SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
March 2010 edition
For the final two weeks of last month the eyes of the world were of course centred on Vancouver in Canada where the 2010 Winter Olympic Games were taking place, and around the globe eyes were glued to television screens as a result. Somehow the Winter Olympics always seem to hold more appeal than even the Summer Olympics - perhaps because they're whiter in more senses than one!
In spite of the tragic death of the Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, an apparently badly designed bobsleigh run and consequent over-reactions by race organisers in shortening the distances for the luge competitions - as well as some reprehensible and unfounded negative reporting in certain sections of the overseas media - these Games still proved to be a most exciting and memorable success. The Canadian authorities are certainly to be congratulated upon staging such an awe-inspiring experience for the international audience.
Everywhere around the globe we say, but apparently not in South Africa, for from what we've been informed there was little or no reporting of these Games in the South African media.
There are those who would say that this is not surprising as there is little interest in Winter Sports in South Africa because of the country's geographic position and warm climate. This did not stop Australians from taking a great interest in the Games in spite of their similar geographic position and climate however, and indeed Australia managed to win three medals - two of them Gold! Furthermore, during the days of civilised rule in South Africa there were plans to develop a ski resort in Qwa Qwa on the Drakensberg Mountains close to the Lesotho (Basutoland) border. We also know as a fact that during the mid-1970s there existed a vibrant Springbok Ski Club, which was run by a most energetic and enthusiastic young woman who would always appear at club gatherings resplendent in her custom-made ski-jacket in patriotic Orange, White and Blue colours!
Later during the year the Commonwealth Games are due to take place in New Delhi, India (though similar to the 2010 Soccer World Cup it is by no means certain that such a largescale event can be staged in a third world country). The suggestion has been made by some members of our movement that there should be a Commonwealth Winter Games similar to the Winter Olympics. The argument against this is that apart from the UK and Canada no Commonwealth country is an exponent of Winter Sports. It should be remembered in this regard that the UK doesn't compete as an entity in the existing Commonwealth Games, but rather in its component parts - and the suggestion has also been made that Australia should compete in future on an individual state basis (a suggestion which we fully agree with). Why therefore shouldn't Canada compete in these proposed Commonwealth Winter Games on a provincial basis? With Australia and New Zealand already having established Winter Sports structures, and even India, Pakistan and little Ghana (the Gold Coast) entering teams at the 2010 Winter Olympics, the possibility of viable Commonwealth competitions is by no means remote - and of course the Falkland Islands might also be able to enter an iconic team!
Two existing sites for such proposed Games of course already exist in Canada, namely Calgary and Vancouver. With sufficient effort and investment it is not impossible to foresee such other potential future venues as Aviemore in Scotland and on the Falkland islands - and perhaps, who knows, one day even at Qwa Qwa in a restored first world South Africa!
[Does anyone know who the patriotic and enthusiastic woman who ran the Springbok Ski Club during the 1970s was, and where she can now be contacted? - Ed.]
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SPRINGBOK CLUB LONDON BRANCH FEBRUARY EVENT
The London Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC staged a most enjoyable and successful "pub gathering" last month, at which the CD presentation about the death of Durban sent to us by our great Durban-based supporter Snowy Smith was shown. This CD presentation (which of course was originally intended to be shown at the Springbok Club's AGM a month earlier) proved to be a great eye-opener, illustrating as it did the catastrophic environmental pollution and breakdown in law and order which have destroyed the once beautiful and vibrant city of Durban.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB KENT BRANCH GATHERING
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC will be staging an informal "pub gathering" in Canterbury towards the end of March. All Kent Branch members will be notified of the precise details as soon as arrangements have been finalised, but if anyone else would like to attend please let us know by e-mailing springbok@falklands.org
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC EVENTS
The Springbok Club/ELC is still anticipating welcoming a prominent British politician as guest speaker in the near future, though unfortunately it seems now as if this will not be taking place in March. Full details will of course be given in a future edition of the SCN.
In April 2010 the Springbok Club will be celebrating Van Riebeeck's Day with a special braai, at which there will be appropriate musical entertainment by Mr. Robin Willow.
In May 2010 the Springbok Club/ELC will be celebrating Empire Day with a visit to the RE Museum in Gillingham, where special re-enactments will be taking place.
The Springbok Club/ELC is also planning a visit to Hatfield in order to pay respects at the RLI Troopie Statue situated there during early 2010.
In August 2010 the Springbok Club/ELC will be belatedly celebrating Rhodes & Founders Day with a special buffet in central London, at which the guest of honour will be someone with very strong historical Rhodesian connections!
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC BRANCH NEWS
The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC held a most encouraging get-together in Ballymoney last month. It is anticipated that further such events will take place in both Belfast and Ballymoney in the months ahead.
The London Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC is planning a trip to the RAF Museum in Hendon during mid-2010. More precise details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
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SWINTON CIRCLE NEWS
The Swinton Circle held it's 2010 AGM last month, at which an expanded 7-person Executive Committee was elected for the forthcoming year. After the business side of the meeting was concluded Mr. Peter Kirby, a knowledgeable and very well-informed person on the subject, gave a riveting and highly informative illustrated talk on the subject of so-called global warming and climate change.
Details of the next Swinton Circle meeting are as follows :-
Date : Thursday 11th March 2010
Time : assemble from 18.30 hrs., meeting to commence at 19.00 hrs.
Venue : THE ANTELOPE (the upstairs function room), 22 Eaton Terrace, Belgravia, London SW1W 8EZ. (nearest tube station: Sloane Square - turn right out of the main entrance, then right again into the north side of Sloane Square which then becomes Cliveden Place, and finally left into Eaton Terrace where The Antelope is on the left).
The guest speaker at this meeting will be Mr. Frank Maloney.
Frank Maloney was born in Peckham, South London, the son of Irish parents who had become proud Londoners. A keen amateur boxer, he worked as an apprentice jockey, a chef and catering manager, a greengrocer, and a pub landlord before embarking upon a full-time career in boxing, becoming one of the most successful managers and promoters this country has ever seen.
During his illustrious career he has managed such famous fighters as Lennox Lewis (former WBC, IBF and WBA World Heavyweight Champion), Scott Harrison (former WBO World Featherweight Champion) and Paul Ingle (former IBF World Featherweight Champion). His present stable includes John McDermott (English Heavyweight Champion), Jamie Moore (European Light-Middleweight Champion) and Rendall Munroe (European Super-Bantamweight Champion).
Famous for his patriotic "Union Flag Suit", Frank Maloney celebrated his 25th anniversary as a boxing promoter last year with a special dinner and boxing show held on St.George's Day at The Troxy in the East End of London, whereat he announced the inauguration of the appropriately named St.George's Sporting Club.
In 2004 he was nominated as the official UKIP candidate for the London Mayoral Election, whereat he obtained an unprecedented 115,665 first-preference votes for the party, coming a clear fourth behind the three major parties, and obtaining much media publicity, including a highly acclaimed appearance on the Frank Skinner Show.
He has recently been adopted as the official UKIP candidate for Barking at the forthcoming General Election, whereat he with be opposing the sitting Labour member and Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Margaret Hodge.
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SANWILD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND TRUST
Louise Joubert of the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary and Trust writes as follows :-
"I am the founder of the SanWild Wildlife Trust. For some time now we have been receiving your newsletter which we always read with great interest. May I ask if you would consider including our news and funding appeals with your newsletters, or alternatively letting us know which of your members may be interested in getting our newsletter that deals with the work we do and also the latest on conservation in South Africa. On this side there is serious problems facing wildlife and the South African government seems to be losing control and a grip on conservation."
We would certainly encourage all our readers to contact Louise and to support her important endeavours in this regard. She can be contacted at:-
louise@sanwild.org
or alternatively the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary web-sites can be accessed at :-
www.sanwild.org and www.sanwild.com
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A HERO'S TALE
Francis Bennion from Devon has recently written to remind us of the details of his successful prosecution against the odious Peter Hain in 1973. Mr. Bennion proved to be a true hero in this case, and spoke for the vast majority of British citizens who wished to maintain friendly sporting contacts with their kith and kin in Southern Africa. His selfless actions in this regard should never be forgotten :-
Our paths crossed in 1971 when I brought a private prosecution against him [Hain] for criminal conspiracy. He was tried at the Old Bailey and convicted. He lost his appeal, but has since prospered. He is now in the Cabinet.
