8ron nr 0 T“ m CO CM Datum (-/\L \(j\ 6 1 2j b»/ » 7 i/j OiHlerwe'p L l t. :• Kmpsel nr /.3 Ca£ Die Transvaler j 9 ..... (*. Nr. Z Dat. 2 5 .IUH jSoldaatwees is vir die lode van 32 Bataljon j'n leefwyse. Die besondere kameraadskap tussen die soldate vvat Portugees as voertaal gebruik, het in die Angolese burgeroorlog en die stryd teeri Swapo rn die Kubane ont- staan. Non is dit 32 Bataljon se taak om die polisie in die onlusgebiede by te staan. Von sy hoofbasis by Pomfret in Noord-Kaapland kan hy vinnig in enige deel van die land, ontplooi word. LOUIS KIRSTEIN het by Pomfret gaan kyk wat die manne so uitsor- derlik maak. In bres vir Vandag bestaan hy uit twee infanteriebatal- jons. n verkenningsvleuel en ’n subeenheid wat die militere basis van Pomfret bestuur. Pomfret is die bataljon se nuwe tuiste in Noord-Kaapland. 32 Bataljon kan vinnig in enige deel van die land ontplooi word en sy valskermvcrmoS word uitgebrei om hom noggedugter te maak. Die soldate is van Angola, Namibia, Zaire, Sao Tome en Mosambiek. Die voertaal is Portugees en op Pomfret is reeds ’n Portugese hoer en laer skool. Pomfret is sowat 60 kilometer van Botswana. Die nuwe intrekkers het die bevolking tot 6 000 vermeerder en 800 huise is biune ’n jaar gebou. • Na die tussentydse verslag van die Gold- stone-kommissie van ondersoek na geweldple- ging in Pholapark waarbv lede van di6 eenheid na bewering betrokke was, is heelwat negatiewe kommentaar oor32 Bataljon gehoor. Regter Goldstone het in sy verslag aanbeveel die 32 DIT is meestal moeilikheidmakers wat mcen ge- weld is die enigste manier om hul doelwit to be- reik, wat negatief teenoor 32 Bataljon in die swart dorpe is. S6 se kapt Antrinio Andre van 32 bataljon wat reeds etlike maande diens in woonhuurte aan die Oos-Rand doen. "Dit is baie keer die mense teen wie ons pas opgetree het. wat teen ons is." Die dade van enkele lede van 32 Bataljon kan nie gebruik word om die hele bataljon te betrek nie, het die hoof van die leer. It-genI George Moi- ling, op Pomfret in Noord-Kaapland aan verslag- gewers ges£. Die bekende bataljon is op 27 Maart 1976 go- stig. Die manskappc is mense wat in die smelt- kroes van die burgeroorlog in Angola on die stryd teen Swapo-guemllavegtors en Kubane bveentre- bringis. Sy ou basis was by BufTalo aan die Kavangon- vier. Genl Meiring het gese die bataljon het voor die H voorval op 8 April vanjaar reeds ’n jaar lank in ; die woongebied gewerk en daar was geen voor- . ____- Valle nie. * .i. - r- • “Daar word nie meer klagtes teen die oenheid ;; as teen enige ander weermagoonhedo aanhangig gemaak nie," se genl Meiring. Alio klagtes teen lede van die weermag word deoglik ondersoek. Genl Meiring. wat ook 'n ere-lid van die batal- jon is. hot gese hy wil nie enige kommentaar oor die Goldsf ono-verslag of die ondersoek na klagtes Iewer nie. Dit i* jni« <uridat 32 Bataljon onpurtydig is soos die ros van dio weermag. dat hy gebruik word om die* polisio to help. “Kk kan me toelaat dat die mount like wango- drag van enkolo lode dio paraatheid van die lu lo bataljon aantas nie," het hy gese. Hy ken dio bataljon en sal sv voortgesotte aan- wending hooordoel na golang van die hehoefte wat daar hestaan, hot genl Meiring gese. Die bataljon moot as hooltvdse operasionele eonheid to alio tyo gereed woes om aangewend te word. n TF £ /jc A 5 7 io
Transcript
8ronnr
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D atum
(-/\L \ ( j \ 6 1 2 j b » / » 7 i / j
OiHlerwe'p
L l t . :•
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Die Transvaler j 9.....(*. N r. Z D at.2 5 .IUH
jSoldaatwees is vir die lode van 32 Bataljon j ' n leefwyse. Die besondere kameraadskap tussen die soldate vvat Portugees as voertaal gebruik, het in die Angolese burgeroorlog en die stryd teeri Swapo rn die Kubane ont- staan. Non is dit 32 Bataljon se taak om die polisie in die onlusgebiede by te staan. Von sy hoofbasis by Pomfret in Noord-Kaapland kan hy vinnig in enige deel van die land, ontplooi word. LOUIS KIRSTEIN het by Pomfret gaan kyk wat die manne so uitsor- derlik maak.
In bres vir
Vandag bestaan hy uit twee infanteriebatal- jons. n verkenningsvleuel en ’n subeenheid w at die m ilitere basis van Pomfret bestuur. Pomfret is die bataljon se nuwe tuiste in Noord-Kaapland.
32 Bataljon kan vinnig in enige deel van die land ontplooi word en sy valskermvcrmoS word uitgebrei om hom noggedugter te maak.
Die soldate is van Angola, Namibia, Zaire, Sao Tome en Mosambiek. Die voertaal is Portugees en op Pomfret is reeds ’n Portugese hoer en laer skool.
Pomfret is sowat 60 kilom eter van Botswana. Die nuwe intrekkers het die bevolking tot 6 000 vermeerder en 800 huise is biune ’n jaa r gebou.
• Na die tussentydse verslag van die Gold- stone-kommissie van ondersoek na geweldple- ging in Pholapark waarbv lede van di6 eenheid na bewering betrokke was, is heelwat negatiewe kom m entaar oor32 Bataljon gehoor.
Regter Goldstone het in sy verslag aanbeveel
die 32
DIT is meestal moeilikheidmakers wat mcen ge- weld is die enigste m anier om hul doelwit to be- reik, wat negatief teenoor 32 Bataljon in d ie swart dorpe is.
S6 se kapt Antrinio Andre van 32 bataljon wat reeds etlike maande diens in woonhuurte aan d ie Oos-Rand doen.
"Dit is baie keer die mense teen wie ons pas opgetree het. wat teen ons is."
Die dade v a n e n k e le led e van 32 B a ta ljo n k a n nie gebruik word om d ie hele b a ta ljo n te b e tre k nie, het die hoof v a n d ie le e r. It-genI G e o rg e Moiling, op Pomfret in N o o rd -K a a p la n d a a n v e rs la g - gewers ges£.
