who raised the alert. Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Burridge, a commander in 77th Brigade which is leading efforts to counter Covid-19 disinformation, dropped a pile of cards carrying his office and mobile telephone numbers and his email address earlier this month. 192
They were spotted on a street in Cottesmore, Rutland, by an Army veteran. Fearing a possible security breach, he picked them up and contacted Alfie Usher, a former soldier who runs the respected military Facebook group Fill Your Boots. Using the number on the card, Mr Usher contacted Lt Col Burridge and was surprised when the officer initially denied losing the cards and claimed it was a case of mistaken identity. Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Burridge, a commander in 77th Brigade which is leading efforts to counter Covid-19 disinformation, dropped a pile of cards carrying his office and mobile telephone numbers and his email address earlier this month He relented only when the email address and phone numbers were read out to him but then angrily said he was ‘busy fixing Covid’ before abruptly ending the call. Mr Usher then received a number of mysterious phone calls from military police officers demanding to know who found the cards. When Mr Usher asked for an official case reference number, they refused to provide one. Given the shadowy nature of 77th Brigade’s work, Army chiefs are said to have expressed disappointment about how Lt Col Burridge handled the incident, not least because Mr Usher subsequently posted a three-minute video on Fill Your Boots detailing his experience. It has been watched more than 50,000 times. Mr Usher last night declined to comment, but says in his video: ‘He’s [Lt Col Burridge] embarrassed himself. I tried to do him a favour my letting him know. ‘Instead he said, “How dare you speak to a lieutenant colonel like that,” and hung up on me. Then he got the RMPs to call my office when they don’t have jurisdiction over civilians. ‘It only takes one officer to display such a lack of humility to let down all the others. He only had to be civil and say thanks.’ Given the shadowy nature of 77th Brigade’s work, Army chiefs are said to have expressed disappointment about how Lt Col Burridge handled the incident, not least because Mr Usher subsequently posted a threeminute video on Fill Your Boots detailing his experience. Pictured: the 77th Brigade symbol
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General Sir Nick Carter, the Chief of the General Staff, last month revealed that 77th Brigade was being used to combat disinformation about the spread of the virus. The unit is understood to have teamed up with the security services to thwart Chinese and Russian online propaganda. Formed in 2015, 77th Brigade is based at Denison Barracks in Berkshire. It specialises in psychological warfare, including using Twitter and Facebook to challenge false claims about UK Government policy. The Mail on Sunday revealed in December 2018 how 77th Brigade had been targeted by Russian state journalists who were questioned and photographed by Army soldiers for loitering near the base and filming through its barbed wire perimeter fences. Last night an Army spokesman said: ‘We are aware of an incident regarding some lost business cards which has been resolved appropriately. ‘We are not prepared to comment further on an individual’s personal information.’ Share or comment on this article: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8327197/Officer-Armyssecret-warfare-unit-pressured-veteran-reported-security-blunder.html
China • In the shadow of the Wolf Warriors: Chinese nationalists urge President Xi to seize Taiwan as Beijing's bullying could see the island democracy that beat the virus barred from this week's vital WHO summit
Ian Birrell: The island nation of Taiwan is almost unique among locked down developed countries with just seven deaths and 440 confirmed cases. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article8326631/Chinese-nationalists-urge-President-Xi-seize-Taiwan.html
Angola • Manuel Resende Ferreira With the shameful unconditional surrender by the Portuguese Government of its overseas Provinces in the early 70s large numbers of Portuguese soldiers, black, white and Bushmen refused to just lay down their arms at the altar of convenience and by doing so hand over Angola and its Provinces to Soviet backed terrorists who would spread terror and untold suffering to the peoples living in them. Flag of the Portuguese Armed Forces. Some of these ex-servicemen would take up the fight by either joining the ELNA, ELP with others forming independent fighting units. Many however became the tip of the spear by forming the bulk of Task Force Zulus 194
deployment during Operation Savannah 1974/75. Dozens paid the ultimate sacrifice in taking up arms against FAPLA and its Communist masters with their blood having soaked the very soil they had sworn to defend. Sadly, many of these brave men's names have not only been lost but they are buried in unmarked graves, many buried were they fell with no pomp or ceremony. We need the assistance to remedy this situation as we want to start compiling a record of those men's names and if possible, were they could possibly have been buried. We want their families, friends and comrades to know that we won't forget their sacrifices and that, their names will forever be engraved in our hearts ... • Lieutenant João da Silveira Rodrigues Mitras (Portuguese Army) • Private Joaquim Machado (Portuguese Army) • João (Local guide) All killed in action in Otjinjau, buried in Chitado. • Sergeant Elizeu Pires Rodrigues (Foreign legion) • António Joaquim Machado • Sergeant Carlos Alberto Lacerda (Portuguese Commando) All buried Calai, 7 December 1975. • • • • • •
Sergeant António Nobre (Portuguese Commando) Private José Navalhas (Portuguese Commando) Private Carvalho Private Carvalho (Sete Pelos) Tracker (Pisteiro) António João van Zeller Lieutenant (pilot) Oliveira Ferreira (Portuguese Air Force) executed by MPLA in Luanda.
