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] Fibrous asbestos on muscovite Asbestos Asbestos Asbestos (a misapplication of Latin: asbestos quicklime from Greek : a, not and sbestos, extinguishable) describes any of a group of minerals that can be fibrous, many of which are metamorphic and are hydrous magnesium silicates. ... The Kalahari Desert is a large arid to semi-arid sandy area in southern Africa extending 900,000 km², covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. ... 32 Battalion (sometimes nicknamed Buffalo Batallion or Os Terriveis - Portuguese for The Terrible Ones) was an infantry battalion of the pre-1994 South African Army. ... A Kenyan man This article is about the different definitions of the term black people. For other terms related to black people, see Black people (terminology). ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... This article is about the color black. ... The term township is used to denote a lower level territorial subdivision. ...

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] Mercenary (disambiguation). ...

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

Asbestoes mine

Notes

1. ^ South Africa - Pomfret. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
2. ^ South Africa's 'mercenary' village. BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
3. ^ South Africa - Dogs of War Head Home – But They'll Find It's Gone. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
4. ^ African Coup Plot Leaves Kin Bereft. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
5. ^ South African government as it seeks to stamp out "mercenary" activity. BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.

2007 (MMVII) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

People aiding Pomfret

• Pomfret Christian Suport Group

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

Coordinates: 25°49′S 23°32′E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...