Die bekende bataljon is op 27 Maart 1976 go- stig. Die manskappc is mense wat in die smelt- kroes van die burgeroorlog in Angola on die stryd teen Swapo-guemllavegtors en Kubane bveentre- bringis.
Sy ou basis was by BufTalo aan die Kavangon- vier.
Genl M eiring het gese die bataljon het voor die H voorval op 8 April vanjaar reeds ’n ja a r lank in
; die woongebied gewerk en d aar was geen voor-. ____- V a l le n ie . * .i. -
r- • “D aar word nie meer klagtes teen die oenheid ;; as teen enige ander weermagoonhedo aanhangig
gemaak nie," se genl Meiring.A lio k la g te s te e n lede v a n d ie w e e rm a g w ord
d e o g lik o n d e rso e k .G en l M e ir in g . w a t ook 'n e re -lid v a n d ie b a ta l-
jo n is. hot g e se hy w il n ie e n ig e k o m m e n ta a r oor d ie G o ldsf o n o -v e rs la g o f d ie o n d e rso e k n a k la g te s I e w e r n ie .
D it i* jn i« <uridat 32 B a ta ljo n o n p u r ty d ig is soos d ie ro s v a n d io w e e rm a g . d a t hy g e b r u ik w ord om die* p o lis io to help .
“Kk k a n m e to e la a t d a t d ie m oun t l ik e w an g o - d r a g v a n e n k o lo lode d io p a r a a th e id v a n d ie lu lo b a ta ljo n a a n ta s n ie ," he t hy gese .
Hy k e n d io b a ta ljo n en sa l sv v o o r tg e s o t te a a n - w e n d in g hooordoel n a g o la n g v a n d ie h eh o e fte w a t d a a r h e s ta a n , hot g en l M e ir in g gese .
D ie b a ta ljo n m oot a s h o o ltv d se o p e ra s io n e le e o n h e id to a lio tyo g e re e d w oes om a a n g e w e n d te w ord .
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n 4 9 JUL 1992
r O.v Ternves (die \erskriklikcs) wat op 1 April lW Js t i l uit hul beroemde Buffa- io-basis aan die Okavango-rivicr moes toekyk hoe Swapo oo r die grens s ’room na die toepassing van VN-resolusie 4.*5. mian nou oor maande ontbind, hervestig en opviciicem word in andcr eenhede van die SAW.
D ie w at saam m et hul gesinne wil te- ru g k ee r A ngola to e . is w elkom om d it to d o c n .
D ieselfde geld vir 31 B a ta ljo n . '.<'o tro tse B oesm ans van O m eg a , w at na die oo rlo g by S chm id tsd rif naby K im berley hervestig is. M et hul e ie h a rtse e r ja re ^an o n tw o rte lin g ag ter hu lle .
K O E V O K TK o cv o e t. w at nou m et B o ip a to n g o o k
w eer d ie kollig pohaal ho t. w as in die o o rlo g dec l van d ie Polisie se teen in su r-
< g en s ie -een h e id . H u lle sta«uv<iie S A P sc ;vM isd aad ^ d ersu ek eet^ h ek i (M O D ) se -> ;d c rtd ien - p a g e s p o o « n ) g ;; ere van 1h S a d i* e i^ \« K ? ^ s s e l^ V p »
skaapstelers e n . daggflsm pkkclaars to t m oordenaars, verkragter^ ^en ^inotof-. dicw e. "■ * 5
1 lulle basis is hy Rooiberg naby Rus- tenburg, en net seifs die blote teenwoor-
- diuheid van n e roe pie van hulle by satel- liet-stasies. M.osln Blue Hills tussenJo- han n esb u rg en Pretoria, het n afskrik- waarde vir gewone misdadigcrs.
H ulle het die verm oei.1 om "w ep tc sm e lt" tussen an d e r m ense.
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Soos ’n in w o n er van M id land ditv r o e e r v a n ja a rb e sk ry f het: "Jy sien hullen o o it, w cet sk aars van hulle. Jy kom net o p n dat- ag te r d a t jou om gew ing skiel.k ru stig e r is. D aa r s nie m eer in b rak e m e.
sjebeens verdwyn. rondlopersen kwaad- doeners is weg . . .
"E n allcs sonder 'n groot bohaai. snn- der lociende alarms en (litsonde blnu lic- te. sonder skote wat Map in die nag."
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I \ t . ■ ‘Dlliskobbejakke voor horn was die arm- saligste on gohawendste groepio soldato wat hv nog in sy I owe aanskou hot. ! lul kaal hone cn voctc oortrck van sore. I lul (.Hi on ribbebene getuicnis van chronieseondervoeding. „„ .......... . ...... — —
oie grens van die destydse Suidwes.-'wa* **"?■ * * t£ ,P‘-r j’: :■:** ■>''
M) onwerklik "soos iets uit D an ie sc In- r j | : fc-ndit is h ierd iebew eringsoor wange-
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eon die week op TV gcse. 'M y vrou is hior. Mv kind is hior ucborc. I lier wil ok bly.”
S K K IF A A N l ) IK M l 'U R
Da, die skrif aan die muur was vir 32. was egter gomime I yd al duidelik. Vcral na die Fholapark-ilebakol. M aardat die
fo rn o ".
* n i l was d ie o erste k o n ta k tu ssen die to c k o m s u g c so lda te van die la te re leg en d a r i e s 32 B a ta ljo n on hul e trv te bevel- v o c r iic r . k o l. ,l.m B rc v te n b a ih
V andag is P o m lre t. ‘n on n n n d o ip ie aan d ie rand van die K alah ari, n v o rs i- m elp lek van m e d a lje sc n toek o n m n g s \ ir d ap p e rh e id . l£n ver van d ie gevegsfron te van S uid-A ngola w aa r hierdi'- m ed a ljes m et sw eet on blocd vord ien is. w on! hior s te ed s o p d ie p arad eg ro n d gesing. M aar nie hee ltem al so uit voile hors m e. w ant 32 B a ta ljo n so m anne is verslae.
E R K R O LO p d ie o r e ro l van hul m akkors w at v r
S n id -A frika ee s te rf hot. i- :-am o mm-v D anny R oxo. D os S an to s. H o n riq u e . I.in h an g a . C h ieo to . D a T rin u lad o . B ra / . Jo a o . . naas R ocrnam e van 32 soo*. T h c ro n . B enade . O p p c rm a n . Do V os. M uller, l-ngelbrooht .
