Major General Bertus Steenkamp – A Eulogy by military historian Walter Volker
Generaal-majoor Bertus Steenkamp; 21 Januarie 1946 – 18 Julie 2026 †
Genl.-Majoor Bertus Steenkamp is op 18 Julie 2026 in 2 Militêre Hospitaal in Wynberg, Kaapstad oorlede. Hy het tot en met sy afsterwe in Noordhoek in die Weskaap gewoon, en word oorleef deur sy eggenote Elize, seuns Jan en David, en dogter Magda.
Die militere historikus en skrywer Walter Volker skryf as volg oor die merkwaardige lewe en dienslewering van Genl.-Majoor Bertus Steenkamp: [11:39, 20/07/2026] Walter Volker: Tribute to a Great Soldier, Husband, Father and Friend – General Bertus Steenkamp. By Walter V. Volker.
It is with great sadness that we hear of the sudden unexpected passing away of Maj Gen Bertus Steenkamp on the 19th July 2026 at 2 Military Hospital in Cape Town at the age of 79 years.
Jan Albertus Steenkamp, or as he was known to all – “Bertus”, was born some eighteen months after the end of World War II in Europe, on the 21st January 1947, in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State. Here he also grew up and went to school, and matriculating at the President Steyn High School on the outskirts of the provincial capital. He commenced with his military career in 1964 at the Army Gymnasium in Voortrekkerhoogte. Soon thereafter he started studying part time at the University of the Orange Free State and in 1969 he obtained his B.A. Degree with majors in History and Geography. He then completed his BA (Hons) and obtained a Diploma in Archival Science at the Technicon South Africa in 1972. In 1976 he completed his MA degree with a dissertation on The Defence System of the Free State Republic, 1854-1899.
A CITIZEN FORCE OFFICER AND THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
Following his basic training, Bertus was initially allocated as a citizen force officer to the infantry corps (SAIC). Amongst others, in 1975 he was a company commander of the Bushman Battalion (Alpha Group, later 31 Bn) in SWA. (see Ian Uys. 1993. Bushman Soldiers – Their Alpha and Omega, Fortress Publishers, Germiston, p.58)
In 1978 he joined the Military Intelligence Division (MID) and became a member of SAMIS (SA Military Intelligence Service). He completed the SA Army Command and Staff Course in 1983 (G8301), and a few years later the Joint Staff Course (JSE 25/ 1991). As a member of MID he served as member of the Sub-Division Military Intelligence, Sub-Division Communications Operations, Personal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Chief of Staff Intelligence (CSI). He was then appointed as Military Attache in West-Germany from 1984 to 1988, during which time he became quite fluent in German and developed close personal and professional ties with members of the West-German Bundesnachrichtendienst or BND. Upon his return to South Africa in 1989 he was the appointed as a Senior Staff Officer Communication Operations (SSO Comops) in the Directorate Enemy (1989 – 1990), followed by an SSO position in the Directorate International Communication (1990 – July 1991). In August 1991 he was appointed SSO of the Collection Co-ordination Centre (CCC/ INKS). From 1 Jan 1994 to 31 May 1995 he was the OC of the SA Military Intelligence College (SAMIC). While he was in this post, in 1994 he was appointed MID’s representative, and co-chairperson together with Rocky Williams of the ANC, to facilitate the process of integrating the various military intelligence forces (ANC, PAC and TBVC homelands) into the new Intelligence Division of the SANDF. On completion of this task he chaired the MI committee to interview candidates to allocate appropriate ranks – which a BMATT (British Military Assistance Training Team) captain adjudicated the process. In 1994 he was appointed as co-chairperson with Professor Villa-Venchencio of the ANC to investigate the destruction of documents in the SADF in 1992. In Jan 1995 he was promoted to Brigadier General from June 1995 he was appointed as the SANDF representative on the inter-departmental National Intelligence Estimate Board (NIEB), which became the National Intelligence Co-Ordinating Committee or NICOC. In Feb 1997 he was appointed as the Director International Conflict (DIC). In June 1998 he was appointed as acting Chief Dir Collection, a post in which he was confirmed a few months later when he was promoted to Major General. On 15 Jan 2002 he retired from the SANDF with the rank of Major General.
MEDALS AND AWARDS
Bertus Steenkamp’s medals and awards are extensive and include the SD, SM, MMM, the Southern Africa Medal, Pro Patria Medal, General Service Medal and the 10, 20 and 20 Good Service Medals.
His affinity to history and politics has always remained with him, resulting in a range of military/ historical articles flowing from his pen. In 1991, for example, he was the runner-up of the BARCOM competition for articles with a military theme. His article, The War of Words, enlightened the propaganda war of our time. Together with Prof Louis Changuion he is also the co-author of the book “Disputed Land” or “Omstrede Land. Die Historiese Ontwikkeling van die Suid-Afrikaans Grondvraagstuk, 1652 – 2011”.
Bertus is married to Elize, and they were living in the Western Cape at the time of his passing. They have two sons and a daughter.
A WARM, ENERGETIC AND HELPFUL PERSON
On a personal note, I wish to add that I experienced Bertus as a warm, energetic and very helpful person, one who was always willing to share from his wealth of knowledge and experience. I had the privilege of being able to visit him and Elize at their home in Pretoria as well as in Fish Hoek on a number of occasions, apart from them visiting me in Gordons Bay and meeting in a variety of coffee shops. He made extensive contributions to my efforts at writing the history of Military Intelligence, including extensive editing and re-writing on the Comops volume.
During my visits he and Elize always made me feel very welcome. It was obvious that he loved his wife Elize and his children. We will miss him greatly. He will leave a big gap, for he was not just a soldier, but also a historian and writer in his own right, an academic, a good husband, father and friend.
[11:39, 20/07/2026] Walter Volker:
