Thesis Chapters by Emile Coetzee
From April to October 1964, Justice Pieter Malan (P.M.) Cillié was the chairman of the Commission... more From April to October 1964, Justice Pieter Malan (P.M.) Cillié was the chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into alleged irregularities with arms procurements by the Department of Defence and the South African Defence Force. News reports and public political discussions hinted at dishonesty in South Africa’s arms procurement process. In an effort to quell rumours that could undermine confidence in the state, the Verwoerd government appointed the 1964 Cillié commission of enquiry. At the time of the commission’s proceedings, several individuals were identified as the culprits in tender fraud for military purchases as a result of bribery and corruption. Commandant Barnie van der Merwe as well as the arms agents Hans Sieger and Lionel Schwartz were, according to Cillié, the prime culprits. In addition, Cillié had the task to analyse the South African state’s procurement process. Cillié also obtained relevant evidence from 13 dedicated contracts that specifically pointed to arms agents at the centre of any alleged irregularities. When he submitted his commission’s report, the onus was on the Verwoerd-government to implement necessary changes to its arms procurement process. Similar irregularities had to be prevented from happening again. Due to the 1963 United Nations arms embargo against South Africa and the Cold War conflicts, the Verwoerd-government had to ensure that the South African Defence Force was properly equipped at all times. The 1964 Cillié Commission contributed to this ideal by alerting the Verwoerd-government to the need for South Africa to develop and manufacture weaponry and military craft as a matter of urgency.
Papers by Emile Coetzee
Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies, 2023
Commandant Barnie van der Merwe was a career soldier who served in the South African Defence Forc... more Commandant Barnie van der Merwe was a career soldier who served in the South African Defence Force from 1934. By 1957, he had become embroiled in tender fraud and bribery in the procurement of arms and supplies for military vehicles and equipment for the Defence Force. His career came to an end in September 1963 when he was arrested and
found guilty of corruption. His case contributed to the proclamation of the 1964 Cillié Commission of Inquiry into alleged irregularities in arms procurement in the Defence Force and the Department of Defence. The report issued by the commission illustrated the intrigue in which corrupt Defence Force and Department of Defence officials, such as Van der Merwe, played a part for the sake of self-enrichment. This article sheds light on Van der Merwe’s criminality by indicating precisely how and against whom he committed his crimes and discusses the historical significance of his criminal career.
Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Kultuurgeskiedenis, 2021
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL & SCIENCE EDUCATION, 2017
The objectives of this article were to explore the mindfulness of tourists visiting c... more The objectives of this article were to explore the mindfulness of tourists visiting cultural and wildlife attractions and to establish the role of on-site interpretation in stimulating mindfulness. This was a qualitative study that used grounded theory methodology and reflexivity as an interpretive and critical mode of enquiry. The study was informed by focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews with group members, participant observations and a detailed daily journal recording of the critical instances of 100 tourists visiting cultural and wildlife tourism attractions in two southern African countries over a three-year period. Well-developed on-site interpretation resulted in tourist’s mindfulness in both wildlife and cultural settings visited within South Africa. However, on-site interpretation was lacking for Lesotho, resulting in mindlessness among the tourists. A change of mindset is required for on-site interpretation in Lesotho. Qualified and trained tour guides should be at the forefront of interpretation of cultural encounters in Lesotho, to enable cultural tourism to become a meaningful economic driver.
New Contree, 2017
Wijnand "Vic" Hamman served in the 2nd South African Infantry Regiment during the First World War... more Wijnand "Vic" Hamman served in the 2nd South African Infantry Regiment during the First World War. He fell during the Charge on Fampoux on the 12th of April 1917. He was buried in the Browne Copse Commonwealth Graves Commission cemetery, just outside Fampoux in France. Yet, he has another full-size grave in Lichtenburg. This paper explores his biography and analyses the possible reasons for him to have two graves in two different countries.
Book Reviews by Emile Coetzee
South African Journal for Cultural History, 2021
Boekresensie oor die vermelde boek en skrywer
New Contree, 2020
Book review about the memoir of Allan Heyl, a member of the infamous Stander gang.
South African Journal for Cultural History, 2017
Boereverneukers is die debuut van Izak Du Plessis, beter bekend as ʼn radio omroeper op Radio Sond... more Boereverneukers is die debuut van Izak Du Plessis, beter bekend as ʼn radio omroeper op Radio Sonder Grense (RSG). As ʼn opgeleide joernalis is dit nie alleenlik sy werk om verslae te lewer oor interessante stories nie maar ook om die bykomende feite van ʼn storie uiteen te lê.
New Contree, 2020
The writing of exposés about the scandals of government is nothing new in South Africa. As the la... more The writing of exposés about the scandals of government is nothing new in South Africa. As the latest work of Heynie Heydenrych proved, the journalist Eugene N Marais wrote obsessively about the scandals of the Paul Kruger administration during the last decade of the ZAR.1 Government scandals did not disappear with the advent of the 20th century. Especially the National Party would deliver their fair share of scandals such as the Information Scandal in the late 1970s. Just so, the African National Congress (ANC) is also not innocent when it comes to the misuse and abuse of government power. Paul Holden has already showcased this in his book about the Arms Scandal of 1993.2 If Sir John Dalberg-Acton’s famous phrase “Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely” is true then this book by Ivor Chipkin and Mark Swilling will most certainly be of great importance in any historical case of State capturing against the Zuma administration (2009-2018).
