BOGUS INDIVIDUALS

The individuals listed on this forum are those who have intentionally and falsely claimed to be qualified South African Special Forces Operators, or who have falsely claimed to have served in/with/ detached to Special Forces. They prey upon the good intentions of people by falsely and dishonestly trying to solicit attention, sympathy, unearned respect or some other aspect of personal gain. All names placed on this site will remain here as a record of persons who have falsely claimed Qualified Operator status, or who have publicly made unsubstantiated false and defamatory statements regarding Special Forces and presented these as fact. They never earned the qualification and the right to be called a SA Special Forces operator.

Once a written apology is received from a person annotated on these pages, we will amend the relevant entry accordingly. Removal of names will be subject to approval by our National Committee. The SA Special Forces Association strongly dissociates itself from them and strongly disapproves of their claims and actions.

MEDIA “RECCES”

In media reports we often see that a person, who is being reported on, is referred to as having been “an ex-recce” or “a former recce” with some rank assigned to him.
In many, but not all, these individuals do not control the content of media reports.
In the cases listed below the people themselves claimed to be qualified SA Special Forces Operators .
The SA Special Forces Association strongly dissociates itself from them.

Mr Danie Small From Pretoria, South Africa (added October 2016)
Mr Adriaan van Wyk From Pretoria, South Africa (added August 2012)
Mr Jacobus Venter From East London
***********************************************

FACEBOOK “HEROES”

With the advent of social media there are a lot of wannabes that suddenly have a new outlet and perceived audience where they think they may now trumpet their many “heroic achievements” for all and sundry to see.
The SA Special Forces Association strongly dissociates itself from them.

Mr Johannes van Schalkwyk From South Africa (added Sep 2017)
Mr Mark Lynch From Cape Town, South Africa (added July 2016)
Mr Gaston Bonifazi From Cape Town, South Africa (added May 2016)
Mr Jaco van der Sandt From Pretoria, South Africa (added August 2015)
Mr Gustav Thalwitzer Facebook warrior, Rangoria, New Zealand (added November 2014)
Mr Roi Strong Sibambo Facebook warrior, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa (added August 2014)
Mr Artur Dalmeida From Pretoria, South Africa (added December 2013)
Johan Spies Poses on Facebook in an AWB type of uniform, wearing a SA Special Forces beret. (added August 2013)
***********************************************

HARDCORE WANNABES

Mr Hendrik Baltus Nel. Contact # +27 74 964 6818 (added October 2018)
Mr Jan Ackerman From Port Elizabeth, South Africa (added December 2016)
Mr Frank van der Merwe From Cape Town, South Africa (added June 2014)
Mr Mike Worth From Johannesburg, South Africa (added May 2014)
The Sotis Group and Tom Sotis Claims made via several web sites (added September 2012)
Mr Reon Schutte From Boulder, Colorado, USA (added July 2012)
Mr Sameul “Sammy” Brett From Blompark, Gansbaai (near Hermanus), Western Cape, South Africa (added July 2012)
Mr Petrus Hendrik Swart From Harrismith, Orange Free State, South Africa (added July 2012)
Mr Abdul Rhemaan Vorgers From Despatch, Port Elizabeth, South Africa (added July 2012)
Mr Cornelius Theron From Wellington, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA (added April 2012)
Mr Gerrie Cronje From the ‘Shepherds Bush Bible Kibbutz’ – wherever that may be
Mr Trevor Nel From East London
Mr Hermanus Phillipus Herbst From Namibia
Mr Bryan Bennets From Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Mr Dave de Wet Location in South Africa, unknown (for now)
Mr Rudolf Barnard From Pretoria
Mr Graham Murgatroyd Currently resident in Bega NSW, Australia
Mr Arno Barnard Currently Residing in Riversdale, Cape Province
(Updated Jan 2016)
***********************************************

Mr. Jacques Olivier
(Added January 2023)

Mr Jacques Olivier, from Ashton Manor Kempton Park, is the owner of a security company in Bredell Kempton Park. In this capacity, he likes to project himself to clients and potential clients as a SA Special Forces operator to further his business prospects. He uses an approximation of the Special Forces compass rose to increase his false association with the SA Special Forces.

In his escapades, he has killed many people doing work in helicopter operations and other activities in Africa. He has even trained SA Special Forces snipers. He bravely had a compass rose tattooed on his chest “to honour his dead and alive comrades in the SA Special Forces”!

Mr Jacques Olivier was never at any time a Special Forces Operator, or even a Special Forces member, in the South African Army. He blatantly uses his false stories to mislead potential customers to do business with him, based on these wonderful escapades that never happened. He is not one and has never been associated with SA Special Forces Operators. The SA Special Forces Association strongly dissociates itself from Mr Olivier for his falsehoods and misleading business customers.

Mr. Jacques Joubert
(Added December 2021)

Mr Jacques Joubert, who is resident in Untergruppenbach Germany, considers himself a hero of the Angolan Bush War. He has declared himself a SA Special Forces operator and even falsified an Operator’s Certificate, proudly on display in his office, to substantiate his wild dreams. Having killed “countless numbers of the enemy in close-quarter combat” with a prized knife on show for all to see. And of course, he had to flee his beloved home country when the new dispensation came about as he had done “too much damage” as a feared Special Forces operator.

Mr Jacques Joubert was never at any time a Special Forces Operator, or even a Special Forces member, in the South African Army. He blatantly uses his false stories, certificates and fake memorabilia in attempts to gain the trust of people around him. He is not one and has never been associated with SA Special Forces Operators. The SA Special Forces Association strongly dissociates itself from Mr Joubert for making a mockery of our standards, history and credentials. Recent information (2024) has it that Mr Jacques Joubert is now in South Africa, in the Centurion area, still spreading his false stories.

***********************************************
Mr. Johann Jeppe

(Added March 2020)
Mr Johann Jeppe appears in a news video to market a campaign to obtain food for military veterans in Canada. In this video, he wears a leather jacket on which he displays a SA Special Forces operators badge, along with insignia of the closed down 1 Reconnaissance Regiment. He also displays a South African Recce officer’s military uniform with a second operator’s badge (they are uniquely numbered per individual and never duplicated), as well as medals that were issued for service on the Namibia/Angola border during the Bush War.

Mr Johann Jeppe, resident in Calgary, was never any time a Special Forces Operator, or even a Special Forces member, in the South African army. He is not one and has never been associated with Special Forces Operators. The SA Special Forces Association strongly dissociates itself from Mr Jeppe for making a mockery of our uniform and insignia, under false pretences to mislead people in a foreign country. He has since moved to Chilliwack in British Columbia.

***********************************************
Mr. Johan Scottie Smith
(Added September 2020)
Mr Johan Smith of Centurion, Pretoria appears in a photo wearing an operators badge on a 32 Battalion jacket, falsely creating the impression that he is a SA Special Forces operator and member of 32 Battalion. When contacted on his cell number, +27606169130, Mr Smith duly quoted names of generals and Special Forces members that supposedly know him. None of these individuals has ever heard of Mr Johan Smith. He had a lot to say about exposing “sensitive Special Forces information” when he was cornered about being a wannabe.

Mr. Johan Smith was never any time a Special Forces Operator, or even a Special Forces member, in the South African army. He is not one and has never been associated with Special Forces Operators. The SA Special Forces Association strongly dissociates itself from Mr Johan Smith for his blatant disrespect in abusing our insignia and falsely presenting himself as a SA Special Forces operator.