'Iraq's tough, but pay's good'
2004-12-08 08:49
Cape Town - "The whole Task Force is there," he says, with a twinkle in his eye.
A South African working as a security guard in Iraq spoke to News24 on condition of anonymity on the eve of returning to Mosul in Iraq for his second three-month stint.
He was a policeman and an ex-task force member. Now, he is in Iraq for the money.
"There are between 4 500 and 6 000 South Africans in Iraq. We are all there: ex-policemen, ex-Koevoet members, ex-SANDF members. Selous's Scouts, Vietnam vets."
"I'm going to stay in Iraq for as long as I can."
He works for a security company that provides personal security for a United States contractor, who is building a new army base for the Iraqi army. He is referred to as "the principal".
"Our job is to protect the principal, to get him safely to the site. Our team consists of nine men."
Seven other South Africans work for the same company. He doesn't say which company, or whether the company is South African or American.
Look for detour, or turn back
"Speed is our secret. We move fast. We don't give the insurgents time to get us in their crosshairs.
"There's a company in Iraq that specialises in intelligence. We are briefed every morning. If it's safe, we escort the principal to the site. If not, we wait.
"Sometimes we would go out, but notice something's wrong. One can see it in the civilians' reaction. If a situation seems risky, we look for a detour, or we turn back."
"It's weird, but while we are still inside the perimeters of the US army base where we live, we joke, listen to music. Dozi, Boeremusiek. But the moment we leave those gates, we are soldiers. We are absolutely focused.
SA army vehicles
"We travel in South African army cars, the Mamba and the new Wolf." The US army buys these personnel carriers from South Africa and provides them to the security companies.
Security personnel live in US army barracks: "We've got everything we need. We have TV, DVDs, internet. And the US army doesn't go hungry. And, there are a lot of young women in the US army..."
His team hasn't seen action yet.
He's more ill at ease in South Africa. "In Cape Town, I'm a nervous wreck. I worry when we approach a traffic light, one never knows when you are going to be hijacked."
But sometimes death comes close in Iraq.
"When the insurgents launch rockets, one can hear how far away they have landed. We go to the bunkers only when they land too close for comfort.
"Usually the insurgents target a specific spot, because they, too, are a target. So, they shoot and run. Often they miss, but sometimes they hit a target.
"When the gym in our camp was still only a tent, the hit was spot-on. Many US troops died."
Not mercenaries
He is adamant about not being a soldier of fortune: "We are not mercenaries; we are in Iraq to help build up the country.
"We laugh at the (South African) government.
They say: 'Mbeki is afraid we will turn around and attack his government.'
"We don't pay much heed to the government's grumbling. Meanwhile, the money is good..."