SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
November 2011 edition
We know that we have often been criticised in the past for commenting upon issues which are not of direct Southern African significance. We believe even so, however, that the economic crisis which is currently engulfing the "Eurozone" (and by implication the whole of the EU) is of such fundamental global importance that we cannot let it pass without comment.
There have been many, including ourselves from a distance, who have always maintained that the so-called "European Project" is not so much a "European project", but rather a GERMAN project! Through the establishment of first the European Common Market, then the European Community, and eventually the European Union, the German driving force behind the whole spectre has simply been trying to achieve through "peaceful" means what they failed to achieve through more violent methods twice during the 20th Century - namely forceful domination over the entire European continent, if not the world.
The past few weeks, however, have shown that their entire knavish plans are rapidly starting to unravel. Long established and proud European nation-states such as Greece , Portugal - and now even Italy - are being driven into austerity and decline, all because these countries were hoodwinked into adopting the German-engineered Euro single currency. Now even their democratically elected governments - imperfect though they may have been - are being removed at the behest of the German autocrats who control the EU.
If we are to delve back into history we must ask why at the Treaty of Versailles Germany wasn't divided up into its component parts in a similar manner as the dividing up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If so then undoubtedly there would never have been a Second World War and the needless deaths of an estimated 20 million Europeans. Even more reprehensible is what happened after WWII however, when rather than adopting the proposed Morganthau Plan for the disintegration of Germany the German-sycophantic Democratic Administration in the United States instead initiated the Marshall plan - whereby the initiators of the global conflict and those which surrendered to it were financially rewarded, whereas those Commonwealth countries who nobly and steadfastly opposed German aggression received nothing. This surely was an obscenity unparalleled in human history.
But whereas in 1918 the German Junker class over-extended themselves, and in 1941 the Nazi invasion of Russia marked and sealed their demise, so history will probably look back on 2011 as the year when the German EU project finally met its point of no return and Armageddon.
The single EU currency has now all but collapsed, and the whole EU is rapidly disintegrating with it. We are living in interesting times indeed. Out of the rubble of the EU collapse a revived and rejuvenated Europe of independent and globally-aware European nation-states is bound to re-surface however. The days ahead will inspire us.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB KENT BRANCH GATHERING
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club held a most pleasant and enjoyable branch gathering at Canterbury last month, to which a number of supporters from London came down and made several good new contacts as a result. The branch aims to hold another similar get-together in early spring 2012, and it is hoped that supporters in other parts of the country will shortly be initiating branch events as well.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB NOVEMBER ACTIVITY
The Springbok Club's November activity will be somewhat more solemn than normal, as the organisation will be attending the Rhodesian Army Association's annual Service of Remembrance in London , something which has been an aim for many years now.
This event will take place on Sunday 13th November at plot 83 outside the northern side of Westminster Abbey, towards St. Margaret's Church. The service itself will commence at 10.40 hrs, and will include the nation's two minute's silence at 11.00 hrs. All those attending are however asked to try to be in place between 10.00 hrs and 10.30 hrs.
Although organised by the Rhodesian Army Association members of both the Rhodesian Air Force Association and the BSAP Regimental Association will be taking part in this ceremony, and all those who support the Rhodesian cause are welcome to attend and observe. The purpose of this service is to remember specifically all those Rhodesians, of all races, who made the supreme sacrifice in two World Wars, the Korean War and the early War against Terror fighting the ZANLA and ZIPRA terrorists in the Rhodesian Bush.
Following the service and a brief chance to exchange greetings with old friends, the Springbok Club party will then take part in a mini walking tour of Westminster conducted by Susan Gordon. This will include a walk down the Victoria Embankment to view the many statues of British heroes situated there, including a number with specific Southern African connections. At the conclusion of this walk the party will adjourn to a near-by family-friendly pub for lunch and a convivial afternoon.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB EVENTS
In December the Springbok Club will be holding a special meeting to commemorate the Day of the Vow, at which it is hoped that a special guest speaker will be present.
The Springbok Club's 2012 AGM will be held in January 2012 at a location in central London . Later during 2012 the Springbok Club is planning to hold other meetings featuring interesting guest speakers, as well as further trips, excursions and braais.
