ABSTRACT: Photo Album #1 of 2024, composed of photos contributed by readers.
KEYWORDS: Johannesburg Law Courts 1899, ZARPS, Field Marshall JC Smuts, Fox Street, siege, SAS Drakensberg, Operation Pullen, Operation Narsau, Paul Kruger,
AUTHOR: Editor & contributors
NONGQAI PHOTO ALBUM #1 OF 2024
Since a photo speaks a thousand words, Nongqai Magazine invites all its valued readers to contribute vintage photos related to the history of South Africa’s Forces. These may be of historic buildings, interesting events, personalities, vehicles, arms and weapons, emblems, platoon, “troep” or deployment group photos such as Counterinsurgency and Counterterrorism (Border deployment) images. In short, any photos illustrating life in the Forces during years gone by.
Photos can be sent by e-mail to: editor@nongqai.org.
Please add a short description, as well as who should be credited.
Fotos van hierdie aard is uiters belangrike bydraes tot die bewaring van ons historiese erfenis. Omrede Nongqai se fototeek deel vorm van ons projek (in vennootskap met ‘n leidende universiteit se biblioteek) kan u verseker dat dit behoorlik gekatalogiseer sal word en dus altyd maklik toeganklik sal bly vir die nageslag.
Dankie by voorbaat vir u ondersteuning!
PHOTO #1 : JOHANNESBURG LAW COURTS, 1899
Johannesburg Law Courts, circa 1899
In these law courts, Field Marshal JC Smuts practised law as then Attorney-General of the ZAR (note the ZARP’s in the background). From a postcard, contributed by Frans Erasmus.
PHOTO #2: FOX STREET SIEGE
Lt Sam Kruger and policemen responding in 1975 to the siege of the Israeli Consulate in Fox Street, Johannesburg
PHOTO SET #3: SAS DRAKENSBERG 1994 FRIENDSHIP CRUISE
SAS Drakensberg, built in Durban commissioned during 1987
The SAS Drakensberg photographed during the 1994 deployment.
During the SAS Drakensberg’s Friendship Cruise, which included West-Central Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, the then South African Ambassador to that region Dr. Willem Steenkamp sailed with her from port to port. Here he is flanked on board ship by SA Embassy 1st Secretary Heinie Lotze and Amb Urbino Botelo of Sao Tomé & Principe (one of the destinations visited).
A week-end R&R stop was included in the 1994 Friendship Cruise in the Gulf of Guinea, enjoying the amenities of the then South African managed Bom-Bom Island Resort on Principe in the DRSTP. It included an angling contest between the “vloties” and the diplomats – which the latter won, thanks to this sailfish landed by Amb. Steenkamp. At the weigh-in, the SAS Drakensberg is visible in the background.
Th SAS Drakensberg crew presented Amb Steenkamp with this commemorative shield, for the arrangements and efforts made by South Africa’s regional embassy (based in Libreville, Gabon) to ensure that the Gulf of Guinea part of their 1994 Friendship Cruise was both enjoyable and a diplomatic success, showing the flag where it had not been seen before.
BACKGROUND (Courtesy Wikipedia)
SAS Drakensberg (A301) is a fleet replenishment ship (AOR) of the South African Navy (SAN), with the primary role of assisting and supporting the SAN’s combat vessels at sea. Built by the (now defunct) Sandock-Austral shipyard in Durban, it is the largest and most sophisticated warship to have been built in South Africa.
DESIGN: Drakensberg is able to carry 5,500 tons of diesel fuel, 210 tons of fresh water, 100 tons of dry provisions, over 30 tons of frozen food, 230 tons of containerized cargo or 1,000 tons of palletized and general cargo. The loading and offloading of this cargo is made possible with one 20-ton crane, four 2-ton cranes and a 5-ton hoist, assisted by two lifts of 2.5 and 7.5 tons respectively. Replenishment at sea (RAS) is from two abeam positions or from the RAS deck astern, with the ability to pump 40 tons of fuel per hour and 15 tons of fresh water per hour. In addition, an on-board plant enables the ship to produce 50,000 litres (11,000 imp gal; 13,000 US gal) of fresh water from sea water daily.
