Koevoet: Tracker - The Story of an Insurgency War

Shadows in the Sand: A Koevoet tracker’s story of an insurgency war

by Sisingi Kamongo

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	10272 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	330 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Koevoet (Afrikaans for "crowbar") was a counter-insurgency unit of the South African Police in Namibia during the apartheid era. It was established in 1979 to combat the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO),a Namibian nationalist movement that was fighting for independence from South Africa. Koevoet was known for its brutal tactics and its high casualty rate, and its members have been accused of committing numerous human rights abuses.

Frik van Loggerenberg was one of Koevoet's most experienced trackers. He spent years tracking down SWAPO insurgents in the Namibian bush, and he was known for his uncanny ability to find his prey. In his book, Koevoet: Tracker, van Loggerenberg tells the story of his experiences in the bush war, and he provides a unique insight into the world of Koevoet.

The Bush War

The Namibian bush war was a brutal conflict that lasted for over 20 years. SWAPO, supported by the Soviet Union and other communist countries, launched a guerrilla war against the South African government. The South African Defence Force (SADF) responded with a scorched earth campaign, and Koevoet played a major role in this campaign.

Koevoet was based on the Rhodesian Selous Scouts, a counter-insurgency unit that had been created to combat the Rhodesian Bush War. Like the Selous Scouts, Koevoet was composed of both black and white soldiers. However, Koevoet was more brutal than the Selous Scouts, and its members were accused of committing numerous human rights abuses.

The bush war was a bloody affair, and both sides committed atrocities. SWAPO insurgents were known to torture and murder civilians, and Koevoet was accused of summary executions, torture, and rape. The war also had a devastating impact on the Namibian people, and hundreds of thousands of people were displaced from their homes.

Frik van Loggerenberg

Frik van Loggerenberg was born in Namibia in 1956. He grew up on a farm in the Namibian bush, and he developed a deep knowledge of the land and its people. Van Loggerenberg joined the South African Police in 1975, and he was assigned to Koevoet in 1979.

Van Loggerenberg was a natural tracker, and he quickly became one of Koevoet's most experienced trackers. He spent years tracking down SWAPO insurgents in the Namibian bush, and he was known for his uncanny ability to find his prey. Van Loggerenberg was also a skilled sniper, and he was credited with killing over 200 SWAPO insurgents.

Van Loggerenberg's book, Koevoet: Tracker, is a fascinating account of his experiences in the bush war. The book provides a unique insight into the world of Koevoet, and it sheds light on the brutality of the conflict. Van Loggerenberg's book is a valuable contribution to the historiography of the Namibian bush war, and it is a must-read for anyone who is interested in this period of history.

The Legacy of Koevoet

Koevoet was disbanded in 1989, after Namibia gained independence from South Africa. However, the legacy of Koevoet continues to haunt Namibia. Many Namibians believe that Koevoet committed genocide against the Namibian people, and they demand that the unit's members be held accountable for their crimes.

The legacy of Koevoet is also a reminder of the brutality of the Namibian bush war. The war was a tragedy for all Namibians, and it left a deep scar on the Namibian psyche. Van Loggerenberg's book, Koevoet: Tracker, is a valuable reminder of the horrors of the war, and it is a call for reconciliation and healing.

Koevoet was a brutal counter-insurgency unit that played a major role in the Namibian bush war. Its members were accused of committing numerous human rights abuses, and the unit's legacy continues to haunt Namibia. Van Loggerenberg's book, Koevoet: Tracker, is a fascinating account of his experiences in the bush war, and it provides a unique insight into the world of Koevoet. The book is a valuable contribution to the historiography of the Namibian bush war, and it is a must-read for anyone who is interested in this period of history.

Shadows in the Sand: A Koevoet tracker’s story of an insurgency war

by Sisingi Kamongo

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	10272 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	330 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE