Famed adventurer Mike Horn was targeted last week in an investigation by Swiss broadcaster RTS into his dubious military past in South Africa. Investigations revealed that he had “voluntarily” joined Battalion 101, known for its ruthless pursuit of opponents of the apartheid regime.
His dark past resurfaces. Famed adventurer Mike Horn is at the center of an investigation by Swiss broadcaster RTS revealed on Thursday January 19. The latter testified to her dubious past as a soldier in her country of origin, South Africa.
The subject has demonstrated his murderous role in the fight to maintain apartheid in the country through archival images and testimonies from some of his former military comrades. At 18, the current audiovisual star in France is said to have “voluntarily” joined Battalion 101, known for its fierce repression of opponents of the apartheid regime in Namibia.
A position supported by Waal de Waal, a former 101 companion of Mike Horn. “That was our job. We were considered the best counterinsurgency unit in the world. It was the war, so inevitably there were unpleasant things. Not only did we shoot at each other, we rolled over each other. Enemies couldn’t run over us because they were on the ground. But we had vehicles,” the latter explained in the investigation.
Mike Horn is struggling to defend himself against charges
Horn, now 56, is struggling to defend himself against allegations linking him to “murder battalions”. “It was so long ago… I need to check my diary… I’m not sure I was there,” he explains in the poll, which airs during RTS’ Present Time show.
The video subject also disclosed his participation in clandestine missions on behalf of the South African Army. Mike Horn would then have fled to Château-d’Œx (Switzerland) when Nelson Mandela was released, heralding the end of segregation in the country.
“I was part of the official South African Army back then. I did my military service there. I strictly followed the orders given to me. I had no particular love for the apartheid regime. (…) It is clear that today I regret having participated in these operations, although I take full responsibility for everything I have done in my life,” Mike Horn finally clarified after the show.
Revelations that raise questions in Switzerland
In the Swiss canton of Vaud, where the TV star lives today, the document triggered a shock wave. Socialist MP for the Vaud Grand Council, Jessica Jaccoud, questioned the municipal administration on Tuesday 24 January about the show.
It was the subject of a report by TempsPresent that aired on Thursday 19th January @RadioTeleSuisse. This investigation reveals that the explorer belongs to Battalion 101, a counterinsurgency unit specialized in tracking down and eliminating the enemy.
— Socialist Party of Vaud (@psvaud) January 24, 2023
She referred to the title of “Honorary Member” given to Mike Horn by the association Vaud Promotion while the latter is dedicated to regional promotion. Finally, the MP recalled that in June 2021, the adventurer signed “an exclusive partnership” with Vaud Promotion to “ensure the promotion of five tourist regions, including the canton of Vaud”. Missions that, according to Jessica Jaccoud, are no longer compatible with the latter’s damaged image.