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| 6 April 2005 |
| Commando’s proud history |
By Dalene Robus |
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With the closing down of commandos throughout
South Africa there is concern that crime will increase.
Although the Barberton Commando is still operational it is only a matter of time before they would also close doors and bring an end to an era.
We spoke to WO2 Johan Pretorius of the commando to obtain some information on its history.
Barberton Commando started with the founding and development of the town in 1884. In the early years mounted police consisting of army troops, were responsible for law and order in the Barberton district.
During 1886 it was reported in the Gold Field Times, that 20 artillery troops were to be sent from Pretoria to Barberton to reinforce the existing mounted police unit stationed here.
In January 1887 Commandant Winterbach arrived with a number of troops. They pitched their marquees at Concession Creek and immediately started patrolling the district.
In the same year military barracks were erected with government funding.
In November 1887 the artillery recruited new members.
Conditions for recruits were amongst others:
approval by parents or guardian, a health certificate and unmarried status for men older than 17 years. A corporal was paid three shillings and sixpence per day and a sergeant earned four shillings.
The first Volunteer Corps was established in 1887 and Capt GJ Elphic was the first local commanding officer.
On March 3, 1905 the mayor of Barberton, Rev JB Knowels, emphasized in a speech the necessity of such a corps for the town.
A Volunteer Corps was also established for Eureka City in August 1905.
On March 11, 1904 the Northern Rifles was established.
Mounted regiment members received an 18-pound annual horse allowance and a 2-pound allowance was allocated to members issued with bicycles. The unit started with 20 recruits and within a week they numbered 35.
The Barberton G Company was incorporated into the Northern Rifles and in August 1905 the corps were 81-men strong.
In December 1914 the Gold Fields News in a main article stated that Barberton Commando deserved praise and honor. It was commended for its positive role in the capturing of Gen De Wet.
Barberton Commando was also selected as the best discipline in 1914.
In the late 1980s Barberton commando consisted of 663 personnel of whom 470 were volunteers. At present it consists of 135 volunteers.
Their main aim is to assist the local SAPS. It is operational at the boarder to curb drug trafficking and smuggling.
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| The Barberton Town G ward |
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| Corrie word 100 |
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Haar familie het gister heerlik saamgekuier om Ouma Corrie Earle se 100ste verjaarsdag te vier.
Sy is op 5 April 1905 as ‘n nooi Muller April 1905 op Ladybrand gebore en het as ‘n plaasnooi grootgeword.
Sy en haar eggenoot, Bertie Earle wat ‘n onderwyser was, het in 1936 met hulle twee dogters, Nella en Susie na Transvaal verhuis, waar hulle op verskeie plekke gewoon het.
Sedert die vroeë 70’s het hulle na Edenvale verhuis, waar sy nog tot twee jaar gelede in haar eie woonstel gewoon het. Ouma Corrie woon in die somer by haar een dogter en in die winter op Barberton.
Sy is die laaste lid van haar geslag en het vier kleinkinders en ses agterkleinkinders.
Dit is vir haar fasmilie ‘n groot voorreg om haar nog by hulle te hê. Al sukkel sy al vir jare met haar gehoor, is ouma Corrie nog gesond en is haar familie positief dat hulle nog meer verjaarsdae saam met haar sal kan vier.
Dink net wat het sy nie alles beleef die laaste 100 jaar nie! By geleentheid is daar vir haar gevra waaraan sy die hoë ouderdom toeskryf: ”Dis omdat ek altyd die lekker in die lewe raaksien en vir myself kan lag,” het sy gesê.
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| Vier geslagte saam: Nella Coetzee (dogter), Lynette Louw (kleindogter), ouma Corrie Earle en Janeke Louw (agterkleindogter) |
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| Gunman goes berserk |
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A 33-year old man fired more than 20 shots in a four-hour ordeal at Moseley farm on Thursday night.In the drama that unfoulded it seemed that Danie Venter behaved quite irrational. It was only a miracle that nobody was killed or injured.
According to Sgt Pierre Pohl the police was summoned to the scene when shots were fired in the vicinity of the Jock of the Bushveld huts. On their arrival at 19:00, an aggressive Venter told the police to shoot him or else he will shoot them.
With the assistance of SuperPro security, friends and neighbours tried to calm him, but Venter who was under the influence of alcohol refused to co-operate.
The police then called in the assistance of Superintendent Gerrie Aggenbach, district detective superintendent, and Capt Okkie Brits, of the serious and violent crimes unit at Nelspruit.
After lengthy negotiations Aggenbach and Brits arrested Venter at the roadside Kaya Pub at 23:30.
Pohl said they had to be very cautious, because Venter was previously a member of a specialised army unit.
Later 13 used cartridges were found in the house and seven outside the house.
The reason for Venter’s irrational behaviour was still not clear. It was alleged that a working contract was cancelled where he had invested more than R1 million.
Venter appeared in court on Friday on a charge of attempted murder and was released on bail of R1 000.
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| Stock theft unit established |
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With the increase of stock theft in the Lowveld area a new unit was established.
This police unit will be stationed at Hectorspruit and will serve the area from Komatipoort to Lydenburg.
Two top detectives from Barberton, Insp Patel Khumalo and Insp Abel Shongwe will be part of the six-man detective team responsible for investigations.
Both inspectors from Barberton had in the past won “Top Cop” awards for their achievements.
Khumalo, an experienced investigator, headed the previous stock theft unit in Barberton before it was dissolved in 2001.
According to Khumalo there was an increase in stock theft along the border areas of Swaziland and Mozambique.
He said that farmers could contact the unit when the following were stolen: three or more head of cattle, sheep or horses; five or more pigs and 100 or more chickens.
Other members of the unit are Insps Mabila, Lubisi, Ngomane and Vukeya. Mabila will head the team until a commander is appointed.
Local farmers who experience problems regarding stock theft can contact Insp Patel Khumalo at 073-534-5963 or Insp Abel Shongwe at 072-857-4857.
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| Local rugby season to start |
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The local rugby league starts this Saturday when our own rugby club plays against
Witbank Hurricanes in Witbank. Cindy Venter shows off the new jersey in which they will play this season. |
| Photograph by Lynette Louw |
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