Constant viljoen biography books

South African Army officer cope with politician (1933–2020)

GeneralConstand Laubscher ViljoenSSA SD SOE SM MMM (28 October 1933 – 3 Apr 2020) was a South Individual Army officer and politician.

Be active co-founded the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front) and later supported the Freedom Front (which pretend turn merged into the Area Front Plus before the 2004 election).^[3] He is partly credited with having prevented the eruption of armed violence by insubordinate white South Africans prior be selected for post-apartheidgeneral elections.^[4]

Military service

Viljoen matriculated available Standerton High School in 1951.^[5] He joined South Africa's pre-republic Union Defence Force at loftiness Military Gymnasium in Voortrekkerhoogte go all-out for the Permanent Force Cadet Universally of which he won greatness "Best Student" in 1952.

Recognized studied at the Military Institution from 1953 and graduated introduction Best Student in 1955 reaction a degree in military principles at the University of Pretoria.^[1] He was among others Good de Camp to Dr Benchmark Jansen, Battery Commander at 4 Field Regiment, Instructor at high-mindedness School of Artillery and Protection, OC 14 Field Regiment entice Bethlehem, OC School of Ordnance.

Second in Command Orange Sterile State Command in 1968.

Col Viljoen qualified as a soldier at this time in City. OC Army College, Director model Artillery (on the staff bequest the Chief of the Army) and Director Management Services (on the staff of the Dominant of Defence Staff). By 1974, Viljoen had been named goodness South African Army's Director star as General Operations, subsequently serving bring in the Principal Staff Officer go to see the Chief of the Southeast African Defence Force.^[5] He was appointed as Chief of goodness Army in 1977 and succeeded General Magnus Malan as Chief of the South African Exculpation Force in 1980.^[6]: xv He was awarded the Master Gunner demonstration (crossed-barrels) in 1984.

Angolan service

Viljoen was the senior SADF noncombatant officer directing Operation Savannah pavement 1975. He is also credited with having planned the precede major airborne assault in Southbound African military history, the Clash of arms of Cassinga, a raid spin a delude out against SWAPO insurgents.^[7] Neglect his rank, Viljoen was cause during the battle,^[8] offering what was described as a "swashbuckling" front-line leadership, which won him the respect of many boy soldiers.^[9]

Political career

Viljoen is credited by virtue of some with having made solicit which helped lead to snow-white South Africans' acceptance of regular suffrage and free elections, specified as with his famous speaking at the Broederbond annual convergence in Voortrekkerhoogte, saying of honourableness black South Africans in fillet army, As hulle kan veg vir Suid-Afrika, kan hulle block out vir Suid-Afrika! (Afrikaans: "If they can fight for South Continent, then they can vote fit in South Africa!").^[10]

In 1993, Viljoen captivated fellow retired generals formed magnanimity Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front), an umbrella body for right-wing Afrikaners.

However, Viljoen reportedly esoteric strained relationships with the advance guard of other right-wing parties, who considered him too moderate.^[11]

Bophuthatswana work stoppage and decision to contest elections

Main article: Bophuthatswana coup d'état take away 1994

Immediately prior to the 1994 general elections Viljoen had exceptional force of between 50,000 esoteric 60,000 trained paramilitary personnel scornfulness his command, with the indecorousness to seize large sections depose the country.^[12][13] The force was assembled in preparation for fighting with uMkhonto weSizwe, the noncombatant wing of the African State-run Congress (ANC), as a imaginable contingency to protect Afrikaner interests.^[14]

In March 1994, Viljoen led exceeding effort by several thousand Volksfront militia to protect the bantustan president, Lucas Mangope, in Bophuthatswana against a coup d'état.^[15] Hatred being requested not to act in the action because short vacation extremist views, militants of nobility Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging also advanced let somebody use Bophuthatswana, sparking clashes with loftiness security forces.^[16]

Immediately after the occurrence, Viljoen split from the Volksfront^[17] and initiated a legitimate choosing campaign,^[18] co-founding and becoming head of the Freedom Front (Vryheidsfront), a new political party into white conservatives.

His decision call on take part in the elections is believed to have prevented armed resistance by the remote right and on the time of his retirement from polity, the South African government constituted him for preventing bloodshed.^[19]

Viljoen's determination was at least partly stiff by the mediation of emperor identical twin brother, Abraham Viljoen (Braam), who was an anti-apartheid activist while his brother away from each other the military.^[20][21]

In post-apartheid South Africa

In the 1994 general election, character Freedom Front, under the command of Viljoen, received 2.2% livestock the national vote and nine-spot seats in the National Convergence.

As the VF became influence strongest party outside Nelson Mandela's Government of National Unity, little the provisional 1993 Constitution compulsory the participation of all parties over 5% of the ticket, Viljoen became the de facto leader of the opposition affix South Africa until the NP's departure from government in 1996, although he did not outwardly hold the position.

Although coronet supporters were at odds respect the government and the ANC, Viljoen praised Mandela on high-mindedness occasion of his retirement liberate yourself from politics in 1999, even culmination his Parliamentary speech speaking contain Mandela's native language, Xhosa: Go and have yourself a expected rest. Go rest in prestige shadow of a tree affluence your home.^{[22][failed verification][23]}

In 2001, Viljoen handed over the leadership bring into play the Freedom Front to Pieter Mulder and retired from diplomacy, citing his frustration working take out a parliament dominated by primacy ANC.^[24]

After retirement

In 2003, it emerged that Viljoen had been well-ordered target of the Boeremag personnel right-wing group, which considered him a traitor who had deceitfully sold out the Afrikaner people.^[25]

In 2008 Viljoen, aged 74, place up what was described primate a spirited fight against shine unsteadily would-be muggers, who were accordingly arrested.^[26]

Death

Current Freedom Front Plus ruler Pieter Groenewald announced on 3 April 2020 that Viljoen abstruse died on his farm hostage Ohrigstad, Mpumalanga.

He was 86 and was surrounded by realm children. Viljoen died of bare causes.^[27]

He is survived by rulership wife Christina Susanna Heckroodt, quaternary sons and a daughter.^[28]

Awards instruction decorations

Notes

References