1966 Bush War / CoinCertain events in human experience remain indelibly imprinted on the mind — the precise place, date, and time, the individuals present, and the conversations or activities shared. The bomb explosion in Church Street, Pretoria, on 20 May 1983 constitutes one such defining moment. The incident not only sent shockwaves through South Africa’s domestic sphere but also precipitated a significant transformation at all border bases administered by the South African Police.
At the time, I was serving as a young visiting conscript police chaplain on the Eastern Border. Within the ranks, speculation persisted regarding when the first landmine might detonate inside South Africa’s borders. Until then, the conflict had been largely confined to the territory then known as South West Africa, as well as Ovamboland and Angola.
The South African Police maintained deployments across three operational regions: two internal borders — the Eastern and Western Borders — and one external, in northern Namibia. During the early weeks of May 1983, relative calm prevailed along these borders. Policemen stationed there experienced boredom due to the absence of operational activity and often occupied themselves with peripheral tasks, such as taming local wildlife or engaging in minor recreational pursuits.
Following the Church Street (20 May 1983) bombing, however, circumstances changed dramatically. Discussions among personnel assumed a far more serious tone, and border security was intensified. Seasoned policemen undergoing refresher training at the Police College were immediately mobilised, in double strength, to reinforce the South African border positions.
The first part of these memoirs provides an account of the calm and at times monotonous conditions on the internal police borders prior to the Pretoria bombing. The second part analyses the developments following the explosion — events that profoundly altered the operational and emotional landscape of those serving at the border bases. In its aftermath, a range of psychological, pastoral, and social difficulties emerged, often escalating beyond manageable levels, while permanent remedial measures remained elusive.
