Changes

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).

In 1991 FW DeKlerk, against the advice of senior policemen, held a meeting in the right-wing stronghold of Ventersdorp  (where the AWB had its headquarters from 1989 onwards). In the ensuing chaos, as AWB members attempted to hand a petition to DeKlerk, 3 AWB members were killed and some 43 injured as the police and AWB exchanged gunfire.

In 1991 FW DeKlerk, against the advice of senior policemen, held a meeting in the right-wing stronghold of Ventersdorp  (where the AWB had its headquarters from 1989 onwards). In the ensuing chaos, as AWB members attempted to hand a petition to DeKlerk, 3 AWB members were killed and some 43 injured as the police and AWB exchanged gunfire.

In March 1994 the AWB agreed to prop up the regime of Lucas Mangope, President of Bophuthatswana (a Bantustan), by despatching 750 of its Wenkommando (commandos) to put down rioting by ANC members. However the Bophuthatswana army and police mutinied and fired on the AWB.

In March 1994 the AWB agreed to prop up the regime of Lucas Mangope, President of Bophuthatswana (a Bantustan), by despatching 750 of its Wenkommando (commandos) to put down rioting by ANC members. However the Bophuthatswana army and police mutinied and fired on the AWB.

In a cold blooded attack 3 injured AWB members were killed, in front of TV news cameras, by a Bophuthatswana policeman.

In a cold blooded attack 3 injured AWB members were killed, in front of TV news cameras, by a Bophuthatswana policeman.

In the days leading up to the “democratic” (ie multiracial) South African elections of 1994 dozens of explosions rocked numerous locations across South Africa (including Jan Smuts airport in Johannesburg). A total of 21 people were killed and 176 injured in the AWB’s pre-election bombing campaign.

In the days leading up to the “democratic” (ie multiracial) South African elections of 1994 dozens of explosions rocked numerous locations across South Africa (including Jan Smuts airport in Johannesburg). A total of 21 people were killed and 176 injured in the AWB’s pre-election bombing campaign.