SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
June 2004 edition
Although copies of the SCN are circulated around the world, with a very high proportion going to South Africa itself, we know even so that many of our readers now live in Britain and have the vote in the UK. The forthcoming round of British elections are therefore of great importance to them, and we would encourage all who can to use their vote.
In spite of the fact that we are not by nature an overtly political movement, we have even so traditionally given our support to the respective Conservative parties in both South Africa and the UK (albeit that in South Africa the CP is now part of Freedom Front Plus.) Our natural instincts are of course still to support the British Conservative Party, but next Thursday's round of elections are far more complex than usual, and a more sophisticated view is therefore in order.
On the Euro-Election level we would argue that the most important signal to be sent is that Britain must withdraw from the inward-looking EU and resume her traditional position as a great global nation with strong links to the rest of the English-speaking world - the United States and the countries of the original, plus some newer, Commonwealth. The position of Michael Howard's CP, alas, seems very wishy-washy on this issue. Some have argued that the Labour Party should be supported because of Tony Blair's courageous leadership during the War against Terrorism in Iraq, but although this is true it should also be remembered that many within the Labour Party did not support Blair's patriotic stance on this issue, and furthermore his record on other matters - particularly concerning Europe itself - is lamentable. Others have suggested that UKIP should be supported, particularly in view of their recent rapid growth in support. There is certainly a lot of merit in this argument, as a strong UKIP showing would definitely send a strong "wake up signal" to the CP leadership. Furthermore, there has recently been some most worrying growth in support for the openly neo-fascist "British National Party", and we feel it essential that their poison should be eliminated as soon as possible. A strong showing by an authentic patriotic party such as UKIP would certainly seem to be one means of smashing the fascists. We can therefore sympathise greatly with those who advocate support for UKIP at the Euro-Elections. We shall say no more.
As far as the London Mayoral elections are concerned the position is a lot more straight forward. Mr. Frank Maloney, the UKIP candidate, has addressed both the London Swinton Circle and the Springbok Club, and greatly impressed everyone with the plans for London which he presented, his genuineness and his powerful determination. Furthermore, he showed great understanding of the problems currently plaguing South Africa, which he had encountered firsthand through the various boxing promotions which he has been involved with in the country, and indeed had developed a good friendship with the late, great, Maurice Owen whilst there, who of course was a strong supporter of the Springbok Club. In the London Mayoral Election voters will have both first and second choice votes. Alas Mr. Maloney seems unlikely to win this contest, so his votes could therefore be transferred to the official CP candidate as second choice, without conveying any practical disloyalty to the Party. We therefore have no hesitation in advocating first choice votes for Mr. Maloney, and second choice votes for Mr. Steve Norris.
------------------------------------------------------------------
SPRINGBOK CLUB EMPIRE DAY BUFFET
The Springbok Club was greatly honoured to be able to welcome Sir Robert "Bob" Peliza, the former Chief Minister of Gibraltar and Speaker of the Gibraltar Parliament, as their guest of honour for their annual Empire Day buffet last month. This turned out to be a highly successful and enjoyable event, which produced a packed function room - a considerable achievement in view of the fact that Sir Bob was a last minute replacement guest of honour, having originally been the planned guest speaker for later during the year.
Sir Bob gave a powerful and enlightening address, in which he detailed Gibraltar's history and how determined and co-ordinated resistance by the Gibraltarian people had managed to prevent attempts by various British governments to appease Spain regarding sovereignty of the Rock - something which proved inspirational to all in attendance. The Springbok Club was certainly most grateful to both Sir Bob and Lady Irma Peliza for the honour which their attendance gave to this event, and wishes them both every happiness for the future.
------------------------------------------------------------------
SPRINGBOK CLUB JUNE MEETING
The Springbok Club will be holding a most interesting meeting later this month, which will be addressed by Professor David Marsland, the Director of Research in the Department of Health and Social Care at Brunel University. The details are as follows:-
Date : Wednesday 23rd June 2004
Time : 19.00 hrs for 19.30 hrs.
