NONGQAI – Preserving the stories of commitment and bravery that shaped generations of policemen, soldiers, and civil servants and protected a safer and better future for all South Africans. Stories told since 1907 with respect and without prejudice. – Henning van Aswegen, Editor.
Table of Contents/Inhoudsopgawe
Redaksie, Nongqai
- NONGQAI VOLUME 17, Nr. 2. Februarie 2026.
- Hoe word ‘n Kommandant weer ‘n Skutter? – Herman Toerien
- Knee Prints, Ermelo – Hennie Heymans
- New Books: The Daisy Spy Ring [Naledi] – Henning van Aswegen
- Vrouehoekie: Marone Cupido – Hennie Heymans
- Nongqai Skrywers & Boeke: Herman Toerien
- The Panga Man – Marc Naude
- Pretoria FM – Hennie Heymans
LEADER
In February 2026 most South Africans are living below the breadline, from one SASSA payment to the next, amidst infrastructural and civilisational decline, unable to afford either health, decent accommodation of even a motor car. Since 1994 and because of a state centered socialist management system, the prices of groceries and consumer goods have shot through the roof. Unattainale, unaffordable – South African’s are living in the worst economic and financial straits of their lives.
Yet a tone deaf and uncaring ANC-SACP government and their arrogant oligarcial support network concern themselfves with reckless capital expenditure such as ad nauseam support for bancrupt and useless state owned enterprises (SOE’s), meaningless court cases in the International Court of Justice and perpretrated locally by a vengeaful National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), expropration of land without compensation, and basking in Russia and China’s glory as an orphan member of BRICS.
Editor
Nongqai Volume 17, Nr. 1.
Nongqai Editorial Board: Hennie Heymans, Willem Steenkamp, Sarie van Niekerk, Logan Govender, Henning van Aswegen, Helmoed Romer Heitman, Rene Geyer, Eben Mare.
Letters to the Editor / Briewe aan die Redaksie
Dear Editor
Operation Vul
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- Nongqai Volume 17, No 2. February 2026.
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Herman Toerien
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Hennie Heymans
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Henning van Aswegen
Book orders: E-mail henningvanaswegen55@gmail.com. R 400 + postage.
BoekbestellingsL Naledi-aanlyn.
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Hennie Heymans
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Herman Toerien
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Marc Naude
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Hennie Heymans
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Wolfgang Witschas
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Hennie Heymans
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Hennie Heymans / Col Lewis ‘Lew’ Gerber
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Logan Govender
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Herman Toerien
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Henning van Aswegen
Klik op die skakel Nongqai.org.
VOORBLAD | COVER
Our January 2026 cover is designed by Nongqai Emiritus member Dr Willem Steelkamp, symblosing the question ‘Is there equality before the law in South Africa?’
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Nongqai is ‘n opvoedkundige en kultuurhistoriese tydskrif wat met sy inhoud die geskiedenis vir ons nageslag bewaar.
Nongqai is an educational and cultural-historical electronic magazine that preserves history though its content.
nongqai.org
Nongqai Abstract
Nongqai, a magazine dedicated to preserving South Africa’s national security history, has undergone a restructuring, with Brigadier Hennie Heymans appointed as the new chief editor. Previously, Heymans served as executive editor, a role now taken over by a new appointee. Heymans is recognized for his significant contributions in creating a balanced narrative of the pre-1994 South African security forces, countering one-sided and negative portrayals that dominated post-1994 narratives. Through Nongqai, he revived a vital collection of source material, ensuring a broader perspective on the past that is indispensable for historians. The magazine has served as a platform for veterans to share their oral histories, preventing these accounts from being lost, and has published insightful articles and special editions focused on specific topics. Despite lacking publishing expertise and financial resources, Heymans single-handedly managed the magazine’s production for years, later joined by Dr. Willem Steenkamp and, more recently, Henning van Aswegen. Nongqai stands as a testament to Heymans’ selfless dedication to historical truth, driven by his loyalty to the South African Police and appreciation for the security forces’ role in stabilizing the country during challenging times. The magazine, guided by the motto “To preserve the past without living in it,” remains a trusted, unbiased source of historical documentation, reflecting Heymans’ integrity and passion.