I begin the story on 24 July 1964, when John Harris, an anti-apartheid campaigner and close friend of the Hain family, planted a fatal bomb at Johannesburg train station. He confessed and was hanged for murder. A little girl named Glynis Burleigh was injured in the blast. Her grandmother, born in Wales, was killed. Later, Glynis wrote to tell me the details. She said that while browsing the net she chanced to land on my website and liked the style. Of Peter Hain she said: 'It has often struck me as ironical that someone who has such close links to terrorism should have a standing in the present government'.
I have space only to give a fragment of what Glynis wrote about the bomb that crippled her and killed her beloved grandmother.
'I leapt up at the loudest noise one could imagine, along with a massive flash and then fire - fire everywhere. I saw window panes flying and falling. My first thought was 'electric' what else could it be? The flames were suddenly everywhere - beneath me, above me, and all around me. I thought with a sadness, that all the loonies were right 'the world will end in fire'. I screamed for my mother as any child does, then, convinced that this was a general state of affairs, I yelled for God to save me. I felt myself sinking, almost disappearing . . . spiralling down, my body and my clothes aflame . . .'
Hain wrote about the incident in his book Sing the Beloved Country. He stresses that he and his family condemned what their dear friend John Harris had done. Nevertheless, as a schoolboy of fifteen, the grief-stricken Hain was moved to read the address at Harris's funeral - an incident for which he became notorious. In 1966 the Hain family, banned in South Africa, removed themselves to England.
As part of his campaigning against apartheid, which he continued in England, Hain organised direct action protests against sports tours by South African teams. To quote him :-
'I understood the psychological importance of sport to White South Africans and their desperate need to be in international sport, and I was just fed up with the refusal of the sports authorities to take a moral position and realized the only way we could do that is stop the matches, and of course they were uniquely vulnerable.'
As a lawyer who believes in law I have a visceral objection to direct action protests. Though claimed to be peaceful, they always cause violence. They are always unlawful. At the behest of private individuals, they physically stop citizens doing what the law says they may do. We pride ourselves on the rule of law. Direct action is its opposite.
When plans were announced for the South African cricketers to tour England in 1970 Hain mounted a campaign he called Stop the '70 Tour. That word 'stop' says it all, and it angered me. I thought of Churchill's 'up with this I will not put', and resolved to act. I set up a body called Freedom Under Law (FUL). It published a journal which was called Ostrich. This was in protest at those who buried their heads in the sand over the growing dangers of the technique of direct action, which was later used in unlawful support of many political causes.
From 1953 to 1965 I had been a barrister employed in the Westminster parliamentary counsel office, where government bills are drafted. They say it takes ten years to make a legislative draftsman. After twelve years I had still not been promoted to the full rank of parliamentary counsel. I thought the head of the office, the late Sir Noël Hutton, did not think much of my abilities, though I learnt later that the opposite was the case. I decided to leave, and took a job as chief executive of a leading professional body, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). It did not work out, so after three years I resigned from that too. Currently I was a freelance draftsman on contract to the Jamaica government.
What Hain described as the opening shot in the campaign that eventually stopped the 1970 Cricket Tour was fired against a private touring party led by Wilf Isaacs. When his team played my alma mater Oxford University in July 1969 there was serious trouble. Two days before the match, Isaacs received a telephone call from MCC Secretary Billy Griffiths to say that a trench 45 yards long had been dug across the historic Parks Ground at Oxford - a desecration which would appal any cricket lover. The pitch was repaired sufficiently to enable the match to begin, but it was seriously disrupted by large numbers of demonstrators - at one point they interrupted play for about three quarters of an hour. Demonstrators ran on to the pitch and grabbed stumps. Others blew whistles or shouted 'No ball'. Mirrors were used to reflect light into the eyes of players. Isaacs recalled that people had shouted 'Fascist scum' at him - a strange taunt to make to an ex-fighter pilot in the War against Hitler.