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Ops Savannah: SADF soldiers with a group of Portuguese fighters.
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With thanks to: • Carlos Ferreira • Stephen Dunkley • Johan Schoeman Photo credits The 2 black and white photos by Laurie Schochat. Others by Pedro Marangoni. Manuel Resende Ferreira
INTELLIGENCE: INTERNATIONAL
Dave Kenny • WW1: Underground Intelligence An obscure aspect of military history is the underground war that took place in WW1. And here, we are talking literally. We also tell the tale of the MOST destructive Intelligence operator in the history of warfare…. Ever! The surface of the battlefields of France and Flanders hid a vast network of underground shafts, tunnels and other workings. Vigorous and lethal warfare was waged underground, and as with scouting and sniping, it was a familiar story. German engineering, technology and efficiency was initially superior to that of the Allies. However, the Allies quickly caught up and surpassed German capability. It would be no surprise that there was a South African connection. The need for tunnelling capability in trench warfare was obvious. Both sides had networks of saps / trenches (hence Sappers!) covering vast areas. The Germans though, had ventured underground. Their underground activities were both offensive, and of an intelligence nature. Tunnels enabled the Germans to get near (even directly underneath) allied trenches and place listening devices. They were also able to tunnel directly beneath allied positions and blow them up from beneath. The hero of the day was a former Natal Farmer and Rand Miner, Maj. John Norton Griffiths. Also known as “Empire Jack” or “Hell-Fire Jack”. His story is backstory flipping interesting (BSAP, Jamieson Raid, ABW, builder of Benguela railway etc. etc.) but you can read about that here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Norton-Griffiths Our focus is on the intelligence aspects of the story. 197
By the early 1900’s Norton-Griffiths had become a successful and wealthy engineer. So much so that he was able to establish and fund the raising of a regiment 2nd King Edward's Horse, affiliated to the King’s Own Dominion Colonials. https://www.kingscolonials.com/ The KODR was made up of “colonials” living in the UK, and amongst other things was a prolific officer pipeline (over 500 “Colonials” troopers were commissioned during the war). The independent spirit of the Colonials meant that they were frequently deployed as Scouts, and garnered the nickname “King’s Own Dispatch Riders”. Norton-Griffiths had proposed his own solutions to the problem of German underground (UG) warfare and was eventually given authority to form his own secret unit, 170th Tunnelling Company, RE. The unit was raised and deployed within a month. A number of infantrymen were allocated to the unit for security, but the main focus of these guys was specialised tunnelling in clay. This enabled his tunnels to go deeper, and, silently. They give us the word “undercut”. Norton-Griffith also used a device called a geo-phone. This French listening device enabled his men to detect where the Germans were. He was now ready to go on the offensive. Technical details are here: https://www.miningmagazine.com/…/op…/1263557/tunnelling-deep The long and short of it was that, in secret, his men were able to place a hundred million pounds (460 tons) of explosives under German positions. D-Day was 7th June 1917. The general in charge Genl. Sir Charles Harington, is reputed to have said: "Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography". 10 000 Germans were killed in the initial explosions. These were followed up by Allied assaults. The dazed and confused Germans were in no state to fight effectively, and by the end of the week the Germans had suffered 25000 casualties and 7500 of them were captured. This was the biggest non-nuke explosion in military history and the bang was felt / heard in London. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/…/biggest-blast-before-…/ Shortly after this, Norton-Griffith was summonsed to London. He was tasked by Military Intelligence to stop the Rumanian oil wells getting into the hands of the Germans. General George Macdonogh, head of MI7b of British Military Intelligence, briefed him on 4th Nov 1916 and Norton-Griffiths asked what regiments he would take. The DMI told him that he had to travel alone and make a plan when he got there. Immediately after the briefing Maj. Norton-Griffiths travelled via Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Saint Petersburg, to Bucharest where he arrived after 14 days of discreet travel. The long-and-short of it was that he started the urgent and rapid destruction of the oilfields. By whatever means! He blew stuff up, blocked tunnels, ignited pipelines, wrecked machinery and