Young ones paid in blood for NP’s greed

The bosoorlog was about chasing wealth, writes Drikus van der Hoven

The article by Brendan Seery on Monday refers. He ends with: “So, who were the real winners?” Mr Seery, the only winners in any war are those who survive. I lost two friends in this bosoorlog who the generals from that period still try to justify today. Both were only 20 years old.

One was an only son from a family with two children. He achieved his provincial colours in athletics and rugby with a bright future. His dad never recovered from the loss of his only son and died a broken man.

The other friend was very clever with his young life and future wasted. He was the youngest of three children.

A friend of mine’s brother was crippled for life when the army vehicle detonated a landmine there on the border.

In the series Bosoorlog, screened on Kyknet, General Jannie Geldenhuys stated that Unita asked the SA government for military assistance to defeat the MPLA (Fapla) who in turn asked the Russians and Cubans for assistance.

Our parents believed the lies told by the National Party government. The Afrikaans people specifically were very naïve with regards to politics. They still had that laager mentality.

We were raised to follow instructions and not to question them. To me it was a total waste of young lives. I think the South African government was eyeing the oil, diamonds and minerals in Angola and we had to pay for that in blood.