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The Swinton Circle held its 2011 AGM last month, which proved to be a good success. A slimmed-down Executive Committee was elected for 2011/12, and it is hoped that a reduction in number from seven to five members will enable the organisation to function more fluidly. Two motions were proposed at this meeting, which read :-
"That the Swinton Circle should contact all those Conservative MPs who voted in favour of a Referendum on EU membership and congratulate them on their stance."
and
"That the Swinton Circle should give its full support to a united Great Britain Association Football side taking part in the 2012 London Olympic Games, and should publicise our stance on this matter as widely as possible."
The first of these motions was passed unanimously, and the second was passed with one abstention and none against.
At the conclusion of the business side of this meeting the members present were joined by a number of other supporters to listen to a talk given by Mr. Robin Willow (who had earlier been re-elected as Treasurer of the organisation) entitled "China Today". Mr. Willow, who visits China regularly where he performs as a professional singer and musician, gave a fascinating overview about his experiences and opinions regarding current developments in China , and his views on the country's position in the world. As well as giving his talk, which he illustrated with a number of photographs from his travels, Mr. Willow also entertained the audience with several of his songs with Chinese themes, which were greatly appreciated by all present.
Donations to the Swinton Circle can now be made via PayPal by accessing the organisation's main web-site at: www.swintoncircle.co.uk. The Swinton Circle also now has a presence on Twitter, on which news about the organisation and policy statements are periodically posted. This can be found on Twitter@SwintonCircle.
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AN APOLOGY
In last month's SCN we reported about how we had recently experienced some computer troubles, but confirmed that these problems had all been successfully overcome through the generousity of two of our members. Although our new computer system is now fully up and running, and although we have successfully rescued about 95% of our data, it has unfortunately been discovered that a batch of e-mails sent to us over the past couple of months appear to have been lost. If you have sent us any e-mails over the past few months which have not been answered then let us apologise for this failure, and request that if possible you re-forward them to us.
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LATEST NEWS FROM SANWILD
We have recently received the following very interesting message from he SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary :-
"Firstly, we would like to thank all of you that contributed towards the EMERGENCY FUNDING APPEAL to replace the pumps at SanWild as per our previous email. (for those of you that would like me to re-send the previous email, please email me at lizel@sanwild.org)
"We are still in need of funds and have so far sold 3 vouchers, so we do still have 5 vouchers available for those who would like to visit our reserve and contribute towards the appeal to help us raise the necessary funds to replace our pumps.
"We have put together discounted accommodation vouchers for our Bukisa Private Bush Camp at $500 (R4000 South African Rands) each.
"Vouchers include the following :-
* 3 nights in our luxury safari-tented camp
* Accommodation for 8 people; self-catering
* The camp is cleaned and serviced daily
* One game drive per day
* Airport collections and drop off at Phalaborwa airport
"Terms & Conditions :-
* Please note we only have 5 vouchers available, so the vouchers are sold on a 'first come, first serve' basis.
* Vouchers will be issued and emailed to you, once proof of payment has been received.
* You may purchase a voucher now and confirm dates at a later stage.
* Voucher needs to be paid within 3 days
* Vouchers expire on the 31st December 2012
* Subject to availability
* Special ends as soon as all the vouchers have been sold out.
"To book your voucher please email us at reservations@sanwild.org"
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KLEINFONTEIN BOEREBELANGE KOöPERATIEF BEPERK
Kleinfontein is a community of approximately 1000 members of the Afrikaner people. We have established a settlement on property owned, controlled and managed by its members with a view to promote their identity in a safe and economically viable environment. This settlement was established in accordance with certain clauses in the South African constitution which makes provision for a form of territorial self-determination for people who share the same religious, linguistic and cultural values. The development is structured within a non-profit co-operative, is managed by mainly unpaid volunteers, is financed by its own members and consequently receives no financial assistance from the government. In view of the struggle of our people to retain our right to live in a dignified way, and government actions to impoverish our people legally by barring White persons from meaningful access to economic participation, any form of support, especially financial, will be appreciated. More than seventy White squatter camps (mainly Afrikaners) in our vicinity (Pretoria ) are waging a battle to survive. The funds will be used for community upliftment programmes such as the upgrading of facilities at our home for the aged who need medical support, and our Christian primary school. Further information can be acquired at our website: www.kleinfontein.net
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OLYMPIC FEVER
It has been suggested that it would be a good idea if real South African and Rhodesian flags could be displayed by as many as possible who attend the various Olympic and Paralympic events - both by those who have tickets to attend the major stadiums, and by those standing by the roadside watching the "free" events. With a global audience in the millions watching the world's premier sporting tournament this is bound to generate huge international interest - and will also of course act as a great morale-booster for our kith and kin still trapped in those beleaguered countries.
