SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
May 2010 edition
We are aware that many supporters believe that in the past we have spent too much time commenting upon internal British domestic matters, rather than upon events occurring in southern Africa and elsewhere in the former Empire and Commonwealth. Even so, however, we believe that events happening elsewhere around the globe - particularly when they relate to changes of power in the most influential Western nations, especially in the UK - are of great importance to our kith-and-kin still living in southern Africa and elsewhere around the world. For this reason we trust readers will bear with us if we comment in depth in this edition of the SCN on the result of the recent British General Election.
After 13 years of New Labour administrations, which particularly under the Premiership of Gordon Brown has tended to act against the true interests of the British people both in the UK itself and overseas, it was essential that a new government came to power. The fact that the Conservative Party was not able to obtain an absolute majority in this regard was of course a great disappointment - but to be realistic perhaps an even bigger swing to the "right" was too much to hope for in one leap. The resulting Conservative/Liberal-Democrat coalition is by no means ideal of course, and to be candidly honest we already have grave misgivings about some of their initial decisions (the "politically correct" plan to abandon ID cards and a central DNA database, and the curtailing of CCTV surveillance seems nothing more than a "thieves charter" to us for instance), but given the Parliamentary arithmetic there was probably no other alternative.
Furthermore, it must also be born in mind that Liberal-Democrat supporters are probably even more angry about developments than Conservative Party supporters, and the very real possibility exists that Lib-Dem support will plummet, with the party even splitting. This of course will be of great long-term advantage to the Conservative Party. For these reasons we will therefore give a chance for the new coalition government to prove itself before commenting further.
Perhaps the most encouraging result of the Election, however, was the almost total rejection of the phoney so-called "British" National Party (BNP) by the electorate, who in spite of much sinister media-hype claiming that they would actually win seats never even managed to obtain a second place in any constituency, and saw their percentage vote decline significantly. In spite of the fact that Nigel Farage failed by a long way to win the Buckingham seat as expected, the overall result for UKIP was encouraging for the party, with higher percentage votes being recorded everywhere, in spite of all the ongoing internal disputes which alas evidently plague the party. Votes for UKIP were higher than the margins by which Conservative candidates lost seats in sufficient numbers to have meant that if UKIP had not stood then the Conservative Party could have governed on its own. We trust that this fact isn't lost on David Cameron! Taken together therefore the omens certainly seem good for the emergence of a genuine and dynamic patriotic movement in Britain shortly.
The main disappointment and source of worry resulting from the General Election concerns Northern Ireland however. Not only was the unexpected and sickening defeat of the DUP leader Peter Robinson a devastating setback for the Unionist cause, but the fact that Unionists (of various complexions) now only hold 9 of Northern Ireland's 18 seats as opposed to 8 held by nationalists (5 of whom are SF/IRA terrorist fellow-travellers) is a source of great anxiety. The Unionist population of Northern Ireland is recognised to outnumber republicans by a ratio of about 2 to 1, so therefore if boundary demarcation was neutral Unionists should hold 11 to 12 seats. Not only is gerrymandering in Northern Ireland a matter of serious concern therefore, but also the extremely low turnout (in most cases below 60%). In this regard splits and factionalism within the Unionist family must be roundly condemned, and this applies particularly to the so-called "Traditional Unionist Voice" organisation, which in spite of all their bravado about being more opposed to a sell-out than the DUP, in reality did nothing more than give aid and encouragement to the SF/IRA terrorists and the "useful idiots" Alliance Party. TUV supporters should remember clearly what happened in South Africa when the patriotic movement was split and divided in the face of NP treason and ANC terrorism!
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/EMPIRE LOYALIST CLUB MAY EVENT
The Springbok Club/ELC will be staging a conducted walking tour in the east end of London later this month in order to visit a number of sites connected to Admiral Sir John Leake and other naval heroes of the early 18th century. Admiral Sir John Leake played the principal part at the relief of Londonderry in 1689. While in the "Dartmouth" he broke the boom and destroyed the French/Jacobite batteries. He also took part in the capture of Gibraltar in 1704, and from 1703-05 he remained in the Mediterranean in command of a squadron which successfully defeated the Franco-Spanish attempts to retake Gibraltar. During his second tour in the Mediterranean he both relieved Barcelona and captured Cartagena, Alicante, Ivisa and Majorca in 1706. As Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean in 1708, he also captured Sardinia and Minorca which guaranteed British supremacy in these waters. In 1710 Leake became First Lord of the Admiralty, a post which he held until the death of Queen Anne.
