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Terre'Blanche worked as an insurance salesman in the town of Brits, Transvaal.
Terre'Blanche worked as an insurance salesman in the town of Brits, Transvaal.
==Early Militancy==
In 1977 the South African government announced it was considering opening the Breyten Theatre, Pretoria, to all races. This caused concern and anger amongst a large part of the White population. The Administrator of the Transvaal announced that opening public facilities (such as the state-owned Breyten Theatre) to all races was contradictory to the racial laws of the [[Apartheid]] regime.
A group of liberal White actors and actresses began to petition the government to open the theatre to all races, whilst circulating their petition to the White public at a Pretoria shopping mall, Eugene Terre'Blanche and 35 other AWB members engaged them.
Terre'Blanche and the group of actors exchanged a few angry words, Terre'Blanche and his posse then proceeded to rip all of the petition papers into tiny pieces. It was captured on film and became known as the first "militant" action undertaken by the AWB.
==Incident at the UNISA==
==Incident at the UNISA==
In 1988 AWB membership, and support, peaked. Estimates range from 5000 to 70000 members, Terre'Blanche claims that the actual peak in membership was in 1994 and that, by then, the AWB had 80000 active members. Between 1978 and 1994 a total of 104000 applications for membership were made.
In 1988 AWB membership, and support, peaked. Estimates range from 5000 to 70000 members, Terre'Blanche claims that the actual peak in membership was in 1994 and that, by then, the AWB had 80000 active members. Between 1978 and 1994 a total of 104000 applications for membership were made.
==Namibia and UNTAG==
In 1989 the territory of South West Africa (renamed Namibia in 1990) was still under South African occupation. It had been given to the Union of South Africa under a League of Nations mandate after the First World War, it had previously been a German colony.
In 1989 the South African government agreed to hold multi-racial elections there. The AWB had offices in the Namibian capital city, Windhoek, and a large following amongst the White population of Namibia.
In the run-up to the elections the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) had established stations there to govern the territory during the period of transition from White rule to SWAPO (South West African People's Organisation) rule.
Five AWB members, under the leadership of the AWB's Johannesburg leader, Leonard Veenendaal, attacked an UNTAG base in Outjo, northern Namibia. Phosphorous grenades were thrown and it was riddled with machine gun fire. One UNTAG guard, Michael Hoaseb, was killed in the attack.
The men were apprehended and sent, on December 4th, to Outjo district court to stand trial. En route they escaped, and in the processes killed one of the policemen escorting them, Constable Van Wyck (who was shot in the stomach by Veenendaal).
The men escaped to South Africa and, in 1997, before the South African government could deport them to stand trial in Namibia had fled to Britain.
==Battle of Ventersdorp===
==Battle of Ventersdorp===
*Victory or Violence:Story of the AWB of South Africa by Arthur Kemp (2nd edition. March 2008)
*Victory or Violence:Story of the AWB of South Africa by Arthur Kemp (2nd edition. March 2008)
*[http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/1999/990615259p1001.htm]-Amnesty application (1998)
*[http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/1999/990615259p1001.htm]-Amnesty application (1998)
*http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/media/1996/9611/s961119g.htm
*http://www.namibian.com.na/Netstories/2000/June/News/00892E6FC4.html
*http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/index.php?link=Leonard_Veenendaal