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{{Short description|1991 violent incident in Ventersdorp, South Africa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=MayOctober 20112020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Ventersdorp
| partof =[[End ofthe aparthied|Negotiations[[negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa]]
| date = 9 August 1991▼
|image=[[File:AWB Rally, Church Square, Pretoria.jpg|300px]]▼
| place = {{flagdeco|South Africa|1982}} [[Ventersdorp]], [[Transvaal (province)|Transvaal]], South Africa
|caption=AWB Rally, Church Square, Pretoria in 1990.
| territory = ▼
▲|date=9 August 1991
| result = South African government victory
|place=[[Ventersdorp]]
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|AfrikanerFlag Weerstandsbewegingof flagthe Afrikaner-Weerstandsbeweging.svg}} [[Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging|AWB]]▼
|casus=
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the South Africa|1928African Police.svg}} [[South African Police]]▼
▲|territory=
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|AfrikanerFlag Weerstandsbewegingof flagthe Afrikaner-Weerstandsbeweging.svg}} [[Eugène Terre'Blanche]]▼
|result=Indecisive
| commander2 = {{flagiconflagdeco|South Africa|19281982}} [[Hernus Kriel]]▼
▲|combatant1={{flagicon image|Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging flag.svg}} [[Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging|AWB]]
| strength1 = 2,000▼
▲|combatant2={{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South African Police]]
| strength2 = Unknown▼
▲|commander1={{flagicon image|Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging flag.svg}} [[Eugène Terre'Blanche]]
| casualties1 = 3 deadkilled<br>13 injuredwounded▼
▲|commander2={{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[Hernus Kriel]]
| casualties2 = 6 wounded
▲|strength1=2,000
| casualties3 = 1 civilian killed, 29 civilians wounded
▲|strength2=Unknown
| casus =
▲|casualties1=3 dead<br>13 injured
|casualties2=6 policemen injured<br/>29 civilians injured<br/>One passer-by killed
}}
 
The '''Battle of Ventersdorp''' on 9 August 1991 was a violent confrontation on 9 August 1991 in the [[South AfricanAfrica]]n town of [[Ventersdorp]] between right wing supporters of the far-right [[Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging]] (AWB) and the [[South African Police]] and security forces. Though technically not a "[[battle]]", it became known as such in the media while official sources such as the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] (TRC) simply refer to it as an "incident". Much of its notoriety lies in the fact that it wasmarked the first time inoccasion the 43South yearsAfrican ofsecurity forces used lethal force against right-wing white protesters since the [[apartheidNational Party (South Africa)|National Party]]'s thatascension policeto officerspower killedin white protesters1948.
 
==Background==
▲|image=[[File:AWB Rally, Church Square, Pretoria.jpg|300pxthumb|AWB Rally, Church Square, Pretoria in 1990.]]
 
The confrontation took place outside the Ventersdorp town hall where then [[State President of South Africa|State President]] [[Frederik Willem de Klerk|F.W. de Klerk]] was scheduled to speakhold a public address. AtVentersdorp thewas time,then a political stronghold of the right-wing resentment[[Afrikaner ofWeerstandsbeweging]] De(AWB), Klerkwhich washad runningopposed highde followingKlerk's hisdecision unbanningto ofrecognise the [[African National Congress]], releasingand release [[Nelson Mandela]] from prison the previous year. before,The andtown beginningwas negotiationsinundated toby endangry [[apartheid]].AWB Amidsupporters violentthe right wing rhetoric and talkday of [[Boer]] resistance, Dede Klerk's appearance in Ventersdorpspeech, aincluding right-wingsome strongholdcarrying andarms. home town of AWB leaderThe [[EugèneSouth African Terre'BlanchePolice]], becameresponded aby flashpoint.setting Theup AWBroadblocks calledand aconfiscating protestweapons. inTensions whichwere therunning townhigh wasbetween inundatedthe bypolice angry opponents of De Klerk, including armed paramilitary members ofand the AWB. Thedue supportersto hada showedprevious upincident fromon far11 andMay wide1991, evenwhen a group of angeredpolicemen Whitewounded Namibianfour farmersAWB joinedmilitants inattempting theto massdrive protest.black Weaponssquatters wereoff confiscateda atVentersdorp several police road- blocks near Ventersdorpfarm.
 
Three months before on 11 May 1991, white armed AWB supporters led by Terre'Blanche clashed with police at the Ventersdorp farm of Goedgevonden, while attempting to force black squatters off the farm. They managed to break police lines and destroy several structures when police opened fire wounding four of them. They then proceeded to the nearby black township of Tshing attacking more houses before calm was restored by the Minister of Law and Order, [[Adriaan Vlok]] and [[Conservative Party (South Africa)|Conservative Party]] deputy, [[Ferdi Hartzenberg]].
 
==Confrontation==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2007}}
The AWB supporters numbered 2,000.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dubow|first=Saul|title=Apartheid|publisher=OUP Oxford|year=2014|pages=271}}</ref> They were armed with hunting rifles and pistols and wore protective items to shield them from the effects of an inevitable tear gas attack by the riot police. The police equalled the AWB in number, but were considerably better trained and equipped.
 
