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UNTAG
On March 28th 1979 a group of 40 AWB members, including AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche, bluffed their way into a lecture at the University of South Africa. The lecture was being given by Professor Floors Van Jaarsveld, a noted liberal who had insulted an Afrikaner Christian celebration (the Day of the Vow). Van Jaarsveld was made an example by the AWB, who publically tarred and feathered him. Van Jaarsveld had insulted the Day of the Vow, a sacred Afrikaner celebration which is commemorated annual by most Calvinist Afrikaners.
On March 28th 1979 a group of 40 AWB members, including AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche, bluffed their way into a lecture at the University of South Africa. The lecture was being given by Professor Floors Van Jaarsveld, a noted liberal who had insulted an Afrikaner Christian celebration (the Day of the Vow). Van Jaarsveld was made an example by the AWB, who publically tarred and feathered him. Van Jaarsveld had insulted the Day of the Vow, a sacred Afrikaner celebration which is commemorated annual by most Calvinist Afrikaners.
By 1988 the AWB enjoyed a vast support base and membership, with estimates ranging from 5000 members to 70000. However despite the best efforts of the AWB, and other South African conservatives, in 1989 the newly inaugurated President DeKlerk announced that Apartheid (a system of separating the White, Coloured, Indian and Bantu races) was to end. DeKlerk cowering to international pressure infuriated many White South Africans who felt betrayed by DeKlerk (when he assumed office DeKlerk had assured the White population that no major reforms to Apartheid would be made).
By 1988 the AWB enjoyed a vast support base and membership, with estimates ranging from 5000 members to 70000. However despite the best efforts of the AWB, and other South African conservatives, in 1989 the newly inaugurated President DeKlerk announced that Apartheid (a system of separating the White, Coloured, Indian and Bantu races) was to end. DeKlerk cowering to international pressure infuriated many White South Africans who felt betrayed by DeKlerk (when he assumed office DeKlerk had assured the White population that no major reforms to Apartheid would be 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.
The Namibian government, with the assistance of [[Interpol]], are still trying to have the two men, who are in Britain, extradited to stand trial.
==Battle of Ventersdorp==
Terre'Blanche and 2000 AWB supporters led a march on a National Party meeting being addresed by President DeKlerk on August 9 1991 in Ventersdorp. In an ensuing gunfight 7 policemen were shot, 43 AWB members wounded (3 killed) and 15 innocent bystanders injured).
==Bophuthatswana==
In 1994 the AWB were the victim of an international media hate campaign after they propped up the supposed dictatorship of [[Apartheid|Bantustan]] leader Lucas Mangope.
It was alleged that the 750 AWB paramilitary members who went into Bophuthatswana shot and killed 5 or more innocent Black civilians. Although no prosectuions were ever brought so the truth of the matter is unknown.
==1990-1994==
==1990-1994==
AWB membership plummeted following DeKlerk’s announcement that Apartheid would end, AWB membership waned continuously until 1994 when it constituted only a few hundred members.
AWB membership plummeted following DeKlerk’s announcement that Apartheid would end, AWB membership waned continuously until 1994 when it constituted only a few hundred members.
However splinter groups of the AWB, namely the Orde Boerevolk (Order of the Boer Nation), were involved in the execution of large scale bombing campaigns against left-wing targets (with Black trade union offices and National Party offices being favourite targets).
However splinter groups of the AWB, namely the Orde Boerevolk (Order of the Boer Nation), were involved in the execution of large scale bombing campaigns against left-wing targets (with Black trade union offices and National Party offices being favourite targets).