If you plan to attend any of the Olympic and/or Paralympic events please try your best to carry and display real South African and Rhodesian flags therefore. All those who are not attending can still help however, by donating funds to enable us to bulk-purchase large quantities of these flags which we can then distribute to those who will be spectating. Donations can of course be made either via PayPal on the Springbok Club web-site at: www.springbokclub.org.uk or by cheque made payable to "Patriotic Press" and sent to: Patriotic Press, BM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX , UK .
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WHY WE REJECT THE NAME 'ZIMBABWE '
In the past we have been criticised for not embracing the name 'Zimbabwe ' for that sorry land lying between the Zambezi and the Limpopo . For a movement such as ours which can trace its lineage back to the 'Save Rhodesia Campaign' of South Africa during the late 1970s the reason is surely obvious, but for those who still do not understand perhaps words recently written by Peter Petter-Bowyer of the Rhodesian Air Force Association in the 'Rhodesians Worldwide' magazine (Vol.26 No.3) might explain our position better. Peter writes :-
"Today the world may realise why Rhodesia opposed NIBMAR and why surviving Rhodesians refuse to participate as Zimbabweans in London 's Remembrance Sunday. It is not the fact that the name Zimbabwe replaced that of Rhodesia , but rather what that name has come to represent. When we hear the name Zimbabwe we think of Mugabe's wholesale greed, corruption and extensive murders that have caused the majority of the gentle population to either flee their country or suffer every imaginable depravity."
We couldn't have put it better ourselves - though we know many people who would have used far stronger terms!
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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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MAKE YOUR OWN BILTONG AT THE FRACTION OF THE COST ....
Biltongmakers.Com has, for over 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: BM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK., or via PayPal on the Springbok Club's web-site at www.springbokclub.org.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: BM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX , UK .
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BOOK OFFERS
"REDNECK P.I." a romantic suspense novel by Trish Jackson.
"Twila's a redneck and proud of it. Harland's a P.I. with a target on his back and a twin brother. An explosive situation!"
Available at www.uncialpress.com in electronic format and will soon be available on Amazon in print form.
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"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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"P.K. VAN DER BYL - AFRICAN STATESMAN" by Hannes Wessels
ISBN: 978-1-920143-49-7 / paperback / illustrated
Retail price: R250.00, Web-site price: R200.00 + postage
The narrative gives the reader an overview of the history of the White man in southern Africa with detailed emphasis on the Rhodesian story through the life and times of PK van der Byl, one of the major players in a political drama that ended in the accession to power of Robert Mugabe under the auspices of the British government. By his very nature PK was controversial and confrontational. This account is likely to give offence to some because it portrays him as bluntly as he was in real life. Much can be contested about PK van der Byl but few will dispute he was an extremely colourful character with a devilish sense of humour. This memoir covers his life with a full flourish while doing nothing to detract from the seriousness of the international political and military conflict in which he was engaged. The reader will glean new information on a highly controversial subject and emerge with a more sympathetic understanding of what PK van der Byl and his colleagues did and strove for. The human tragedy that has followed the removal from power of Ian Smith and his Rhodesian Front party will almost certainly force the reader to deal with some uncomfortable conclusions, of value to anyone sincere about grappling with the volatile and deeply troubling challenges that confront all Africans today.
This book and others of interest can be purchased from 30 Degrees South via their web-site: www.30degreessouth.co.za
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"BLUE WATCH" by Gwyn Fford-Osborne
Available from: www.diadembooks.com
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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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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.156 : Mr. Philip Powell of Pietermaritzburg.
