- Hardcover: 600 pages
- Publisher: Galago Publishing Pty Ltd (1 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1919854010
- ISBN-13: 978-1919854014
- Product Dimensions: 24.6 x 17.4 x 4.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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789,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #93 in Books > History > Countries & Regions > Africa > 20th Century
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Product Description
This wide ranging title deals with everything you didn't know about the total onslaught of the last years of the apartheid era. It tells of assassinations inside and outside of South Africa sanctioned by the State Security Council. It deals with the ruthless killings of friend and foe alike. It deals with the untold story of how South Africa nearly toppled over the brink into civil war in April 1994, and much more. "Warfare By Other Means" is not an apologia - it is a history, much of it oral and straight from the mouths of those involved. It tells of the actions of the SADF, performed within South Africa with the authority of the National Party Government through the State Security Council, during the "total onslaught" years. It tells how it joined a disastrous attempt by Colonel Mike Hoare's mercenaries to overthrow the Renee regime in the Seychelles because it was "an anti-communist coup going begging" and "it was a shame to waste it". How it secretly paid millions of rands in ransom to secure the release of captured mercenaries who had been sentenced to death. How it deliberately foiled future coups attempts because, to the envy of the CIA and MI6 and the chagrin of the Soviets, it had amazingly managed to take over the Seychelles intelligence services through an SADF front company, Longreach. Having failed to convert General Holomisa's Transkei into its Eastern Cape bastion, it turned next to the Ciskei. How it seized the opportunity to introduce a front company IR-CIS to take over its intelligence functions when Brigadier "Oupa" Gqozo overthrew President Lennox Sebe in a coup. How IR-CIS played a pivotal role in several violent attempts to overthrow General Holomisa in Transkei. How it inveigled the discharge of all the black senior officers in the Ciskei Defence Force on trumped up charges of disloyalty. How it organised their replacement with white serving SADF officers. It explains the roles played by surrogates like the Witdoekes in the Cape Flats, the Ama-Afrika in the Eastern Cape, the Iliso Lomzi in Transkei, the African Democratic Movement in Ciskei, Inkhata in KwaZulu-Natal and more, in combatting the "total onslaught". It tells of a great variety of Military Intelligence front organisations. Dynamic Teaching CC was used to inculcate blacks with an anti-communist attitude and to portray the ANC and its associates as the anti-Christ. "Veterans for Victory" was formed to infiltrate and "destroy" the End Conscription Campaign seen as a serious threat to the SADF. Right-wing churches were cultivated and covertly funded when it suited the SADF's purpose. It tells how Project Barnacle, an adjunct to Special Forces, destroyed the strike jets of the Air Force of Zimbabwe. How it assassinated perceived enemies of the State. It deals with the establishment of the infamous Project Coast as a biological/chemical warfare unit. It tells how the Civil Cooperation Bureau (CCB) succeeded Project Barnacle. How personnel of both used Project Coast's toxins to ruthlessly poison prisoners and even its own black operators if they were suspected of disloyalty. How they disposed of the bodies by dumping them from an aircraft out at sea. It deals with a swathe of assassinations, destruction and mayhem committed at home and abroad. How anthrax letters were mailed to enemies of the State. It explains how the CCB itself was uncovered after the media began to explore the drive-by shootings of Dr. David Webster in South Africa and Advocate Anton Lubowski in Namibia. It details the murderous subversive activities of a diversity of right-wing organisations, like Eugene Terre'blance's AWB and General Constand Viljoen's Afrikaner Volksfront, who with the probable early backing of the SADF, almost toppled South Africa over the brink into Civil War before the first democratic election in April 1994.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The second book in Peter Stiffs trilogy about South Africa's covert wars is perhaps the most controversial. It covers a large variety of material and operations spanning the period 1977 to 1994. Some of the material came to light during the Truth and Reconciliation hearings but much more of it comes from Mr. Stiff's own digging and interviews. This is harrowing stuff including many lethal injections of captured guerillas who could not be turned into double agents and numerous assassinations and murders of others.
While Stiff's other writing has focused on special forces this focuses on the role of undercover agents, government support of coup attempts, the policy of supporting the homelands and their rulers, the recruitment of anti-ANC local activists in those homelands and the dismantling of the ANC during the period of `Total onslaught'. Some of the most harrowing and diabolical material involves Operation Barnacle in which captured SWAPO guerillas were drugged, killed and thrown out of airplanes. The story of the 1989 attempt to place a baboon foetus outside Desmond Tutu's house borders on the ludicrous or something from Hollywood.
