SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
November 2010 edition
There have been few truer South African heroes than Willem Ratte. Born at Paarl in 1948, he saw active service helping to defend Western Civilisation in Rhodesia, SWA and South Africa itself.
Willem Ratte volunteered to serve with the elite Rhodesian SAS in 1973, and after Rhodesia fell six years later he returned to South Africa and enlisted with the famed 32 Battalion of the SADF to fight in the Bush War on the SWA/Angolan border. In this role he helped to train forces of the Angolan anti-communist UNITA resistance army. After de Klerk's National Party betrayed SWA in 1990 he moved back to South Africa, but with the NP's treason and sell-out gathering pace he resigned from the SADF in 1991. He was, however, described by the renowned mercenary commander Eeben Barlow as being "simply the finest, most professional soldier ever trained by the SADF".
Unable to leave South Africa like so many of his comrades, Willem Ratte was thus not able to join the resistance struggle in exile, but even so he established an internal wing of the South African resistance movement under the almost impossible conditions of ANC suppression. In 1993 he delivered "30 pieces of silver" to the traitor FW de Klerk in Parliament, and went on to help establish both the Pretoria Boer Commando and Radio Pretoria. When the ANC regime managed to closedown Radio Pretoria he was furthermore instrumental in establishing Radio Donkerhoek to take its place - transmitting from moving vehicles for as long as possible to escape ANC harassment.
Perhaps his most famous act of internal resistance came in 1995 however, when together with a small band of supporters he seized Fort Schanskop near Pretoria as a symbolic act of resistance. To have initiated such a hopeless act of defiance was indeed an act of supreme courage and dedication, but alas resulted in a draconian sentence of 20 years imprisonment (15 of which were suspended) imposed by the tame judges of the ANC regime. Once imprisoned, however, he immediately went on hunger strike, lasting out for 57 days until too weak to resist being force-fed following requests from his wife and well-meaning friends.
Following his eventual release Willem Ratte disappeared from public view for a decade - but he was not dormant in his endeavours for the well-being of his fellow countrymen. Rather than continuing with the impossible task of confronting the ANC oppressors head-on he decided to work among the White South African grassroots, particularly among the younger generation who had succumbed to the ANC third-world drug culture. The ANC regime never forgave him for his earlier acts of defiance however, and in late September of this year he was again arrested, this time on a trumped up charge of "drug and weapons possession" (drugs having been found hidden away by some of those he was helping to rehabilitate on his farmstead rejuvenation camp). Willem Ratte than immediately once again went on hunger strike - but this time it was the ANC's minions who backed-down first, releasing him on a nominal bail of R2000 on 1st November, with no official charge having been brought against him.
Unlike so many other Whites who have remained in South Africa after the ascendancy of the ANC terrorists and have merely "talked a good fight", Willem Ratte has constantly proved over the past two decades that he has been prepared to do something positive. It is surely obvious to all but the most myopic that South Africa can only be changed through external struggle and lobbying. This fact was recognised by our ANC enemies during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and is just as true for us today in our quest to restore civilised values as it was for them in their bloodlust to destroy everything decent. Having said this, however, there must still be a place for an internal wing of the resistance movement, if only to increase morale and to provide reasons for why Western intervention to restore civilised rule is essential. There are those alas who are either too stupid or too cowardly to deny this patently obvious fact, and who seem to believe that simply by giving themselves fancy titles such as "Kommandant" and sitting around on their fat backsides drinking brandy and coke and pontificating about whacko conspiracy theories they will somehow be able "magically" to oust the ANC regime. Such pea-brains must be held in even greater contempt than the more overt enemies of the South African nation such as the NP sell-outs and the ANC fellow-travellers.
Willem Ratte has clearly proved that he is a doer and not a waffler however - and for this reason we salute him!
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SPRINGBOK CLUB OCTOBER MEETING
Last month's Springbok Club meeting proved to be one of the movement's most successful and significant functions ever. The guest speaker at this event was Mr. Bert Oosthuizen, who as the "Uhuru Guru" was instrumental in establishing the famed "South Africa Sucks" blog-site which exposes the disasters of ANC terrorist rule. Mr. Oosthuizen, who has now successfully re-located to the UK, and has thus become a powerful addition to the resistance struggle "in exile", gave a highly informative talk about the true conditions which prevail in the "new" South Africa today, how he had established the "South Africa Sucks" blog, and the victimisation campaign which he had endured from the ANC regime as a result of this. As a consequence of this meeting even stronger links have been established between the Springbok Club and those behind "South Africa Sucks", which can only give more impetus to the resistance movement as a whole.