D ie bataljon wat dour kol B rc u e n bach tvdons O p erasic S avannah m die Anttoleso O o rlo go pd io been gebnnu is. hct ontw ikkol tot oen van die SA W ocr mag so goducsto vegcenhede - ‘ ind icn nie d ie beMe .n die wereld nie
( )p P om fret hot hulle «u*naturalisocrdo Suid- A frikaanse burgers gcw ord . g c tro u on m et gesinne begin. A l " a t hu lle kan d o c n . is om so ldaat te w ees. H u lle wil ook n i k s anders doon nie.
|-;n na A ngola wil hulle nie tc m c c a a n nie. Suid-A frika i« nou ons la n d ." hot
drag wat 32 Bataljon ineens midde-in die vloeibareen gewekJdadigc politieke proses laat beland het.
Daar was tc lu ide uit die ANC oor 32 Batal |on so optrede in onlii 'gebiede in Natal, on too kom die nag van S April in die plakkerskamp Pholapark by Thoko- / • aan die < Jos-Kami. I in die bewcrings \ .m hardhaiulighoid. moord on verkrae- timjs.
Regter R I. (ioldstone hot aanbexeel il.it 32 Batalion nooit u eo r opcnigo pick in Suid-Alrik.i gcbiuik word om vrcde te pitfbeer bewaar mo.
(Jp die politieke moulstecn hot 32 so m anne. saam met 31 Bataljon sC Boos- mans eu Koovoot so \ ambo s die buiic- landso huursoldate ' . in sta.itstorrem" go w o I d .
Dio \M ( ' hot koppo eecis
k o p i m : k o i .WiPdooswoek hot die kop jv eerol
van die manne wat. in die w««or:le van kol Brovtenbach in book i»or 32 Ba- talion. I hc\ I n c »<V .Vu« saam niot Suid- \ lr ikanors g e 'e g het % ir n saak wat hulle mo a lm i \e is taan hot mo. Wat hullo wol w»Ma in het. " a s (Jat hulle boreul w as om to '■let t . mo \ ir n saak me. m aar ' ir n bataljon I amorade.
In die bosoorloe was 32 Bataljon. iiie eons boteuterdo eroepie skobbeiakke wat ' i r i lolilon R»'K*ita w 1^1 \ loon die Marxiste in hul land die wapcn opce- neem het. inelkotri«*»» operasioo(gcxeg betrokko
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- JUL '"3:
i a OPINION/COMMENT
« ; a : ^ r r i _____ n ___ a >
. XT _, /y /w The ANC must denoi
this killer — for SA ’s sake
Ho p e f u l l y the conviction o f one Michael Phama, apparently an ANC
member, on 21 counts of murder will be a signal that helps restore order to the chaos o f recent years.
Political violence has been a dominant theme .in our country since February 1990 when President De Klerk lifted the lid o f the" pressure cooker. Political violence has savaged our p eop le , our economy and our chances o f a - reasonable constitutional settlement. It has been, and still very much is, the. most worrying part o f South, Africa to- \ day. Inherent in its menacing presence is the prospect o f a ‘ full-blown dvfl war. * - - -J
One of the most terrifying aspects o f the phenomenon is how anonymous it has been. South Africans have grown accustomed to the news of a fresh m assacre here, the shooting up o f a taxi full of passengers or the assassination of a political figure there. They are less accustomed to seeing people being charged and convicted o f these horrible crimes. And that, in turn, has bestowed .something o f a
shroud of sanctity upon political organisations which have been able to claim innocence at the same time as pointing fingers at others.
Phama has now been convicted of 21 murders including 16 Inkatha Freedom Party supporters at one rally.
* V ery much part o f the ev-
■ • id e n c e ./w a s .'-'th at he is a
4 , - m em ber of ' the ANC, act-
~-ing in - the name of that organisation.-
-s ' In a sense,___for the ANC
there is'now no place to hide.' It must repudiate Phama and his colleagues in the strongest terms. So must any other political organisation whose members, or even supporters, are proven in court to be guilty of acts of violence.
If they do that it will be a i vital step on the road to restoring some kind of sanity here. If they do not, we fear, South Africans will have to . stay in their trenches with lit- : tie to look forward to save more of the same. .j
By Deborah FineAFRICAN . -National Congress member; Michael Phama, 45, was yesterday found guilty in the Rand Supreme Court of murdering 21 people, 16 of whom were Inkatha Freedom Party supporters.
Mr Justice M C de Klerk also found Phama guilty on 14 counts of at
tempted murder, as well as charges o f illegally possessing an AK-47 rifle and ammunition.
The judge convicted Phama on the basis of confessions made to police in November 1992, as well as a plea explanation in the Alberton Magistrate’s Court, in which the ANC member admitted the killings.
Finding that Phama had made the statements
and plea explanation freely, voluntarily and without any undue influence, Mr Justice De Klerk rejected Phama’s Supreme Court defence that police and court interpreters had deliberately misinterpreted his explanations so as to incriminate him.
Although Phama pleaded guilty to charges in the Magistrate’s Court, he changed his plea to not guilty during Supreme
Court proceedings.The judge also rejected 3
Phama’s claim that tapes , V of the Magistrate’s C ourt ^ proceedings had been *->« tampered with.
Phama admitted in .confession, as well as to 5 8 magistrate, that he h a £ f § been part of a group cif. "“ four men who used AK--~s 47 rifles to open fire on group of about 800 IF P ' 4'
TO PAGE 2 fc.T
.Guilty of 21 murdersB2BI3S3S1supporters during a rally in Tokoza on September 8. 1991.
Sixteen people died in the attack, and ten others were wounded.
Phama admitted that he intended to kill the IFP members when be opened fire.
He also confessed to opening fire on a minibus in Pbola Park on February 26 last year. Four of the vehicle’s occupants died during the ambush, and eight were wounded.
Mr Justice De Klerk rejected Phama’s explanation that he had only fired at the minibus’s tyres in an attempt to stop the vehicle, finding that all the bullets had struck the body of the vehicle.
Not one tyre had been
hit by a bullet.Phama also confessed
to having been part of a group who fired on traffic officer, Mr Jacobus I van der Merwe, when the bakkie in which they were travelling crossed a speed-trap on the Old Vereeniging Road near Alrode on March 27 1992.
Phama explained that he and his accomplices had been instructed by a “commander” to “shoot their way out” if they were confronted by police. Under no circumstances were they to be captured while in possession of firearms.
Mr Van der Merwe was wounded in both feet, both ankles, his right hip and right forearm. He died at the Union Hospital, Alberton, on April
14, 1992, as a result of pulmonary embolism caused by the bullet : wounds.