Details of this event are as follows :-
Date : Saturday 29th May 2010
Rendezvous arrangements : Meet at The Half Moon pub near Stepney Green underground station between 13.00 hrs and 14.00 hrs (The Half Moon is a Wetherspoons' pub situated on the Mile End Road; From Stepney Green Station turn left into Mile End Road, cross Globe Road, and the pub is then a few premises away.)
Sites to be visited include Admiral Leake's grave at St.Dunstan's Parish Church, the Trinity Alms Houses established by Captain Mudd, Captain James Cook's house, and finally the site of Admiral Leake's former manor house in Whitechapel - from where the party will adjourn to a near-by historic pub. For more precise details please 'phone: 07711188430.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/EMPIRE LOYALIST CLUB EVENTS
On Tuesday 29th June the Springbok Club/ELC will be staging a meeting which will be addressed by the UK representative of a leading South African military book publishing company. More precise details will appear in next month's SCN.
On Thursday 9th July the Springbok Club/ELC will be celebrating Rhodes & Founders Day with a special buffet in central London, at which the guest of honour will be the author of an acclaimed biography of Charles Rudd, one of the leading members of the Pioneer Column which founded Rhodesia in 1890!
The August the Springbok Club/ELC is planning a visit to the RLI Museum in Bedford, and then to proceed to Hatfield in order to pay respects at the RLI Troopie Statue which is now situated there.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC BRANCH NEWS
The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC will be holding an informal get-together in central Belfast in mid-June (probably on Saturday 19th June). For more details please 'phone 07711188430.
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC will be staging an informal gathering in Canterbury during the early summer, and the London Branch is planning a trip to the RAF Museum in Hendon later during 2010.
More precise details of both these events will be given in future editions of the SCN.
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SWINTON CIRCLE NEWS
The Swinton Circle was most pleased to welcome Mr. Paul Rhodes, a former leading member of the organisation who is now based in British Columbia in Canada, as guest speaker last month. Mr. Rhodes gave a most interesting speech about the current political and sociological situation in Canada, which was warmly received by an enthusiastic audience which contained many of his old friends.
The Swinton Circle has been most honoured to be invited to attend a special "Help for Heroes Day" (in support of wounded armed services personnel) to be held at Aylesbury Rugby Football Club, Ostler's Field, Brook End, Weston Turville, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5RN (nearest railway station: Wendover) on Sunday 6th June, commencing at 12.00 noon. The afternoon's activities will include an opening ceremony at 12.00 noon, a military band display at 12.30 hrs, a rugby match between Buckinghamshire under 21s and the RAF under 21s at 13.30 hrs, and a closing ceremony at 18.00 hrs. Throughout the afternoon there will also be a Spitfire fly-past, a display by WWII re-enactment groups featuring vintage WWII vehicles, and a curry lunch. Tickets are priced at only £5.00 per head (all proceeds of course going to the "Help for Heroes" charity) which ideally should be purchased in advance. To prevent administrative problems we would ask all those planning to attend to book their tickets directly via Aylesbury RFC (aylesburyrugbyclub@googlemail.com), but it would also help to co-ordinate the Swinton Circle party if confirmation of attendance could be given either by e-mailing swinton@netcomuk.co.uk or 'phoning 07711188430.
The Swinton Circle will also be staging meetings both towards the end of June and towards the end of July which will be addressed by two prominent recently re-elected MPs.
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REPORT FROM THE ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION TASK FORCE
The following are extracts from a recent report we have received from the ZCTF. Although most of this report is very disturbing, there is even so a most encouraging closing news item, which certainly bodes well for the future of wildlife welfare on this planet :-
"Over the past 10 years, we have been circulating reports about the decimation of the wildlife in Zimbabwe and in so doing, we have been accused of sensationalism, alarmism, exaggeration, being an "enemy of the state" and even downright lying. We have stated several times in the past that once most of the animals on the private game ranches had been slaughtered, the poachers and illegal hunters would turn to the 'protected' National Parks for their ill-gotten gains.
"The increasing number of reports we are receiving with regard to illegal hunting and poaching within the National Parks is cause for grave concern. Several incidences have been reported to the Director General of National Parks who, to date, has failed to respond.
"The problem with illegal hunting within a National Park is that it cannot take place without the assistance of National Parks officials and there are many cases where they are involved, either for personal gain or because they are following orders from more senior officials or politicians. We have a list of people, some very high profile, whose names regularly appear in reports received. If anyone would like to see the names, please contact us.