Venue : The MORPETH ARMS (the upstairs Function Room), 58 Millbank, Westminster, London SW1 (close to the Tate Gallery and Vauxhall Bridge - nearest tube station: Pimlico).
Professor Marsland was a Classics Scholar at both Christ's College, Cambridge, and LSE, before moving to Brunel University where he was Senior Tutor in Sociology and Professor of Social Sciences before gaining his present position. He has published many books on social theory, social policy and the history of ideas, including "Neglect and Betrayal" (an exposure of social scientists' prejudice against defence of their own country) and "Welfare or Welfare State?" (an analysis of the debiliating effects of socialist welfare). in 1991 he was the first recipient of the Thatcher Award, presented to him by Margaret Thatcher for contributions to the study of freedom and state oppression. His talk will be entitled "Fighting for Freedom - fighting tough", in which he will explore the spirit and the practical measures required to defeat the enemies of freedom: Islamic terrorism; internationalist utopianism; Euro-treachery; and home-grown cowardice.
------------------------------------------------------------------
SPRINGBOK CLUB BRANCH NEWS
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club will be staging an informal social gathering later this month in order to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Details are as follows :-
Date : Friday 18 June 2004
Time : From approx. 14.30 hrs onwards
Venue : The King George V pub, Prospect Row, Old Brompton, Gillingham, Kent (Old Brompton is on the 101 bus route from both Gillingham and Chatham railway stations).
----------------------------
The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club have also finalised their next meeting which will take the form of a "British Empire Commemoration". Details are as follows :-
Date : Saturday 26th June 2004
Time : Assemble at 12 noon (when light refreshments will be available). The meeting itself will commence at 13.00 hrs.
Venue : The Burnside Orange Hall, Burnside Road, Burnside, Co.Antrim (exit the M2 at Junction 6, turn left onto Loughanmore Road then second right onto Burnside Road).
Guest speaker : The Rev. Martyn Smyth BA, BD, MP (UUP, South Belfast)
The Rev. Martin Smyth, the MP for South Belfast and Past Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, is immensely well suited to speak on the topic of the British Empire -
given his long service to the nation in public life, his dedication to the British Commonwealth, and his intimate involvement with the loyal orders over many years.
[Non-members wishing to attend this function may do so by purchasing a ticket beforehand - costing £5 (cheques made payable to 'Northern Ireland Branch - Springbok Club'). Tickets can be obtained via post, phone or email at: NI Springbok Club, P.O. Box 35, Ballymoney, Co.Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT53 7YE, UK - 24 Hour Answering Service: 079 808 56105 - email: nispringbokclub@hotmail.com. An information pack showing directions to Burnside Orange Hall will be sent out with all tickets.]
----------------------------
Mr. John Beattie from Minden in Ontario has recently been appointed the Springbok Club's Canadian Co-ordinator, and is planning to organise a foundation meeting of the Canadian contingent of the Springbok Club in Ontario later during the year. We believe that he has already contacted most Canadian supporters of the Springbok Club directly in this regard, but anyone else who might be interested can contact him at: agentj@on.aibn.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE EVENTS
The Rev. Martin Smyth was the guest speaker at last month's London Swinton Circle meeting, which proved to be a most interesting and successful event. In his talk he gave an overview of the current Northern Ireland and international situations, and argued that if the same determined action against Islamic terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq had been taken against SF/IRA terrorism in Northern Ireland then the world would be a far better and safer place than it currently is.
The London Swinton Circle is also in the process of organising its annual summer buffet, at which they anticipate that a famous personality will be their guest speaker. Full details will be circulated as soon as they are finalised.
