Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
kapt Marius Joubert - Forensiese Ondersoeker
Nongqai Vol 17 No 10 – (36) kapt Marius Joubert - Forensiese Ondersoeker
All Articles
25 articles match your filters
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Somerset East: The hunt for John Kepe
John Kepe, the elusive Boschberg outlaw, evaded police for decades until his dramatic capture and execution in 1952.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Lt. Gen. Sharon Jephta
Nongqai Vol 17 No 10 – (24) Lt. Gen. Sharon Jephta
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
W/O Subramoney Pillay
Warrant Officer Subramoney Pillay is honoured on his 94th birthday for a remarkable life of service.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
W/O Flip Olivier: Diamond Branch: Bloemhof
Warrant Officer Phillip “Flip” Olivier, a respected SAP diamond branch detective from Bloemhof, was fatally shot during a sting operation near Christiana, an event that deeply affected the local community.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Die Dominee en Diamante
A rural minister secretly buys illicit rough diamonds until a police sting exposes his hidden trade.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Admiraal Dieter Felix Gerhardt
This article examines the life, espionage activities, and eventual death of Rear Admiral (JG) Dieter Felix Gerhardt, one of the most significant Soviet GRU agents to operate in the Western world during the Cold War. Gerhardt, a highly skilled South African naval officer with access to sensitive strategic information, spied for the Soviet Union from the 1960s until his arrest in 1983. His activities included photographing and transmitting thousands of classified South African Defence Force and Western military documents to his GRU handlers, making him a “mega spy” of exceptional value to Moscow. The article outlines his naval career, his recruitment by the Soviets, the role of his wife Ruth as courier, and the eventual counterintelligence investigation led by senior officers of the South African Police Security Branch. It highlights the ethical stance taken by General Major Frans Steenkamp, who insisted Gerhardt be treated lawfully despite pressure for extrajudicial action. After being convicted of high treason and sentenced to life imprisonment, Gerhardt was released in 1992 during South Africa’s political transition and later officially pardoned. The narrative also includes commentary from intelligence professionals, reflections on security clearance failures, and archival material from the SAP Museum. Gerhardt’s legacy remains deeply controversial—seen by some as a traitor and by others as an anti apartheid actor motivated by ideology. His death in July 2026 closes the chapter on one of South Africa’s most complex and impactful espionage cases.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Various Crimes
This publication records a selection of important criminal investigations conducted by dedicated police officers over many decades. It highlights their commitment, skill and determination in bringing offenders before the courts. It also recognises the long hours, personal sacrifices and teamwork required to solve serious crimes. Above all, it honours the officers who served with integrity and the families of victims who finally received answers and justice. It is a tribute to those who worked tirelessly in the pursuit of truth and justice.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Det/Head-Const. LWJ Arangies
Detective Head Constable Lourens Wilhelm Johannes Arangies served nearly 36 years in the South African Police, distinguishing himself as one of the most capable detectives of his era. Joining the force in 1913, he worked through major events such as the 1914 strike and later became a key figure in the Criminal Investigation Department. Arangies was renowned for his exceptional ability to gather, interpret, and connect information, a skill that contributed to solving an estimated 500 murder cases. His career included service in Johannesburg, Durban, Newlands, and Krugersdorp, where he rose to the respected rank of Head Constable. He volunteered during World War II, earning the Africa Service Medal and the Good Service Medal. Arangies played a decisive role in several high profile investigations, including complex murder and robbery cases between 1934 and 1946. He retired in 1949 and passed away in 1969, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, investigative excellence, and service to his community.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Cristina Swart
Cristina Swart’s career in the South African Police Service reflects a pioneering spirit, professional excellence, and unwavering commitment to justice. As the first Portuguese policewoman in the SAP, she progressed from police college in 1989 to specialised operational work in the Security Branch and later the Endangered Species Protection Unit (ESPU). Serving as Section Commander of the Fauna Team, she conducted high risk undercover operations, buy bust interventions, and investigations into ivory, rhino horn, abalone, and radioactive material syndicates. Her work brought her into international conservation circles, including engagements with the Discovery Channel and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. After transferring to East London in 1998, she became second in command of the Undercover Unit and later acted as commander before the unit’s closure. She subsequently joined Crime Intelligence, overseeing handlers, informers, and Secret Services Accounts. Swart resigned in 2014 with the rank of Captain, leaving behind a distinguished legacy of service, leadership, and dedication to combating organised crime and protecting South Africa’s natural heritage.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Grootwordjare: Fanie Bouwer
This memoir reflects on a childhood spent on a remote border farm in the Ugie district, where a small, orderly world shaped by routine, hierarchy, and innocence seemed complete and unquestionable. Growing up unaware of broader political and social realities, the author accepted inequality and structure as natural features of life. The first rupture in this certainty came with his entry into the South African Police in 1968, where exposure to diverse communities, educated Black professionals, and critical journalism challenged his inherited assumptions. Gradually, he confronted the complexities of a divided society and recognised the limitations of his early worldview. This awakening unfolded slowly, shaped by lived experience rather than ideology. With maturity came humility—the understanding that ignorance is often an inevitable starting point, but that adulthood demands honest self-examination. The narrative concludes by observing that unacknowledged ignorance remains pervasive, even among modern leaders, and that the refusal to recognise one’s own limitations can be more damaging than ignorance itself.
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Lt-Col Ray Munilall Mathura
Lieutenant-Colonel Ray Munilall Mathura (1937-1993) was a groundbreaking Indian South African police officer. He served with great dedication during the apartheid era, a time when strict racial rules limited opportunities for non-white members. Born in 1937, he joined the South African Police on 19th April 1960 and served for more than 30 years. Despite strong racial discrimination, he rose through the ranks. During 1975, he was commissioned. Mathura’s career showed determination and courage in the face of hardship. He inspired others to serve their communities with pride, discipline, and integrity. Although he passed on 25th April 1993, his achievements are still honoured today. Police history records, including the Nongqai archives and he is also featured in the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre’s website gallery entitled, South African Police Indian Veteran. The centre serves as both a living archive and a tribute to the Indian community’s legacy in South Africa and recognise him as one of the great legends of the South African Police.