Journal of South African Cultural History, 2019
BOOK REVIEWS/BOEKRESENSIES OCKERT GEYSER Die eggenotes agter die Afrikaner politieke leiers: ʼn On... more BOOK REVIEWS/BOEKRESENSIES OCKERT GEYSER Die eggenotes agter die Afrikaner politieke leiers: ʼn Ongeskrewe hoofstuk uit die Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis (Naledi, 2019 302pp ISBN: 978-1-9284261-5-8)
Hierdie boek se onderopskrif verwoord presies hierdie boek se uniekheid. Uiteindelik word die lewensverhale van eietydse Suid-Afrikaanse staatshoofde en politieke leiers se eggenotes (hierna net eggenotes) vertel. Alhoewel daar reeds publikasies is oor die staatshoofde se lewensverhale en hul administrasies, is dit nie buitengewoon vir hul eggenotes om net sommer vaagweg in ʼn manuskrip genoem te word nie. Is dit omdat die publiek en ook historiese navorsers glo dat die eggenotes geen rol, gedurende die spesifieke staatshoof se ampstermyn, vervul het nie? Glo ons dat die eggenotes net ʼn ondersteuningsrol moes vervul wanneer dit kom by amptelike besoekers na die staatswoning? Met eerste oogopslag was dit die wens van die resenseerder dat die stereotipes wat om die eggenotes wentel vir eens en vir altyd gesmoor word. In sekere hoofstukke word dit gedoen. Dit is vir die resenseerder van kardinale belang om te noem dat gendergeskiedenis nie sy spesialiteitsveld is nie. Dit is ook sy wens dat ʼn professionele gendergeskiedkundige hierdie einste boek binnekort sal resenseer deur die perspektief van gendergeskiedenis. Die resenseerder se belangstelling in hierdie boek was geskoei op sy belangstelling in Suid-Afrikaanse eietydse geskiedenis.
Historia, 2012
Dit is moeilik om nie die rye nuwe publikasies oor die sogenaamde Grensoorlog (oftewel die Namibi... more Dit is moeilik om nie die rye nuwe publikasies oor die sogenaamde Grensoorlog (oftewel die Namibiese Vryheidsoorlog, 1966-1989) mis te kyk wanneer 'n persoon sy of haar naaste boekwinkel besoek nie. Menige veterane van die oorlog en ander belangstellendes stel tans die verhale en ervaringe van gewone Suid-Afrikaanse troepe op skrif. Hierdie geskrifte dek alreeds 'n verskeidenheid temas, wat daartoe gelei het dat kundiges op die gebied daarna verwys as "grensliteratuur".
New Contree, 2014
In die tydperk van 1966-1989 het die Suid-Afrikaanse Verdedigingsmag (SAVM) 'n oorlog gevoer om d... more In die tydperk van 1966-1989 het die Suid-Afrikaanse Verdedigingsmag (SAVM) 'n oorlog gevoer om die grense van die destydse Suid-Wes Afrika (tans Namibië) teen aanvalle vanuit Angola te beveilig. Jong Suid-Afrikaanse dienspligtiges was na die grens gebied gestuur om nasionale diensplig te voltooi wat tot twee jaar kon strek. Duisende soldate het hul lewens op die grens verloor, maar hul terugkerende kamerade het die grens verlaat met sielkundige letsels wat behandel moes word. Die SAVM het wel professionele sielkundiges in die weermag gehad wat die getraumatiseerde soldate moes behandel, maar die bevindings van die SAVM sielkundiges het tot dusver min aandag van militêre historici gekry. Kopwond, vergete slagoffers van die Bosoorlog deur Feinstein kan gesien word as deel van 'n reeks publikasies wat handel oor die grensoorlog, wat in die laaste tien jaar aansienlik toegeneem het. Sy werk is uniek in die opsig dat dit handel oor die eerstehandse ervaringe van 'n mediese offisier wat as sielkundige in die SAVM gedien het. Met die eerste oogopslag van die titel word die indruk geskep dat die boek net handel oor die emosionele aftakeling van SAVM soldate wat in die grensgebied operasioneel was. Inteendeel: Kopwond... begin sinvol by Feinstein as konteks... amper soos 'n gewone herinneringskrif (memoir) met 'n hoofstuk oor die kinderjare van die skrywer. Feinstein het in 'n sorgvrye huishouding groot geword met al die nodige stimulasies om hom aan te spoor om nuwe hoogtes in akademiese studies en in sy musiek te behaal. Hierdie gedeelte van die boek is in 'n apologetiese toon geskryf. Dit wil ook die indruk skep dat die skrywer 'n swaar skuldgevoel beleef jeens Apartheid en dat hy dus die eerste gedeelte van sy herinneringskrif gebruik om van hierdie skuldgevoel ontslae te raak.