The ship carries two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) called ‘Stingrays’ for small-craft duties, as well as two Delta-80 LCUs for limited amphibious use.
OPERATIONAL HISTORY: In 1988 Drakensberg set sail along with SAS Frans Erasmus for Chile on 15 February, returning to South Africa on 15 April. This was followed two years later in May 1990, when Drakensberg accompanied the strike craft SAS Jan Smuts and Hendrik Mentz on a voyage to Keelung in the Republic of China (Taiwan), without stopping at any ports along the way (a procedure necessitated by South Africa’s political isolation at the time). This was the first time since 1945 that a South African naval vessel had “shown the flag” in the Far East; it also provided an opportunity for joint exercises with the Taiwanese Navy.
Under Operation Pullen in 1990, Drakensberg became the first South African naval vessel to visit the then-Zaire in over 30 years, laying the groundwork for a series of additional visits to African nations, signifying South Africa’s gradual return from isolation. The next year, it set sail on a humanitarian relief mission, offloading 630 tons of supplies in Chittagong, Bangladesh, and 35 tons of supplies in Mersin, Turkey. In 1992, it became the first SAN vessel to proceed further south than 54 degrees south latitude, in a mission to assist the damaged S. A. Agulhas.
Operation Narsau in May 1994, followed South Africa’s first fully democratic elections and the election of Nelson Mandela. In three months, she visited Lisbon, Rosyth, Copenhagen, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Rouen, London, Cadiz, São Tomé and Príncipe, Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea) and Gabon in the process becoming the first SAN vessel to visit Denmark and Belgium. While not quite living up to the high standards set by the 1994 voyage, the 1995 voyage to Abu Dhabi, Karachi, Mumbai and Muscat is also notable for its diversity in destinations.
PHOTO #4: PRESIDENT PAUL KRUGER VISITING TROOPS AT LADYSMITH, ANGLO-BOER WAR
Pres SJP Kruger escorted by ZARP's on the front at Ladysmith during the Anglo Boer War
PHOTO SET #5: OLD SOUTH AFRICAN FIRE STATIONS
The early days of the fire brigade. Notice the flag. Early 1900s
A photo of the Pretoria Fire Brigade circa 1913
The Johannesburg Fire Station circa 1916
Krugersdorp Fire Station circa 1962
Bloemfontein Police station and Fire station 1917
PHOTO SET #6: KENYA POLICE (COLONIAL ERA)
Kenya police colonial era cap
A Fez worn by native members of the Kenya Police (Colonial)
Kenya police (colonial) Xmas card (exterior)
Drum Major of the colonial Kenyan Police on Xmas card (interior)
A Christmas Card of the Kenya Police (Colonial) featuring a Mounted Officer.
A Christmas Card of the Kenya Police (Colonial) featuring a Rakhoub (Camel Police) Constable.
FOTO #7: WYLE BRIGADIER V.L. STEWART
Brig VL Stewart who passed away on 18 January 2024. He was a former District Criminal Investigative Officer and District Commissioner of the SA Police, Welkom, OFS. We salute a True Officer and Gentleman.
PHOTO SET #8: SABC "SQUAD CARS" PROMO IMAGES
A Springbok Radio Publicity Photo of the program Squad Cars. Brigadier JPD Vorster - Divisional Commissioner - SA Police -Witwatersrand with Producer David Gooden. Photo dated 1968.
A Springbok Radio Publicity Photo of the program Squad Cars. Producer Colin Fish visiting the SA Police Brixton Radio Control Room. Photo dated 1968.
PHOTO #9: NATAL POLICE (1874 - 1913)
Two African Members of the Natal Police circa 1905 - barefooted and armed with assegai's and knopkieries. Their armlets serve as their appointment certificates.
FOTO #10: DURBAN STADSPOLISIE (CITY POLICE)
Durban City Police dog handler with patrol car
PHOTO #11: SAR POLICE, LOUIS BOTHA AIRPORT, DURBAN
SA Railways Police officers at Louis Botha Airport, Durban
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