Peter Stiff is at his best describing the conversations and minute by minute details of operations, some that went wrong and some that didn't, as in one case where an injection that was supposed to prove fatal had no affect and the operator had to strangle the victim instead. Maps, drawing and pictures adorn the material so the reader is never lost and is always on the edge of his seat waiting for more. Each story is self contained to some extent and although the cast of character is immense, many of them can be read by themselves so the reader is not forced to absorb a gargantuan amount of material without enjoying and savoring each chapter. What is most interesting is to see the number of times that Recce and other SADF officers refused to cooperate with the less than legal methods of the CCB and others, saying they preferred to fight an enemy that shoots back, not inject people with poison in the back of vans and then blow them up.
This book is not merely about the skullduggery of the Apartheid Nationalist government, it is also about the very real and horrendous activities of MK terrorists, such as the bomb attack carried out under operation Vula.
The book is essential reading historically because it reveals a great amount of material about the ongoings in Ciskei, Transkei and KwaZulu, including figures such as General Holomisa and Oupa Gqozo and George Matansima. The story of the AWB and Eugene Terre Blanche is told in full as is the story of the `white terrorist' Dries Kriel. Stiff has done it again with this masterful, wonderful to read, account of South Africa. Another must read for anyone interested in the period.
Seth J. Frantzman
While Stiff's other writing has focused on special forces this focuses on the role of undercover agents, government support of coup attempts, the policy of supporting the homelands and their rulers, the recruitment of anti-ANC local activists in those homelands and the dismantling of the ANC during the period of `Total onslaught'. Some of the most harrowing and diabolical material involves Operation Barnacle in which captured SWAPO guerillas were drugged, killed and thrown out of airplanes. The story of the 1989 attempt to place a baboon foetus outside Desmond Tutu's house borders on the ludicrous or something from Hollywood.
Peter Stiff is at his best describing the conversations and minute by minute details of operations, some that went wrong and some that didn't, as in one case where an injection that was supposed to prove fatal had no affect and the operator had to strangle the victim instead. Maps, drawing and pictures adorn the material so the reader is never lost and is always on the edge of his seat waiting for more. Each story is self contained to some extent and although the cast of character is immense, many of them can be read by themselves so the reader is not forced to absorb a gargantuan amount of material without enjoying and savoring each chapter. What is most interesting is to see the number of times that Recce and other SADF officers refused to cooperate with the less than legal methods of the CCB and others, saying they preferred to fight an enemy that shoots back, not inject people with poison in the back of vans and then blow them up.
This book is not merely about the skullduggery of the Apartheid Nationalist government, it is also about the very real and horrendous activities of MK terrorists, such as the bomb attack carried out under operation Vula.
The book is essential reading historically because it reveals a great amount of material about the ongoings in Ciskei, Transkei and KwaZulu, including figures such as General Holomisa and Oupa Gqozo and George Matansima. The story of the AWB and Eugene Terre Blanche is told in full as is the story of the `white terrorist' Dries Kriel. Stiff has done it again with this masterful, wonderful to read, account of South Africa. Another must read for anyone interested in the period.
Seth J. Frantzman
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A wonderful account
29 April 2008
Format:Hardcover
The second book in Peter Stiffs trilogy (The Covert WarThe Silent War) about South Africa's covert wars is perhaps the most controversial. It covers a large variety of material and operations spanning the period 1977 to 1994. Some of the material came to light during the Truth and Reconciliation hearings but much more of it comes from Mr. Stiff's own digging and interviews. This is harrowing stuff including many lethal injections of captured guerillas who could not be turned into double agents and numerous assassinations and murders of others.
While Stiff's other writing has focused on special forces this focuses on the role of undercover agents, government support of coup attempts, the policy of supporting the homelands and their rulers, the recruitment of anti-ANC local activists in those homelands and the dismantling of the ANC during the period of `Total onslaught'. Some of the most harrowing and diabolical material involves Operation Barnacle in which captured SWAPO guerillas were drugged, killed and thrown out of airplanes. The story of the 1989 attempt to place a baboon foetus outside Desmond Tutu's house borders on the ludicrous or something from Hollywood.
