I really enjoyed reading everything and the photo's have brought back so many memories . Herewith my take (written for another forum ) on a similar experience .
I was in the SADF July 1980 to July 1982 . My Bike Squad /SADF experience is not very flattering to the old SADF nor will it rate very highly as far as “ grensvegter” or " biker" stories go , but that is the way it was . I think it is necessary put things into perspective . Joining the army was something I did in order to ride bikes and of course avoid prison . I have always been a mediocre rider but I love it . Basics at 6 SAI Grahamstown was fairly uneventful with the exception of very crap weather , and getting to know and understand Afrikaners for the first time in my life . My objective was to put up with what ever shit came my way as long as I ended up in Bike Squad . ( My older brother had told me many stories of the fun he had had as part of Bike Squad Demo unit in Heidelberg in 1975) .
Towards the end of basics we were advised that unless we wanted to be foot soldiers we had to apply for transfer to other units . I immediately selected Bike Squad as my first choice with Parrabats as second choice ( very romantic and totally clueless ). To my shock and horror we were asked to pass a fitness test as well as a one or two hour written test on our bike handling and mechanical abilities . At this stage my bike experience was limited to a Honda 50 cc Monkey bike from age 9 to 12 and a few trail rides on a 1979 Suzuki PE 250 I had bought on HP the year before . This totally un roadworthy bike was also my only means of transport . ( I still have many of the fines to prove it ) . As luck would have it I befriended two fairly good riders who were not lacking in technical experience . I sat next to these guys during the written exam and passed with flying colors . I cant remember what the fitness test was all about except that we had to be able to run the 2.4 in under 10 minutes . I think 12 minutes was the normal acceptable requirement to be considered 60% fit for the infantry . I was elated when they announced the successful applicants and my name was on the list .
We were put on a milk train to what we thought was Bike Squad in Potch . Sometime during the tedious trip we realized that we were heading in the wrong direction . The powers that be continued the lie by informing us that Bike Squad had been moved to Upington . I have vivid memories of the excitement that prevailed in the back of the Bedford truck as we arrived at 8 SAI . We were all crowded around the back opening of the covered truck trying to get our first view of the Bikes . ( It would be another 6 or 7 months before we saw our first bike).
We were told that we were part of a new experimental unit which was the brainchild of Lieutenant General Geldenhuys . We were soon transferred to Riemvasmaak which was fairly close to the Namibian border .( The Riemvasmaak Community of about 700 families had been forcibly relocated to Namibia in the mid 70's to make way for the SADF )
Some of us were housed in tents whilst others had there beds packed like sardines on the wrap around stoep of a very old Missionary house . What followed was a few months of intense afkack training including courses in tracking , sharp shooter , infiltration , escape and evasion and a few others I cant remember .The whole process involved more afkack than I thought I was capable of handling . We ended up with two highly trained and disciplined Platoons and were told we were now qualified " Junior Recces " . Because the unit was new they had not even designed the unit logo yet.
We were than transferred to Bike Squad at Potch Equestrian Centre for the final phase of our training . We were brimming with pride and enthusiasm because our achievements. Things began to fall apart almost immediately . We were issued with Honda 350 xl,s and Suzuki 370 SP's . The bikes were in a shocking condition with minimal spares available . We were advised that our bikes would not be replaced until they were all totally buggered , and besides the replacement bikes (XR 500R Pro-link) had not been delivered by Midmacor yet . There were many rumors of officers ( not Bike Squad ) all over the region riding around on our new bikes . I had contacts at Midmacor and soon discovered that Midmacor had delivered the Bikes a few months before . Captain Stroebel could be resourceful when he wanted to . I think the unofficial order came from him but I am not sure . Collectors of those old relics would be heart broken, but we were instructed to destroy our bikes . We spent the following day doing exactly that , crashing the bikes and generally having fun . We were issued with brand new Pro-Links . The bike training was nothing to write home about , although I did learn a few tricks , like dropping a bike at high speed in order to use it as cover . Most of all I recall the fun we had racing our privately owned bikes at the track behind the camp . It was very competitive as many of the guys had ridden competitively in MX or enduro's prior to national service . Being a mediocre but competitive rider I often came off second best and spent a week in hospital prior to leaving for the border . Occasionally the nearby Fourteenth Field Artillery would mistakenly land a few misplaced shells close to the horse stables and we were sent out on bikes to locate the horses who had escaped in fear . Bike training at potch was pretty uneventful as most of the guys already had sufficient riding skills and the instructors were on the same learning curve . Just before we finished the course a stock take was done in the stores . It was discovered that over a million rands worth of stock was missing . Many of the guys had a few pairs of army issue RG MX boots .( so did the Berede guys ) . Some of the guys had privately owned Pro-links and probably rarely payed for spares again. I recall once seeing a queue of about 30 people lining up outside stores at midnight . We refueled our bikes at the end of every day, only to find the the tank empty the next day. My platoon was sent to the border and the other platoon stayed behind as demo squad .