Philip Powell was a leading member of the University of Natal Pietermaritzburg 's chapter of the government funded "National Students Federation" during the early 1980s. After leaving University he disappeared from the political scene, but re-emerged during the late 1980s as a leading official in the Inkatha movement, in which position he evidently became a close associate of Bruce Anderson, who sadly died in September (see obituary in the October 2011 SCN). Like Bruce Anderson he was rumoured to have moved to London following the handover of South Africa to the ANC and the consequent eclipse of Inkatha, but no more specific information about his whereabouts has come to light. Prior to and at Bruce's funeral many colleagues were asking about him, and wondered whether he was even aware of Bruce's untimely death. Any information about where he can now be contacted would therefore be most appreciated, so that it can be ensured that he knows of the sad news.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
With the current dramatic crisis within the EuroZone and the astonishing success of the original Referendum petition campaign regarding Britain's continuing membership of the EU, the "Campaign for a Referendum - Let the People Decide" web-site is now probably more topical than ever - particularly as a new follow-up petition campaign has now been launched! Their web-site, whereon there is an opportunity to sign the new petition, can be accessed at :-
http://www.haveyoursay.eu/index.html
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
.... AND EACH ONE'S A REFEREE
[The editorial in last month's editorial regarding the 2011 Rugby World Cup finals, and particularly our comments about South Africa 's defeat at the hands of Australia , probably produced more reactions than any of our editorials for a long time - some in favour and some against. We re-print below just four of the responses from our readers which it produced.]
Sir,
Never let it be said that you don't take Rugby seriously!
Yours etc.,
Roger Alsop, London , U.K.
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Sir,
With reference to the latest SCN, I think your dislike for the "new" South Africa has clouded your judgement. The following article, coming from an Australian, makes it all the more significant -
"Limiting the Power of the whistle.
"There are no doubt a lot of Australian rugby supporters celebrating our victory over the Springboks yesterday. There are also a number of us that are wondering how on earth we managed to pull it off against a side that dominated possession and territory and lineouts. Now, I don’t want to take anything away from the Australian victory – our boys did perform superbly but on the day the Springboks were, we have to admit, the better side. The Boks, as always were magnanimous in defeat with a somewhat pragmatic approach to the result. I wonder what our boys would have said faced with the same situation of blatant incompetence by Mr Bryce Lawrence.
"I support Australia and always will but for those of us that believe in fair play this was a hollow victory. This was very much like fighting a worthy opponent with one arm strapped behind his back – it leaves a bad taste. There were rumours about Mr Lawrence’s impartiality before kick-off from a lot of ex pat South Africans now living in Australia but we tend to dismiss these conspiracy theories with a grin. Certainly, Mr Lawrence’s performance on the field did nothing to dispel those theories. His performance was nothing short of abysmal. He did not award the Bok try because of a dubious forward pass. I have looked and looked and to me, anyway, it did not look forward. Minutes later when the Boks once again breached our defences and were well on the way to scoring another try, he called them back for a forward pass. If the first call was contentious, there certainly was nothing wrong with the second one. Here, I must ask – why not use the 'eye in the sky'? An impressive expensive piece of equipment that should be used for such decisions.
"He failed to penalise Pocock for slowing the ball down. If we had played like that against the All Blacks, they would not have been so quiet about it – and rightly so. In the dying minutes of the game he was in full view of at least 2 high tackles by our boys that went unpunished. Any of these transgressions, if properly acted on, would have surely given the game to the Boks with their advantage over territory. To rub salt in the South African wounds, he awarded a high tackle to the Wallabies for a chest high tackle.
"We won, but did we really? Our sport has always been regarded as a 'hooligans game played by gentlemen' – If we do not want rugby union to degenerate into a farce that soccer can become we need to make sure that our refs are of suitable calibre. They need to be trustworthy gentlemen.
"Mr Lawrence, I would advise against any planned holidays to South Africa for a couple of years.
"Source: Chris Davis (Australian sports writer)"
Yours etc.,
Johan Geelvink, Pretoria , South Africa .
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Sir,
Well said!
Yours etc.,
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Sir,
Unsubscribe!
Yours etc.,
Steve Galinos, Pretoria , South Africa
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RUNDLE IN THE JUNGLE
Sir,
I don't know whether those e-mails were actually from Fred Rundle or not [see October SCN], but all I do know is that you should be very careful if you have any dealings with Mr. Rundle. Look at www.fredrundle.info to see what I mean.