A further indication of the growing power and influence of the Springbok Club and "South Africa Sucks" was that "The South African" freebie newspaper sent along a reporter to cover this event. Alas "The South African" now appears to adopt a very "neutral" stance on South African affairs, apparently seeking to appeal to ANC supporters living in the UK (are there many?) as well as those driven into exile by the collapsing infrastructure of the "new" South Africa. As a result the consequent report that appeared in the newspaper, although reasonably fair and objective, still left a lot to be desired. The most reprehensible aspect of this report, however, was a totally irrelevant and unsubstantiated attack upon a now deceased member of the Springbok Club, Mr. Bill Binding - though of course, as we all know, dead men can't sue! If those behind "The South African" thought that by this ridiculous smear against a dead member of the organisation they could damage the Springbok Club they were wrong, for as a result the movement has gained several new supporters! We welcome all these new supporters to this edition of the SCN!
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SPRINGBOK CLUB UDI DAY CELEBRATIONS
In order to celebrate UDI Day this year the London Branch of the Springbok Club will be staging a visit to the RAF Museum in Hendon. In view of the distinguished service of the Hon. Ian Douglas Smith in the RAF during WWII we thought that this would be a most appropriate venue - as well as proving a "wizard" day out.
This event will take place on Sunday 28th November 2010. The RAF Museum can be reached either by underground at Colindale on the Northern Line (assemble outside Colindale Tube Station between 12.15 hrs and 12.30 hrs), or by the No.303 bus which travels between Mill Hill Broadway mainline railway station and the RAF Museum (assemble there between 12.45 hrs and 13.00 hrs). There will be no charge for admission to the museum, but for more details or if you have any difficulty reaching the rendezvous points please 'phone: 07779691026.
After the visit to the museum itself we will journey on to Hampstead (only four stops away from Colindale on the Northern Line) for a convivial late afternoon and early evening's gathering at "The Flask" pub, which is adjacent to Hampstead underground station. We will try to assemble towards the front of the main bar, and it is hoped that a prominent ex-Rhodesian will be present to say a few words about the Rhodesia struggle in an informal setting.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB EVENTS
The Springbok Club will be staging its annual Day of the Vow commemorations in December, at which a most interesting guest of honour will be present. Fuller details about this event will be announced in next month's SCN.
The Springbok Club/Empire Loyalist Club's 2011 AGM will be held next January 2011.
During early Spring 2011 the Springbok Club will be making a trip to Hatfield House in Hertfordshire in order to pay our respects at the RLI "Troopie" Statue which is now situated there, as well as touring Hatfield House.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC BRANCH NEWS
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC is planning to hold an informal pub gathering at Canterbury during January.
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MAKE A DONATION TO THE SPRINGBOK CLUB
The Springbok Club has now installed a PayPal facility to its main web-page at www.springbokclub.org.uk so that all those who wish to help the ongoing work of the organisation may do so easily.
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SWINTON CIRCLE NEWS
The Swinton Circle staged a special event in Greenwich last month to celebrate the anniversaries of both the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of El Alamein. At this event the eminent local historian Mr. Gary Vincent gave a superb illustrated talk about "The Fighting Temeraire", the ship which was second in line of Nelson's column of ships at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Details of November's Swinton Circle meeting are as follows :-
Date : Tuesday 23rd November 2010
Time : 18.45 hrs for 19.00 hrs.
Venue : Committee Room 19 of the House of Commons (enter the Houses of Parliament via the St.Stephen's Entrance, and pass through security. As it is possible that the actual Committee Room venue could be changed at the last minute enquire at Central Lobby to confirm location. Don't forget, however, that the Committee Room is booked in the name of the speaker, Mr. David Nuttall MP, and not in the name of the Swinton Circle.)
Guest Speaker : Mr. DAVID NUTTALL M.P. (Conservative, Bury North)
David Nuttall is one of the new breed of young Conservative MPs who were elected to Parliament for the first time in 2010. Born in Sheffield and educated in Rotherham, he joined a Sheffield firm of solicitors upon leaving school, and worked his way up to become a Senior Partner at this same firm after first obtaining a Law Degree from the University of London and becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives. He lives at Tottington in his constituency of Bury North with his wife and Dalmatian. He is a church-warden at his local St.Anne's Church, and enjoys watching sport, walking and bird-watching. He is President of Tottington St.John's Cricket Club and a Patron of Ramsbottom Cricket Club. ('Phone: 07711188430 for more details.)