caused as much havoc as possible. The Romanians weren’t too pleased that he had destroyed a profitable industry, but the Germans were even less pleased (see their propaganda report). He destroyed some 14 oil refineries, ignited 1500 oil wells, blocked 1000 more and accounted for some 398,500 tons of fuel. That was just for starters. By the time he had finished he had destroyed a further 80 oil refineries. And Maj Norton-Griffiths achieved this with a team of just seven British officers, a Frenchman, a Rumanian Prince and a small group of local engineers. He had been given a working budget of £5K. In total about 920 000 tons of oil were destroyed, enough to keep the German war-machine moving for two years!! So, as far as strategic value-for-money goes, the Brits did well out of Maj. Norton-Griffiths. It’s not much to celebrate though. The environmental devastation of the country was immense. He wrote a detailed report on these events. Such was the sensitivity of the report, that is was only released to the public about 10 years ago. It was Top-Secret for 90 years! After the war, several oil companies in Rumanian initiated litigation against the British Govt for the destruction of their properties, livelihood, and investments. They all embroiled Col. Norton-Griffiths in the process. He had been operating under orders and even had the proof in the form of a telegram from CIGS congratulating him. Unfortunately for him, the telegram was covered under the Official Secrets Act and he could not adduce it as evidence. 198
https://www.parliament.uk/…/john-norton-griffiths-mp-1871-…/ It’s a remarkable story, and much more remains to be documented. A book about his adventures has been published, seems like a must read! An alternate title could be “The Man Who FxxxxD Things Up”! He certainly did that on a grand scale. C’est La Guerre!
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• MI5 WW1: Pretoria My friend Dave writes: 200
Now here is something else I never heard about. The setting up of the Security Service (MI5) Liaison in SA in WW1. Ever heard of this Col Fowle, Provost Marshall?28 See pp 46 onwards. Smuts wanted nothing to do with this scheme and he wiggled every which way to avoid having a MI5 presence. Amazing - I thought I had the basics of SA Int well covered through the years, then all this new stuff emerges. Cheers, Dave
• WW1: MI5 Comes to South Africa In the early years of WW1, South Africa was well supplied with tactical Intelligence capacity. The country was awash with “Intelligence Corps” of various descriptions. A reasonably comprehensive programme of Intelligence training was happening, and the ground-work for formal MI structures was in place. By 1917 there was a concern in London that the Empire did not have a well-connected and effective Security Intelligence network. It was deemed that such a service was needed to keep an eye on Strategic threats to the integrity of Empire. Such threats were not only the obvious one of Germany, but also (and maybe particularly), the rise of Bolshevism, as well as the earliest rustlings of the “Winds of Change” in the colonies. The plan was to train up a network of Security Intelligence officers in the UK and send them out into the colonies to establish satellite organisations. This network would enable HMG to keep tabs, on an internationally coordinated basis, on present and emerging threats. So, the officers were trained up. In South Africa’s case Lt Col. Packenham was the allocated man. London wrote to SA proposing to send someone over to help SA set up a Security Bureau. No reply was forthcoming from Genl Smuts or anyone else. Eventually Packenham arrived in SA and discovered that neither he, not his mission, were particularly welcomed. He was told in no uncertain terms that the sensitivities of SA / German relations were not to be disturbed (Notwithstanding that SA had vigorously gone to war with Germany in three theatres: GSWA, GEA and Flanders). Domestic relations with German South Africans were not to be damaged (and there are historical problems with this, because many Germans in SA were interned). These were tricky times for Genl Smuts and Louis Botha. Into this complex situation entered Lt. Col. Packenham. He seems to have done so with some tact and skill and maintained a purely “liaison” role. The Provost Marshall of SA, Lt Col Hamilton-Fowle was appointed as his liaison contact. HamiltonFowle had previous intelligence experience and was inter-alia, Commissioner of Enemy Subjects, Custodian of Enemy Trading, and Controller of the Pietermaritzburg Internment Camp. Between the two of them, they started work, not always singing from the same song-sheet. Packenham seems to have realised that there was no point alienating the settled German population. Hamilton-Fowle in contrast, was determined to intern as many of them as possible.