At Hain's instigation, this pattern was repeated at many matches in Britain involving White South African players. As well as cricket, other sports such as rugby and tennis were also involved. Cricket was especially vulnerable, being of its nature unable to offer any real defence against this kind of misbehaviour. Public anger grew. I tried to stir the authorities into action, but they were supine. With FUL I decided to launch a private prosecution against Hain, but found difficulty in acquiring evidence that would stand up in court. A press photographer named Gordon Winter contacted me offering photographic evidence. It still was not enough. Later Winter provided a 60-page witness statement.
Then Hain himself added the finishing touch by publishing his book "Don't Play With Apartheid". Later Owen Stable QC, leading counsel for my private prosecution, was to hold the book up at the Old Bailey telling the jury 'This might have been called How I Did It!'. The judge was the late Judge Gillis, notorious for being on the side of the accused.
Judge Gillis gave Hain all the rope he needed. His defence was cleverly handled. After taking advantage of all that an expert silk and his squad could do for him, Hain sacked the defence team in mid-trial and then exploited all the indulgence given to a litigant in person. As Geoffrey Robertson QC said: 'The other advantage of Peter defending himself was that he wouldn't have to go into the witness box and be cross-examined.'
Gordon Winter was meant to be our star witness, but there was something we didn't know: he was a BOSS agent acting under instructions (the acronym BOSS stands for the South African Bureau of State Security, or secret police). Here is what Winter says in his book Inside BOSS about how he wrecked my case at the Old Bailey:-
'Finally the big moment came when I was due to stand in the witness box at the High Court and give evidence as a witness for the prosecution, proving that Peter Hain had conspired to disrupt South African sports tours in Britain etc. So what did BOSS do at the last minute? They told me to switch sides and give evidence in favour of Peter Hain and not against him!'
This Winter obediently did, but we still got a verdict on one of the four counts. On the other three the jury disagreed. In a public prosecution there would have been a retrial, but I could not face that so Hain won a technical acquittal on those counts. He was fined £200.
When he appealed against the conviction in 1973 three judges of the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal with costs. The court said his conviction was 'fully justified'. Lord Justice Roskill said Mr Hain had not elected to give evidence, adding 'He gave no explanation of his part over the incidents with which he was charged'.
On 11 December 2005 I appeared with Hain in a BBC Radio 4 broadcast presented by Clive Anderson (http://www.francisbennion.com/2005/066.htm). Hain said:-
'I am proud I took part in those events. Perhaps one of the most significant things I did in my political career is stopping those sports tours because, as Nelson Mandela told me when he got out of prison, they were decisive blows against apartheid.'
Asked what he thought of my prosecution Hain said:-
'I saw that as an attempt in effect to take me out of political action and anti-apartheid activity, which it did to a large extent. I mean, these things are exhausting.'
So I achieved something. Other words by Hain give cause for disquiet.
Clive Anderson: And in hindsight, how does he regard Francis Bennion who strove to put him behind bars?
Peter Hain: I just look back at it and I think he was absolutely wrong. I think that when you look back at what happened, and the miracle of South Africa's transformation, he was on the wrong side of the argument, and without being arrogant about it, I was on the right side of the argument and history has been the judge of that.
The words that ended the broadcast, after Clive Anderson asked what I now thought of my prosecution of Hain, were:-
Francis Bennion: It seemed right to me at the time. Now it seems an act of folly, but I can't say I regret it because I still think it was right. I still have very strong views about the rule of law and direct action.
Clive Anderson: Maybe you helped Peter Hain's career because it put his name on the map. Do you think you may have assisted his career?
Francis Bennion: I wouldn't like to leave this interesting conversation having that thought in my mind.
After the Hain trial certain events happened. I was invited to become a member of the MCC, which I did and still am. The Jamaica Government abruptly terminated my contract. The Parliamentary Counsel Office asked me to return, and at last promoted me to the rank of full counsel.
Of course I do not suggest that any of these events was a direct consequence of my prosecution of Mr Hain. It was not necessarily a case of post hoc ergo propter hoc.
