SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
March 2002 edition
Probably one of the greatest successes of the Springbok Club to date has been the way in which we have been able to identify with the real South African flag - and to popularise the term "the REAL flag", rather than the previously common phrase of "the old flag".
There have been those, of course, who claim that it is all just wishful-thinking to believe that the real flag will one day fly again over Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban - but is it so?
One recent happening in a different part of the globe has shown that absolutely nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to the future adoption of national symbols. Last month the new Afghanistan government of President Hamid Karzai unveiled the flag that the newly-installed democratic government was adopting - the black, red and green vertical tricolour which hadn't been used since the days of King Zahir Shah over a quarter of a century ago! Gone was not only the white flag of the hated Taliban regime, but also the green, white and black horizontal tricolour of the crypto-communist regime which replaced King Zahir Shah.
This hasn't been the only case during recent years when "real" national flags have made a comeback. Who can forget the glorious sight at the end of 1991 when the white, blue and red tricolour of Tsarist days replaced the despicable hammer and sickle flag flying over the Kremlin - and of course the previous black, red and gold flag of the German Republic replaced the ridiculous swastika flag after the fall of the Nazi tyrants.
In Africa flags always seem to come and go with changes of government, and it was interesting to note that Laurent Kabila not only reverted to the traditional name of the [Democratic Republic of the] Congo when he deposed the despot Mubutu Sese-Seko of Zaire, but also adopted a "new" flag which was remarkably similar to that of the original colonial Belgian Congo! It is fully expected - and certainly hoped - that Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC will replace the blood-stained flag of the Mugabe regime when they eventually manage to ascend to government in Zimbabwe.
As ANC-ruled South Africa plunges further and further into chaos and disintegration it seems obvious that one day some form of civilised government will simply have to be restored - and when that day comes the current underpants-flag of the ANC regime must be deposited into the dustbin of history where it belongs. Let us hope that the flag that replaces it will once again be the REAL South African flag.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB FEBRUARY MEETING
Springbok Club Chairman Peter Fisher gave a most illuminating "report-back" on his recent trip to South Africa during the SC's February national meeting in London. Although he gave vivid illustrations of the collapse of the country and the anarchic conditions which now exist there, his talk was not entirely without hope, for he also told how many individuals were managing to survive by isolating themselves as much as possible from the tentacles of the state.
Unfortunately there proved to be a disappointingly low attendance at this meeting (we believe mainly because of the rival attraction of the Winter Olympics - the Women's Curling Final was being televised that evening!), which was a great tragedy as Peter had put such a lot of effort into preparing such an informative talk.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB MARCH EVENT
The Springbok Club will be staging a trip to Malcolm Wren's small Afrikaner Library in Didcot on Saturday 9th March 2002. We will be rendezvousing at Didcot Parkway railway station at approximately 13.40 hrs, from where transport will be provided to take everyone to the Library. For those who intend travelling from London we will be catching the 13.00 hrs train from Paddington, but will be rendezvousing at the statue of "Paddington Bear" on the station concourse at approximately 12.00 hrs.
As well as showing us round the Library itself, Malcolm Wren will also be showing a video-recording which he obtained during a recent visit to the Orania Community (a self-contained settlement of Afrikaners on the banks of the Orange River).
Although it will not be necessary to "book" to take part in this trip, it would assist us to anticipate numbers if all those intending to attend could inform us in advance. Either e-mail or 'phone on: 07711-188430.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB BRANCH NEWS
Alas the recent Springbok Club Hampshire Branch gathering was also very poorly attended, which in view of the fact that buffet-snacks had been provided and donated by one of our supporters for far more people than who actually turned up was not only extremely disappointing, but also an acute embarrassment. The Springbok Club has very strong support on paper in Hampshire, Dorset and Berkshire, so we would therefore ask all our supporters to make every effort to patronise all future such events staged by the branch, particularly as a number of people put such a lot of effort into making these functions a success.
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club will be staging their next event during the evening of Sunday 17th March 2002. This will take the form of a "pub evening" at the Saxon Shore on the Herne Bay beach front. It will be a very informal and unofficial gathering, but even so we hope that as many supporters from the county as possible will be able to attend. Just look out for the Springbok rugby jerseys to recognise everybody!
Springbok Club Treasurer Dave Williams is in the process of organising the next Chilterns Branch meeting for the end of April. Full details will appear in next month's SCN.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB APPEAL
The Springbok Club finished 2001 with a small but somewhat worrying debt, and unfortunately the problems encountered at both our February national meeting and the latest Hampshire Branch gathering has meant that this debt has now grown slightly.
The Springbok Club has grown and proved consistantly over the last few years that it is the largest and most effective pro-South African movement of its type, and that it is in the vanguard of the struggle to restore civilised values to the African continent. We have many other campaigns and events planned for the forthcoming months, but unfortunately some of these are currently in jeopardy because of our poor financial standing. We therefore want to clear all our debts and to build up our funds again as soon as possible.
If every recipient of the SCN were to donate only 75p (R12 or $1) then we would be able to clear our current debt completely. Of course we know that not everybody is in a position to give - but if all those who can afford to contribute could cover those who can't then we are still confident that we will be able to achieve our goal.
