Pomfret, South Africa
Encyclopedia
Pomfret is a desert town, the site of an old asbestos
mine, on the edge of the Kalahari desert
in northwest South Africa
. It is the administrative centre of Molopo Local Municipality
. Many of its inhabitants are former members of 32 Battalion
, also known as Buffalo Battalion. These soldiers were predominantly portuguese speaking Angola
ns who decided to fight on the South African government side in Angola
and Namibia
, and after the end of the South African Border War
to police the black
township
s.
In 2004, Zimbabwe
jailed over 60 mercenaries from Pomfret for one year for suspected involvement in a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea
. Those jailed were poor ex-soldiers and the jailing left their kin grieving.
A new South African law has been passed to bar mercenaries, but some fear that new restrictions could prevent access for people to legitimate security-related work in areas of conflict.
in the subsoil was the major reason for the creation of the town. Asbestos was mined and used in the motor industry for the making of brake pads, roofing, and water pipes. The mine is now closed, and is a tourist attraction.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
mine, on the edge of the Kalahari desert
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
in northwest South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is the administrative centre of Molopo Local Municipality
Molopo Local Municipality
Molopo Local Municipality was a local municipality in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, North West Province, South Africa, until the election of 18 May 2011, when it was merged with the Kagisano Local Municipality to form the Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality....
. Many of its inhabitants are former members of 32 Battalion
South African 32 Battalion
32 Battalion was a special light infantry battalion of the South African Army, composed of black and white commissioned and enlisted personnel...
, also known as Buffalo Battalion. These soldiers were predominantly portuguese speaking 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...
ns who decided to fight on the South African government side 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...
and Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, and after the end of the South African Border War
South African Border War
The South African Border War, commonly referred to as the Angolan Bush War in South Africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa and Angola between South Africa and its allied forces on the one side and the Angolan government, South-West Africa People's...
to police the black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
s.
Present day
Today the town is described as depressing by those who visit. Injured veterans of war live in squalid circumstances.In 2004, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
jailed over 60 mercenaries from Pomfret for one year for suspected involvement in a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
. Those jailed were poor ex-soldiers and the jailing left their kin grieving.
A new South African law has been passed to bar mercenaries, but some fear that new restrictions could prevent access for people to legitimate security-related work in areas of conflict.
Asbestos mine in Pomfret
The presence of asbestosAsbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
in the subsoil was the major reason for the creation of the town. Asbestos was mined and used in the motor industry for the making of brake pads, roofing, and water pipes. The mine is now closed, and is a tourist attraction.
People aiding Pomfret
- 32 Battalion Veteran Association
- Pomfret Christian Support Group **Off line**
- Emmanuel Christian Orphanages **Off line**
External links
- Pomfret on BBC (1)
- Pomfret on BBC (2)
- abc.net news report
- Pomfret Asbestos mine
- Dogs of War Go Home
- Photos from Earth Science
- Pomfret-related documentary on YouTube "South Africa - The Buffalo Soldiers", Journeyman PicturesJourneyman PicturesJourneyman Pictures is an English independent distributor of topical news features, documentaries and footage. The company publishes "The Journeyman Weekly" and has an archive of over 3,000 films...
- Pomfret-related documentary on YouTube "Mercenary Town - South Africa", Journeyman Pictures