------------------------------------------------------------------
KWV UKKASIEFEES
This year's KWV UKkasiefees will be held throughout the week of 5th/11th July, with the main events occurring over the weekend of 10th/11th July. There will be a concert staged at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 10th July, and stalls and other events at the "By the Bridge" site near Tower Bridge, London SE1. For more detailed information visit the UKkasie web-site at:-
http://www.ukkasie.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
DORSET SOUTH AFRICAN CLUB SUMMER BRAAI
The Dorset South African Club will be holding their Summer Braai on Sunday 25th July. It will be held at Anderwood near Burley in the New Forest, and will take place from 10.00 hrs onwards. For more details e-mail: D.S.A.C@btinternet.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME BILTONG MAKERS
Biltongmakers.Com! runs a monthly competition which is free for anyone to enter. There are some great prizes to be won each month. Some of the prizes during the last couple of months have included a Skottel Braai, Biltongmakers, Barbecue Utensil sets and Potjies!
To enter please go to: www.biltongmakers.com and follow the competition link!
Biltongmakers.Com! have created a special order page just for readers of the SCN at:-
http://www.biltongmakers.com/biltong09_sc_orderplacing.html
------------------------------------------------------------------
RHODESIAN ON-LINE STORE
In October 2003 THE BATTLE FOR ZIMBABWE was released in South Africa and, within 12 weeks, 70% of the 8000 print run had been sold. Author and journalist Geoff Hill spent three years collecting data from more than a thousand interviews, and assembled more than 4 million words of material which he distilled into a 140,000-word book. Hill, who holds both a Commonwealth Prize and a John Steinbeck award for his writing, is southern Africa correspondent for daily papers in London, Sydney and Washington DC. THE BATTLE FOR ZIMBABWE opens with a short history of the Shona, Ndebele and the Pioneer Column of 1890. It details the history of Rhodesia and carries an extensive biography of Robert Mugabe, including interviews with people who knew him as a child and young adult, but the main research has gone into the post-1980 period, starting with the Gukurahundi massacres by Mugabe's Fifth Brigade and documenting the collapse of Zimbabwe. Hill has spent time with the 2-million Black Zimbabwe exiles in South Africa and the 600,000 in Britain, documenting their harrowing tales of torture and abuse at the hands of the Zimbabwe police, CIO, youth militia and "war vets". The epilogue considers whether the same problems could arise in South Africa and includes interviews with F.W de Klerk and Moeletsi Mbeki (brother of Thabo Mbeki).
Order online at www.Rhodesiawassuper.com
Also custom Rhodesian apparel, flags, CD's (Wrex Tarr, John Edmonds, Four Jacks and a Jill etc), Rhodesian Rugby jerseys, books and so much more. Shipping Worldwide from Canada.
We are also in the process of re-printing Chris Cock's best sellers "Fireforce" and "Survival Course", both as one book! The book is currently being re-edited by Chris. Watch the "Rhodesia Was Super" site for more info and how to get a personalized copy!
------------------------------------------------------------------
FLAGS
The Springbok Club is now retailing full-sized real South African and Rhodesian flags. They are priced £6.00 each for Full Members of the Springbok Club, £8.00 each for Associate Members and £10.00 each for non-members (please add £1.00 for p.& p.). Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
------------------------------------------------------------------
BOOK OFFERS
The Springbok Club is now retailing copies of the book "AFRICA PAR ADVENTURE", an anthology of African stories edited by Peter Ward. The book is priced at £14.95 per copy, plus 15% for p.& p. (though copies may be collected at Springbok Club activities for no extra cost.) Payments should be made payable to "The Springbok Club" and forwarded to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
----------------------------
"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson is a novel which tells the story of the profound impact that an innocent youthful love affair has on the lives of two young lovers. The plot moves from a cult and a maximum security prison in the US to the savannah grasslands of Mozambique and Zimbabwe - this makes for adventure, suspense and melodrama. Packed with conflict and sexual tension, anyone who loves romance, passion and excitement should enjoy reading this story.
