I was doing investigations and very few VIP Protection assignments in Johannesburg. Only when some of my contacts in Johannesburg needed my help would I go there.

During 2008, I had a call from my friend from Cape Town. He was working in Afghanistan at the time and called me from Kabul. He asked me:

‘How would you like to share a contract with me in Kandahar in Afghanistan?’

I was very interested and thought he was talking about a type of security contract, but he said no, it was an aviation contract. He said he would share the post with me as the country manager for the Mi26T Russian Helicopter flying out of the Military Airbase in Kandahar. The contract would be for a year with a two months on and two months off rotation with him.

I was very interested as the company that had the contract was the same American company I worked for in Iraq, and I had a track record with them. The Australian office of this American company interviewed me on Skype as I would be employed through, and working under, the Australian office.

This contract was for the operation of a Mi26T helicopter in direct support of the (ISAF) The International Security Assistance Force war effort in Afghanistan.

ISAF was a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan. The United Nations Security Council established it in December 2001. The main purpose was to train the Afghan National Security Forces and assist Afghanistan in rebuilding key government institutions. During the beginning of 2001, they were also involved in the war with the Taliban insurgency.

During 2006 to 2011, ISAF became increasingly involved in more intensive combat operations in Southern and Eastern Afghanistan. The troops fighting under ISAF were the USA, the UK and other NATO member states. The Taliban were not pushovers, and by 2010 there were over 700 military bases inside Afghanistan. About 400 of these bases were used by the American-led NATO forces and 300 by the Afghan National Security Force.

During December 2014, ISAF ceased combat operations and was disbanded. Some troops remained behind in advisory roles for the Afghan military and police force.

Two weeks after my Skype interview, I received a call and was told my application was successful and I would be flying to Dubai. There, the representatives of the company intending to employ me would meet and interview me again. A contract would then be drawn up and all the necessary documents completed before I would fly to Afghanistan.

My job description was the management of the Mi26 Russian Helicopter and crew, contracted to fly cargo and equipment into military bases in Afghanistan for the Netherlands, British, Australian and American forces. Liaison with the military, assisting in mission planning, supervision of flight and maintenance crew. Communications, keeping track of the operations, finances and the logistics.

During 2008, I left South Africa for the best and most interesting work I ever did. On the flight to Dubai, I had a lot of time to think. The fact that I would work with Russians did not sit well with me. Whilst I was growing up, they were the biggest enemies of my country. ‘The Red Danger’ and whilst in the police force and doing border duties, they were the soldiers we would have liked to capture and eliminate. They were funding and training the terrorists who infiltrated and endangered my country, South Africa. The Russians were active in many parts of Africa, such as Angola and Mozambique, during my years in the police force.

Now I was going to be the manager and look after a Russian flight crew and a helicopter called a Mi26T. The word traitor crossed my mind a few times.