Mr Justice De Klerk, also found Phama guilty < of attempting to murder ; traffic officers H Muller | and C Coetzee, wbo were shot at as they attempted : to stop Phama and his accomplices from fleeing to Pbola Park after the shooting of Mr Van der Merwe.
Neither of the traffic officers was wounded.
The case was postponed to July 26. 1993 for the evidence of clinical psychologist. Dr Coreen Oosthuizen, as well as the Deputy Vice- Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Dr Mampbele Rampbele, an expert on violence in urban communities.
/
SOWETAN Wednesday'June 3 0 1993
Phama guilty on \ 21 muitler counts
i RALLY-BOUND Convicted of shooting dead IFP supporters in September 1991:also deputy vice chancellor of the Uni- In the confession, Phama admitted versity o f Cape Town. ' shooting al IFP supporters on Septem-
She said Oosthuizen had said she her 8 1991.would require considerable time to con- Thejudgenjled that no irregularitiesduct tests on Phama before compiling occurred during the taking down of theher report. confession as had been earlier argued by
Replying to the State's objection to a the defence lawyer. . . .postponem ent o f the trial for two In his four-hour judgment, De KleAmonths, Issack said the period was not delved into the fact that Phama, who islong taking into account the relevance of Xhosa-speaking, understood fu lly 'aevidence^to be led by the two experts. Zulu interpretation when he made the
Giving reasons for his judgment, De confession to a magistrate.Klerk said the confession Phama made T he judge Rejected evidence thatto an Alberton magistrate showed that Phama was at a residents’ rreeting dur-Phama did commit the offences. He ing the attack that day. He also rejectedfound that Phama made the confession the testimony of several State witnessesvoluntarily and without fear or coer- who identified Phama as the man whocion. Tired shots at IFP supporters.
Phama had, during the trial, denied all However, he found that the confes-the admissions he made in the confes- sion made by Phama directly linked himsion. with perpetrations for the crime.
By Mzimase Ngudle
. J H fr jc a n National Congress ' member Michael Phama
was yesterday convicted in the Rand Supreme Court on
* • ™ 21 counts o f murdering \ Inkatha Freedom Party supporters two Ttyears .: ,
Phama was fount] jgyilty of having shot dead IFP supporters who were marching to a rally at the Tokoza Stadium on September 8.199h
Mr Justice MCde Klerk found Phama guilty on 21 counts of murder, acquitted him on charges of attempted murder and illegal possession o f firearms and ammunition. . m ' •
. The court adjoomed to Jufy 26 after Phama’s pro deo counsel, Mrs Rehana Issack, asked for lime to consult two experts to give evidence in mitigation.
Issack said the defence would call a clinical psycho log ist. Dr Karin O ostehuizen, and Dr M am phele
^Ramphele, an expert on violence who is
found guilty of 21 murders"TVNC manBy Satan SmoU
An ANC member was convicted in the Rand Supreme Court yesterday of 21 counts of murder and 14 of attempted murder arising from three separate shootings, including an armed attack on Tokoza hostel dwellers.
Michael Phama (45), of an unknown address, was acquitted on six counts of attempted murder.
Convicting Phama on the strength of three confessions he had made, Mr Justice M C de Klerk found he had acted In common purpose with
other people when he opened machine-gun fife on a crowd of hostel dwellers walking to a meeting at the Tokoza sports stadium on September 8 1991.
Sixteen people died. The judge acquitted Phama of six of the 10 attempted murder charges arising from this incident
Phama and three accomplices had also opened fire on a minibus on the Old Vereenfging Road on February 26 last year. A crowd of people from Phola Park had later Joined the attack and fired at the occupants.
The judge said it made little difference whether the resulting deaths had been caused by Phama’s group or those from Phola Park because Phama’s group had intended to kill the travellers.
Three traffic officers were wounded, one fatally, when occupants of a bakkie in whJcn Phama was travelling opened fire after being stopped in a speed trap near Alrode on March 27.
Although Phama had not shot at the traffic officers, he had planned to "shoot his w ay to freedom” when he
was eventually found with illegal weapons, the judge said. -
He postponed the case to July 26.
Phama was also convicted of one count of illegal possession of a machine-gun and three of illegal possession of ammunition. He was acquitted on two counts of illegal possession of a machine-gun.• Three Phola Park residents who escaped custody mid-trial had also been charged with murder and attempted murder arising from the speed-trap incident.
o iLct^ A
The Star Thursday July 1 1993
A
ANC killer &r
THE ANC and its allies should take particular note of the conviction of Mi
chael Phama on 21 counts of murder and 14 of attempted murder. The reason is simple: Phama is an ANC member.
His crimes include the gunning down of IFP marchers in Tokoza in September 1991— 16 people were killed by the fusillade of bullets and another 10 wounded. At the time ANC spokesmen pointed fingers at the “third force”, blaming it for the massacre.
Judging from evidence led in the trial, Phama had accomplices in more than one of his murderous assaults, suggesting that he cannot be dism issed as a demented loner and that he may have been part of a wider conspiracy in Tokoza and Phola Park to eradicate the ANC’s political enemies. It is risky to extrapolate. But, at the very least, the conviction raises the question of whether ANC men such as Phama were not involved in the series of massacres of IF P supporters in N atal last year.
With his gu ilt now proved, the ANC should be less quick to blame the "third force” and to charge President de Klerk with complicity whenever blood is shed. That does not mean that the existence of a “third force” should be discounted: it may be a cause of the violence but it is certainly not the only one.
None of South Africa’s m ajor political actors has clean hands. The sooner that lundamental reality is acknowledged, the sooner South Africa will be able to move into an new era of greater tolerance and fewer recriminations.
J
Jk j& d iu
ANC-Iid het 21 < mense vermoor ^ drie aanvalle‘Kaptein’ hetj lo moordopdragte gegee
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Police probe soldiers’ conductPRETORIA — Charges are being investigated against nine SADF members after they were pointed out at a police identification parade following an alleged assault of Pbola Park residents earlier this month.
A police representative told the Gold- stone commission in Pretoria yesterday the charges against 32 Battalion members ranged from rape to theft and assault.
32 Battalion officer Maj Albie van Ee- den, a t a preliminary hearing of the commission to determine term s of reference for an inquiry into the incident a t Phola Park, Tbokoza, strongly denied the troops under his command had assaulted and raped Phola Park residents on April 8.
However, he conceded that troops could have been hard-handed with residents because they did not co-operate after shots were allegedly fired from Phola P ark at an SADF patrol. He said the patrol had returned the fire, and later picked up “X” number of spent AK-47 cartridges in Pbola Park. Two SADF members were injured in the exchange of fire.