Trisha Jackson was born and grew up in Rhodesia. She immigrated to the USA with her husband and three children in 1990. She and her husband live in a unique, rural community in the Tonto National Forest in the eastern mountains of Arizona.
Copies of WAY OUT OF LINE can be ordered from Amazon.com.
----------------------------
"GOVERNMENT BY DECEPTION" by Jan Lamprecht details the disasters of Mugabe's Zimbabwe, and illustrates the similarities between Mugabe's rule and that of Mandela/Mbeki in South Africa. It can be ordered on-line at: www.AfricanCrisis.org
----------------------------
"THE GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN LAND SCANDAL" by Dr. Philip du Toit is a vital piece of work. South Africa can do without many things, but it cannot survive without its farmers. Thirty-five thousand commercial farmers feed 45 million people. Read what has happened to many productive farms which have already been handed over under the government's restitution and redistribution programmes.
It is available priced R150.00 in South Africa from: Jack Loggenberg, TLU/TAU, P.O.Box 91251, Silverton, Pretoria, 0127, Transvaal, South Africa (payments to "TLU/TAU"), or priced £9.95 (+ 15% p.& p.) in the UK from The Springbok Club, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX (payments to "The Springbok Club").
----------------------------
"OF RICE AND MEN", by Jimmy Walker
111 pages. Illustrated. With excellent cartoons by Fusilier Norman Lambert, produced whilst in captivity. Softback £5.00 (cover price £10.00)
An irreverent, left of centre, look at life as a POW by Jimmy Walker, who was captured by the Japanese following the fall of Singapore in 1942. Jimmy takes us through incarceration at the notorious Changi jail, forced labour on the railroad, and deportation to Japan, where the Japanese exploited the mining skills of the boys from Northumberland. Norman Lambert’s sketches are both amusing and frightening at the same time. Through the bitterness and resentment, and physical trauma of captivity shines the humour and the indomitable spirit of the British soldier. An enjoyable and educational read, with a surprise ending.
Prices include p+p. Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log on to www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.
----------------------------
"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion is a devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com
----------------------------
"KING'S GOLD" by Glenn Macaskill, a former member of the Rhodesian BSA Police, is an adventure novel set in Zimbabwe and South Africa in 1983 and 2000, involving espionage against Mugabe's regime and the exciting quest to unravel the secret of an ancient pricless relic. Considerable historical research makes the work informative and entertaining and current sales show interest by all Southern Africans. Sells at £9.95 plus registered p&p. Contact Glenn at mjmac@mweb.co.za or order on-line at: www.geocities.com/goldking992000/index.html
------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
To order, just click on: www.biltong-brother.co.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------
BOERWORS AND BILTONG
From deep in the heart of Africa to you...
CAMPBELLS ORIGINAL FARM STYLE BILTONG, BOEREWORS, BOERE BURGER PATTIES & DRY-WORS.
Made from our tried and tested recipes in both Rhodesia and South Africa since 1965. Now made in the UK from 100% pure British meats, with no glutens or ingredients added, just our own secret blend of spices.
We would love to be of service to you too, so please give us a call on: 01803-380712, e-mail us at : ron@biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk, or visit our web-site at: www.biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE JOY OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTETH ...
A quite surprising article appeared in the London "Sunday Telegraph" of May 16 concerning Helen Suzman, the erstwhile PFP MP for Houghton. Inter alia, it read as follows :-
"Helen Suzman, for years the lone anti-apartheid voice in the South African parliament, has turned her fire on the country's ANC government for being 'anti-White' and for abandoning the country's poorest Blacks. 'I had hoped for something much better,' said Mrs. Suzman, 86. 'The poor in this country have not benefited at all from the ANC. This government spends "like a drunken sailor". Instead of investing in projects to give people jobs, they spend millions buying weapons and private jets, and sending gifts to Haiti. Even though we didn't have a free press under apartheid, the government of that day seemed to be very much more accountable in Parliament'."
