Constand Viljoen
Encyclopedia
General Constand Viljoen SSA SD SOE SM (born on October 28, 1933, Krugersdorp) is a former South African military commander and politician. He is partly credited with preventing the outbreak of armed violence by disaffected Afrikaners prior to the 1994 elections
.
Portrait of Constant Viljoen. Digital image. Web.
in 1956. In 1974 he was made the Director General of Operations at the army headquarters and he subsequently became Principal Staff Officer to the chief of the defence force. In 1977 he became Chief of the Army and in 1980 the Chief of the overall Defence Force.
He was the senior officer in the campaign in Angola
in 1975-1976.
Viljoen planned the Battle of Cassinga
, the first major airborne assault by South African forces. Although he was at the time Chief of the Army, he was present at the scene of battle,
typical of what has been described as a swashbuckling front-line leadership style that made him revered among whites.
s' self-examination that lead to their acceptance of universal suffrage and free elections, with his famous speech at the Broederbond annual assembly in Voortrekkerhoogte, saying of the black South Africans in his army - As hulle kan veg vir Suid-Afrika, kan hulle stem vir Suid-Afrika! ("If they can fight for South Africa, then they can vote for South Africa!").
In 1993 Viljoen and fellow retired generals formed the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front), an umbrella body for right-wing groups. However, Viljoen reportedly had strained relationships with the leaders of other right-wing parties.
The force was assembled in preparation for war with Umkhonto we Sizwe
, the military wing of the ANC, as a last-ditch move to protect Afrikaner interests.
In March 1994 Viljoen led an effort by several thousand white militia to protect the government of Lucas Mangope
in the bantustan
of Bophuthatswana
against a popular uprising.
Despite being asked not to participate in the action because of their racist views, members of the Afrikaner Resistance Movement also moved into Bophuthatswana, sparking clashes with the security forces the white militia were supposed to support.
Immediately after the incident Viljoen split off from the Volksfront
and started an election campaign,
co-founding and becoming leader of the Freedom Front, a political party representing conservative Afrikaner
interests. His decision to take part in the elections are believed to have prevented a violent uprising by Afrikaners and on the occasion of his retirement from politics the ANC government thanked him for preventing bloodshed.
Viljoen's decision was at least partially influenced by the mediation of his identical twin brother, Abraham (Braam) Viljoen, who was an anti-apartheid activist while his brother led the military.
Although his party was at odds with the ANC government over the unfulfilled desire of parts of the Afrikaners for a separate state (Volkstaat
), Viljoen praised Nelson Mandela on the occasion of his retreat from politics in 1999, even ending his Parliamentary speech with an attempt at speaking in Mandela's native language, Xhosa. Translated, he said: Go rest in peace. Go rest in the shadow of a tree at your home.
In 2001 Viljoen handed over the leadership of the Freedom Front to Pieter Mulder
and retired from politics, saying he had grown frustrated working in a parliament dominated by the ANC.
paramilitary right-wing group, which considered him a traitor who had underhandedly sold out the Afrikaner people.
In 2008 Viljoen, aged 74, put up what was described as a spirited fight against two would-be muggers, who were subsequently arrested.
South African general election, 1994
The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
.
Portrait of Constant Viljoen. Digital image. Web.
Military service
Viljoen received a degree in military science in 1955 and joined the South African ArmySouth African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
in 1956. In 1974 he was made the Director General of Operations at the army headquarters and he subsequently became Principal Staff Officer to the chief of the defence force. In 1977 he became Chief of the Army and in 1980 the Chief of the overall Defence Force.
He was the senior officer in the campaign in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
in 1975-1976.
Viljoen planned the Battle of Cassinga
Battle of Cassinga
The Battle of Cassinga, Cassinga Raid or Kassinga Massacre was a controversial South African airborne attack on a South West Africa People's Organization refugee camp and military base at the former town of Cassinga, Angola on 4 May 1978...
