Pomfret is home to veterans who fought for the apartheid regime

Is the town of Pomfret, on the edge of the Kalahari desert, paying the price for South Africa's shame?

Home to the remnants of 32 Battalion soldiers, originally from Angola, who fought for the apartheid regime, Pomfret is now in the sights of the South African government, as it seeks to stamp out mercenary activity.

It wants to raze the town to the ground, arguing that there is a danger of asbestosis.

The inhabitants of Pomfret believe there is a more sinister motive and that the South African government is simply taking revenge for the past.

Listen to the programme

BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents was broadcast on Thursday, 6 April, 2006, at 1102 BST.

The programme was repeated on Monday, 10 April, 2006, at 2030 BST.

Presenter: Jonathan Charles
Producer: John Murphy
Web Producer: Nathalie Knowles
Editor: Maria Balinska