We were exited to go up to the border ( SWASPES in Otavi ) and some actually looked forward to some "action" . What followed was a travesty for the South African Tax Payer . We had a holiday second to none . One of the fundamental problems was the fact that none of the Rank had completed all of the courses with us.There was no predetermined plan on how best to utilize our skills and more importantly how to manage us . Due to a constant shortage of bikes and spares we were normally only able to put together enough bikes for one section to operate effectively . We took turns at doing patrols which by and large and due to poor leadership were just an excuse for a trail ride or enduro race complete with pit stops at the kuka shops . More than once guys returned from a "patrol" slightly pissed. It is a miracle that our intake never suffered any casualties and I don't mean as a result of a conflict situation. More often than not we lazed about or were used to escort Teff for the hoses to where ever they were being utilized . When the bikes were functional we played allot. Our discipline was atrocious and being bored we drank allot . The food prepared by the chef at Swaspes was brilliant and would not be out of place in any up market hotel .It makes you wonder why, with same budget, the food was generally not edible elsewhere.
The platoon was then sent to Tsumeb , probably because there were not enough bikes to go around . Although we did the occasional Kap line patrol and guarded the odd farm , there was no plan for us . The commanding officer was a very religious man and a soft touch . He allowed us to phone home and arrange for civvies to be sent up . Many days were spent lounging around the pool with civilians at the Tsumeb hotel . Waiters served the drinks at the pool ( Tough life on the grens ) . Being a soft touch , the Captain often gave Bike Squad members compassionate leave to return to South Africa . All that was needed was a phone call with a sob story about a grand mother on her death bed. Being very religious he requested that the least we could do was wake up in the morning for parade and a prayer . Most did not bother . Discipline was non existent . One of guys from Natal even grew dagga plants in a neat garden around the tent . The same guy was given a weeks leave to attend a civilian court case back home . I will never forget his return . He drove his private vehicle ( a Mini ) , goofed , all the way from Durban to Tsumeb ending up with a doughnut spin on the parade ground . I think his punishment was to work in the Captains garden for a few hours.
A few of us were klaad aan for drunk and disorderly behavior or what ever, whilst on escort duty. Our Ratel broke down and we were forced to sleep over at 61 Bat. We were invited to the officers mess for drinks and expected to spend the night . Just after midnight and thoroughly pissed , we were advised that the vehicle had been repaired and we were to continue with our escort duty immediately . To make matters worse our new friends gave us each a six pack for the road . To cut a long story short ,we were advised that when everyone else returned to Potch to Kla out of the Army we would have to remain behind at SWASPES for a court martial . We ignored the order , arranged forged travel orders and returned to Potch . I will for ever be grateful to Captain Stroebel who although being aware of our pending court martial allowed us to Kla out .
Although my bike squad experience was a total waste of tax payers money ,it was a lot of fun and the life lessons learnt from the whole SADF experience proved to be invaluable . I did a few camps thereafter, which involved Soweto patrols in bakkie's . The experience was a wake up call . By this time I was mature enough to realize the devastation that Apartheid had inflicted on so many South Africans . For the first time I was ashamed to have been part of the SADF . I also realized just how little the average white South African knew about life in the townships and just how much effort the National Party had put into molding our thoughts and hiding the truth . The tragedy for white South Africa and our descendants is that it will take many generations before we are trusted , if ever .
Topic: The year long All Expenses Paid hooligan ride (Read 48935 times)