28
In the next edition I will spend some time on Lt.-Col. Hamilton Fowle – HBH.
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Packenham also concentrated his efforts on Port Control and the censorship of mails. Of course, by Oct 1917, the Russian Revolution with the Bolshoviks led by Vladimir Lenin had kicked off. Within a year, a revolt (strongly underpinned by Leninist ideology) swept through the German Navy. This quickly led to collapse of other German structures culminating at the Armistice on 11/11/1918. Packenham and Hamilton-Fowle had not been slow to recognise the new Red threat (see report) and together established a UK / SA Security Intelligence relationship that was to last for many years. The attached letter from Fowle to Col Vernon Kell (First Chief of the Security Service) reflects his concern that the Red Threat was not being taken seriously enough (En daar het jy dit, dit is waar die Rooi Gevaar begin het!) MI5 was to have some sort of a foothold in SA from the start of WW2, and was highly active on many fronts in SA during the war. A story for another day. The question to be asked is this (says he, stirring the pot), when did SA / MI5 relations and liaison cease to exist????
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• MI5: WW2 Pretoria: Barton Keep During WW2 HMG sent a "Security Advisor" to SA to assist with liaison and other matters. Maj. Webster was in fact, the MI5 Man in the country (Security Service). He had long experience of security matters following many years police work in India. In particular, he was a port and harbour security specialist. Webster had a close working relationship with MI and parts of the police, but his relations with the SAP CID were fractious indeed. He worked under (flimsy) cover of the 203 Military Mission. In Pretoria this was based in Barton Keep, a listed building near Melrose House. Attached here is a letter from the 203 Military Mission to Sir David Petrie, the Chief of MI 5 (also an ex Indian Policeman). The letter refers to a drawing by Lt Col. Kreft DDMI (Deputy Director MI) and the drawing is attached. Col Kreft was one of our first "career" MI Officers. As an MI Lieutenant he had done the first feasibility study of parachuting in Africa. “Notes on the Utility of Parachute Units in Bush Warfare”. The letter to Petrie is also interesting by reflecting a trademark green tick. Also note the address. To this day, MI5 / Security Service is referred to as "Box 500". Barton Keep: Pretoria
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The Commissioner of Police at that time was Brig GRC Baston acting as Compol in the place of Maj-Gen IP de Villiers.
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BOOKS | BOEKE Albert Blake • Robey Leibbrandt – ‘n Lewe van Fanatisme
Hierdie is ‘n vreeslike interessante boek oor oud-soldaat, oud-polisieman en oud-spoorwegpolisieman. Hy was een van “ons” eerste valskermspringers in Duitsland. Volgende maand meer oor hierdie interessante persoonlikheid waarvoor selfs 15 gewapende speurders voor “bang” was om te arresteer. (Die s-hoof-konst in bevel is toe in rang verlaag.)Volgende maand deel ons van Albert Blake se historiese foto’s - HBH. 206
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LETTERS | BRIEWE
Soek besonderhede van No 315654V Johannes Benjamin van Zyl: Nico Moolman
Nico Moolman skryf: “Kan jy dalk iets van hierdie soldaat opspoor asb.? Vriendin se oupa.” My kontak berig: Dear Hennie On South African items I cannot gain access to the archives at the moment however I can tell you that his service number is allocated to SAMC training centre Zonderwater. So, we know he was a medic. I will see if I can find anything more – Munro.