All donations should be made payable to "Patriotic Press", and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, U.K.
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THE LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE
Details of the London Swinton Circle's next meeting are as follows:-
Date : Thursday 14th March 2002
Time : 19.00 hrs
Venue : The Morpeth Arms (the upstairs function room), 58 Millbank, London SW1.
(close to Tate Gallery and Vauxhall Bridge - nearest tube station: Pimlico)
Guest Speaker : Mr. Vivian Linacre.
Mr. Linacre is the Chairman of the British Weights and Measures Association and editor of the magazine "The Yardstick", and the subject of his talk will be "Metrication by Stealth".
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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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BOOK OFFERS
COVOS BOOKS of South Africa are specialist publishers of Africana, and offer a wide range of most interesting and illuminating books which will appeal to many of our supporters. Amongst the new titles which they stock are:-
WE FEAR NAUGHT BUT GOD by Paul Els
The story of the South African Special Forces ("The Recces"), from inception in the 1960s to disbandment in 1993. A unique account of one of South Africa's premier units, masters in the art of reconnaissance and clandestine warfare. Pro rata, the most decorated unit during the wars in Angola and SWA. Includes a free copy of Lourens Fourie's music CD "The Recces". Softback, 222x152mm, 328 pages, 252 b/w photographs plus maps. R140.00.
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.
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 "We Fear Naught but God", price £15.00, and "Fireforce", price £22.50. All payments should be made payable to "Patriotic Press", and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK. (Please add 20% for p.& p.).
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BILTONG SALES IN THE UK
Biltong Brother produces top quality, handcrafted biltong. 100% British beef is used, no artificial flavourings or preservatives.
There are 5 types, Traditional, Garlic, Pepper, Hot & Spicy and Ostrich.
We pride ourselves on our fine quality and friendly and efficient service.
For your 'taste of Africa' visit the Biltong Brother web-site at:-
http://www.biltong-brother.co.uk
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.41 : Mr. Peter Godwin.
Our friends from SCA News are looking for Peter Godwin, author of "Mukiwa, A White boy in Africa".
If anybody knows his e-mail address or can help in any way please contact SCA News direct at: velskoen@mweb.co.za
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
Probably one of the best web-sites which has been drawn to our attention for a long time is the "Free Britaannia" site. Describing itself as the "Internet headquarters of grass-roots Conservatism and Unionism", this site was originally known as the "Winston Churchill Division", and takes a broad pro-British stance on a global scale. It gives full support to our kith and kin in Southern Africa, Ulster, and indeed throughout the English-speaking world, and takes a most praiseworthy "neo-Imperialist" attitude towards those remaining British dependent territories. It can be accessed at:-
http://www.freebritannia.co.uk
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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PHONEY TONY
Sir,
Britain's so called "world leader" Blair has up to now been cowered into staying quiet over the illegal regime in Zimbabwe. A regime that freely kills British citizens without so much as a murmur from the British government.
It would seem that the Blair government is worried at being accused by the Mugabe government of "acting as a colonial power". Something Mugabe has been accusing the UK of for the past two years without so much as a warning or angry diplomatic response from the UK government.
Instead the British government has preferred to sit back and watch a country in which it has significant historical, cultural and economic ties fall apart. Far from "leading" international actions British government ministers, such as the former leading ANC activist Peter Hain, have acted as apologists for Robert Mugabe (see BBC Online last summer).
The recent threat of suspension from the Commonwealth comes after over 2 years of widespread violence, intimidation and the fragrant abuse of the rule of law by the government of Zimbabwe. Evidence from the Congo suggests that the Zimbabwe Army is little more that a gang of plundering pirates. The Police have failed to act against widespread acts of violence and intimidation by Mugabe's thugs of unemployed youths and cowards who pose as "war veterans".
The government has continually whipped up racial unrest occupying White land, burning White homes and murdering anyone who gets in their way. The West, "champions of freedom, democracy and the rule of law" have been incredibly quite over this period, preferring to turn the other cheek. Meanwhile the UK government, yet again, appeased the Mugabe's regime by agreeing to pay for his illegal land occupations and "recognising the problem of land reform as being the PRIME issue".
The Zimbabwe Army has hinted at military rule should the wrong side win, Mugabe has taken control of all media, meanwhile rampaging mobs of Mugabe sponsored unemployed youths are kicking old people into the gutter and smashing up the shanty towns of MDC supporters across the country. The picture is one of hatred and destruction.
Despite all this and the election now being near, the only response from "world leader" Blair (coming via his Foreign Secretary) is "we may seek to suspend Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth unless the rule of law is restored". Well Mugabe is brighter than that, he merely changes the law, replaces the judges, abducts his opponents, takes the land by proxy and pays off UN officials to suit himself.
This hint of a "possible suspension" and only "maybe" from the UK and Canada should not worry Mugabe too much. Indeed should this be one of the few small actions the international community is willing to take, it will backfire and play directly into Mugabe's hands.
