Friday, August 19, 2011

Anonymity Guarantee

Guys... Guys who matter... You know who you are...

If you are afraid to come forward in order to share your stories and experiences as a result of some or other conditioning, don't be.

We guarantee total anonymity to all who want it...

Thursday, August 18, 2011

O.K. this is it.../ Dit is nou maar wors...

'n Baie groot dankie aan Bok van Blerk en Sean Else vir die toestemming om die musiek video “Die Kaplyn” op ons 40 DAYS Blog te kan plaas.

Ons is seker die musiek video sal meer as een herhinnering terug bring.

Daarby gese, het ons projek 40 DAYS die ondersteuning van Mnr van Blerk (musikant), Paul Els (Skrywer), die Suid Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag (Generaal Majoor Opperman) en vele ander persone in die plaaslike musiek en film bedryf.

Tot dusver, met die minimale middele tot ons beskikking (persoonlike bydraes en kooperatiewe bydraes) kon ons die projek kry tot op ‘n punt waar ons die storie lyn amper internasionaal kan bemark.

Ten spyte van die meer as twee duisend “views” op ons/julle blog het ons tot dusver nog geen / da nada / niente / niks / nothing / lutu ondersteuning van die veterane ontvang nie… Dit is ’n baie rare verskynsel, siende dat ons die film wil maak ter gedagtenis aan julle heldhaftige en onvrywillige pogings tydens die Grensoorlog

Wat meer kan ons doen om julle betrokke te kry...???







A huge thanks to Mr Bok van Blerk and Sean Else for granting us permission to post the music video “Die Kaplyn” on our 40 DAYS Blog.

It is sure to bring back some heartfelt memories.

Our project has the support of Mr van Blerk, (musician) Paul Els (Author) The South African National Defense Force (Maj. General Opperman) and a number op people in the film and music industries locally. To date we have, with minimal resources (personal and a corporate), reached a point whereby we can almost market the story line internationally.

Despite the more than two thousand views we have had on the blog to date, we have not received any / da nada / niente / niks/ nothing/ lutu support from the veterans.

We find this very strange, as we endeavour to make this movie in the memory of your heroic and involuntary efforts during the Border War.

We want to give you recognition, what more can we do to engage you...???

With the kindest regards / Met die beste wense...

Belinda van Heerden.
(Skryfster / Regisseuse, 40 Days Projek)

Some eye-candy for those in the know

If you haven't noticed yet, notice now...:-)

We have put some nice material on the blog in the top right, next to the topmost post, for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy...

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Military Veterans to Get R1.6 Billion Budget

Cape Town — Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu says that R1.6 billion has been made available to take care of military veterans over the next three years.

Sisulu made the announcement to the media ahead of her Budget Vote in Parliament, scheduled for later today.

She said Cabinet had approved the Military Veterans Bill, which had a funding of R1.6 billion to benefit the veterans.

"We had submitted a Bill before Parliament to define military veterans and also define the benefits of military veterans. Cabinet has approved the Bill and the funding. We are today able to assure military veterans that as we complete the process to pay the Non Statutory Pension, we will also be fast tracking the rolling out of all benefits in the Bill," she said.

A call centre to facilitate easy communication with the veterans would be established at the end of next month.

The minister, who was not happy with her budget allocation of R34.5 billion, said the money for the veterans would come from the National Treasury instead of her coffers.

Still in a bid to restore the dignity of the veterans, she said it was important that the Department of Military Veterans - to operate under her deputy - was established, and its Director General, along with the senior managers, had also been appointed.

She said that they constantly updated their database of beneficiaries.

In order to address "deep rooted grievance management problems" in the SANDF, she said they had introduced a new grievance management policy and a Bill for the Military Ombudsman, which had been approved by Cabinet.

She said that the Ombudsman, who should be appointed by Parliament, would take care of the grievances of the solders, and might need to be someone with a legal and military background to help them understand the matters they would be dealing with.

Questioned as to when ARMSCOR would have a permanent chief executive, she said that a new board for the entity would be appointed at the end of the month, which in turn would appoint a new chief executive.

Francis Hweshe (BuaNews, Tshwane)

Monday, August 15, 2011

Reveillie: Call to action...

"Reveille" is a bugle call, trumpet call or pipes call most often associated with the military. It is chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise. The name comes from "réveillé" (or "réveil"), the French word for "wake up".

Een honderd Rand is gelykstaande aan / One hundred Rand is equal to:

1. 'n Bottel Klippies en 'n twee liter Coke (Bottle of Klipdrift and two liter Coke)
2. Drie pakkies sigarette (Three packets of cigarettes)
3. Tien Liter brandstof (Ten liters of fuel)

What we don't understand is that the majority of our funds have come from outside of South Africa.
Its not even their story...

Help ons asseblief om julle storie te vertel.

Nuwe Foto's

Hallo daar... Ek het 'n paar nuwe foto's op Memory Lane aangebring...

Hey there, I just added a few new pics to Memory Lane...