The Swinton Circle has also now finalised similar such meetings to be staged in the Houses of Parliament complex to be addressed by other sitting MPs every month from December 2010 until April 2011. Full details about all these events will be included in future editions of the SCN.
We would also like to remind everyone that the Swinton Circle now has a presence on Twitter, on which news about the organisation and policy statements are regularly posted. This can be found on Twitter @SwintonCircle
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MESSAGE FROM THE SANWILD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Louise Joubert of the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary writes as follows :-
"Over the last couple of weeks we have had numerous telephone calls to help injured wildlife; many of them were injured as a result of poaching incidents and snaring, but somehow these unfortunate creatures have managed to survive. During the last couple of months it has been especially rhino poaching that have reached critical levels in South Africa with 162 rhinos poached for their horns since January 2010 this has been covered extensively in the local and international media. However there are many other wild animals that have fallen prey to poachers and their species vary greatly.
"Species that have fallen prey to poachers :-
"Vultures are poisoned so that African muti traders and witch doctors can obtain their body parts for many reasons. Some even believe that having a vulture's head in your possession can help to predict the national lotto numbers. For this stupidity many vultures are poisoned, but there are those that do survive and need extensive treatment and rehabilitation to be able to be returned to the wild.
"Pangolins are trapped with wire snares as they leave their burrows and are kept in the most appalling conditions until they are slaughtered so that their scales may be used in the muti trade. Just such a pangolin was collected and released back to the wild after it was confiscated in Alexandria - a township in Johannesburg.
"Warthogs are hunted down with dogs and are then killed with spears, but many survive these attacks, but are badly injured. SanWild has collected and saved many of these unfortunate creatures and dealing with them has made us realise what an exceptional level of intelligence they have.
"Zebras and other wildlife are caught in snares, but manage to break the cruel traps and walk around for days and weeks while the steel wire bites deeper and deeper into their bodies. If not darted and treated the snares will continue to cause infection until the animal eventually dies a cruel and lingering death. Most of these unfortunate animals can be darted and the snare removed. With some treatment many of these animals can immediately be released back into the wild - as wild animals have an amazing ability to overcome infection, pain and injuries - all they need is a little bit of a helping hand and at SanWild we provide this service free of charge to anybody that phones us - on behalf of any wild animal - irrespective of species importance.
"Of course there are a number of other reasons why wildlife get injured and most of these are as a direct result of man's actions or superstitious beliefs :-
"Owls are injured as they are believed in many instances to be the carriers of bad luck or witch craft, many others are poisoned. There are also some that are hit by motor vehicles at night and survive with bad concussion or broken wings - lying helplessly beside a road until they are either taken by a predator or a kind human being who cares enough to call for help or stop to pick them up.
"Owl chicks that are picked up in gardens, or are removed from buildings that need to be knocked down or renovated.
"The list is endless and SanWild do what we can to help as many wild animals as possible and we will continue to do so.
"However, half way through 2010 we urgently need your financial help as our available veterinary funding has been totally depleted and we urgently need to find funding to continue our work otherwise innocent wildlife will suffer and die. We have had some operations done already the past two weeks and there are some pending procedures which we need to have done within days.
"We would appreciate all donations; no matter how large or small. Any contribution will be greatly appreciated. For easy on-line donations with your credit card, please visit our website: www.sanwild.com Alternatively, direct internet banking transfers can be made to ABSA, Danie Joubert Street, Tzaneen, South Africa. The account number is 9111221180, Branch Code 334349. The swift code is ABZASAJJ and the IBAN Code is ZA632005.
Please also remember that by simply making a donation of any amount you stand a good chance of winning free accommodation for yourself and a partner to visit SanWild anytime until the end of 2011. This is a great opportunity to experience Sanwild first hand and to become a part of what we do. Please visit our website www.sanwild.com Special Events page to see some of our donors who have already won free accommodation and will soon be visiting our wildlife sanctuary."
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PATRIOTIC POLL
We would like to remind everyone about the very interesting "Patriotic Poll" web-site, on which opinions can be expressed on various issues of the day. It is always worth a visit, and can be accessed at :-
http://www.patrioticpoll.co.uk
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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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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: 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.
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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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"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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"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.144 : Mr. DOUGIE GRAY of Durban.
Dougie Gray was a Scotsman from East Kilbride, who was based in Durban during the 1980s. A skilful soccer player, he was a keen and active member of the Rangers FC Supporters Association Durban Branch, and played regularly for the branch's social team. A very friendly and affable person, a number of old friends would like to know what happened to him.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
The famous MOTHs ex-serviceman's organisation has recently completely re-vamped their web-site so that it now provides most extensive information about the institution. It can be accessed at :-
http://www.moth.org.za
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SHIRTY OPINION
Sir,
I do miss South Africa and from a distance it just feels very sad as the outcome could have been so much better.