"In July 2009, 5 Romanian hunters, a professional hunter and a National Parks official were arrested for illegally hunting elephant in Robins Camp. The case was never finalized. The culprits were released and their equipment returned, it is believed upon instructions from the Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources.
"In October 2009, a South African professional hunter admitted that his French client had bow hunted an elephant in the Robins area and that he had paid US$5,000 , which went into the pocket of the head warden to enable his client to hunt within the National Park.
"In August 2009, an American hunter illegally shot an elephant with a bow and arrow in Sikumi Forest, using watermelons as bait to lure the elephant out of Hwange National Park. The hunt was conducted by a South African professional hunter in collaboration with a Zimbabwean professional hunter and the American was apparently unaware that the hunt was illegal. The hunting party was guilty of hunting without permission in Sikumi Forest, bow hunting without the necessary permit and using bait to attract the elephant.
"The South African professional hunter paid US$2,000 to the Zimbabwean professional hunter and US$2,000 to the concession holder to facilitate the hunt and the American client was assured that everything was legal and above board.
"War veterans [sic] near Humani Estates in Chiredzi have resorted to poisoning rhinos since they have failed to make a success out of the farm lands they were allocated in 2000. A spokesman said that the war vets are placing poisoned cabbages at animal drinking points so that the animals will eat them when they come to drink. He said that most of them are working as agents for South African based rhino horn dealers who have flooded the area with firearms. He claimed that they are even poisoning some small dams in the area in the hope that the rhinos will drink from them.
"Our heartfelt appreciation to three fourteen year old girls, Sophie Kelly, Natascha and Amy who raised £50.00 for us whilst carol singing in the UK. It means so much to us when such young people make an effort to preserve our wildlife."
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FRANCIS BENNION'S WEB-SITE
In the March 2010 edition of the SCN we included an item entitled "A Hero's Tale" about Francis Bennion's successful prosecution of the odious Peter Hain. For those who would like to learn more about Francis Bennion's work we can recommend a visit to his personal web-site, which can be accessed at :
http://www.francisbennion.com
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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
Recent editions of "Project 2010 - Preparing South Africa for the World" (the official circular of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Local Organising Committee) have reported details of yet more problems confronting the competition. They read as follows:-
"European soccer fans have also been slow on the uptake for tickets to 2010 World Cup, notes a report in the IoL site. Of the 21,000 tickets that are available for the three German games, only 6,700 have been sold. Meanwhile, it has also been reported that 22,000 tickets were available for the Netherlands' three matches in the first round, but only 7,000 had been sold. Last week LOC chairman Danny Jordaan expressed concern about the few local fans buying tickets."
"News that the Competition Commission has launched an investigation into alleged pricing collusion among local airlines comes as no surprise. After all, since May, 2004 when it was confirmed that South Africa would host global soccer's showpiece event, there has been a scramble by companies and individuals to cash-in on the tournament. However, for many months, there have been warning signs that the 2010 World Cup might not be as lucrative as previous editions of the event. The global economic recession appears to have taken its toll with the demand for long-haul airline tickets to South Africa not meeting expectations.
Coupled with sluggish sales of match tickets in many foreign countries, it's anyone's guess as to how many foreigners will end up making the trip. While match ticket prices are supposedly the cheapest when compared to the last three World Cup tournaments, the cost of long-haul flights which, in many cases, have trebled during the month-long event, has clearly been a deterrent. For that reason, the fact that some local airlines have also chosen to hike their fares in June and July, complicates the situation further."
"We've read how some of the world's top players will be wearing bullet-proof vests to protect themselves, and how local PSL matches are played after midnight as a result of electricity shortages - and just this week, two influential UK newspapers called England's 2010 base in Rustenburg a 'dump'."
"FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke says South Africa isn't ready yet to host the 2010 World Cup, and he still doesn't know where all the teams will be based during the tournament, notes a Sports24 report. With barely three months until the event starts, organisers still face problems with Soccer City, the incomplete Johannesburg venue for the opening match and final and filling stadiums."
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DURHAM UNION SOCIETY DEBATE
The organiser/secretary of the Springbok Club/ELC was invited to address the Durham Union Society (the official student debating society of the University of Durham) for a second time last month, this time to propose the motion "This House believes South Africa is not fit to host the World Cup". Although the motion was defeated this was only by acclamation, and not by a counted vote, and in reality the vote was undoubtedly extremely close (indeed it was initially announced that the "Ayes" had it, before this decision was altered in favour of the "Noes"!). Again the overall outcome from this debate was highly encouraging therefore, especially as it involved leading students from one of Britain's most prestigious universities, who will undoubtedly be leading national figures in 20 to 30 years time. All contributions to the debate were of an extremely high standard, with even those opposing the motion making some very intelligent observations. Indeed one debater from the floor stated that in view of the fact that so much of the construction for the World Cup was being supervised by overseas contractors it could actually be viewed as a re-colonisation of South Africa - a very interesting "take", to say the least!