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RHODESIAN LIGHT INFANTRY DVD
The Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association in the UK (part of the world-wide RLI Regimental Association) has recently had a series of films on a single DVD created which tell the story of the Rhodesian Bush War, as seen through the eyes of the men who fought in it. This is a new set of films which are not in anyway related to those that have been around for a number of years, and the proceeds are to be used to maintain our Troopie statue, smuggled out of Zimbabwe, as well as the creation and maintenance of an RLI museum.
For more details about how to order this DVD please contact Mark Pilbeam at: mark.pilbeam@dsl.pipex.com
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WORLD CUP WILLIES
Another interesting report has appeared in a recent edition of "Project 2010 - Preparing South Africa for the World" (the official circular of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Local Organising Committee), this time confirming that South Africa does not possess sufficient qualified air traffic controllers to cope with the extra air traffic expected at the tournament - and is even having to seek assistance from New Zealand :-
"Fifty air traffic controllers are currently being trained and an additional 16 international air traffic controllers are being recruited, in order to cope with the expected flood of aircraft movements during the World Cup. According to a written reply to a parliamentary question given by Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele to Greg Krumbock of the Democratic Alliance on Tuesday, the international controllers will only be appointed on a fixed term employment of six months. FIN24 notes that the minister added that the Air Traffic and Navigation Services company is currently negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Airways New Zealand for the possibility of sharing information and expertise in terms of air traffic control training and other air traffic management concepts, such as safety."
[ In last month's SCN we featured the "Boycott 2010 World Cup" campaign as our "Recommended Web-Site of the Month". We have subsequently been informed that a more direct web-site exists for this campaign, which can be accessed at : www.boycott-2010-world-cup.co.nr ]
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SEARCH SERVICE FOR THOSE SEEKING LOST CONTACTS
Find any South African, even those who have emigrated. We also search Botswana, Namibia and ex-Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.
http://www.bellemodel.biz/emails/emails.html
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A CORRECTION
In the December 2009 edition of the SCN, in the item concerning the Durham Union Society debate on the motion "This House believes Africa's problems are Empire's fault" headed "The Great Debate", we stated that Mr. Vimbai Kwashirai was "a ZANU-PF sycophant". We have subsequently been informed that Mr. Kwashirai has no connection to ZANU-PF. We are happy therefore to withdraw this comment about Mr. Kwashirai, although we must add that the vehemence with which he blamed all of Zimbabwe's woes onto "colonisation" seemed merely to be parroting Mugabe's party line.
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MAKE YOUR OWN BILTONG AT THE FRACTION OF THE COST ....
Biltongmakers.Com has, for the last 10 years, put a smile on many a South African face. No longer do they have to pay exorbitant prices for biltong that in most cases is not even to their liking!
Now you can make your own Biltong at a fraction of the price you pay right now and ...... you can make it the way YOU like it!
Please visit www.biltongmakers.com and see all they have available.
You will never be without some REAL South African Biltong again!
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FLAGS etc.
The Springbok Club/ELC now retails Union Flag lapel badges and key-rings, price £2.00 each (plus 20% p&p).
Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
Copies of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile (editions 30 to 36) are still available price R5.00 or 50p each, as well as batches of 50 copies (including copies of the original S.A.Patriot) price R80.00 or £8.00 (plus 20% for p&p.)
Payments should be made to "Patriotic Press" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
[We really want to be able to produce the next edition of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile, No.37, as soon as possible, but in order to do this we need to clear our existing stock of back-issues first. Supporters can help us in two ways in this regard, either by making donations which will enable us to distribute more copies, and/or by providing address details of people who might be interesting in receiving copies.]
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BOOK OFFERS
"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
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"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion
A devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com
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"THE RAPE OF ZIMBABWE" by Ricky Wilson - which tells it like it was (and is)!
Rhodesia was once a prosperous and thriving country, and the story of the author's enterprising and entrepreneurial spirit in that land, followed by his desperate escape from the country when, as Zimbabwe, it became ruled by a tyrant, imparts a realistic perspective of the present desperate plight of many exiles from a country that was once a paradise and the breadbasket for so much of Africa.