Nongqai is herstruktureer en brig. Hennie Heymans (foto) is die nuwe hoofredakteur. Die jare het aangestap en die moeisame taak van uitvoerende redakteur wat hy vir soveel jare behartig het, sal voortaan deur ‘n nuwe uitvoerende redakteur hanteer word.
THE OWLS AND THE SHADOW WAR, VOLUME VIII
Directorate Special Tasks and Sub-Division Intelligence Operations
– West Front: DST1 and UNITA
For the first time a comprehensive guide to one of the most Top Secret operations of the SADF and Military Intelligence, namely the support for UNITA, is disclosed to the public. This operation continued for almost three decades, from 1975 to the end of 1992 under a series of secret code names. It is an account of one of the most remarkable and most unlikely military alliances in modern warfare. It is surprising because, despite many fundamental differences, the SADF and UNITA were able to work together in a synergistic way that resulted in a force multiplier of note. While the SADF was generally regarded being there to support a white minority government, UNITA was a black guerrilla liberation movement. And yet, their common enemy – the Communist-backed SWAPO and MPLA (both backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba) – proved to be stronger than any differences. This work for the first time discloses the origins of the alliance, the people involved, the strategic intent, the extent and nature of the support, and the major contribution made to the military success of the SADF during the Border War, as well as to countering the imperialistic ambitions of the Soviet Union – until an acceptable political settlement could be achieved in the region. This is a must have for any serious student of intelligence and military history who is interested in the Cold War confrontation which took place in Angola and northern Namibia between South Africa and its pro-Western allies, and the Communist-aligned SWAPO, MPLA, Cuban, East German and Soviet Forces.
Limited Edition Hard Cover Edition: R980-00
Standard Soft Cover Edition: R740-00
Courier costs: R120-00
For more information, banking details and orders, please contact Walter Volker and walter@mkhondo.com or at 082-851-6166.
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nongqai.org
DIE BURO IS BY IMPRIMATUR UITGEWERS, PRETORIA BESKIKBAAR: Mandy@Imprimatur.co.za
- Boekbeskrywing: DIE BURO
In Die Buro beskryf Henning van Aswegen die lewe en leed van Hendrik van den Bergh en sy tydgenote wat in 1963 Republikeinse Intelligensie (RI), en die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid in 1969 gestig het. Die Lang Generaal is ʼn historiese figuur wat onkreukbaar geglo het dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Kommunistiese Party (SAKP), nie oor die reg beskik het om Suid-Afrika se toekoms eiehandig te bepaal nie. Manne van Staal is nie populêre revisionistiese geskiedskrywing oor die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid nie; dit is die verhaal van wat agter die skerms gebeur het, en hoe hierdie historiese gebeure die verloop van die geskiedenis in Suid-Afrika beduidend beïnvloed het.
Henning van Aswegen is die skrywer van die topverkoper Spioenmeesters (Kraal Uitgewers), en ‘n intelligesnie historikus wat spioenasieverhale uit Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis beskryf en ontleed. Van sy ander boeke is The Daisy Spy Ring, The Spymasters of South Africa, en Russian Espionage in South Africa. Henning van Aswegen is ‘n afgetrede dosent in Intelligensiekunde aan die Nasionale Intelligensie Akademie (NIA), Pretoria.
Bestellings: henningvanaswegen55@gmail.com
by Henning van Aswegen | Oct 17, 2025 | BfSS NIS, BOOKS / BOEKE, BSV/DIE BURO/BfSS, Inligting- en/of Veiligheidsperspektief, RI/BfSS/NI/NIS/BSV
Die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid (BvS)/Nasionale Intelligensiediens (NI): ’n Unieke verskynsel in die Westerse intelligensiewêreld Abstrak: Buro vir Staatsveiligheid, BSV, Intelligensiewetenskap in Suid-Afrika, Intelligensie, Nasionale Intelligensiediens…
DIE BURO is by die skrywer bestelbaar: henningvanaswegen55@gmail.com.
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Nongqai.org
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KORRLEKOPPE
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