A Night with the Generals – With Roger Webster

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A Night with the Generals – With Roger Webster

The history of the legendary generals of the Anglo-Boer War, presented by well-known historian, writer and radio presenter, Roger Webster

Language: English/Afrikaans

Venue: Selati Room – dinner and discussion

Time: 18H00

Price: R225.00 (incl. dinner)

Roger Webster is a well-known voice to South African audiences – he has been broadcasting his “Fireside Chats” on SAFM for the last 10 years. Roger’s historical and anecdotal tales, based on the true history of South Africa, and not what we were taught in school, have made him a controversial and sought-after speaker on the South African circuit.

His talks range from ancient aboriginal tales, the many slants on the history of South Africa prior to Jan van Riebeeck to modern day issues including the land claims and land distribution and the renaming of streets.

Roger Webster is an extraordinary raconteur and has addressed various Chambers of Commerce, Chambers of Mines, and numerous conferences for many blue-chip companies as well as a private function for celebrities such, as Oprah Winfrey.

While Roger is predominantly a South African historian, his bent lies in the telling of stories, not so much of the factual dates and information, but rather placing an emphasis on the deeds performed by the people that have made our Country what it is today. He believes that many heroic deeds, by both black and white South Africans have been forgotten, or; for political reasons, have been swept under the carpet. Roger Webster has an uncanny nose for stories, and travels South Africa’s cities and towns researching, developing and fleshing out the tales for a nation to remember who it is, and where it came from.

With the onset of land reform, Roger covers many aspects of what happened in bygone times which perhaps have coloured our present perceptions, and he pulls no punches.

Webster will talk about leaders and generals, and what sets them apart from others; how Britain managed to create the greatest Army of its time.

He will also talk about the following well- known generals in the Anglo Boer War – Jannie Smuts, Koos de la Rey, Louis Botha, General Cronje, Lord Methuen, Buller, Roberts and lastly, the man caught in the middle – Kitchener.

He will also touch on what was called ‘The last gentleman’s war’ of 1899 to 1902, which, towards the end, turned into the nightmare that it was, causing the feeling of guilt on the part of the British, and bitterness on the part of the Boers which is only starting to diminish in recent times. Rodger will also talk about the similarities of the American Civil War and the South African War, and how the British generals were forced to carry out the scorched earth policy and the aftermath of that War and what Milner did to the Boers.