Nongqai — Police & Defence History Magazine

995 articles

Reservists

SAPS/SAPD Reserviste

This article examines the development, role, and decline of the South African Police Service (SAPS) reservist programme from the 1970s to 2026. Historically, the reservist corps made a significant contribution to visible policing, crime prevention, and community involvement, comprising volunteers from diverse sectors of society. Following the recommendations of the De Witt Commission, community policing was strengthened, further emphasizing the role of reservists, particularly during the early 2000s when the programme reached its peak. Since around 2010, however, the programme has experienced a sharp decline due to policy changes, administrative obstacles, the suspension of recruitment and training, and uncertainty surrounding the role of reservists. Findings from the Pikoli investigation confirmed this trend, highlighting a drastic reduction in reservist numbers, with negative implications for policing capacity and visibility. Although the reservist programme still formally exists, it is not optimally utilized in a context of high crime levels and limited police resources. The article argues that this decline can largely be attributed to a lack of strategic leadership and the loss of institutional memory. It concludes that rebuilding the reservist corps should be treated as a strategic priority to strengthen policing capacity and improve the relationship between the SAPS and the communities it serves.

1913 Riots Kleinfontein Mine

Photo Album June 2026

Abstract This photo album, Nongqai Vol. 17 No. 6 (June 2026), presents a curated visual record of South African policing, military, and judicial history across different periods. The collection includes historical imagery related to significant events such as the Battle of Blood River (1838), the Kleinfontein riots of 1913, and wartime contributions by police forces. It also documents institutions such as the South African Police (SAP), South African Constabulary, Durban Borough Police, and the South African Railways Police, alongside notable locations including Boksburg Prison, Pietermaritzburg Magistrates’ Court (1939), and Esselen Park. The album further highlights the evolution of law enforcement through photographs of infrastructure, personnel, parades, and operational artifacts, including images related to the 1988 Johannesburg SAP activities and the bomb defused at the Hallmark Building. Archival materials such as maps, historical press excerpts, and photographs of training institutions and military units (e.g., SAAF and Staatsartillerie ZAR) provide additional context. Overall, the collection preserves and illustrates the development, roles, and historical significance of policing and security services in Southern Africa.

SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES HISTORY PRESERVED

Lt-Col W.H.C. Taylor

This article examines a rare photographic album attributed to Colonel W.H.C. Taylor, documenting an inspection tour of police stations and temporary Foot-and-Mouth Disease control posts conducted in 1935 across regions historically associated with Bechuanaland and the Kalahari fringe. The collection, preserved in the McGregor Museum, Kimberley, provides valuable visual and contextual insights into policing infrastructure, mobility (including camel transport), and rural administration in remote areas during the interwar period. Beyond its administrative significance, the article highlights Taylor’s broader historical importance, including his career in the South African Police and his contributions to early archaeological interpretation. Particular focus is given to a photograph labelled “Buck jumper,” depicting a figure imitating an antelope through costume and movement. This image has played a notable role in anthropological discourse, especially in interpretations of San rock art and therianthropic imagery, suggesting possible links between ritual performance and artistic representation. The article also reflects on historical naming conventions and colonial administrative perceptions, noting the continued informal use of “Bechuanaland” decades after its official political status had changed. Overall, the study underscores the interdisciplinary value of Taylor’s photographic record for historians, anthropologists, and researchers of southern African heritage.

Detection of Crime

Captain Catherine Naidu

Captain Catherine Naidu SAPS Detective Chatsworth

1899 - 1902 Anglo Boer War

John William Reynolds

This document presents a biographical account of John William Reynolds, a 19th-century law enforcement officer and soldier from Grahamstown in the Cape Colony. Born in 1856, Reynolds served in the Divisional Police and later as a plain-clothes detective in the Urban Police. During the Anglo-Boer War, he enlisted in the Grahamstown Town Guard and was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal for his service. The narrative traces his personal life, including marriages, family, and career transitions, alongside the socio-political context of frontier life in the Eastern Cape. It also highlights his dedication to policing duties, health struggles, and the circumstances surrounding his death in 1907. The account provides insight into colonial policing, civic military service, and the personal challenges faced by individuals in that era.

Neglect of duty

SAPD – Lui-lui ... Telefoon

Political oversight - SAPS - answering of their telephones - operational efficiency

1976 Soweto Riots / Soeto-onluste

Soweto Onluste 16 Junie 1976

This document provides a first-hand account of a South African Police constable who was deployed during the Soweto Uprising of 16 June 1976. The narrative describes his sudden mobilization, deployment to Soweto, and involvement in controlling widespread unrest alongside a police reaction unit and Special Task Force members. It highlights the chaotic and violent conditions encountered, including protests, looting, arson, and the use of force against demonstrators. The account also reflects on the physical and psychological hardships experienced by police personnel, such as lack of sleep, food shortages, extreme cold, and prolonged exposure to violence. Additionally, the document offers personal observations on the nature of the protests, the escalation into unrest, and subsequent deployments to other regions. Overall, it presents a subjective perspective on a significant historical event in South Africa, emphasizing operational challenges and the human experience of law enforcement during civil unrest.

BSV/DIE BURO/BfSS

SOUTH AFRICAN INTELLIGENCE INVOLVEMENT IN SWA - Wolfgang Witchas. Vol 17, No 6.

South African Intelligence Involvement in South West Africa (SWA): 1949 to1990

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.

1899 - 1902 Anglo Boer War

ABW: Mafeking

This article provides a concise historical overview of the Siege of Mafeking (October 1899 – May 1900), one of the most iconic episodes of the Second Boer War. The document highlights the leadership of Colonel Robert Baden‑Powell, whose innovative defensive tactics, including “dummy fortifications, fake minefields, and other tricks used to exaggerate British strength,” helped a vastly outnumbered garrison withstand a 217‑day Boer siege. The narrative incorporates the experiences of civilians, the Mafeking Cadet Corps, and notable figures such as Lady Sarah Wilson, Lt‑Col Gordon Chesney Wilson, and Sol Plaatje, whose diary remains a vital first‑hand account of the siege. Excerpts from Sergeant‑Major Edward ‘Teddie’ Jollie’s diary vividly illustrate the daily hardships, shelling, food shortages, and human cost of the prolonged bombardment: “We have all been on half rations since January, and thirsty and hungry we are.” The article also outlines the roles of Boer commanders General Piet Cronjé and General J.P. Snyman and explains how the relief of Mafeking became a major psychological victory for Britain, giving rise to the term “mafficking” for public celebration. The siege’s legacy endures through its cultural impact, its influence on Baden‑Powell’s later founding of the Scout movement, and its place in Anglo‑Boer War memory.

Defence Policy and Strategy

Beyond Guns and Butter: Why Strategy Must Come Before Budgets, Joan Swart

The debate over defence spending is often framed as a choice between security and development. This article argues that the real challenge is not choosing between "guns" and "butter", but ensuring that resource allocation is guided by clearly defined national interests, strategic objectives and long-term priorities. Strategy should inform budgets, not the other way around.

SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES HISTORY PRESERVED

Nongqai - Oorsprong, Visie en Missie. Vol. 17 Nongqai Junie 2026.

Nongqai Oorspong, Visie en Missie