South African Historical Journal, 2015
South African Journal of Cultural History, 2019
Suid-Afrika het ’n breë panteon van historiese helde en heldinne. Bepalend wie in beheer van die ... more Suid-Afrika het ’n breë panteon van historiese helde en heldinne. Bepalend wie in beheer van die land se regering is of hoe populêr ʼn historiese figuur gedurende ʼn spesifieke tydperk is, het ʼn invloed oor hoe breedvoerig ʼn skool of ʼn universiteit enige historiese figuur ter sprake in hul geskiedenis kurrikula sal insluit. Gedurende die era van Nasionale Party beheer (1948-1994), was Jan Christiaan Smuts nie hoog op die lys van uitverkore nasionale helde nie. Alhoewel die Nasionale Party nie ikonoklaste geword het en enige iets wat met Smuts verbind was afgebreek het nie, is dit maklik om te glo dat Smuts tot die agterbanke van Suid-Afrika se historiese narratief geskuif was. Noudat die Nasionale Party nie meer bestaan nie, is dit sodoende makliker as voorheen vir historici om Jan Smuts se lewensverhaal so objektief as moontlik te kan bestudeer.
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Thesis Chapters by Emile Coetzee
Papers by Emile Coetzee
found guilty of corruption. His case contributed to the proclamation of the 1964 Cillié Commission of Inquiry into alleged irregularities in arms procurement in the Defence Force and the Department of Defence. The report issued by the commission illustrated the intrigue in which corrupt Defence Force and Department of Defence officials, such as Van der Merwe, played a part for the sake of self-enrichment. This article sheds light on Van der Merwe’s criminality by indicating precisely how and against whom he committed his crimes and discusses the historical significance of his criminal career.
Book Reviews by Emile Coetzee
Hierdie boek se onderopskrif verwoord presies hierdie boek se uniekheid. Uiteindelik word die lewensverhale van eietydse Suid-Afrikaanse staatshoofde en politieke leiers se eggenotes (hierna net eggenotes) vertel. Alhoewel daar reeds publikasies is oor die staatshoofde se lewensverhale en hul administrasies, is dit nie buitengewoon vir hul eggenotes om net sommer vaagweg in ʼn manuskrip genoem te word nie. Is dit omdat die publiek en ook historiese navorsers glo dat die eggenotes geen rol, gedurende die spesifieke staatshoof se ampstermyn, vervul het nie? Glo ons dat die eggenotes net ʼn ondersteuningsrol moes vervul wanneer dit kom by amptelike besoekers na die staatswoning? Met eerste oogopslag was dit die wens van die resenseerder dat die stereotipes wat om die eggenotes wentel vir eens en vir altyd gesmoor word. In sekere hoofstukke word dit gedoen. Dit is vir die resenseerder van kardinale belang om te noem dat gendergeskiedenis nie sy spesialiteitsveld is nie. Dit is ook sy wens dat ʼn professionele gendergeskiedkundige hierdie einste boek binnekort sal resenseer deur die perspektief van gendergeskiedenis. Die resenseerder se belangstelling in hierdie boek was geskoei op sy belangstelling in Suid-Afrikaanse eietydse geskiedenis.
found guilty of corruption. His case contributed to the proclamation of the 1964 Cillié Commission of Inquiry into alleged irregularities in arms procurement in the Defence Force and the Department of Defence. The report issued by the commission illustrated the intrigue in which corrupt Defence Force and Department of Defence officials, such as Van der Merwe, played a part for the sake of self-enrichment. This article sheds light on Van der Merwe’s criminality by indicating precisely how and against whom he committed his crimes and discusses the historical significance of his criminal career.
Hierdie boek se onderopskrif verwoord presies hierdie boek se uniekheid. Uiteindelik word die lewensverhale van eietydse Suid-Afrikaanse staatshoofde en politieke leiers se eggenotes (hierna net eggenotes) vertel. Alhoewel daar reeds publikasies is oor die staatshoofde se lewensverhale en hul administrasies, is dit nie buitengewoon vir hul eggenotes om net sommer vaagweg in ʼn manuskrip genoem te word nie. Is dit omdat die publiek en ook historiese navorsers glo dat die eggenotes geen rol, gedurende die spesifieke staatshoof se ampstermyn, vervul het nie? Glo ons dat die eggenotes net ʼn ondersteuningsrol moes vervul wanneer dit kom by amptelike besoekers na die staatswoning? Met eerste oogopslag was dit die wens van die resenseerder dat die stereotipes wat om die eggenotes wentel vir eens en vir altyd gesmoor word. In sekere hoofstukke word dit gedoen. Dit is vir die resenseerder van kardinale belang om te noem dat gendergeskiedenis nie sy spesialiteitsveld is nie. Dit is ook sy wens dat ʼn professionele gendergeskiedkundige hierdie einste boek binnekort sal resenseer deur die perspektief van gendergeskiedenis. Die resenseerder se belangstelling in hierdie boek was geskoei op sy belangstelling in Suid-Afrikaanse eietydse geskiedenis.