SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
February 2000 editionThe 1990's, no doubt, will go down as one of the most terrible decades in world history. It begun with de Klerk's ultimate of treasons, and ended with Neil Hamilton's defeat in the High Courts at the hands of the unspeakable Mohammed Fayed. (Neil Hamilton, of course, has proved to be a good friend of the Springbok Club, being our guest of honour at our 1998 Day of the Vow commemorations. The Springbok Club sent him a letter of support and solidarity following the unbelievable verdict in his libel action, and we are happy to be able to report that we've received a very pleasant and encouraging reply from Christine and him).
But we are now in a new decade - a new century in fact, a new millennium. Early days though it is we
believe that we can sense an entirely new zeitgeist, a new zeitgeist moreover which is far more favourable towards the causes of patriotism and western civilisation. Already we have seen a) a new Russian President (Vladimir Putin) who has been prepared to fight a decisive battle against Islamic terrorism in Chechnya, b) the inclusion of the patriotic Freedom Party in the government of Austria, c) a myriad of problems being faced by Tony Blair (Robinson, the Welsh Assembly, the NHS, the Dome etc.), d) unexpectedly fierce opposition to pro-homosexual legislation and bogus asylum-seekers in Britain, and e) the collapse of unacceptable power-sharing assembly in Northern Ireland.
Early days though it be the omens for the new millennium certainly therefore look good. We can only hope that before many more years pass we will be able to reclaim those lands which rightfully belong to us in Southern Africa.
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JANUARY SPRINGBOK CLUB EVENT
In January the Springbok Club staged an excursion to the Rhodes Centre and Museum in Bishops Stortford.
This proved to be a most happy and successful trip, which was enjoyed by all. The Rhodes Centre and Museum is situated in the very house where Cecil John Rhodes was born on 5th July 1853, and, as one of our members observed, the building is adorned with two giant plaques featuring the coat-of-arms of both Northern and Southern Rhodesia.
The museum itself proved to be truly inspiring, containing as it did not only exhibits illustrating the life, work and vision of the great man himself, but also an account of the history of Rhodesia. As another of our members accurately wrote in the Visitor's Book "... so much to do - still!".
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FEBRUARY SPRINGBOK CLUB MEETING
Our February meeting will be a relatively low-key event, and will feature a "report-back" from Mr. Brendon Jones on the situation which he found in Cape Town, following his return trip there over Christmas.
As this is not planned to involve any formal speeches we have not booked a function room, put rather have simply booked a section of a pub where we will be able to listen to Brendon's "report-back" and hold a general discussion in a far more informal atmosphere.
This event will take place on Saturday 26th February at 19.00 hrs at the Star Tavern, Belgrave Mews West, London SW1 (nearest tube stations: Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge and Sloane Square. Belgrave Mews West is adjacent to Belgrave Square, and is situated through some arches between Chesham Place and West Halkin Street).
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ADVANCED NOTICE OF FUTURE MEETINGS
For our March meeting, which will take place on Saturday 18th March 2000, we will be most honoured to welcome as our guest speaker Mr. Chris Cocks, the author of the acclaimed book on the Rhodesian Bush War, "Fireforce". Full details will be given in next month's SCN, but we hope that all supporters will diarise this important event, and will inform us in advance if they intend to attend, so that we can gain a good estimate of numbers.
We have also recently heard that Mr. Nicky Lamprecht of Durban definitely intends to visit the UK later this year, and has confirmed that he will address the Springbok Club once he arrives.
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BRANCH NEWS
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club held a small but successful "pub evening" in Herne Bay at the end of January. This was a purely social gathering, and it is intended to hold similar such meetings regularly in future. The next is planned for Whitstable on Sunday 5th March 2000. Contact us if you would like to learn more details.
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S.A.PATRIOT-IN-EXILE
S.A.Patriot-in-Exile is faced with two quite urgent expenses during the next few weeks, as well as needing to finish paying the printing costs for edition No.35 as soon as we can. We are therefore looking for donations and contributions from all who are in a position to give, but if you haven't already subscribed this might be an ideal moment to take out a 12-issue subscription. Our rates once again are as follows :-
U.K. & Europe £8.00 (second-class) or £9.00 (first-class)
Southern Africa R12.00 (surface mail) or R180.00 (air mail)
North America US$18.00 (surface mail) or US$27.00 (air mail)
Australasia Aus$20.00 (surface mail) or Aus$30.00 (air mail)
All orders and donations should of course be sent to :-
Patriotic Press, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, U.K.
All payments from South Africa should be made payable to "N. Lamprecht" in Rand, from North America they should be made either in US cash or cheques WITH THE PAYEE'S NAME LEFT BLANK, and from the UK or the rest of the world by cheque, P.O.'s or international bank drafts made payable to "Patriotic Press" in Sterling.
Help us to help South Africa!
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CAN YOU HELP?
