JCH 2009 Volume 34 Issue 3

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Browsing JCH 2009 Volume 34 Issue 3 by Author "Wessels, Andre"

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    Sestig jaar se mynteenmaatreëlswerk in die Suid-Afrikaanse vloot, 1947-2007 (2): die "oorlogsjare", 1966-1989
    (Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State, 2009) Wessels, Andre
    In the history of South Africa the years 1966 to 1989 are characterised by a variety of challenges and concomitant changes, while at the international level the Cold War continued to dominate most relations. Also, from 1966 onwards, South Africa and its defence force became ever more involved in an anti-guerrilla war in the north of South West Africa (today Namibia); a conflict that in due course also spilled over into Angola. The South African Navy’s involvement in the war “up north” was limited, but nevertheless important, and in the home waters, the Navy’s minesweepers (and later minehunters) had to ensure that the Cape sea-route, as well as the approaches to the country’s harbours, were kept free of mines. In this, the second article of a three-part study, a brief review is provided of the South African Navy’s mine countermeasures (MCM) and related work in the years 1966 to 1989. How many MCM vessels did the Navy have? To what extent did the Navy keep abreast with MCM developments internationally? How did the 1977 mandatory United Nations arms embargo affect the country’s MCM capability? What work did the MCM vessels do over and above MCM training? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this study.
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    Vrees as faktor in die regse blanke politiek in Suid-Afrika: die tweede fase van die era van volwaardige regste politieke partye, 1976-1982
    (Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State, 2009) Du Bruyn, Derek; Wessels, Andre
    The years 1976 to 1982 were traumatic for most South Africans. In June 1976, serious riots broke out in the sprawling Soweto township, and spread to other areas in the country. While some whites then, more than ever before, challenged the apartheid policy, others moved further to the right and believed that only the more rigorous application of that policy would safeguard the future of white people in the country. The National Party government clamped down on black opposition groups, individuals and the media, which in turn led to the country being isolated internationally even more than ever before. The vicious cycle of fear was fed by violence and boycotts, which led to more fear, violence and isolation, and gave impetus to the idea of a “total onslaught”. Right-wing white voters found a new (and apparently very dynamic) home in the Conservative Party, which was founded in 1982. In the meantime, the establishment of Zimbabwe under the rule of Robert Mugabe in 1980, increased external pressure on the beleaguered South African government. In this study, fear as a factor in right-wing white politics in the years 1976 to 1982 is analysed by referring to the above-mentioned and related matters.