Sally Ann Sealey, a senior researcher for
the Independent Board of Inquiry, said according to residents, the SADF members had embarked on a house-to-house search after they had allegedly been shot at.
“None "of the people from whom we have taken statements or whom we have interviewed heard gunfire on that evening prior to the arrival ox the SADF in Phola Park.’’
Shack dwellers said the soldiers had assaulted them, in many cases without conducting any search for weapons, hitting them with rifle butts and beating them with sjamboks, bats, iron pipes, pick-han- dles and sticks. Sealey said 25 to 30 limbs had been broken.
“Some residents reported being assaulted twice by different groups of soldiers. Several .. reported the screaming and shooting continued all night.”
According to the statements, four women — one of whom died — were raped and a large number were indecently assaulted.
“All the rapes were perpetrated by soldiers a t gunpoint and were accompanied by assaults and foul language. In most
D T o P * 0« 2
Soldierscases, the rape was preceded by a soldier pointing a firearm a t the victim’s private parts,” she said.
Both legs of one rape victim were fractured by bullets fired from outside her shack. Her husband was assaulted and dragged outside, and when he eventually re-entered the shack, she told him the soldiers had raped her. Her underpants had been removed. She died from loss of blood at dawn, said Sealey.
Judge Richard Goldstone said the commission had requested the Tbokoza committee urgently to establish the facts relevant to residents’ allegations, and the medical facts. It would attem pt to ascer-
□ From Page 1
tain why members of 32 Battalion entered Phola Park and whether they did misconduct themselves.
WILSON ZWANE reports a police spokesman said the identification parade was “one of the many” which would be held in Tbokoza.
The Human Rights Commission said yesterday 61 people had been killed in the past week. In an apparent reference to an attack on a house in Sharpeville, on the Vaal Triangle, it said the week’s incidents “showed a noticeable increase of attacks in which large large numbers of unsuspecting residents were killed in their homes”.
Phola Park victims identify 9 ‘raiders’By Mekeed Kotlolo Pretoria Bureau
Pbola P ark residents have positively identified nine sold ie rs who a lle g e d ly took part in assaults by m em bers of the SADF's 32 B attalion during a ra id on the E as t H and s q u a t te r c a m p tw o w eeks ago, the ^ o ld s to n e Com mission heard in P re toria yesterday.
This inform ation was r e leased by P A H atting. SC, representing the South African Police at a prelim inary hearing of the com m ission, investigating allegations of assault, rape and dam age to property by soldiers on the night of April 8.
The full inquiry is scheduled to s ta r t on Monday.
Mr Hattingh said of the estim ated 240 m em bers of 32 Battalion a t an identification parade in Tokoza on Tuesday, 32 w ere identified by 45 residents as having participated in the alleged a ttack
He said it was found only nine of the 32 soldiers had been a t Phola P ark on the day of the alleged attack
Advocate Hattingh added tha t police were investigating 37 c h a rg e s in c lu d in g charges of rape, assault, and m alicious damage.
R e sea rch e r a t the Indep enden t B oard of Inqu iry in to In fo rm a l R e p re ss io n Sally Sealey said she had visited Phola P ark on April 9
at the request of the ANC attorneys of the victims, and Lawyers for Human Rights
Ms Sealev said eye-w itnesses had told her between three and six army vehicles had en te red the cam p a t about 9 pm
She rejected SA.DF claims that they were shot at by unknow n p erso n s fro m the d ire c tio n of the s q u a tte r cam p prior to the raid, saying all those interviewed and those who subm itted s ta te m ents said they did not hear any gunshots “prior to the arrival of the SADF in Pbola P a rk ”.
She sa id th e ra id w as m ainly conducted by black soldiers who wore ‘fcrowns" an d spoke F a n a g i lo and Portuguese.
Together with some leaders of the Tokoza civic association, they transported injured people to hospital and la te r accompanied about 60 of them to Tokoza P olice Station to lay charges, she said.
M ajor P etru s v a t Eeden of the SADF said he did not believe his men could have com mitted the alleged rapes and assaults.
He conceded , bcw ever, that some troops could have been heavy-handed with residents after shots had allegedly been fired from Phola P ark a t the SADF patrol.• Pbola Park: claims to be
probed — Page 3
Drowning dolphin not our FreLONDON — Freddie, a dolphin m ade famous last year when he was involved in a sex abuse court case, m ay have drowned in a net.
F r e d d ie , d e s c r ib e d in court as “the world’s friend liest dolphin”, disappeared fro m h is hom e in A m ble Harbour, in north-east Eng
land, six weeks ago Three weeks later, fisher
men found a drowning doi phin entangled in their net.1 ft was probably Freddie, at cording to The Independer, newspaper, which publi&he an account of an overbear radio exchange between tw fishing trawlers.
seats for 'Wrestle Mm ;
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m arched to John Vorster Square yesterday to prote st against the continued v io le n c e on R eef trains and to commemor a te tb e d ea th s of six South African Railways' and H arbours' Workers U nion (Sarhw u) m e m bers who had been shot dead by police during a 1987 railw ay strike in Johannesburg
Form er Sarhwu general secretary Archie Sebe- ko handed a m em orandum to Jo h a n n e sb u rg Police D istrict Commissioner Brigadier Braam Strauss, dem anding the establishm ent of an inte r im g o v e rn m e n t, a
ihment of a t Im partial police force
At the s t a r t o f th e m a rc h in W a n d e re rs S treet, Cosatu regional secretary Amos Masondo accused’ the p o lice of failing to do their work
“People a re killed in front of them and they do nothing.” he said
L eaders of the ANC, SA C o m m u n ist P a r ty and Cosatu took p a r t in the march.
ANC s ta lw a r t Jo h n N kad im eng dem anded that single-sex hostels be occupied by families.
“People who have no families should be evicted from the hostels in the
neighbouring countries who have no fam ilies here a re being used to p e rp e tu a te v io le n c e ,” said Mr Nkadimeng.
After the m arch, nine com munity leaders em barked or an indefinite sit-in at the Johannesburg offices of Spoomet to protest against continuing train violence, ANC PWV spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa told Sapa.
Tbe delega tion com prises railw ays workers' rep resen ta tives as well as members of the ANC, SA C om m unist P a r ty , Cosatu and the Civic Assoc ia tions of Southern Transvaal.
Phola Park: claims to be probedThe Goldstone Commission, which yesterday held an inquisitory hearing into the SA Defence Force raid on Phola Park residents, said it bad requested the Tokoza Committee to urgently establish the facts relevant to tbe allegations made by residents.