Yours etc.,
C. Smit, Pretoria , South Africa
[We have no knowledge about whether these allegations against Mr. Rundle are true or not. If any other reader can cast any light about the authenticity of these claims about him - one way or the other - then we would be most interested to learn. Ed.]
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OBITUARIES
We were very sad to read in the latest Rhodesia Christian Group newsletter about the unexpected death of Marion Broom, who worked for over 29 years in the offices of the RCG and the other patriotic organisations run by Mr. Denis Walker. We first came into contact with Marion Broom when Mr. Walker was guest of honour at the Springbok Club's 2003 UDI Day Dinner. She proved to be a most friendly, helpful and efficient person to deal with when organising this meeting, and when we told Mr. Walker how impressed we were with her he smiled and intimated that she was indeed someone very special. Having read the obituary to her in the latest RCG newsletter we realise that she was a great lady indeed, and we only regret that we didn't have the opportunity to get to know her better. Our sincerest condolences are extended to Marion 's family and to all who she was close to.
[The latest edition of the RCG newsletter also includes excellent articles by both the Rev. Peter Mullen and Denis Walker himself. Copies are available by writing to: The Rhodesia Christian Group, P.O.Box 5307 , Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire , CM23 3DZ , UK . Please try to enclose a suitable donation to cover costs.]
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RADCLYFFE CADMAN
Radclyffe Cadman, who died last month aged 87, was the scion of an ONF (Old Natal Family) who were sugar-cane farmers in Zululand . A brilliant scholar who won a place at Trinity Hall, Cambridge , where he studied Law, he subsequently practiced as a successful advocate in Durban . It was however as a politician that he became best known. Unfortunately, however, he proved to be neither a very astute nor a very successful politician. A loyal member of the United Party of Jan Christiaan Smuts and Sir de Villiers Graaff, it was his misfortune to reach his political zenith at a time when the UP was in terminal decline, and split by a weird dichotomy between mainly Afrikaner liberals who opposed the NP and mainly English-speaking conservatives who rejected the Progressive Party's left-wing stance. As successive factions from the liberal wing of the UP left to merge with the Progs, forming firstly the PRP and then the PFP, Rad Cadman, as newly installed leader, made a terrible mistake in 1977 by re-branding the party as the "New Republic Party" and shifting its centre-of-gravity to the left rather than to the right. By so doing he alienated its grass-roots English-speaking conservative base, the majority of whom subsequently defected to join the right-of-centre Conservative Party when it was launched in 1982. The NRP rapidly thereafter disappeared into obscurity. This present writer had the pleasure of working for Rad Cadman at the 1977 General Election when, having lost his Zululand seat at the previous General Election, he stood in the Musgrave Constituency of Durban. Here he faced the ultra-Prog Ray Swart, who he should have defeated by a mile if he'd been able to sweep up all the NP and HNP votes - as neither party stood for this seat that year. Instead Cadman's left-leaning stance simply meant that most NP and HNP supporters stayed at home, and he simply couldn't "out Prog" Swart to win votes from the left. He was defeated ignominiously, and resigned the NRP leadership almost immediately thereafter, handing over to Vause Raw. His final political post was to be appointed as Administrator of Natal by PW Botha's sellout NP government, in which position he foolishly attempted to initiate the "ZwaZulu-Natal Indaba" which aimed to establish a non-starter joint Zulu/White administration over Natal and KwaZulu. Rad Cadman was however a most avuncular, friendly and charming character, who undoubtedly at heart was a genuine South African patriot. He was alas also extremely politically naive - almost to a point of childishness (probably due to a very happy childhood growing up amongst the traditional subservient Zulus in northern Natal ). We prefer to remember the best of Rad Cadman however, a basically good and patriotic man who was way out of his depth in the South African political maelstrom of the 1970s. He also encapsulated the best in the pioneer colonial spirit, arising from pioneer farming stock to win a place at one of the greatest universities in the world, before embarking upon a very successful legal career (albeit at the same time embarking upon a disastrous political career!), before finally returning to his sugar-cane farming roots, in which same farm he was eventually to die.
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See you again next month!