You can order this book via http://www.diadembooks.com/zimbabwe.htm
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"THE SEVEN WATCHMEN" by David Ruppert
A new fascinating novel titled "The Seven Watchmen" by David Ruppert should appeal to South Africans and ex-Rhodesians. It can be ordered from Crest Publishing in South Africa at www.crestpublishing.co.za - or those abroad can buy it directly from David at rupedf72@comcast.net. It's also available on www.Amazon.com
Glenn MacAskill and Michael Bowery of Crest Publishing have also written three books each. Glenn MacAskill is ex-BSAP Special Branch and still working (as Mugabe has denied him any pension) and Michael Bowery is ex-South African Special Forces. Due to the difficulties confronting White writers in the "new" South Africa they launched Crest Publishing to self-publish their own books, and have been doing this since October 2006. Michael Bowery is author of: "Canham's Run", "The Sligo Piper" and "Kill the President", whilst Glenn MacAskill is author of: "King's Gold", "Crime Lords" and "Of Royal Blood". Special discounts to ex-servicemen, Rhodies and Springboks!
For more information, or to make an order, please contact Crest Publishing at: P.O.Box, 97910, Petervale, Transvaal, 2151, South Africa, e-mail: crestbooks@mweb.co.za, or visit the Crest Publishing web-site at: www.crestpublishing.co.za
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"THE SAINTS" - DVD versions of the book about the history of the RLI
Now available from Msasa Enterprises. Contact: msasasa@iafrica.com or UK tel.: 07732 685400.
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For Sale - a number of books and publications dealing with Southern Africa. Send stamped addressed envelope to: Mr. Mark Taha, 93 Venner Road, Sydenham, London SE26 5HU, U.K. [Warning - many not of Springbok Club's persuasion!]
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.136 : Mr. LIONEL GAY of Durban
Ray Absalom from New Zealand is looking for Lionel Gay, who left South Africa during the 1960's. He was a lecturer, working for the University of Natal, Durban, at Howard College. If anyone can help Ray please contact him at: absafam@woosh.co.nz
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
We have recently been informed of a number of most revealing videos concerning South Africa which appear on the "LivingScoop" network. They are as follows :-
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=MjU=
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=MjY=
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=Mjc=
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=MjA=
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=MTk=
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=MTg=
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=Mjg=
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=Mjk=
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=MTA5
http://www.livingscoop.com/watch.php?v=MjE=
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
TUNNEL VISION
Sir,
You ought to point out to whom it may concern the security risk of the Channel Tunnel (which should never have been built) after the recent breakdown and stranding of passengers. What would happen if a suicide bomber blew himself up in the tunnel - or if 10 bombers blew themselves up in the tunnel at once?
Yours etc.,
Bob Vinnicombe, Sydney, Australia
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BLACK CHRISTMAS
Sir,
There was a new Christmas drink at the White House this season. Watermelon juice and vodka.. It was called a Nig Nog.
Yours etc.,
T.J., Florida, U.S.A.
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CARDINAL WEIDEMANN
In the December 2009 edition of the SCN we were critical of Mr. Albert Weidemann for the manner in which he had agreed to speak against the motion "This House believes Africa's problems are Empire's fault" at a Durham Union Society debate in November, but in the event more or less spoke in favour of the motion. This has recently resulted in a derogatory and hurtful e-mail from Mr. Weidemann entitled "Right of Reply" in which, inter alia, he claims that he was never sent a copy of the SCN in question. We have double-checked our circulation list however, and can confirm that his e-mail address definitely still appears on it! In spite of a litany of personal abuse totally irrelevant to the specific criticism which we made of his performance at the debate which was contained in his so-called "Right of Reply", nowhere in it does he address our central complaint, namely that he made a commitment to speak against the motion in question, but then reneged upon this promise. We have now replied to Mr. Weidemann stating that although we are not prepared to publish his defamatory and irrelevant "Right of Reply" in it present form, if he was to address our central criticism and either deny that he spoke in favour of the motion or to give some form of explanation for this astonishing volte-face, then we would certainly publish such a response. We further challenged him to place a copy of his speech - as delivered - on the Web so that all readers could have the opportunity to judge for themselves whether or whether not he spoke against the motion as committed. In spite of the fact that we replied to Mr. Weidemann on 27th February we are still awaiting his response.
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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!
