GENERAL MCW GELDENHUYS
Commissioner of the South African Police from 1978 to 1983

Genl Mike Geldenhuys is met die eeufees viering van die Mag (1913 – 2013) die doyen van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie. Ons was bevoorreg om hom teenwoordig te gehad het by die gedenkdiens op 1 April 2013 by die SAP-gedenkteken, hy was juis die funksionaris by die hoeksteenlegging van die gedenkteken.
As die seun van ‘n plaaskneg sluit hy by die SA Polisie aan en eindig sy suksesvolle loopbaan met verskeie medaljes en dekorasies. Nadat hy uitpasseer het as voetman, word hy speurder in Soweto. Later word hy speurder in Johannesburg en ondersoek hy selfs na saak in Engeland. Ween die feit dat daar geen speurposte beskikbaar is nie, sluit hy weer by die uniformtak aan en word ‘n eerste klas sersant in Johannesburg. Hy word stasiebevelvoerder te Utrecht en late hoofkonstabel te Newcastle. Na ‘n jaar slaag hy na kommissierang en word te Durban geplaas. Gou word hy aangestel as die afdelingsinspekteur, kol Johan Verster, se stafoffisier. Omdat hy so goeie offisier is, word hy as kaptein en distrikskommandant te Keetmanshoop aangestel.
Die binnelandse stryd teen die staat en die regering het in felheid toegeneem en genl. Keevy het besluit om die veiligheidstak uit te brei en lt kol H.J. van den Bergh is aangestel as veiligheidshoof. Dit is juis sy toenmalige hoof in Durban, nou genl Verster wat kapt. Mike Geldenhuys by lt kol Van den Bergh aan beveel. Hy word aangestel as veiligheidsbevelvoerder van die oostelike Kaap. Nadat hy ‘n sukses van die taak gemaak het, word hy in Johannesburg aangestel as die hoof van die nuutgestigte Republikeinse Intelligensiediens. Later word hy adjunk-hoof van die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid. Weereens word geïdentifiseer as hoof van veiligheid en word hy in opdrag van adv. B.J. Vorster na die SAP terug verplaas. Na diens in die veiligheidstak word hy die kommissaris van polisie.
Hy word allerweë as ‘n goeie offisier beskou en het in spanverband verskeie suksesvolle misdade opgelos, spioene aangekeer en terroriste gestuit.
Bron: Hennie Heymans
As die seun van ‘n plaaskneg sluit hy by die SA Polisie aan en eindig sy suksesvolle loopbaan met verskeie medaljes en dekorasies. Nadat hy uitpasseer het as voetman, word hy speurder in Soweto. Later word hy speurder in Johannesburg en ondersoek hy selfs na saak in Engeland. Ween die feit dat daar geen speurposte beskikbaar is nie, sluit hy weer by die uniformtak aan en word ‘n eerste klas sersant in Johannesburg. Hy word stasiebevelvoerder te Utrecht en late hoofkonstabel te Newcastle. Na ‘n jaar slaag hy na kommissierang en word te Durban geplaas. Gou word hy aangestel as die afdelingsinspekteur, kol Johan Verster, se stafoffisier. Omdat hy so goeie offisier is, word hy as kaptein en distrikskommandant te Keetmanshoop aangestel.
Die binnelandse stryd teen die staat en die regering het in felheid toegeneem en genl. Keevy het besluit om die veiligheidstak uit te brei en lt kol H.J. van den Bergh is aangestel as veiligheidshoof. Dit is juis sy toenmalige hoof in Durban, nou genl Verster wat kapt. Mike Geldenhuys by lt kol Van den Bergh aan beveel. Hy word aangestel as veiligheidsbevelvoerder van die oostelike Kaap. Nadat hy ‘n sukses van die taak gemaak het, word hy in Johannesburg aangestel as die hoof van die nuutgestigte Republikeinse Intelligensiediens. Later word hy adjunk-hoof van die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid. Weereens word geïdentifiseer as hoof van veiligheid en word hy in opdrag van adv. B.J. Vorster na die SAP terug verplaas. Na diens in die veiligheidstak word hy die kommissaris van polisie.
Hy word allerweë as ‘n goeie offisier beskou en het in spanverband verskeie suksesvolle misdade opgelos, spioene aangekeer en terroriste gestuit.
Bron: Hennie Heymans
More info about General MCW Geldenhuys can be found in the May 2016 edition of Nongqai. Click here to go to the relevant page.
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Van Kaalvoetseun tot Kommissaris: Genl MCW Geldenhuys
Compiled by Hanlie van Straaten and Hennie Heymans
The book’s launch took place on 13 October 2012.
The following was sourced from a media report published online in looklocal.co.za:
The following was sourced from a media report published online in looklocal.co.za:
Peering into the mind of a former police commissioner
23 October 2012 | Jeanrique Snyman A new book in the SAPS series, ‘Van kaalvoetseun tot kommissaris: Genl MCW Geldenhuys, ‘n voormalige Kommissaris van Polisie’was launched at an intimate function at the retired general’s home in Nigel on October 13.
The South African Police Service has been at the epicentre of the country’s society for over half a century. It has undergone many changes in personality and efficacy since its humble beginnings early in the 20th century but has remained controversial, even if the reasons therefore have changed. Few are the individuals who have the privilege to say that they have experienced almost every aspect of the inner workings of the poignant peacekeeping force. As the oldest former police commissioner alive, General Mike Geldenhuys can say with authority that he has lived through the best and worst days of SAPS. He also most likely has many police secrets that he will take to the grave. What he could share of his career, however, is presented in a new book in the SAPS series, ‘Van kaalvoetseun tot kommissaris: Genl MCW Geldenhuys, ‘n voormalige Kommissaris van Polisie’, which was launched at an intimate function at the retired general’s home in Nigel on October 13. In attendence were many high-ranking officers, many of whom either worked with General Geldenhuys or were inspired by him – like Lieutenant Colonel Barend Groenewald, who currently heads the Investigations branch of Heidelberg SAPS. “It is a privilege to meet such an icon,” Lt Col Groenewald told HERAUT during the book launch. “I am amazed at how humble and down-to-earth he is, considering his incredible reputation.” From growing up in the Cape Winelands until his retirement from the force in 1983, the book covers many adventures and successes in both his personal and career life. Compiled by Hanlie van Straten and Hennie Heymans, it includes unique perspectives of events in the history of apartheid like the arrest and questioning of head of the South African Communist Party Bram Fischer and the inception of operation Koevoet. Later on, it offers the general’s own words about famous figures like Col Magnus Malan, former Minister of Defence, Genl Constand Viljoen, Head of the South African Defence Force and even former State President PW Botha. The 87-year-old hardened policeman was overcome by emotion when the speeches started. He was thanked for his dedicated service to the police force while being praised as a person of the utmost integrity and frankness, after which he autographed copies of his book, which is for sale at R100 per copy and drinks and snacks were served. The last State President of the National Party known the world over for his part in bringing apartheid to an end, FW De Klerk, personally requested an autographed copy of the new book, which goes to show that the history of this great man tasked with heading a controversial organisation during some of the most unstable times of our country’s history carries much weight today still, after 18 years into the new democracy. Source: Looklocal.co.za |
Article in BEELD Newspaper, dated 31 May 1978, announcing the appointment of General Mike Geldenhuys as the new Commissioner of Police. (Thank you to Paul Greyling for submitting this newspaper clipping!)
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1913 - 1994