Pomfret, South Africa
From Wikipedia, the free 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's inhabitants are former members, and their decendants, of a special tactics force of the 32 Battalion, also known as Buffalo Battalion, the black Angolans who were used by apartheid South African governments to fight South Africa’s wars in Mozambique and Namibia and police the black townships.[1]
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[edit] Present
Today the town is described as depressing by those who visit. Injured veterans of war live in squalid circumstances. [2]
In 2004 Zimbabwe jailed over 60 black mercenaries from Pomfret for one year for suspected involvement in a plot to overthrow the government of Guinea.[3] Those jailed were poor black ex-soldiers and the jailing left their kin grieving.[4]
A new South African law has been passed to bar mercenaries but some fear that new restrictions could prevent access to work for people with legitimate jobs in areas of conflict.[5]
[edit] Asbestos mine in Pomfret
The presence of asbestos 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 good tourist attraction.
 Pomfret child |
 Asbestoes mine |
[edit] Notes
- ^ South Africa - Pomfret. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
- ^ South Africa's 'mercenary' village. BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
- ^ South Africa - Dogs of War Head Home – But They'll Find It's Gone. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
- ^ African Coup Plot Leaves Kin Bereft. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
- ^ South African government as it seeks to stamp out "mercenary" activity. BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
[edit] People aiding Pomfret
[edit] External links
- Pomfret, South Africa Page - Map
- Pomfret on BBC (1)
- Pomfret on BBC (2)
- abc.net news report
- Pomfret Asbestos mine
- Dogs of War Go Home
- Photos from Earth Science