The organiser/secretary's speech can be accessed at : http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~springbk/speech11.htm
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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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LATEST FALKLANDS NEWS
We have recently received the following interesting report from a pro-Falkland Islands circulation list :-
"Clarin [an Argentine newspaper] has an article for which we can largely thank The Times. This reports The Times (and Telegraph) story yesterday that Britain has put a submarine at the "disposition" of Falklands defence. Clarin also comments on The Times article that said that Britain has a good case to the Falklands, but has two disadvantages - firstly the fact that Chile is no longer an ally, as it was in 1982, and secondly that colonial outposts are difficult to justify in the modern world, and that it is easy to portray the Falklands as an "antique anomaly". I'm sure all Argentina must have loved reading this. Clarin also liked another Times comment - that the Islanders can explore by themselves, but would need a partner on the mainland to exploit any oil - which I don't think is true at all."
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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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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.138 : Ms. JESSICA JONES
Jessica Jones (aka "The Jones Girl") was one of South Africa's leading female vocalists during the 1980s, and became well known to us in Durban whilst performing for a season at the "Crazy Horse" night-club in the Beach Hotel. She became famous for a very risque music video featured on a SABC pop programme in which she appeared wearing only a nightdress and holding a phallic-like candlestick close to her breast. It would be very interesting to learn where she is now - and what became of the candlestick!
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
The recently founded History Society Gibraltar has a very interesting web-site, which can be accessed at :-
http://www.historysocietygibraltar.com/
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ROCKY RHODES
Sir,
Canada is dramatically different to the UK for so many reasons. It has grown wealthy over the years through its natural resources. However if the world is in recession then no one is immune and Canada's exporters suffer. Here on the coast many jobs have been lost in the forestry and mining sectors and pulp mills have closed, however the federal government has been pumping Dollars in to the Province to mitigate these problems. The UK can fit into BC about 7 times! As Canada is so big the Provinces have a great deal of autonomy and so I believe that decision-making is much better here as those responsible are nearer to hand.
Also of course we do not have the EU making decisions and laws for us. Canada is though dependent on the USA for so much and that can be a problem. In fact Canada/BC has many of the same problems as the UK suffers from! Not surprising as we have the same political system. One major problem that Canada avoided was the collapse of parts of the financial sector and government bail outs of banks and building societies. There is more regulation here and Canadians are, in the main, more conservative, however the governments, federal and provincial, are now running budget deficits but nowhere like the scale of the UK and USA. Health-care, crime, immigration, and accountability all ongoing issues and problems here.
Yours etc.,
Paul Rhodes, Sechelt, B.C., Canada
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TERROR MEMORIES (1)
Sir,
Much as I deplore what is happening in South Africa and Southern Africa in general I felt the need to write and tell you that your information [in February's SCN] is incorrect, lacks credibility from those who experienced the situations and kept records.
The explosion at was at Park Street Station Johannesburg and only one person died and that was an elderly lady who died of a heart attack indirectly of course, caused by the bomb. I have a picture of a young survivor who was hideously facially injured as a result. John Harris was executed for the crime and the then junior Peter Hain gave the eulogy to Harris at a church service in held in London.
Mandela was not charged with terrorism and I had a long conversation with Percy Yutar who was the attorney general prosecuting Mandela at that time. Yutar saved Mandela's life as the original charge was Treason punishable on conviction by the death sentence. Yutar changed the charge to Sabotage and Mandela was convicted, and received 27yrs imprisonment. On his release by de Klerk (1990) the first person Mandela wanted to see was Percy Yutar who at that time was living at Rosebank Johannesburg. He invited Yutar to a meeting to say thank you. Yutar responded (for he was around 90yrs old) by inviting Mandela to come to his house for the meeting. I don't know whether that meeting ever took place.
The place where Mandela was arrested was Lilieslief Farm just off Cowley Road, Rivonia. No explosives were found there but Freedom radio was discovered and I have photos of Goldreich pointing out to the Security Branch officers where the parts were buried (Cached). Documents relating to Mayubye were also discovered.