Officers Sword: Capt André van Ellinckhuyzen Brigadier Heymans, A friend of mine is in possession of this sword. It was for many years his father’s belonging. On the grip or then hand protection there is an engraving which reads: PRESENTED TO LIEUT. R.A. ALLEN CLC. BEF 208
BY THE W.S.C. 1913 We are trying to find out about the history of this particular sword and in particular the Officer to whom it was presented. Hoping that you might be in a position to shed some light on this piece of our history. Greetings AndrĂŠ van Ellinckhuyzen
A specialist replies Dear Hennie This is a standard issue GvR (George V) officer sword. The BEF (British Expeditionary Forces) was formed prior to the war. This is pre-war officer. I am not sure what the CLC stands for. I searched the army lists and found a Lt RA Allen Royal Artillery in the 1914 army lists and will assume that its him. If its him he served in WW1 and was active 1914-1918 in France and Belgium. No awards or decorations. CLC is interesting and I suggest a search of the components of the of the BEF in 1913. Another clue can be the manufacturer. On the side of the sword will be the manufactures name and possible a badge etched into the blade. Many times these are regimental. The WSC will be a company or a college? Kind regards, Munroe 209
Dear Andre GvR stands for George V (fifth) Rex, King George V. R is Rex. (King) I do not think WSC is Wilkinson Sword Company. I rather suggest it’s a College or a place. If it was a Wilkinson SWC then it would have been etched into the blade. They could do this. Its either Lt (later Major) RA Allen of the Royal Artillery or 2/Lt RA Allen of the Labour Corps. Correct that CLC is not Chinese Labour Corp as the sword is dated 1913. I looked them both up and I think it’s more than likely not Major RA Allen of the Royal Artillery but rather Lt RA Allen of the Labour Corps. I attached 2 screen shots of what I found on both men. I suspect that this is a private purchase sword presented to Lt Allen when he was commissioned in 1913 into “something” labour Corps. More than likely somewhere in India or the colonies. Can you send me pictures of the blade and maybe we have some more clues? Kind regards Munroe
Dear Andre Thanks for the pictures. Mystery solved. The blade is etched with his signature on it. Look carefully - RA Allen - signature. From that signature I can tell you that this man signs a lot of documents. Then the date is 1917 not 1913. So, its Chinese Labour Corp BEF. And because it cost a lot of money to personally etch a blade this is presented from a large corporation. I think WSC is “Something Shanghai Corporation” or Water Service Corp or something like that. Its been given to him on being commissioned and taking his men to France. All the officers were men who came from civilian life and knew how to deal with the locals. Kind regards, Munroe
District 79 (?) Chatsworth I made enquiries re District 79 (?), Chatsworth, Port Natal Division: During October 1988, Chatsworth District No. 79 was formed in Port Natal. The following stations were under the District Commissioner, Colonel Maharaj: 1. Bayview 2. Chatsworth 3. Cato Manor 4. Isipingo 210
5. Sydenham The district Commissioner’s office and staff were based at SA Police Chatsworth. Prior to the closure of the District they were accommodated at Cato Manor. In 1988 the District finally closed due to the restructuring of the SAPS which resulted in Stations directly being accountable to the Area Commissioner in Port Natal" • Please help I need more info on the Chatsworth District - HBH