Many unconventional tactics were employed by the AWB. They allegedly wore plaster of Paris on their limbs to protect them from police dogs. Video footage shows AWB members locking arms and carrying rags and vinegar to lessen the effects of tear gas.
 
Once the AWB cut the electricity and fired on the police, the police were ordered to shoot to kill. Three policemen were wounded, none of them fatally, while the police killed one AWB member. The AWB also fired into a police minibus. Two AWB members were killed and 13 were injured when the police returned fire from the minibus.
Terre'Blanche made a point of appearing in front on television cameras and said (in Afrikaans), "Where is De Klerk? I want to talk to him. He came here armed. Here lies a man on the ground and over there lies a man" (referring to injured policemen).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://insidestory.org.au/ventersdorp-and-the-future-of-afrikaner-radicalism/|title=Ventersdorp and the future of Afrikaner radicalism|work=Inside Story|date=15 April 2011 |accessdate=2024-02-06}}</ref>▼
 
In all, three AWB members and one passer-by were killed. Six policemen, 13 AWB members, and 29 civilians were injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/IncidentSummary.aspx?gtdid=199108090021|title=GTD ID:199108090021|work=Global Terrorism Database|accessdate=2023-07-12}}</ref>
▲Terre'Blanche made a point of appearing in front on television cameras and said (in Afrikaans), "Where is De Klerk? I want to talk to him. He came here armed. Here lies a man on the ground and over there lies a man" (referring to injured policemen).
 
In all, three AWB members and one passer-by were killed. Six policemen, 13 AWB members, and 29 civilians were injured.
 
==Aftermath==
The growing conflict between right-wing groupings and the government has been identified as one of the most significant developments in the course of 1991, with the Battle of Ventersdorp as its high point.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Graeme Simpson |author2=Janine Rauch |lastauthorampname-list-style=yesamp |title=Political Violence: 1991 |editor=Boister, N. |editor2=Ferguson-Brown, K |journal=Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, Human Rights Yearbook 1992, First Edition |pages=212–239 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Cape Town |year=1993 |url=http://www.csvr.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=709&Itemid=188 |accessdate=1 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819235417/http://www.csvr.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=709&Itemid=188 |archivedate=19 August 2010}}</ref>▼
 
The events in Ventersdorp, as well as gains by the right-wing opposition in white by-elections, led De Klerk to call a [[South African referendum, 1992|referendum]] in March 1992]]. The referendum confirmed white support for the negotiation process, despite continued opposition from the far right.▼
▲The growing conflict between right-wing groupings and the government has been identified as one of the most significant developments in the course of 1991, with the Battle of Ventersdorp as its high point.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Graeme Simpson |author2=Janine Rauch |lastauthoramp=yes |title=Political Violence: 1991|editor=Boister, N. |editor2=Ferguson-Brown, K|journal=Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, Human Rights Yearbook 1992, First Edition|pages=212–239|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Cape Town|year=1993|url=http://www.csvr.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=709&Itemid=188|accessdate=1 June 2008}}</ref>
 
▲The events in Ventersdorp, as well as gains by the right-wing opposition in white by-elections, led De Klerk to call a [[South African referendum, 1992|referendum]] in March 1992. The referendum confirmed white support for the negotiation process, despite continued opposition from the far right.
 
Following the end of apartheid, Terre'Blanche and his supporters sought amnesty for the Battle of Ventersdorp and other acts. Amnesty was granted by the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]]|title=Amnesty decision AC/99/0221|year=1999|url=http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/decisions/1999/ac990221.htm|accessdate=11 October 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]]|title=Amnesty hearing|date=11 May 1999|url=http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/amntrans/1999/99051011_klk_990511kl.htm|accessdate=25 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/media/1999/9905/p990510a.htm|title=Terre'Blanche calls for De Klerk to answer at his amnesty hearing|publisher=SAPA|date=11 May 1999}}</ref>
 
The three dead AWB members, A. F. Badenhorst, G. J. Koen and J. D. Conradie, were honoured at an AWB ceremony in October 1994, in Ventersdorp. A monument still remembers their death.<ref>{{cite news|url=httphttps://www.guardian.cotheguardian.ukcom/world/2004/jun/10/southafrica.rorycarroll|title=Terre'Blanche returns to a new world|publisherwork=Manchester Guardian|author=Rory Carroll|date=10 May 2004|accessdate=17 November 2008}}</ref>
 
==References==
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==External links==
*[httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20040523060202/http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/8450020.htm Little changed for South Africa blacks in 10 years since apartheid]
 
{{Political history of South Africa}}
{{Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)}}
 
[[Category:Events associated with apartheid]]
[[Category:1991 in South Africa]]
[[Category:Killings by law enforcement officers in South Africa]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in South Africa]]
[[Category:Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging]]
[[Category:Frederik Willem de Klerk]]
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