SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
February 2001 editionAs everyone with any knowledge of South African affairs is aware, South Africa's best overseas friend during the period of civilised rule and international "sanctions" was the state of Israel. Dr. D.F. Malan was the first overseas leader to make an official visit to Israel after the state was founded, and the close friendship and co-operation between the two nations was not surprising given the fact that they faced the same enemy - Marxist-backed terrorism.
The fall of South Africa to these same forces of terrorism was a bitter blow to Israel, but the nation has steadfastly - and successfully - maintained her own battle against the forces of darkness.
Paradoxically it has probably been the fact that Israel possesses two political groupings of roughly equal strength who alternate terms in power which has enabled the state to continue to survive. In South Africa, with only one conceivable party of government (the NP), all the enemy had to do - and which they did do successfully - was to infiltrate and control that governing party. In Israel, however, the dual-party system has made this tactic impossible, as if any one party starts to surrender then the other will automatically gain in popular support.
That is the situation which we witness today. The Labour Party of Ehud Barak have been prepared to appease the PLO terrorists, most reprehensively by selling out the Christians of South Lebanon (a similar act of betrayal to that of Vorster's sell-out of Rhodesia in the late 70's), but the result has been predictable, as the PLO have only intensified their terrorist acts in Israel itself.
This is where Israel has been fortunate however, for a "no nonsense" alternative government is now waiting in the wings in the form of Ariel Sharon's Likud coalition. Ariel Sharon (who evidently was a particular friend of civilised-ruled South Africa) has a justified reputation as a strongman who will stand up to terrorism, and who consequently [at the time of writing] looks like heading for a landslide victory.
We wish Ariel Sharon every success in next Tuesday's Israeli general election therefore. Not only will his victory be good for Israel itself, but it will also confirm a fundamental shift towards the forces of Conservatism throughout the western world, following the marvellous victory of George W. Bush in the United States. The future seems increasingly bright.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB RE-CONSTITUTION MEETING
The Springbok Club was successfully re-constituted at a meeting on Saturday 27th January 2001. The meeting was called to order by Mr. David Williams (a founder member of the original Springbok Club), and the following motions were proposed and passed unanimously: 1) That the Springbok Club should officially be re-constituted, 2) That the constitution of the original Springbok Club should be adopted unamended for the new organisation, and 3) That all earlier memberships should be considered as valid for the new organisation, with the exception of that of Mr. A.W. Yates who had written a formal letter of resignation.
Following this the committee of the new Springbok Club was elected: this basically took the form of the existing committee of the original Springbok Club, with the exception that Mr. David Williams resumed his earlier position as Treasurer (though he expressed the hope that this would only prove a temporary appointment), and that Mr. Bill Binding joined the committee as Branch Development Officer. In addition Mr. David Williams was appointed the official Springbok Club photographer, and Mr. Colin Lucas took over as leader of the Kent Branch.
After this formal part of the meeting we were pleased to welcome Mr. Allan Robertson (the Chairman of the "London Swinton Circle") as our guest speaker. Mr. Robertson spoke about the relevance and importance of the Act of Union of 1800, which came into force on 1st January 1801, and whose bi-centenary we should therefore be celebrating this year. After outlining the details of the Act of Union and the many benefits which it conferred to Ireland, as well as to the United Kingdom as a whole, Mr. Robertson went on to criticise the manner in which the Blair administration had failed to honour this important anniversary, in spite of the fact that Blair seemed eagerly willing to commemorate events not directly connected to the British nation and people. He furthermore emphasised the point that the Act of Union led to "...the British nation state's 19th century rise to power, the spread of the English language around the globe, and the planting far across the seas of English-speaking nations with British parliamentary institutions" (such as [prior to 1994] in South Africa). Mr. Robertson finally reminded everyone that other important anniversaries are approaching this decade, such as the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 2005, and the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands on 14th June 2007.
[We have recently heard the worrying news that Mr. Bill Yates has contacted (albeit some time ago) certain members of the organisation to order to ask for "cheques" for no apparent reason. We would remind everybody therefore that this gentleman no longer has any connection to the Springbok Club whatsoever.]
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TRIP TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE & COMMONWEALTH MUSEUM
The Springbok Club will be staging an excursion to the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum in Bristol on Saturday 24th February 2001 (a date chosen deliberately because there is no international rugby on that day!).
This museum includes a special exhibition arranged by the Rhodesian Army Association on the history of Rhodesia from 1890 to 1980, and we are arranging for a special guided tour of this section to take place.
The British Empire & Commonwealth Museum is situated immediately next to Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station, so we will be rendezvousing there at approximately 12.10 hrs, so that we can meet those who travel from London on the 10.15 hrs train from Paddington, which should arrive at Bristol Temple Meads at 12.02 hrs. (Incidentally, for those planning to travel by train to Bristol on the day it will probably be best to purchase an Apex ticket before travelling, which costs only £18.50 return, as against the cheapest return ticket which can be purchased on the day, which costs £32.00).
Several supporters are however planning to journey to Bristol on the Friday and to return on the Sunday so that they can see a bit more of the city, and we are making enquiries concerning suitable accommodation accordingly. If you would also like to obtain overnight accommodation then please let us know.
Whatever the circumstances, however, please let us know if you are interested in joining this trip as soon as possible, and what your travel plans are expected to be, so that we can organise the tour arrangements accordingly.