Mr Justice Goldstone said in a statement yesterday the committee would also establish the medical facts concerning tbe injured residents and two injured SADF members.
However, be said the committee would not investigate “each of tbe many alleged cases of criminal conducts” as it would be time consuming and could prejudice police investigations into tbe allegations
However, tbe committee would attempt to ascertain why members of tbe SADPs 52 Battalion entered Phola Park on April 8, and whether tbey did misconduct themselves, Mr Goldstone said.
Tbe commission had
also requested its counsel, Advocate J J du Toit, to meet members of the battalion wbo entered Pbola Park and obtain a first-hand account of the events from them.
The commission has already received affidavits from most of tbe residents of Pbola Park wbo allege criminal conduct on tbe part of certain members of tbe battalion.
Advocate S Sithole will chair tbe Tokoza Committee. — Sapa.
V o l43 No 5 May 1992
j official monthly periodical of the SA Defence Force • Die amptelike maandelikse tydskrif van die SA Weermag
Contents • Inhoudjiktueel / Topical
Parade / Op Parade............................................. 4
rare and beautiful............. .............................. 42
Rubrieke / ColumnsGuns and Knives............................................... 4gPersonal Computer ................. ■....................... 52Wiele * Wheels...................................................... 5 gDeur my bril........................................................ gg
Allerlei / MiscellaneousBriewe............................................................... gSpot ON............................................................... 8Nuusbrokkies/News snippets.................. . 14Focus on books/Fokus op boeke.................... . 55Lag ‘n slag.....................................................................Crossword puzzle............... .................... ; ..................g4Poster: Ystervark........... ........................................... g7
SportSAGD hou massa sportdag....... ............................. gQHole in one...............................................................Top sprinter.................................................................SteroTdes en die Sportman............. . 63
°ys for big boys............. .................................. 59Voorblad : 32 Bataljon (32 Bn) by Pomfret in die Noord-Kaap. het op 27 Maart 1992 meer as 2 000 medaljes tydens -n parade ontvang. Hier is lede besig met die patrolering van 'n Swart woongebied. (Artikels bl 26 tot 28) Foto: Lt Alex de Valasco.
PARATUS • MEI 1992
Reg tot toegang
• Lt George Thiart Foto: Kpl J.P. Whitfield
Met trots het 32 Bataljon die Vryheid van Vryburg ontvang.
“Daar is eenparig besluit dat die Reg van Vrye Toegang tot die dorp Vryburg aan 32 Bataljon (32 Bn) verieen word uit erkenning vir hul lojaliteit aan Suid-Afrika,
s asook hul noue verbintenis met die gemeenskap van Vryburg.”
Met die woorde het raadslid W.J. k Pieterse, Burgermeester van Vryburg,! op 3 April 1992 die vryheid van die dorp . aan 32 Bn toegeken. Raadslid Pieterse
se die toekenning geskied in die gees ft van welwillendheid wat bestaan tussen E die eenheidslede en inwoners van die mporp.
Eenheid is op 27 Mrt 1976 in die Wes- Caprivi te “Buffalo" gestig.
Tydens stigting was die naam steeds Bravo en eers in Oktober 1976 is dit na 32 Bn verander. Op 27 Augustus 1985 is die eenheidsvaandel amptelik oorhandig, deur die destvdse Hoof van die SA Leer, It genl J.J. Geldenhuys.
Vanaf Julie 1976 het die eenheid begin met aktiewe ontplooiings in Suidwes- Afrika en veral transgrensoperasies in die suide van Angola. Gedurende hierdie ontplooiings het die eenheid ‘n magdom suksesse behaal en aan talle operasies deelgeneem.
3 / 32 Bn is vanjaar 16 jaar oud. Vir meer | as 13 jaar was die eenheid aktief en .V toonaangewend betrokke in trans- ' ;grensoperasies in die suide van v;Angola.Die suksesse wat hierdie
eenheid in Angola behaal het, het groot |agting by die vyand afgedwing. Nie ' minder nie as 13 Honoris Crux- toekennings vir dapperheid is aan lede van die 32 Bn toegeken.
■*Kol M.B. Delport, bevelvoerder van 32 Bataljon. se die eenheid is gebore uit die 1975/76 burgeroorlog wat in Angola
Jjewoed het na die Portugese onttrek- ||ng uit die land.
|Die eerste eenheidslede was afkomstig •Van die FNLA beweging en is as Bravo Tfoep opgelei om deel te neem aan
:;VPerasie Savanna wat gepoog het om p,n9ola te bevry van ‘n Marxistiese jjpwind.
5;0t die onttrekking van Amerikaanse jeun aan hierdie operasie, is Savanna
vaar en alle RSA magte het na die f Weermag (SAW) teruggekeer.
Bravo groep het tesame met fskeie ander vlugtelinggroepe besluit
desi te word van die SAW. 'n
Sprekende suksesse van die eenheid sluit groot gevegte soos Mamwandi, Super en Savate in. Tydens laasge- noemde operasie het die eenheid vier verliese gely en die vyand meer as 600. Die operasie staan bekend as die grootste herdenkingsdag in 32 Bataljon se geskiedenis.
Met die koms van Resolusie 435 is die langverwagte politieke belofte van hervestiging in die RSA gestand gedoen. Hiervoor is die oud myndorp Pomfret deur die staat uitgekoop en is 32 Bn op 1 Junie 1989 vanaf ''Buffalo'' in SWA na Pomfret in die Noord-Kaap hervestig.
Dit was die grootste operasie in die geskiedenis van die eenheid. Daar is onder andere gebruik gemaak van 76 dertig ton vragdraers, tien treine van ongeveer 450 passasiers elk en verskeie C130 vliegtuie om die eenheid te hervestig. Nie net ‘n militere eenheid is hervestig nie, maar ‘n hele gemeenskap van ongeveer 5 500 mans, vrouens en kinders.
Tyd vir leegle was daar nie. Die eenheid is reeds in Augustus 1989 vir die eerste keer in die RSA by Messina ontplooi, waar insurgensie beveg is. Sedert
Maart 1990 word die eenheid ook met groot sukses in ‘n stedelike rol in die RSA aangewend en ontplooi.
“Die eenheid is die afgelope jaar hoofsaaklik in operasies in die Wit- watersrand en die onrusgeteisterde Natal aangewend," se kol Delport. “Ons het groot krediet ontvang van al die gemeenskappe wat ons gedien het."