ENJOY...:-)

P.S. Please let us know if you know these guys and locations...

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Names, Ranks, Stations please...

When you get onto this blog and go to the Memory Lane page and you see yourself or someone you know, please give us their name and rank and where they were stationed please. We would like to get you guys in touch again in some way... Just put the info in the comment box below this post...

Monday, August 8, 2011

Mystery Canadian...

To the mysterious person from Canada who donated to us so generously... Please send us your name and other details so that we can mention you on our website and in the movie credits. Please email me (Ockie) or just leave a comment on the blog. Even if you wish to remain anonymous... Let us know... Thank you. We appreciate your contribution very, very much...

Hoe ek hieroor voel...

Hi, my naam is Ockie Coetzer vir enigeen wat nie weet wie ek is nie...


Ek werk saam met Belinda van Heerden aan 40 DAYS. Hierdie projek is haar 'baba'. Ek is 'n opgeleide akteur en het ook ondervinding as produksie bestuurder. By hierdie projek is ek in altwee hierdie hoedanighede betrokke.

So bietjie van my geskiedenis: Direk na matriek, in 1997 is ek weermag toe en het op Voortrekkerhoogte by die S.A.G.D. Akademie my militêre, asook O.N.O. en Offisier opleiding ontvang.

Die militêre lewe was vir my heel aangenaam en ek het die struktuur verskriklik geniet. Die grootste rede hiervoor is dat ek van kleins af al aan kliniese depressie ly (ongelukkig is ek eers in 2010 daarmee gediagnoseer) en die streng roetine het nie toegelaat dat ek in melankolie verval nie. Die fiksheid en konstante dissipline was ook nodig vir my sielkiundige gesondheid.

Daar was wel ander aspekte van die opleiding wat my semi-permanente skade aangedoen het. As deel van ons teen-insurgensie opleiding is ons totaal afgebreek en weer opgebou as 'n klomp aggressiewe dônners. Dit als onder die vaandel van spanwerk maar met die proviso dat jy skuldig moet voel as jy dalk nie die fisiese vlakke van jou spanmaats kan bereik nie. As jy een van die ongelukkiges is wat nie so sterk of vinnig soos jou maters was nie (al was jy net so fiks soos hulle) moes hulle jou op 'n bed of draagbaar dra sodat jy kon skuldig voel; so asof dit jou volgende keer gaan laat beter presteer...

Dinge soos dié bly my steeds vandag by. Ek het 'powerlifting' gedoen op skool en die eerste keer met 'n bos fase wat ek, om my maats te help, 'n teerpaal alleen opgetel en met hom gehardloop het, het ek letterlik 'n lat vir my eie gat gepluk. Van toe af was ek in die instrukteurs se oë 'n een-man-magger span en daar was van my verwag om konstant meer as my porsie te doen. As ek nie het nie het ek 'onderpresteer' volgens hulle, maak nie saak hoe dit my laat voel het nie. Die ergste dele van my opleiding was die sielkundige moeghied.

Alhoewel ek vir drie jaar in die weermag gedien het het ek het nooit self aksie gesien nie, maar die sielkundige knoue a.g.v. sekere aspekte van die opleiding pla my vandag nogsteeds.

Ek wil nie weet met watse probleme die ouens sit wat ware recces was of wat kontak beleef het op die grens nie... Julle opleiding was erger as myne, en julle het regte aksie gesien...

Wat het julle hieroor te sê?

Net soos ons elkeen 'n individu is het ons elkeen byvoorbeeld die opleiding op 'n heel ander wyse ervaar. Dinge waarvan ek gehoor het wat my hare laat rys het was byvoorbeeld van die praktyke wat die instrukteurs in die pantser opleidings kadre gehandhaaf het... Ek kan ongelukkig nie persoonlik daaroor skryf nie. So ons wag om van julle ouens wat weet te hoor...

Kommentaar gerus in die boksie hieronder...

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Now this is how it is done!

Paul Els is 'n YSTER!

Click here to find out why...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

1000 Visitors...!!!

Hiermee 'n feesviering! Ons het nounet ons 1000ste besoeker aan die 40 Days webblad gehad! En dit in 23 dae! Aan almal wat gekyk en aangestuur het wil ons baie dankie sê. Ons waardeer dit verskriklik baie...

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Account Troubles Solved

All of our troubles with the Payment methods have been solved... Feel free to deposit millions... :-) Hehehe.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Expat Competition.

I just spoke to my boss.

Good news. To get a bit of competition going we are offering a prize to a lucky expat who contributes to the production of this film.

The prize consists of a ticket to the premiere of the film, as well as another (as yet undisclosed) prize of unknown origin and description...

Come on expats! Lets show them what you've got!

Update on the Update...

Ek wonder hoekom dit so moeilik is vir Suid Afrikaners om die geld wat dit kos om 'n bottel Klippies en 'n twee liter Coke te koop by te dra vir hierdie projek?