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BRANCH DEVELOPMENT
As stated earlier, Mr. Bill Binding has taken over as the Springbok Club's Branch Development Officer, and will be contacting all those who have established branches, or who have expressed interest in establishing branches, shortly.
Because of his many other commitments Nick Maine would really like to relinquish his position as Australian Co-ordinator of the Springbok Club if possible. We have many supporters in Australia, so wonder whether anyone would be keen to take over this position from Nick? If so please contact him direct at :-
nickmain@fan.net.au
We are also hopeful that we will shortly be appointing Co-ordinators in both Canada and New Zealand, and will give details in future editions of the SCN as soon as they've been finalised.
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE MEETINGS
The London Swinton Circle has two most interesting meetings arranged at the Houses of Parliament during February.
The first will be addressed by the Rt. Hon. David Davis MP, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Haltemprice and Howden and former Minister of State at the Foreign Office. This will take place on Tuesday 6th February 2001 at 18.15 hrs for 18.30 hrs, in Committee Room 13 of the House of Commons.
The second will be addressed by William Ross MP, the Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for Londonderry East, and will on the subject of the current military situation in Northern Ireland. This will take place on Tuesday 13th February 2001 at 18.45 hrs for 19.00 hrs, also in Committee Room 13 of the House of Commons.
In both cases entry should be made via St.Stephen's entrance, and it will be best to check with the police at the gate to confirm the committee room involved (which couuld always be altered at the last minute), quoting the speaker's name concerned.
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BOOK OFFER
The Flame Lily Foundation has signed copies of Ian Smith's autobiography "The Great Betrayal" in hardback for sale at R185.00 (postage inclusive to South African addresses) or £18.00 plus postage. Write to: The Flame Lily Foundation, P.O.Box 95474, Waterkloof, Pretoria, 0145, South Africa, or e-mail rasa@iafrica.com to order.
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HOME BILTONG MAKERS
The "Biltong Team" have developed and are manufacturing a Home Biltong Maker. It is a wonderous piece of equipment that allows you to make your own fresh biltong in the comfort of your own home. It's easy to use (available in both 110 and 220 volt models), economical, and pays for itself in a couple of batches of biltong. The Home Biltong Maker has been received with much enthusiasm by ex-South Africans around the world in such countries as the UK, the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.
To find out more information visit the Home Biltong Maker web-site at:-
http://www.biltongmakers.com
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RUGBY BALL RAFFLE
As many supporters may recall, we have been donated a rugby ball signed by both Springbok and All Black players who took part in Wynand Claassen's Springbok Tour of New Zealand in 1981. We had intended to raffle this ball at a Springbok Club meeting towards the end of last year, but of course the difficulties which we experienced prevented this. We have therefore decided to hold this draw at our Day of the Vow meeting at the end of this year instead, which will give us a far greater opportunity to sell tickets around the world. Tickets are priced £1.00 (to be made payable to "Patriotic Press") or R10.00 (to be made payable to N.Lamprecht) each, and in both cases payments and details should be forwarded to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
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PATRIOTIC PRESS PRODUCTS
During that vital period of South African history during the end of 1989 and the beginning of 1990 we managed to publish an in-depth analysis of the developing situation in the country called "Patriotic Press's South African Newsletter". Although we had to cease publication when we were forced to relocate operations to the UK, we have recently been able to re-issue the eight editions which we originally produced. Although this publication is of course no longer of any current relevance, it is even so still of great historical interest, and can be purchased for £20.00 for a complete set of all eight issues. Payments should be made to "Patriotic Press" (in Sterling) and sent to : BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
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CAN YOU HELP?
Glenn Taute writes as follows: "My family and I are in the process of moving to London to live and would like to know whether anyone could help us with the 'unknown' of moving to the UK".
If anyone thinks they could help Glenn in any way in this respect please contact him direct at :-
glen@iafrica.com
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"FREEBIES" WEB-SITE
This web-site designed by ex-Rhodesian John Allman, now living in York, has recently been upgraded.
This new "green" and environmentally friendly web-site is to help people re-cycle items which they no longer use or want. The idea is that others in your community will visit the site, see useful items, and claim them. No money changes hands, all transactions are free, although you have to make your own arrangements to collect the items you want. If you see something you want, just claim it. No mailings will be used for commercial purposes.
To find out more visit this "freebies" web-site at :-
http://www.freebiesrus.co.uk
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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.
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) and £27.50 (Pamwe Chete). 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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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.28 : Mr. FRANK BEUKES of Durban
Frank (or Francis) Beukes worked for SATS and lived in Clark Road, Durban. He stood as an independent conservative candidate in the 1984 Durban Municipal Elections in the Essenwood Ward, and obtained an unexpectedly high number of votes. A friendly and genial man, he was initially very interested in the South African struggle "in exile".
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
In the January 2001 edition of the SCN we drew everyone's attention to the plight of the so-called "Harare 3" - three political prisoners unjustifiably held by the Mugabe regime in Chikurubi maximum security prison.
There is actually a very good web-site which details more information about their predicament and how you can help, which can be accessed at:-
http://free-harare3.org
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LEST WE FORGET
On 12th February 1979 ZIPRA terrorists shot down Air Rhodesia Flight RH827, the Viscount "Umniati", killing all 59 passengers. We must never forget this atrocity, nor those innocent people who perished as a result.
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See you again next month!