In Greytown is daar ‘n versoekskrif aan die Staatspresident gestuur waarin gevra is dat 32 Bn nie uit die gebied onttrek word nie. ‘n Inwoner van die Oos-Rand stel dit soos volg - “These people that speak that strange language do not choose side but they climb in and do the job”. “Sulke kritiek motiveer ons om steeds beter diens aan ons gemeenskap te lewer," se kol Delport.
As ‘n blyk van waardering het kol Delport 'n gedenknaald onthul, wat dien as simbool van die onderlinge samewer- king tussen 32 Bn en die gemeenskap van Vryburg. &
Waar kom dit vandaan?
Die gebruik om die “Vryheid van die Stad” aan ‘n eenheid toe te ken het 'n lang geskiedenis.
Dit is ‘n ou tradisie wat in die Britse feodale tyd ontstaan het. Die burgemeester en die burgers van ‘n stad het, ingevolge die Gemene Reg, die reg gehad om die stadshekke vir die koning se troepe te sluit. Wanneer 'n afdeling troepe die stadsgrense wou oorsteek moes hulle eers die toestemming van die burgemeester verkry het.
In Suid-Afrika het die gebruik in 1879 ontstaan. Hierdeur kon ‘n regerings- instelling eer aan 'n weermageenheid betoon. deur die aanbieding van n ete of sertifikaat of om die eenheid toe te laat om deur die dorp se strate te marsjeer.
Vandag simboliseer die Vryheid van ‘n dorp of stad, die vertroue van die burgerlike bevolking in die eenheid. &
PARATUS • ME I 1992 27
32 Estlaiion nonourec with 2015 medals c - ^ - - ' . - - ° ^
Camaraderie at its bestPhoto: S Sgt Sergio de Andrade
(\c -“T a
• Lt George Thiart
“The bestowing of medals for a job well done is a proud and solemn occasion in any soldier’s career," Maj Gen S.F.Mulder, Inspector General of the SA Army, told guests at a medal parade held at Pomfret on 27 March 1992.
More than 2000 medals were awarded to members of 32 Battalion, stationed at Pomfret in the Northern Cape. This coincided with the unit's 16th anniversary. The awards included six Pro Patria Medals, 920 Southern Africa Medals, 1046 General Service Medals, 41 South African Defence Force Medals (Bronze- 10 years service) and two CSADF Commendation Medals. Several medals were awarded posthumously.
“32 Battalion ranks among the great fighting units, not only of South Africa, but of the world, “ said Maj Gen Mulder. Born a mere 16 years ago out of the chaos of the Angolan Civil War, it rapidly developed into one of the major players which turned the tide of communist expansionism in Southern Arica. Its history has been well documented by operations such as ASKARI, SCEPTIC, PROTEA. MODULAR, HOOPER and many more.
The successes achieved by this unique unit can be ascribed largely to the genuine camaraderie which existed - and still exists - between the leadership cadre and the troops. This camaraderie transcends ethnic divisions and was forged in shared danger, shared hardships and shared triumphs.
32 Battalion was almost constantly involved in operations for a total of 14 years - twice as long as the Second World War. The immense psychological and physical pressure which was endured by members of the unit and their next-of-kin resulted in a solid esprit de corps which is rarely achieved among military units.
Maj Gen Mulder explained that the time of change in which we found ourselves
More than 2 000 medals were awarded to members of 32 Battalion.
was also a time of many unfounded rumours. One of these is that the SA Defence Force (SADF) is to be disbanded in the not too distant future. The other is that 32 Battalion is to be disbanded.
The truth was that the role and employment of certain units had changed. More changes could be expected in future as the SADF moved from a state of revolutionary warfare into its allotted role of defender of the constitution in the new South African dispensation.
At present the major task of the SADF was in support of the SA Police in maintaining law and order. In this regard 32 Battalion has again in the forefront. “The violence sweeping this country is a tragedy of immense proportions. It is a time in which precious lives are squandered forthe sake of petty political motives, personal vendettas or plain
criminal and murderous intent," said, Maj Gen Mulder. “ Now, more than,1 ever, the need in this country is for men » with the calibre of 32 Battalion, with cool heads for professional and impartial conduct in the face of unwarranted [ provocation and even personal danger.* |
"Furthermore,” said Maj Gen Mulder, y “32 Battalion is an integral part of IMS SA Defence Force and it is not going to - be disbanded. As in the past, 32f Battalion is once again the target of f propaganda by those forces who seek to lead the country to destruction."
He concluded by saying that the SADl:| owed 32 Battalion a debt of gratitude for what they were doing in the fight fof§ stability, law and order in SA, just as thff SADF owed them for what they did |<l; the fight against communist terror up Angola. &
26 PARATUS • MAY 1992
0031 183003
Kapelaansdiens van die SAW:
“Behou dit!”
Onderhoud:MnrWynand Breytenbach
m m , :
Vol 43 No 10 OCTOBER 1992 R2.50 VAT INCLU
. SAW
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ISSN 0031 - 1837
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Vol 43 No 10 Oktober 1992
The official monthly periodical of the SA Defence Force . Die amptellke maandellkse tyd3krlf van die SA Weermag
ContentsAktueel / TopicalOn Parade / Op Parade................................................... ..
Russian giants in SA sk ies ............. 5............* .......
No more duty buses........................................................
Mercy mission to Somalia.................................... .......10
Wired for fun...................................................................... 55
Aviation artist made headlines..................................... 58Hair raising air race............................................................ 5g
® uns and knives................................................................ 46
F°cus on books...................................................................
* ie,e......................v............................................. .'.'.".'.'.'.'.'."...56° eur my bril........................................................................66
Front Page: Help for Africa. On 5 September 1992 two SAAF C 130 Hercules airlifted 30 tons of emergency supplies to starving refugees in Somalia. (Article p 10). Photo: S Sgt S. de Andrade. On 22 September 1992, the SAS TAFELBERG left Durban with cargo of 200 more tons of food for Somalian refugees. (Photo-article: next issue).
PARATUS • OKTOBER 1992
. h . c f ' f o 0" disband 31 and 32 Battalions, as announced by 5®u * on 14 Ju|V 1992. was not unexpected in view
Of the high intensity propaganda campaign against “mercenaries” serving in the SADF.
• Col John RedfernThis is the first round in a campaign by the "liberation movements” to effectively remove from the SADF those elements which they perceive to be a threat to their ambitions.
It might be argued that these two units would have been disbanded in any event under a new political d isp en sation , and that by d is banding them at this stag e the Government could score political points.
In addition, it might also be argued that it would be better to relocate the soldiers of these units e lsewhere now, in their own interests.