Ek het vandag 'n comment gekry van 'n persoon wat in Amerika bly wat vir ons geld belowe... Ek bring dit hier aan vir julle om te sien.

"Hi to all the people there in S.A!

I don't know about you but I feel very strongly that this story should be told...

I am a South African expat living in Georgia in the U.S.

Well done to the ones from Europe who have contributed already.

Ek is trots op julle...

Julle kan maar weet my geldjies is oppad...

Baie sterkte en moenie opgee nie o.k!

July 24, 2011 7:11 AM"

As jy die kommentaar wil sien, gaan kyk na die comments by die post direk onder hierdie een wat getiteld is "Update".

Enough said...

Monday, July 18, 2011

Update...

With this, a very big thank you to our European benefactors who have already contributed to a story that is not even theirs...

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Who are we?

From 1966 to 1989 an unknown war was fought far to the north of our beautiful country. It was fought by the sons of South African mothers and fathers, but the story has never truly been told...

Gaan gesels jy maar met enige outjie of meisiekind jonger as agt-en-twintig en die kans is baie goed dat hulle glad nie gaan weet waarvan jy praat as jy die grensoorlog noem nie. Wat nog van die feit dat die oorlog vir drie-en-twintig jaar gewoed het? Noem vir hulle dat in daardie tyd daar vier-honderd-en-dertig-duisend jong manne verpligte militêre diens gedoen het en hulle kyk jou met glasige ogies aan asof jy van die maan af gevlieg het met Liewe Hêksie se besem.

The point is that, without any agendas, we are people who want to tell your story. We want other people to know about what happened to you over there. We want to know why some of you get tears in your eyes when the subject of the 'grensoorlog' pops up in conversation. We want your stories, your thoughts, your lives. We want your hearts and minds concerning this thing. We want it, firstly, because we are so very interested to know the people that fought for us. We want to know what you look like, what you do for a living, and if you are still alive...

Secondly we want to collect your personal information and set up a full database where you can get back in touch with your long-lost troepie brother.

Derdens gaan dit hieroor: Ons wil julle storie vertel. Ons is mense wat ander mense soos julle ken. Ons ken mense wat dáár was. Ons het al, en luister nogsteeds, na julle stories. Dit gryp ons aan. Dit bring hunkerings en smagtings na nog informasie, nog meer legendes; sodat ons ons projek verder kan vat. Sodat ons ons projek kan opbou van die grond af in eerlikheid en opregtheid omdat ons dit aan die manne wat daar was, en die manne wat nie teruggekom het nie, verskuldig is.

We are starting this research movement in order to cut between the muscle and the bone. We want to tell a very personal story; that is why we need your personal stories. We want to get emotional about it with you and we want to remember with you. In the end we want to give you something that you can give your children and which can be given, in turn, to your grandchildren; so that maybe, just maybe, the ones who are still there will not be forgotten.

Skryf asseblief julle stories, lank of kort, snaaks of grusaam, op hierdie blog, in die "comments" boksie. Ons stel veral belang in die verhale rondom familie verhoudings onder die wolk van die oorlog gebeurtenisse, asook enige militêre episodes wat vir jou, persoonlik aangetas het. Ons stel ook verskrilik baie belang in jou her-integrasie met die samelewing na jou diensplig. As jy dit nie publiek wil stuur nie stuur dit na my eposadres wat onderaan die bladsy aangebring is.

Ons gaan aandagtig al die stories lees en hulle dan beoordeel. Ons beoordeling gaan geensins volgens inhoud wees nie maar wel volgens styl, prosa endiesmeer. Die inhoud van al die stories is vir ons ewe belangrik. Al die skrywers van die bes geskryfde stories sal dan genader word om sodoende film-onderhoude op te neem wat in dokumentêr-vorm deel van ons finale produk sal uitmaak.

So please remember to furnish us with your personal contact details, such as your name, email address and cellphone number when you post your story. This is of critical importance.

Veterane Navorsings Fonds

Tans is dit bykans onmoontlik om bevondsing vir 'n projek van hierdie aard te verkry...

K.R.O. Pictures beskik oor afsonderlike bank fasiliteite wat deur 'n onafhankilke ouditeur (Merwitz & Malan van Waterkloof, Pretoria, 012 346 3044) oorsien word. Hierdie besonderhede word aan die bo-linkse kant van hierdie bladsy aangebring ter geleentheid van u finansiële bydraë, wat ons baie dringend benodig, selfs al is dit net 'n honderd Rand...

Ons stig hiermee die K.R.O. Pictures '40 Days' navorsings fonds. Hierdie fonds staan homself ten doel om verdere bevondsing op internasionale vlak te bekom ten einde die vervaardiging en verspreidings potensiaal van die eindproduk drasties te vergroot. Dit sal ook funksioneer as platform vir die effektiewe en akurate navorsing wat uiters noodsaaklik is vir hierdie projek.

Sluit by ons aan op hierdie, heeltemal-te-lank-uitgestelde ontdekkingstog. Ons dink dit is die moeite werd...