Walter Volker spoke about "The Owls and the Shadow War" - Lifting the veil on the secret world of South African military intelligence - at the 11th September ZOOMinar. The Military Intelligence spoken about here, was that which started in 1961 after the country left the Commonwealth and took over many functions previously carried by the British.
Outlining a massive research project, which might stretch to eighteen volumes when published, he spent a lot of time describing functions and relations between various sections of the military intelligence hierarchy. The organisation grew as the perceived threats to South Africa increased over the decades
The second session described SA's involvement with UNITA which had started in 1976 and actually ended only after the nominal withdrawal of SA troops in Angola in 1991.
Walter included details of personnel and base camps, listing hospitals and other places of involvement in the lower third of Angola and along the Caprivi strip.
There were also training bases in for example the northern Transvaal where RENAMO, which was attempting to overturn the Potuguese in Mozambique, was assisted.
He also mentioned activities of their Air Operations flown from Wonderboom airport.
His lecture is recorded in the Society's Video Library on the website.
If you would like invitations to the ZOOMinars send an email to joan@rfidradar.com
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS -
ZOOMINARS
Eastern Cape Branch (SAMHSEC) Zoominars
Monday 13th October 2025 at 19h30 and then at 20h15:
Speaker Stephen Bowker
Subject "The Pattison brothers who were killed in World War 1."
SAMHSEC RPC
The next RPC (Request the Pleasure of your Company) Zoominar will be on Monday 27th October 2025.
Details will be on the invitations
Johannesburg
Thursday 9th October 2025 at 19h30 and then 20h15
Speaker: Dr JP Scherman
Subject: Operation Mistral: An Evaluation of South Africa's Mission in the DRC, 2003 - 2010
"In 1998 the Second Congo War broke out and quickly dragged in the militaries of six African countries. In response the United Nations launched its largest ever Peace Keeping Mission - Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUC). The South African National Defence Force had no plans to join any UN Mission for at least another 5 to 8 years as it was deep within its own integration program, but when the UN called South Africa answered. Starting small in 2003, the country was to deploy armed forces into the DRC for the entire MONUC existence (1999-2010) and continues to do so for its successor MONUSCO (2010 - current). This talk will deal with the SANDF deployment under MONUC."
Next KwaZulu-Natal Branch Meeting
The topic for the meeting will be "The Border War; Background and Overview" by David Hulme.
The venue returns to the St Cyprians Church Hall off Umbilo Rd, with secure parking and liquid refreshments for cash.
Entry is free and open to all, with visitors welcome, but a donation of R20 for the car guard and gives entry into the monthly raffle is requested from all attendees.
Contact Vice-Chairman Charles Whiteing 082 555 4689 or charlesw2@absamail.co.za
SANDF Chief Logistics
Inaugural Military Heritage Conference
This will be held on 28-29 October at the Castle in Cape Town.
Contact Ronnie Glass for more
information - 0834416170 or ronnie.glass@crowe.za.com
News from Pam McFadden in Dundee
The latest edition of the KZN Battlefields Route digital magazine is available at
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18i1eCyFSY/
BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS
Eastern Cape details contact Malcolm Kinghorn 041-373-4469 culturev@lantic.net
Gauteng details contact Joan Marsh 010-237-0676 joan@rfidradar.com
KwaZulu-Natal details contact Vice-Chairman Charles Whiteing 082-555-4689 or charlesw2@absamail.co.za * NOTE* Fast mirror and backup site BOOKMARK FOR REFERENCE Main site * NOTE*