Helen Suzman is and always has been a very complex character. Although by far the most left-wing MP in the South African Parliament during the days of civilised rule, she actually represented one of the most affluent and wealthy South African constituencies. Even more surprising, perhaps, is the fact that although ideologically poles apart she evidently had great respect for Dr. Hendrick Verwoerd's integrity and demeanour - respect which on a personal level was apparently mutual.
Mrs. Suzman may have comprehended reality rather late in the day, but even so her awakening is most welcome. We wish her well.
------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.67 : Mr. JAMES SIVES of Pietersburg.
James Sives was a Rhodesian of Scottish ancestry, who subsequently ran a company called "Capricorn Paints" with his brother at Pietersburg in the Far North Transvaal. He was also very active with the "Save Rhodesia Campaign", establishing the Pietersburg Branch of the movement again with his brother. His father is known to have died in his native Scotland a few years ago, but a number of former colleagues from the SRC are very keen to know where he himself is now based.
------------------------------------------------------------------
RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
In the March edition of the SCN we recommended the web-site of the estimable Livingstonia organisation. A closely related site is that of the "English Cultural Front", and this can be accessed at :-
http://www.freewebs.com/englishafrican
------------------------------------------------------------------
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WHAT CAN THIS MEAN?
Sir,
Please identify what mysterious group of people you might be referring to with your references to 'whites'. Please tell me what the "white" language consists of for instance and which cultural affinities they might have. I find your jingo-style racism in fact, increasingly unacceptable. The vast majority of people in South Africa aren't "whites" and those people with ethnic affinities to the European continent, do not actually refer to themselves as whites at all. Why do you continue to use this truly denigrating, downright racist generic term which is used in exactly the same way by Mbeki and his cohorts to suppress the Afrikaner minority with?
Yours etc.,
Adriana Stuijt, Holwerd, Netherlands.
[ Eh!!! - Ed.]
------------------------
ON THE BALL
Sir,
I must congratulate you on a particularly good edition of the SCN this month, especially regarding your forecast about the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Well done, my friend. Keep up the excellent work.
Yours etc.,
Robin Elliott, Vancouver, Canada.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
OBITUARY
RONALD REAGAN
It was of course with great sadness that we learnt of the recent death of President Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan proved to be a veritable colossus not only on the American, but also on the world stage. A true hero of our times if ever there was one.
Ronald Reagan was elected US President at approximately the same time as S.A.Patriot magazine was initially founded. We immediately gave him our full backing (lampooning his predecessor Jimmy Carter in the process), and he didn't disappoint.
With full justification Ronald Reagan is credited with winning the Cold War and thereby bringing freedom and safety to millions. He also rescued the United States from the catharsis of surrender in Vietnam and a couple of generations of detrimental liberal/leftist administrations. His friendship with Margaret Thatcher was legendary, but what is probably not so widely appreciated is that he was by instinct a strong Anglophile. He had almost exclusively British ancestry, and took great pride in this fact.
When Britain's hour of need occurred in 1982 during the Falklands War he over-rode the "nominal liberal" in his administration, Jeane Kirkpatrick, and provided Britain with essential satellite tracking data and refuelling facilities. If there was one criticism of his actions then it must be his invasion of Grenada (a Commonwealth realm) without obtaining British support beforehand - but knowing the liberal control of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the time perhaps this was understandable!
Alas Rhodesia had already fallen before Ronald Reagan (and Margaret Thatcher) came to power, but undoubtedly the NP government of P.W. Botha in South Africa didn't take the fullest advantage of this natural friend in the White House during the 1980s.
A great man who without doubt changed the world for the better has now passed into history, but his legacy and memory lives on - and in the present US President he unquestionably has a worthy successor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, if you would prefer to be deleted from our SCN circulation list then simply e-mail us with the word "unsubscribe". Alternatively, if you liked this SCN and think more of your friends would like to receive copies then please let us know their e-mail addresses!
See you again next month!