A supporter from Cape Town has recently told us a most harrowing story, and wonders whether anyone can help. He writes as follows:-
"Old Mutual, once South Africa's supreme insurance company, has been 'transformed' with ghastly results. Six months ago my son's policy with them matured. Naturally, being resident in Britain, he asked if it could be paid out there - but apparently Reserve Bank (another 'transformed' institution) takes an incredibly long time to come up with the required permission. So he said, not to worry, pay it into my Cape Town bank account, and that is the last he has heard. He has sent innumerable e-mails, his sister has phoned the Pinelands head Office, so has my wife, and as a last resort myself. I asked to speak to one of the guys I know there, to be told by the customer services Black representative that I was not allowed to speak to individual members of the staff, but had to speak to him! Naturally I told him to go and get stuffed. If you can manage to get through to anyone (never White) they promise the earth, but do nothing. Under no circumstances will any of their staff divulge their names. I have discussed this with a fellow Lodge member, a retired judge, who tells me that even if I could afford legal action it would not work, because the Government has altered the entire judiciary system, loading it in favour of the Blacks. In the meantime my poor son, who is out of work, waits vainly for his money. A little publicity might help!".
Does anybody know how this supporter's son might be able to obtain his money from Old Mutual? If you have any "inside" knowledge or ideas please let us know at the usual address.
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SOUTH AFRICAN "SOKKIE"
Another of our supporters, Jaco Hansen, writes to tell us about a South African "Sokkie" which he is organising.
This will take place on Friday 25th February 2000 from 8.00 pm to 1.00 am at the Berkshire College of Agriculture, Burchetts Green, Berkshire (5 minutes drive from Maidenhead and Henley). It will feature a braai, beer and boere musiek, and the cost of entry will be £10.00 per head (which includes 5 Castles!).
For more details contact Jaco direct at: jacohansen@hotmail.com
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BOOK OFFER
COVOS BOOKS of South Africa are specialist publishers of Africana, and offer a range of most interesting and illuminating books which will appeal to many of our supporters. Amongst the titles they stock are:-
FIREFORCE - One man's war in the Rhodesian Light Infantry, by Chris Cocks. Hard cover with dust jacket, 228 x 155 mm., 368 pages, 120 black and white and colour photos, plus maps and sketches. Widely acclaimed as the classic account of counter-insurgency warfare in Africa. Includes the RLI roll of honour, citations and operational orders. Price R185.00.
HOW WE KEPT THE FLAG FLYING, by Donald MacDonald. Hard cover, 213 x 137 mm., 303 pages, with frontispiece and 7 illustrations and various diagrams. This enduring story of the Siege of Ladysmith is the first in a series of Anglo-Boer War reprints. Price R169.95.
PAMWE CHETE - The Legend of the Selous Scouts, by Lt.Col. Ron Reid-Daly. The revamped, rewritten version of the best-selling "Top Secret War". With new, previously unpublished material, including the roll of honour and full schedules of citations and wings. New photo sections. The definitive account of this exceptional unit's short but distinguished service in the field of counter-insurgency operations during the Rhodesian Bush War. Price R225.00.
SURVIVAL COURSE, by Chris Cocks. The sequel to "Fireforce", chronicling the author's fifteen-month experience, up until the advent of Zimbabwe in 1980, as a stick-leader in the specialist PATU (Police Anti-Terrorist Unit), operating on Rhodesia's eastern border. Part 2 deals with the author's traumatic and harrowing transition to civilian life. Price R95.00.
COVOS BOOKS can be contacted at : P.O.Box 6996, Weltevredenpark, Transvaal, 1715, South Africa. Tel.: +2711-4769926, fax.: +2711-4769927, e-mail : covos@global.co.za
We are happy to be able to confirm that the Springbok Club can now supply copies of all these books, prices being £20.00 (Fireforce), £15.00 (How We Kept the Flag Flying), £27.50 (Pamwe Chete) and £10.00 (Survival Course). All payments should be made payable to "Patriotic Press", and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK. (Please add 10% for p.& p.).
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NEW BOOK
A good supporter of ours from New Zealand, Ronnie Anderson, who was a colonial administrator in Nigeria for many years, has written an absorbing and highly praised account of his experiences in the colonial administration entitled "Palm Wine and Leopard's Whiskers".
In the UK this can be obtained from: "Yesteryear's Books", The Lodge, 6 Cecil Avenue, Bournemouth, Hampshire, BH8 9EH, price £25.00 a copy. For details of where to obtain copies in the rest of the world contact Ronnie direct at: ronlen@xtra.co.nz
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
A regular feature in which we ask whether anyone knows the current whereabouts of a friend or colleague who has lost contact.
No.18 : Mr. LOUIS FOURIE.
Louis Fourie lived in Queensburgh, Natal, and worked for SATS on the tugs in Durban Harbour. He was a most friendly character, well remembered for his grey beard and gruff voice, and was a regular attender at most patriotic gatherings in Durban, where he was always held in the highest regard.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE
Hamilton Barrett of San Francisco, a long-standing friend of South Africa and Rhodesia, has authored ten pages of San Francisco history and become the historian for AOL's local face of San Francisco, Digital City. This web-site can be accessed at:-
http://home.digitalcity.com/sanfrancisco/vtours/main.dci?page=statues
Hamilton also says that he would like to hear from any friends in the San Francisco area, and would also be very keen to receive any general comments. He can be contacted at:-
Bareid49@aol.com
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See you again next month!