Peter Stiff is at his best describing the conversations and minute by minute details of operations, some that went wrong and some that didn't, as in one case where an injection that was supposed to prove fatal had no affect and the operator had to strangle the victim instead. Maps, drawing and pictures adorn the material so the reader is never lost and is always on the edge of his seat waiting for more. Each story is self contained to some extent and although the cast of character is immense, many of them can be read by themselves so the reader is not forced to absorb a gargantuan amount of material without enjoying and savoring each chapter. What is most interesting is to see the number of times that Recce and other SADF officers refused to cooperate with the less than legal methods of the CCB and others, saying they preferred to fight an enemy that shoots back, not inject people with poison in the back of vans and then blow them up.
This book is not merely about the skullduggery of the Apartheid Nationalist government, it is also about the very real and horrendous activities of MK terrorists, such as the bomb attack carried out under operation Vula.
The book is essential reading historically because it reveals a great amount of material about the ongoings in Ciskei, Transkei and KwaZulu, including figures such as General Holomisa and Oupa Gqozo and George Matansima. The story of the AWB and Eugene Terre Blanche is told in full as is the story of the `white terrorist' Dries Kriel. Stiff has done it again with this masterful, wonderful to read, account of South Africa. Another must read for anyone interested in the period.
Seth J. Frantzman
While Stiff's other writing has focused on special forces this focuses on the role of undercover agents, government support of coup attempts, the policy of supporting the homelands and their rulers, the recruitment of anti-ANC local activists in those homelands and the dismantling of the ANC during the period of `Total onslaught'. Some of the most harrowing and diabolical material involves Operation Barnacle in which captured SWAPO guerillas were drugged, killed and thrown out of airplanes. The story of the 1989 attempt to place a baboon foetus outside Desmond Tutu's house borders on the ludicrous or something from Hollywood.
Peter Stiff is at his best describing the conversations and minute by minute details of operations, some that went wrong and some that didn't, as in one case where an injection that was supposed to prove fatal had no affect and the operator had to strangle the victim instead. Maps, drawing and pictures adorn the material so the reader is never lost and is always on the edge of his seat waiting for more. Each story is self contained to some extent and although the cast of character is immense, many of them can be read by themselves so the reader is not forced to absorb a gargantuan amount of material without enjoying and savoring each chapter. What is most interesting is to see the number of times that Recce and other SADF officers refused to cooperate with the less than legal methods of the CCB and others, saying they preferred to fight an enemy that shoots back, not inject people with poison in the back of vans and then blow them up.
This book is not merely about the skullduggery of the Apartheid Nationalist government, it is also about the very real and horrendous activities of MK terrorists, such as the bomb attack carried out under operation Vula.
The book is essential reading historically because it reveals a great amount of material about the ongoings in Ciskei, Transkei and KwaZulu, including figures such as General Holomisa and Oupa Gqozo and George Matansima. The story of the AWB and Eugene Terre Blanche is told in full as is the story of the `white terrorist' Dries Kriel. Stiff has done it again with this masterful, wonderful to read, account of South Africa. Another must read for anyone interested in the period.
Seth J. Frantzman
A look at South African espionage actions in the last decade and a half of Apartheid
4 Mar 2012
Format:Hardcover
Warfare By Other Means
Peter Stiff's second installment of his South Africa at War series takes a look at the various covert efforts to undermine and destroy the various liberation movements, and other forces at work in South Africa in the 1980's and 1990's. The book covers a bevy of topics from the Seychelles coup perpetrated by Mike Hoare, the attempts to undermine the End Conscription Campaign and bolster movements such as Veterans for Victory, Inkatha, and the AWB, as well as the operations of the Civil Cooperation Bureau, Project Coast, D40/Operation Barnacle, Vlakplaas Section C1/C10.
First the bad points. Of note is the fact that the book could have used some more editing for minor spelling and some continuity issues. These issues are not enough to majorly spoil the book, but they do cause the reader to do some page flipping at times to remind themselves of some point made by Stiff earlier. Secondly, the book spends a bit too much time on certain topics like the Seychelles coup and not enough on things like Project Coast or Vlakplaas. The Seychelles affair in particular seems a bit out of place as it was tertiary importance really to what was happening in South Africa at the time. Conversely, the coverage of the CCB and its missteps is comprehensive, and the information on D40 is a good supplement to the excellent coverage done in Cry Zimbabwe.