I have three major problems with the Mandela dictatorship. Of course democracy is wonderful but when there is a one-party state it is useless.
Firstly, doing nothing to stop the spread of AIDS.
Secondly, allowing those living and surviving in the countryside to flood into the cities, build shacks illegally and trash the entire centre of Johannesburg. With no work turning to prostitution, drug dealing, violence and crime.
Thirdly, the ANC policy of rewarding poor Black families for having many children through their warped racist welfare policies.
I do not think history will judge him well. Nevertheless he gets full marks for colourful "beach" shirts, smiling and laughing, but I find even his dancing to be poor.
I don't suppose I will ever be able to return.
Yours etc.,
Stuart, ex-Johannesburg, now U.K.
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DIE THE BELOVED COUNTRY
Sir,
I am attaching page 2 of a letter I received this week from South Africa, which may help explain what is going on in the country. Despite the propaganda by the Black racist regime in "Tswane" the situation inside the country is very grave and more so for most Whites.
I have received a message last night from a Luanshya school friend, now living in Pretoria, asking how I can assist him to get back his British passport so that he can leave the country. I think that is an indication how desperate the situation has become for many.
My daughter went to visit people on the Parys Road at the weekend and she described to me last night the poverty that they are living in, simply because of the racist laws that do not allow White people to be employed, it is heartbreaking.
I hope that this will give you a better image than the glossy "Soccer World Cup" pictures presented by the media, on the wonders of the "rainbow" nation.
I will send you some more information from real people living in that "hell hole" that was once the "beloved country".
Yours etc.,
Derrick, Transvaal, South Africa
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RUSSIAN MUSIC TO OUR EARS
Sir,
Thanks a lot for sending Springbok Cyber Newsletter. I do like your ["Latest Empire News"] site as well. I like its topics (about Afghanistan etc) photos and design. Of course I cannot write much because of my poor English but I try to express my mind and the present situation in Russia. You must know that a lot of people in Russia support and approve your actions. In fact our society is divided very much. Some communities sympathize with British and European culture and policy, another ones are followers of Muslim terrorists.
That is why we have the "little civil war" in the Caucasus. This war is endless. Our Caucasian (Chechen and other) Muslims are the "auxiliary group" of Afghan guerrillas. I wish you to understand this.
Yours etc.,
Boris Grig, Kaliningrad, Russia
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BLUE SKY VISION
Sir,
Interesting [August] edition! Very nice piece on Arthur Lewis - what a lovely man (and his book 'Too Bright the Vision' should be regarded as a classic account of the horrors of the West's appeasement of terror). Look forward to the obituary on Peter Walls - sad to hear the news, I had the great pleasure and honour to meet him in Bloemfontein in 1990, and even shared the blue South African sky for a few minutes under a Dak's slipstream...
Yours etc.,
Philip Lardner, Renfrewshire, U.K.
[The obituary to Gen. Peter Walls appeared in September's SCN. Ed.]
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OBITUARY
STEVE KOK
Although we never had any direct connection with Steve Kok, we have recently received the following most distressing news about his death from the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force. He seemed a great man but an unsung hero. All the time that our nations can continue to produce such dedicated men as Steve Kok then we have nothing to worry about for the long-term future.
"It is with profound sadness and regret that we announce that Steve Kok was killed by a buffalo near Charara on Thursday, 12th August 2010.
"Steve drove off into the bush late on Thursday afternoon to try and locate a wounded buffalo. According to reports, the buffalo had lost one of its legs due to a snare wound. When Steve didn't return, a search party went out and found his vehicle on the power-line road near Charara. They found his body about 160 metres from the vehicle and it is thought that he was killed by the wounded buffalo he was trying to locate.
"Steve is going to be missed very badly by humans and animals alike. For the past few years, he woke up at 5 o'clock every morning of the year and scoured the bush for wire snares. Thanks to him, hundreds of animals were saved from an agonizing death. Steve never received any payment and very little recognition for his selfless efforts to preserve the wildlife. He did it because he was desperately concerned about the dwindling numbers of animals in Kariba and his only reward was just knowing he had made a difference.
"I will always remember Steve as a quiet, humble, unassuming person, never looking for credit and his death is a huge blow for the wildlife in Kariba.
"Our sincere condolences to his wife, Trish and his whole family on the loss of a very special man."
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See you again next month!
