Right-wingers get ready to return to laager 'as in 1838'

Thousands of religious Afrikaner right-wingers, fearing an " onslaught", are preparing to move into armed laagers in the countryside.

Known as the Suidlanders, they have identified easy-to-defend farmland around the country and are waiting, with packed bags, emergency rations, weapons and tents, for the signal from their leaders.

Danie Roberts, an AWB founder member who heads the Suidlanders in KwaZulu-Natal, said he had fielded "at least 500 calls" this week from panic-stricken Afrikaners wanting to join the organisation.

"Since last Saturday, I have hardly slept. People have been calling from all over, some of them wanting to retaliate, others panicking,'' he said.

Roberts said the past two years had seen a massive growth in membership.

"You have (ANC Youth League president Julius) Malema out there, and what he is saying is scaring people. He is driving Afrikaners to join us. You could say he is helping us."

Member families are instructed how to prepare emergency rations, tents, clothing, vehicles and other necessities and to be ready for attacks.

The Vryheid Suidlanders have found a stretch of land on the banks of the White Umfolozi River, bordered by a mountain range, for when "the situation becomes another 1838".

They believe the land, on a cattle farm, is "safe" and can easily be defended by members with military training against an "onslaught" . They say they can accommodate up to 500 of "our people".

"We do not want it to happen, but we believe that something very bad is coming our way," said Roberts, a reborn Christian. "We believe that, just as our Lord saved the Boers at Blood River in 1838, he will save us again now."

Members, he said, were banned from taking part in illegal activities and were expected to be disciplined.

"If there is any person who is doing anything illegal, I will personally notify the police. We cannot have cowboys who will only place our wives and children under threat.

"When we see there is a possible onslaught coming our way, we will respond, but not with fire. We will respond by getting our people out of town."

He said phase two of the Suidlanders' plan included joining up with groups from other towns to form larger encampments.