The book also covers the machinations of SADF MI, NIS, and others in Transkei, Ciskei, and other homelands, which again, does drag a bit due to the amount of coverage attended to it. Luckily the information is largely worthwhile and interesting to read.
What Stiff really excels at is pointing out how many senior leadership had to have had knowledge of various covert projects that they later denied up and down to have known about at the TRC. Similarly it casts other famous figures (such as LTC Ron Reid-Daly, though this may have something to do with his business dealings with Stiff) in a less than favorable light.
Overall, the book is good, but a bit long, even for someone like myself who enjoys the details of such topics. It has the usual excellent illustrations present in Galago books, and no fault can be found there. Furthermore, the book covers in a convincing fashion (and by no means in a fictional manner I think as suggested by others) a very under-covered subject. This lack of a mountain of good information, might have led somewhat to the fractional nature of the book at times, but again, by no means is it a bad read. Recommended for those interested in the topic, though not without its faults either.
Peter Stiff's second installment of his South Africa at War series takes a look at the various covert efforts to undermine and destroy the various liberation movements, and other forces at work in South Africa in the 1980's and 1990's. The book covers a bevy of topics from the Seychelles coup perpetrated by Mike Hoare, the attempts to undermine the End Conscription Campaign and bolster movements such as Veterans for Victory, Inkatha, and the AWB, as well as the operations of the Civil Cooperation Bureau, Project Coast, D40/Operation Barnacle, Vlakplaas Section C1/C10.
First the bad points. Of note is the fact that the book could have used some more editing for minor spelling and some continuity issues. These issues are not enough to majorly spoil the book, but they do cause the reader to do some page flipping at times to remind themselves of some point made by Stiff earlier. Secondly, the book spends a bit too much time on certain topics like the Seychelles coup and not enough on things like Project Coast or Vlakplaas. The Seychelles affair in particular seems a bit out of place as it was tertiary importance really to what was happening in South Africa at the time. Conversely, the coverage of the CCB and its missteps is comprehensive, and the information on D40 is a good supplement to the excellent coverage done in Cry Zimbabwe.
The book also covers the machinations of SADF MI, NIS, and others in Transkei, Ciskei, and other homelands, which again, does drag a bit due to the amount of coverage attended to it. Luckily the information is largely worthwhile and interesting to read.
What Stiff really excels at is pointing out how many senior leadership had to have had knowledge of various covert projects that they later denied up and down to have known about at the TRC. Similarly it casts other famous figures (such as LTC Ron Reid-Daly, though this may have something to do with his business dealings with Stiff) in a less than favorable light.
Overall, the book is good, but a bit long, even for someone like myself who enjoys the details of such topics. It has the usual excellent illustrations present in Galago books, and no fault can be found there. Furthermore, the book covers in a convincing fashion (and by no means in a fictional manner I think as suggested by others) a very under-covered subject. This lack of a mountain of good information, might have led somewhat to the fractional nature of the book at times, but again, by no means is it a bad read. Recommended for those interested in the topic, though not without its faults either.
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Contains gripping fiction
18 May 2008
Format:Hardcover
Peter Stiff is a gripping writer but sadly with this book he has descended into the realms of gutter journalism.
His account of Operation Direksie, which appears on pages 353 to 367 describes an operation which was launched to try to rescue former Rhodesian SAS operators, and persons from related organisations, from Chikurubi prison in Zimbabwe in 1988. This account has been shown to be outrageously defamatory to the highly experienced and skilled special forces operators involved. Essentially a true story has been embellished to make it seem that the operators were bungling drunken idiots.
The story would have been gripping enough if the writer had just stuck to the facts. To sink to such depths in a supposed history book is shocking.
His account of Operation Direksie, which appears on pages 353 to 367 describes an operation which was launched to try to rescue former Rhodesian SAS operators, and persons from related organisations, from Chikurubi prison in Zimbabwe in 1988. This account has been shown to be outrageously defamatory to the highly experienced and skilled special forces operators involved. Essentially a true story has been embellished to make it seem that the operators were bungling drunken idiots.
The story would have been gripping enough if the writer had just stuck to the facts. To sink to such depths in a supposed history book is shocking.
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