Some observers believe that, by unilaterally disbanding 32 Bn, the Governm ent’s position has been morally strengthened in calling for MK to be disbanded, along with o th e r p riv a te a rm ies or “s e lf defence units”.
This is debatable, as “ liberation m ovem ents" are re lian t on the e x is te n ce o f an a rm ed w ing . Instead, one should rather try to anticipate the line which they will take now that their demand for 32 Battalion to be disbanded has been met.
Unlike both Zimbabwe and Namibia, where the “ liberation forces” were significant in numbers and had some experience in guerrilla warfare, the same does not apply fo r South A frica . The R evo lutionaries know that they cannot replace the SADF and the SAP with effective alternative forces.
over their own armouries. Multira- cial units which were predominantly B ack, such a s the Rhodesian African Rifles and G rey ’s Scouts were considered acceptable.
There w as no demand for resigna tions of Regular (PF) personnel a lth o u g h f o r e ig n e r s who had
What follows
Models
The Rhodesian and South West African transitions provide models for the Revolutionaries in planning their strategy. So do the lessons of post-transit ion in Chile under P re s id e n t A lle n d e , w h ere the armed forced overthrew the elected communist government.
It is evident, from a historical perspective, that Revolutionaries do not perceive all elements of the security forces to be a threat. On the contrary, the new government will have to rely on such forces in existence at the time they take over to secure their power base .
28
Rhodesia and South West Africa
In Rhodesia, even prior to the transitional phase (December 1979- April 1980), the Patriotic Front dem anded the im m edia te d is bandment of the Selous Scouts and the Special Forces Auxiliaries (a force po litica lly loyal to Bishop Muzorewa). And after winning the elections, ZANU(PF) required that the Rhodesian Light Infantry, a White unit, be disbanded.
To the surpise of many, Mr Mugabe was prepared to absorb the Special A ir Service Regiment into the new Z im babw e N ationa l Arm y (ap parently because itw as recognised as a highly professional unit), but he could not guarantee that the standards and apolitical character of the unit would be maintained. Consequently, the members resigned en mass and the unit was rendered non-effective, and was disbanded.
The Territorial Forces (equivalent to CF and commandos) were of concern to ZANU(PF) because they were mainly White and had control
PARATUS• OCTOBER 1992
enlisted were targeted as “mercenaries . Instead, conditions were created for those who wished to retire prematurely to do so, and to leave the country with a pension, 1 thus providing an alternative to redundancy.
In the case of South West Africa, SWAPO seems to have followed a sim ilar approach to that adopted by ZANU(PF) in Rhodesia. The m ain d iffe re n c e w as the predominance of SADF units, which were to be w ithdrawn anyway. 31 | and 32 Battalions were relocated to South Africa, although SWAPO would have preferred to see them demobilise completely and, in the case of 32 Bn, to return to their country of origin.
SADF
Apart from the propaganda value gained from demanding the disbanding of un its incorporating “m ercenaries” and “hit squads", Revolutionaries have a real fear of a coup or counter revolution after they assume power. Those elements of the SADF which are likely
to be of concern to them are as follows:
M ilitary Intelligence.Special Forces units. National Service units. Commandos and Citizen Forces units.
The relocating of foreigners in other units is un like ly to sa tis fy the Revolutionaries, and leaves them with a propaganda opportunity.
m aintain the adm in is tra tive e ffic ien cy of the SADF. Those approaching retirement age might not be perceived as a threat to the new government, for fear of jeopardising their pensions.
However, any officer who has had adverse exposure will be used to generalise the need to purge the SADF of “undesirable elements” . There is a danger in acceding to such demands, as it could make other officers feel threatened and
ow es its a lle g ia n c e to the R evo lu tion ary a lliance .
disbandment?Members of 31 and 32 Battalions are apolitical, with loyalty to their unit rather than to the State. They now have to form new loyalties to their foster units. This w ill take time and, as the Revolutionaries know, is not easy for troops drawn from backg rounds d iffe r in g in culture and language from other members of their foster units.
Regarding officers in the SADF, Revolutionaries are likely to view them in the fo llow ing categories:
Senior officers in command positions.Junior officers and sub u n it . M iddle management and staff officers.Technical and administrative officers.
Revolutionaries will want to replace 'he first two categories mentioned above with persons of the ir own choice as soon as possible, both to remove a perceived threat from these quarters and to make place ° r aspirant leaders loyal to the
E vo lu tion .
^he other categories pose little or 1,0 threat, and are required to
troops cou ld lose fa ith in the integrity of their superiors.
The SAAF and SAN are perceived as a lesser threat to the Revolutionaries than is the Army. The SAMS poses no threat at all. Nor can their officers and personnel trained in specialist skills so easily be replaced. Therefore, they will remain relatively free from pro- pagande attack, or demands for disbandment.
It may be that the Revolutionaries w ill try to e x p lo it d iffe re n ce s betw een the va riou s Arm s of Service, to their own advantage.
National service w ill probably be discontinued in favour of a permanent force. Revolutionaries will counter attempts to maintain present standards for entry to the Permanent Force, and will probably insist on the ir personnel being incorporated in the same manner that might be agreed for TBVC forces.
The reasons would be twofold; firstly to reward their members with jobs and secondly, to build up a nucleus w ithin the SADF which
Conclusion
The d isband ing of 31 and 32 B a tta lions w ill encourage Rev o lu tion a ries to continue th e ir strategy of emasculating the SADF. Transferring members of these two units to other units within the Army will continue to draw propaganda fire on the grounds that they are m ercenaries, and is unlikely to present a satisfactory solution to the problem.
Special Forces (Recces) will be ta rgeted as units w ith in which “death sq ua ds” are she lte red . Certain of these units also have personnel originating from beyond South Africa 's borders. Pressure w ill be brought to bear for their disbandment at an early stage.
National service is a continuing propaganda target, not so much in th a t it poses a th re a t to the revolution, but that its term ination w ill reduce the strength of the SADF, and interrupt the flow of tra in e d m anpow er to CF and commando units.
C itizen Force and Com m ando members w ill be targeted in order to reduce the effective manpower of the SADF, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat after a new government is installed.
The Army will be targeted, leaving the other Arms of Service largely untouched. Some individuals will be vilified as undesirable in the new d ispensa tion , and certa in ca te g o rie s of o ffic e rs w ill be encouraged to retire or resign, leaving vacancies for supporters of the revolution to replace them.
Technical and adm inistrative staff, and middle management, w ill not be targeted d irect and may be encouraged to continue serving in the SADF until they can be replaced from sources more agreeable to the Revolutionary alliance,
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