Die Woord: Lt.kol. MJJ van Rensburg (SALM Afgetree) Die Woord Die tydlose almanak, die fontein van die lewe. Gelouter deur skepping, sewe maal sewe. Hoër as alle denkwyse, grensloos in wysheid en liefde. Uit die verborgenheid van heiligheid, skryf die skriba op die satyn-bladsy. Die griffel vloei soos ‘n vulkaan se hart. Hierdie is woorde in Skepping vir ewigheid. Dit is woorde van vloeiende goud deur smart. Uit die hoogoonde van Goddelike gedagtes kom die Hoogheilige skryfkuns ver uit die verskiet van tyd. Uit die Engelekoor kom die aanbidding. Hulle aanskou die twee getuienisse van die Woord. Alles kom uit die hart van God in die glorie van Sy Gebod Die Woord koepel oor die aarde en die Woord deurdrenk mense se harte. Die Woord se voorwaardes en krag ondersoek die dieptes van alle bestaan. Die Evangelie van die Woord gee die waarheid, die weg verhewe. Die Woord is die stille skaduwee van die ewige lewe vir my verloste, gegewe. In Bethlehem word ‘n kind gebore. Sy roeping is Hemels geswore. Hy gee hoop, Hy gee lig en mandjies brode. Hy is die seun, Koning met sandale en Sy hart ween oor ‘n wêreld verlore Tussen die skares is Hy eensaam. 211
Tussen al die mense is hy honger. Die satan lag en die demone beaam. Dis die Man in Getsemane. Dis die Man wat Sy kruis sleep Ek ween en ek ween en ek ween. Dis my sonde wat Hom aan die kruis laat hang. My trane lĂŞ in Sy vergifnis kruik. Dis my Jesus , dis die Woord en Hy kom as Koning uit die Hemelse oord MJJ van Rensburg 30 April 2020
Nico Moolman: Ou glas-negatiewe Ter verduideliking oor ‘n glas-negatief. Amper altyd A5 grootte. Soos 'n badkamer teel. Gewoonlik beskadig en getsjip. Met my spesiale skandeerder wat ontwerp en gebou is deur my briljante vriend, dr Gary Immelman, herwin ek dan die oorspronklike foto. Hier wys ek dan 'n besonderse een. In 'n boks by Fort Amiel-museum gekry. (Ure later tot S/W kiekie ontwikkel.) Ook kon Louis Eksteen haar eien as Maude Gorrie van Newcastle 1890's. Ek noem haar 'My Boere Mona Lisa.' Later ingekleur deur vriend Clint Matthews ....Voila!!
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• Kommentaar HBH Nongqai is bevoorreg om vriende met Nico Moolman (die seun van ‘n polisieman) te wees. Honderde foto’s van Nico het sover gereeld in die Nongqai verskyn. Kyk na foto 1. So lyk meeste glas negatiewe. Met ‘n passie om ons geskiedenis te bewaar, herstel en ontwikkel Nico dan die ou negatiewe wat hy dan vir ons beskikbaar stel. Soms neem die proses ure! Ongelukkig het mens soms net die foto en geen gegewens nie. So het hy ‘n hele boks vol negatiewe van Robert’s Heights gekry en ontwikkel. Ons kan egter nie die soldate of hul regimente identifiseer nie behalwe die bekendes soos bv. genl Pierre van Reyneveld en kol Pappa Brits. Nogtans is hierdie foto’s ‘n kosbare kultuur-historiese erfnis wat ten alle koste bewaar moet word. Ons dank aan Nico Moolman.
Gesoek: JLJ Jacobs: Genl-maj Gert Opperman Gesoek deur sy kinders wat graag kontak met hom wil maak Graag word enige persoon wat oor inligting beskik waar 5605085096007 JOHANNES LODEWIKUS JOSIAS JACOBS (OU WEERMAGNOMMER 722235864 DA of KT, RANG IN EEN STADIUM LUITENANT), GEBORE 8 MEI 1956, hom mag bevind, vriendelik versoek om asb. die inligting so spoedig moontlik deur te gee aan gertopperman5@gmail.com of sms 083 300 4580 ten einde die kinders te help om met hom te skakel, indien moontlik.