"World leader" Blair has been exposed as nothing more than a sham, someone who would rather be cowered into no action rather than LEAD and whip up the international support necessary. To date nations with far fewer links in the region than the UK have been most vocal against Mugabe's regime - the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada, the United States, even Sweden.
If Mugabe's regime is not stopped the future for Zimbabwe and indeed the whole of Africa will be bleak. This is a problem that could spread and intensify.
Yours etc.,
Dean Smith, Warwickshire.
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STUPID TODD
Sir,
The recent news about Sir Garfield Todd is very moving to say the least. I just wish that I could jump up right now and do something about it. But sadly...you know the answer to that one! I have completed my book, and have had my say about the tyrannical Mugabe. My God, would I like to meet that son of a bitch face to face. But having said that, would I really put myself at risk of being punished by international law!
Once a Rhodie, always a Rhodie.
Yours etc.,
Frank Carver, Lincolnshire.
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ROGUES GALLERY
Long-standing readers will probably remember the problems which a number of supporters experienced from the phoney "Rhodesia List" Internet discussion group a couple of years ago.
In a nutshell, we were recommended to join this discussion group because, on the face of it, certainly judging from its name, it was a forum which fully supported the Rhodesian cause. Almost immediately we joined, however, we were subjected to a constant stream of inexplicable and abusive attacks from two complete strangers by the names of George Parker and Ron Tuohy, who not only opposed our support for the Rhodesian ideals, but moreover even seemed to express some pro-terrorist sentiments. When we objected to the so-called "moderator" of this group however, a certain Penny Willis, we were summarily removed from the list!
As a result we warned all readers of the SCN to be extremely wary of this phoney discussion group, but we have now learnt that one of our newer supporters has recently independently joined this list (now evidently known as the "Rhodesia Yahoo Group") and - surprise, surprise - was subjected to exactly the same inexplicably offensive attacks by this same Parker/Tuohy duo.
As well as the sinister way in which these two trouble-makers seem to go out of their way to attack and insult all those who express support for the cause that the entire list is supposed to be all about, another highly suspicious factor about them is that they always respond to postings IMMEDIATELY they are made, thereby seeming to suggest that they have nothing else to do all day long but to monitor all postings which are made - and it has been suggested that they may be in the pay of the CIO and/or ZANU-PF to upset and demoralise those who actively oppose the Mugabe regime.
Such speculation may not be as far-fetched as it first appears. Another Internet discussion group which has recently witnessed some most strange and worrying postings is that run by the Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa. A number of false and derogative postings have been made thereon purporting to come from the Springbok Club, but which by mixing fact with fabrication and smears seeks to try to demonise the organisation. Judging from the knowledge displayed, personal venom and phraseology used, however, it would appear that the person behind this "dirty trick" is Arthur Kemp, an individual who we helped to expose as working for the "new" South African security services a couple of years ago.
The oddest thing about these false postings, however, is that they claim Tony Leon, the Leader of the Democratic Alliance in South Africa, has spoken for the Springbok Club. Tony Leon has never spoken for us of course, and we have had no contact with him whatsoever - so why should such a bizarre claim be made? The Democratic Alliance is one of the biggest thorns in the side of the ANC regime of course, so the speculation is that Kemp and the ANC are trying to smear him by first demonising the Springbok Club, and then by falsely trying to associate him with us.
The most sinister aspect of all, however, is that we know there is a link between Kemp and the Parker/Tuohy trouble-makers.
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OBITUARIES
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WENTZEL COETZER
Wentzel Coetzer, who died after a long illness last month, was one of the mainstays of the Rhodesians Worldwide Kent Branch, whose enthusiasm and humour added greatly to the success of the branch.
Born in 1939 in Northern Rhodesia, he was educated at Gilbert Rennie School in Lusaka. He served as a patrol officer in the BSAP for 3 years, before joining the Police Reserve and working for Rhodesian Railways. He moved to Natal in 1978 when he foresaw terrorist rule in Rhodesia, and moved on to the UK in 1990 when he realised the same fate was in store for South Africa. Here he ran a highly successful garage just outside Faversham with his second wife Anita, before ill health forced him to retire a few years ago.
His support for RW was total, and together with Anita he supplied and retailed the much-acclaimed boerewors at all branch braais. Sadly Anita died suddenly last year, but just before his death Wentzel re-married his first wife Joan. He cheated death for several years, and his determination in adversity was an inspiration to all who knew him.
He is survived by 4 children and 8 grandchildren, and our condolences go out to all of them now.
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SPIKE MILLIGAN
Spike Milligan, who died last week, was not only one of the greatest comedians of his age, but was also a man of strong will who was always his own boss.
A rugby fanatic, he fully supported the 1969/70 Springbok tour to the British Isles at a time when most others in his profession succumbed to trendy left-wing anti-South African opposition. This present writer saw him at the Wales v. South Africa game in 1970 when he defiantly told protestors where to get off when they shouted at him not to attend the match.
He was also prepared to tour South Africa during the 1980s at the height of the international "boycott" campaign, and as a result was placed on the United Nations "blacklist".
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