Its rank and file included members of the South African Police, often seconded from the Security Branch, and the Special Task Force, and African volunteers from Ovamboland.
It was patterned after the Rhodesian Selous Scouts, and the title “Koevoet” or “Crowbar” referred to “The Crowbar, which prizes terrorists out of the bush”.
At its very beginning Koevoet consisted of only six South African Policemen, and 60 well skilled Ovambo trackers. During the South African Border War, this unit participated in more than 1600 engagements with the enemy, and it was reported that more than 3200 insurgents were killed or captured. Koevoet was disbanded in 1989 as part of the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 435.
André Delport or “Andy”, was born in the Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday the 23rd of June 1963.
Andy’s father was Johannes Hendrik “Jack” Delport, a motor mechanic, who was born in 1919 and who passed away in 1968. His mother was Margaretha Roelfina “Maggie” Delport, born Gerber in 1930, and she passed away in 1996. Both Jack and Maggie were buried in the Vryheid Cemetery after their passing.
Andy started his schooling at Laerskool Gerrit Maritz in Pietermaritzburg, and when in 1975 his parents moved to Vryheid, he was enrolled as a learner at Lucas Meyer Primêre Skool. Andy matriculated from Hoërskool Pionier in Vryheid at the end of 1980 where he was also a school prefect, and a member of the school’s Rugby 1st XV.
Andy had six siblings, Susan Human nee Delport, Louis Delport, Chris Delport, Johan Delport (Vryheid’s local Tractor repair man), Elmie Davel nee Delport, and Riaan Delport. Riaan served with the S.A.P., and Chris Delport was also a policeman, and had also served as a member of Koevoet.
Andy joined the South African Police in 1981, and after the completion of the six months of basic training at the South African Police College in Pretoria, he was at first stationed at Paulpietersburg before he joined the South West African Police Counter Insurgency Unit “Koevoet”.
Andy Delport was killed in action on 18 February 1983 when his unit was involved in a contact with a group of 30 SWAPO insurgents in Ovamboland, Namibia. Constable Delport’s Casspir armoured car took a direct hit from a RPG Rocket.
“Heldedaad vereer”: Soon after the tragic death of Constable Delport an article was written about his bravery and death, and it was published, in the Afrikaans language, in the then South African Police magazine “Servamus”. On Friday 18 February 1983, Constable Delport reported on duty, in Ovamboland, under the command of Sergeant Loots. This special mobile operational unit patrolled the KwaNyama tribal area, with the instruction to find SWAPO insurgents. At approximately 09:45 six barefoot prints were detected near a homestead by the Ovambo trackers. The “spoor” was followed where it entered into a nearby bush. The unit followed the spoor into the bush, but they were led into a very well prepared ambush. The heavy machine gun, mortar, anti-tank grenade and RPG Rocket fire resulted in two of the Casspir armoured cars being put out of action, and four of the crew members were wounded.
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To prevent the insurgents from gaining the advantage from their unexpected attack, Constable Delport and Sergeant Loots, each in command of their own Casspir armoured car, launched a “Storm Attack” on the enemy positions. The two Casspir’s stormed through the enemy positions which caused the enemy to leave their positions and to flee. Even with the knowledge that his upper body was not protected from enemy fire, Andy drove right into the enemy positions whilst continuing to fire on them, thereby preventing any further injury or death to his colleagues. Seven insurgents were killed and several were wounded.
When Sergeant Loots did not hear any more machine gun fire from the gun of Constable Delport, he went to investigate, and he found that Andy Delport had been killed by enemy fire. For his “Fearless Act of Self-Sacrifice” the State President Posthumously awarded the South African Police Cross for Bravery to Constable André Delport. (Free translation by writer)
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Constable Delport’s remains were brought home to Vryheid, and he was buried on Wednesday the 23rd February 1983, with full military honours from the “Wes Kerk” in Vryheid. Andy was laid to rest in the Vryheid Cemetery. His name is remembered on the War memorial in Vryheid.
“Vivit Post Funera Virtus”,
“Courage lives on after death”.
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