Details: Capt. John Frederick Kinnery: SAAF: Ruud Slangen: Bond van Wapenbroeders: The Netherlands Good afternoon sir, 213
I found your email address while searching for information about a pilot of the Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag. Capt. Kinnery was pilot of a Mosquito that crashed near my hometown on 02-12-1944. He lies buried here in Harderwijk, the Netherlands together with 42 other aircrew members. Every year my veteran’s organisation remembers them with a small ceremony in November. I am looking for a picture of Capt John Frederick Kinnery and maybe, just maybe relatives, just to let them know his name is not forgotten. Capt. John Frederick Kinnery Service number 102495V Pilot of De Havilland Mosquito MM519 RO-? His navigator was F/O J.D. Morgan No. 29 Squadron RAF. Can you be of any help? Ruud Slangen
Ruud Slagen 214
Brig. JB Bester: Nongqai Vol 11 No 5: Genl.-maj. G Murphy Goeie middag Hennie, Hier is ’n stukkie interessante geskiedenis tov Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment rakende brig. Bester in genoemde Nongqai uitgawe van jou. "Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment
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The Witwatersrand Rifles claim lineage from the Railway Pioneer Regiment, which was formed on the 19th December 1899 and disbanded at the end of April 1903. The Witwatersrand Rifles was formed on the 1st May 1903 with the majority of the Railway Pioneer Regiment transferring to the Witwatersrand Rifle In 1930, approval was granted for the alliance with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and, by 1939, authority had been granted for the adoption of all items of dress worn by the Cameronians. Following the disbandment of the Cameronians, it is possible that the Witwatersrand Rifles is the only unit in the world still wearing the Cameronian dress which is distinctive in itself, being in the main, cut-away tunic and Douglas Tartan Trews. The Regiment has a long and proud record dating back to the Zulu Rebellion of 1906, the Great War 1914-18, the Rand Rebellion and the 1939-45 World War, when the unit amalgamated with the De la Rey Regiment and was known as the Wits/De la Rey". The Regiment received the Freedom of the City of Johannesburg on 24th April 1954. Die foto’s wat ek aanheg is geneem op 5 Julie 1986 tydens die eeufeesviering van Johannesburg in 1986 tydens my ampstermyn as Bevelvoerder Kommandement, Witwatersrand. Op die salueerbasis is mnr Adriaan Vlok toe adjunk-minister van die SA Weermag en SA Polisie, genl Jan Geldenhuys hoof van SA Weermag, prof Harold Rudolph, burgermeester van Johannesburg en myself as bevelvoerder Kommandement Witwatersrand. Op die ander foto is die 12 Bevelvoerders van die eenhede wat die vryheid tot die stad Johannesburg het en onder andere kan jy die kleredrag van die Bevelvoerder van Witwatersrand Rifles erken.
(Mnr Vlok, genl Jannie Geldenhuys, Burgemeester en genl Murphy.) 216
Ek hoop jy vind die stukkie geskiedenis interessant.29 Groete, Gerrit Murphy.
LAST WORD: REV CHARISSE LE ROUX Choose to forgive, let go of the past, and God will forgive you. An unforgiving attitude causes us to cling to the past, to relive it over and over again, picking at each fresh scab so that the mental wound never heals. Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.
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Tweede van links is my “Ou Kollege” Kol MS du Toit – ons was saam op kursus in Taiwan – HBH.
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“I can’t close my mouth – my chin strap is too long, Sir!” Sketch by JH Jackson 1947.
INDEMNITY & © | VRYWARING & ©
End | Slot Dear reader Please note that in this quasi-historical magazine we make use of various sources and consequently it is obvious that the document contains various diverse and personal opinions of different people and the author of the Nongqai cannot be held responsible or be liable in his personal capacity. Geagte leser Vir hierdie kwasiehistoriese tydskrif maak ons van verskeie bronne gebruik en bevat die dokument uiteraard uiteenlopende en diverse persoonlike menings van verskillende persone en die opsteller van die Nongqai kan nie in sy persoonlike hoedanigheid daarvoor verantwoordelik of aanspreeklik gehou word nie.
Brig. Hennie Heymans: No 43630K (B) © HB Heymans 2020. 218