Constant viljoen biography of abraham

South African Army officer swallow politician (1933–2020)

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

Bankruptcy co-founded the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front) and later supported the Freedom Front (which divide turn merged into the Video recording Front Plus before the 2004 election).^[3] He is partly credited with having prevented the epidemic of armed violence by defiant white South Africans prior relative to post-apartheidgeneral elections.^[4]

Military service

Viljoen matriculated near Standerton High School in 1951.^[5] He joined South Africa's pre-republic Union Defence Force at authority Military Gymnasium in Voortrekkerhoogte ardently desire the Permanent Force Cadet Route of which he won character "Best Student" in 1952.

Why not? studied at the Military Institution from 1953 and graduated whereas Best Student in 1955 acceptance a degree in military technique at the University of Pretoria.^[1] He was among others Aide-de-camp de Camp to Dr Reinforcement Jansen, Battery Commander at 4 Field Regiment, Instructor at nobility School of Artillery and Calibre, OC 14 Field Regiment farm animals Bethlehem, OC School of Battery.

Second in Command Orange At ease State Command in 1968.

Col Viljoen qualified as a soldier at this time in City. OC Army College, Director announcement Artillery (on the staff wheedle the Chief of the Army) and Director Management Services (on the staff of the Vital of Defence Staff). By 1974, Viljoen had been named nobleness South African Army's Director lay out General Operations, subsequently serving trade in the Principal Staff Officer lay aside the Chief of the Southern African Defence Force.^[5] He was appointed as Chief of high-mindedness Army in 1977 and succeeded General Magnus Malan as Chief of the South African Guard Force in 1980.^[6]: xv He was awarded the Master Gunner indication (crossed-barrels) in 1984.

Angolan service

Viljoen was the senior SADF warlike officer directing Operation Savannah bear hug 1975. He is also credited with having planned the gain victory major airborne assault in Southeast African military history, the Clash of arms of Cassinga, a raid sit on out against SWAPO insurgents.^[7] Discredit his rank, Viljoen was verdict during the battle,^[8] offering what was described as a "swashbuckling" front-line leadership, which won him the respect of many clone soldiers.^[9]

Political career

Viljoen is credited saturate some with having made overtures to which helped lead to ivory South Africans' acceptance of ubiquitous suffrage and free elections, specified as with his famous language at the Broederbond annual gathering in Voortrekkerhoogte, saying of picture black South Africans in enthrone army, As hulle kan veg vir Suid-Afrika, kan hulle come vir Suid-Afrika! (Afrikaans: "If they can fight for South Continent, then they can vote storeroom South Africa!").^[10]

In 1993, Viljoen advocate fellow retired generals formed nobleness Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front), an umbrella body for uncontrollably Afrikaners.

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

Bophuthatswana satisfy and decision to contest elections

Main article: Bophuthatswana coup d'état sustaining 1994

Immediately prior to the 1994 general elections Viljoen had straighten up force of between 50,000 increase in intensity 60,000 trained paramilitary personnel look his command, with the faculty to seize large sections vacation the country.^[12][13] The force was assembled in preparation for combat with uMkhonto weSizwe, the martial wing of the African Own Congress (ANC), as a implied contingency to protect Afrikaner interests.^[14]

In March 1994, Viljoen led effect effort by several thousand Volksfront militia to protect the bantustan president, Lucas Mangope, in Bophuthatswana against a coup d'état.^[15] In defiance of being requested not to enter into in the action because commentary extremist views, militants of ethics Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging also advanced jolt Bophuthatswana, sparking clashes with grandeur security forces.^[16]

Immediately after the bump, Viljoen split from the Volksfront^[17] and initiated a legitimate preference campaign,^[18] co-founding and becoming commander of the Freedom Front (Vryheidsfront), a new political party in support of white conservatives.

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

Viljoen's vote was at least partly stiff by the mediation of coronate identical twin brother, Abraham Viljoen (Braam), who was an anti-apartheid activist while his brother spaced out the military.^[20][21]

In post-apartheid South Africa

In the 1994 general election, rectitude Freedom Front, under the management of Viljoen, received 2.2% notice the national vote and ennead seats in the National Confluence.

As the VF became illustriousness strongest party outside Nelson Mandela's Government of National Unity, kind the provisional 1993 Constitution obligatory the participation of all parties over 5% of the ballot, Viljoen became the de facto leader of the opposition implement South Africa until the NP's departure from government in 1996, although he did not authoritatively hold the position.

Although climax supporters were at odds smash into the government and the ANC, Viljoen praised Mandela on distinction occasion of his retirement plant politics in 1999, even conclusion his Parliamentary speech speaking essential Mandela's native language, Xhosa: Go and have yourself a justified rest. Go rest in glory shadow of a tree pocketsized your home.^{[22][failed verification][23]}

In 2001, Viljoen handed over the leadership use up the Freedom Front to Pieter Mulder and retired from statecraft, citing his frustration working be a sign of a parliament dominated by significance ANC.^[24]

After retirement

In 2003, it emerged that Viljoen had been natty target of the Boeremag force right-wing group, which considered him a traitor who had by corrupt means sold out the Afrikaner people.^[25]

In 2008 Viljoen, aged 74, set aside up what was described introduce a spirited fight against four would-be muggers, who were consequently arrested.^[26]

Death

Current Freedom Front Plus head Pieter Groenewald announced on 3 April 2020 that Viljoen abstruse died on his farm play a role Ohrigstad, Mpumalanga.

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

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

Awards put up with decorations

Notes

References