, the first major airborne assault by South African forces. Although he was at the time Chief of the Army, he was present at the scene of battle,
typical of what has been described as a swashbuckling front-line leadership style that made him revered among whites.
Political career
Viljoen is credited by some with kick-starting the AfrikanerAfrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
s' self-examination that lead to their acceptance of universal suffrage and free elections, with his famous speech at the Broederbond annual assembly in Voortrekkerhoogte, saying of the black South Africans in his army - As hulle kan veg vir Suid-Afrika, kan hulle stem vir Suid-Afrika! ("If they can fight for South Africa, then they can vote for South Africa!").
In 1993 Viljoen and fellow retired generals formed the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front), an umbrella body for right-wing groups. However, Viljoen reportedly had strained relationships with the leaders of other right-wing parties.
Bophuthatswana action and decision to contest elections
Immediately prior to the 1994 elections Viljoen had a force of between 50 000 and 60 000 trained military personnel at his command, with the ability to take over large parts of the country.The force was assembled in preparation for war with Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe , translated "Spear of the Nation," was the armed wing of the African National Congress which fought against the South African apartheid government. MK launched its first guerrilla attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961...
, the military wing of the ANC, as a last-ditch move to protect Afrikaner interests.
In March 1994 Viljoen led an effort by several thousand white militia to protect the government of Lucas Mangope
Lucas Mangope
Kgosi Lucas Manyane Mangope is the former leader of the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana and current leader of the United Christian Democratic Party, a minor political party based in the North West province of South Africa....
in the bantustan
Bantustan
A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...
of Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana , officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana was a Bantustan – an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity – and nominal parliamentary democracy in the northwestern region of South Africa...
against a popular uprising.
Despite being asked not to participate in the action because of their racist views, members of the Afrikaner Resistance Movement also moved into Bophuthatswana, sparking clashes with the security forces the white militia were supposed to support.
Immediately after the incident Viljoen split off from the Volksfront
and started an election campaign,
co-founding and becoming leader of the Freedom Front, a political party representing conservative Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
interests. His decision to take part in the elections are believed to have prevented a violent uprising by Afrikaners and on the occasion of his retirement from politics the ANC government thanked him for preventing bloodshed.
Viljoen's decision was at least partially influenced by the mediation of his identical twin brother, Abraham (Braam) Viljoen, who was an anti-apartheid activist while his brother led the military.
Although his party was at odds with the ANC government over the unfulfilled desire of parts of the Afrikaners for a separate state (Volkstaat
Volkstaat
Volkstaat is a proposal for the establishment of self determination for the Boer and Afrikaners minority in South Africa according to federal principles, alluding to full independence in the form of a homeland for Boer and Afrikaners....
), Viljoen praised Nelson Mandela on the occasion of his retreat from politics in 1999, even ending his Parliamentary speech with an attempt at speaking in Mandela's native language, Xhosa. Translated, he said: Go rest in peace. Go rest in the shadow of a tree at your home.
In 2001 Viljoen handed over the leadership of the Freedom Front to Pieter Mulder
Pieter Mulder
Dr Pieter Mulder is a South African politician and the leader of the Freedom Front Plus. He has been the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the cabinet of President Jacob Zuma since May 2009....
and retired from politics, saying he had grown frustrated working in a parliament dominated by the ANC.
Post retirement
In 2003 it emerged that Viljoen had been a target of the BoeremagBoeremag
The Boeremag is a South African right-wing activism group with white separatist aims and is accused of planning to overthrow the ruling African National Congress government and to reinstate a new Boer administered republic reminiscent of the era when Boers administered independent republics...
paramilitary right-wing group, which considered him a traitor who had underhandedly sold out the Afrikaner people.
In 2008 Viljoen, aged 74, put up what was described as a spirited fight against two would-be muggers, who were subsequently arrested.
See also
- List of South African military chiefs
- South African ArmySouth African ArmyThe South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...