All of this including photos are contained in my memoirs now in London for publishing with the title SHRED when Read (The secret wars in Africa and thirty years as a secret agent for South Africa in covert operations).
Yours etc.,
Michael Bowery, Transvaal, South Africa
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TERROR MEMORIES (2)
Sir,
In February's SCN you mentioned the Johannesburg Station Bombing. Here is my story.
During the 1960's I worked for the South African Railways Communication Department at Jo'burg Station. I lived in Germiston together with my family and travelled each day to work by train. I was very fond of jogging and often had to have my running shoes repaired. I said to my family that for my birthday on the 21st July I would like have shoes repaired at an expensive shop in Jo'burg. So I took them to a shop in End Street and was told to pick them on the 24th July. On that day I asked my senior if I could leave work 2 hours earlier and he agreed. After picking up my shoes I thought "Why walk all the way back to Jo'burg Station when I am closer to the End Street Station." While standing on the platform of End Street Station, waiting for my train, I first felt a strong gush of wind then a mighty blast. We were about 1km (5/8 of a mile) from Jo'burg Station. The announcement came that all trains had been cancelled. We all started walking home. My journey took several hours. On arrival at home my wife asked if I had heard the news about the bomb that had gone off on a platform on the Jo'burg Station. Never mind hearing about it, we felt it. That bomb went off on the very platform and time I used to travel home. Thank goodness for running shoes. This took place during the afternoon rush hour on the 24th July 1964, 3 days after my birthday. Some reports say that only 1 person died, some say many, but we do know many were injured, as some of were my friends. A teacher by the name of Harris had planted the bomb and was sentenced to death for murder. According to reports he was a member of the African Resistance Movement, no doubt linked to Nelson Mandela's ANC.
Yours etc.,
Ray Absalom, Auckland, New Zealand
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THE CURSE OF SPRINGBOK
Most readers will probably recall Mr. Dennis Delderfield, an affable old cove who ran his own New Britain party (he always insisted that it was a full-blown political party, and not merely a political pressure group!).
We liked Mr. Delderfield a lot in spite of certain misgivings (he had been running New Britain on his own for decades seemingly getting nowhere, and was clearly a bit of a Walter Mitty character who constantly exaggerated the size and success of his organisation out of all proportion), not only because he was such a friendly fellow but also because his patriotic political stance seemed fully in tune with our own. We gave much free publicity to New Britain in earlier editions of the SCN, supported many of his own events, and indeed invited him to speak on a couple of occasions at Springbok Club/Swinton Circle meetings. This trust which we placed in him seemed fully vindicated when he helped us considerably by chairing an Emergency General Meeting of the Swinton Circle in January 2009 which had to be held following a failed attempt by neo-fascist elements to infiltrate and take over the organisation. In spite of all this friendship and goodwill which seemed to exist between Mr. Delderfield and our movement he wrote to us merely two months after the EGM to say that he wished to sever all connections with us!
He gave no real reason for this astonishing volte-face, though it subsequently came to light that he had changed sides and was associating himself with a couple of dissident Swinton Circle members who had been expelled from the organisation at the very EGM which he himself had chaired! Furthermore, it was also revealed that he had fallen greatly under the influence of a certain Ian Anderson - a former leader of the extremist National Front and one of the uninvited and unwelcome gatecrashers at the Swinton Circle meeting of July 2008 which had precipitated the entire crisis within the organisation! By all accounts Mr. Anderson had managed to win over Mr. Delderfield's affections by a mixture of flattery and financial promises - this in spite of the fact that previously he had exposed and condemned Mr. Anderson's political extremism!
At the recent General Election, however, it was extremely interesting to note that Mr. Delderfield was standing as an Independent candidate in the Cities of London & Westminster constituency (why as an Independent we wonder, when he always maintained that New Britain was a full-blown political party?) and was obtaining publicity and printing facilities from Mr. Anderson. Moreover, by all accounts he was even claiming that he could actually win the seat! What happened in reality however? Mr. Delderfield finished seventh in the poll with a grand total of, eh, 98 votes (0.27% of the total - the winning candidate having received 19,264 votes!). Hopefully Mr. Delderfield will have learnt his lesson from this humiliation. One does not betray one's friends and side with one's former opponents, and then expect to be taken seriously.
p.s. At least Mr. Delderfield has the satisfaction of knowing that he beat a Mr. Jack Nunn who described himself as a "Pirate" and a Mad Cap'n Tom in this election, who obtained 90 and 84 votes respectively!
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