Description
Soutie And The Big Crocodile: Bullets, Blisters And Jukskei by Sapper Soutpiel is a darkly comedic and unapologetically South African story set during the era of P. W. Botha—famously nicknamed “The Big Crocodile.” Expectations were for disciplined foreign recruits in the mould of Winston Churchill, Vasco da Gama, and Erwin Rommel, but instead, the army gets Sapper Soutpiel.
Asthmatic, short-sighted, and completely unprepared, Soutie joins thinking army life might be fun. What follows is a chaotic and often outrageous journey through military life, filled with rule-breaking antics, survival improvisation, and crude barracks humour. From freezing nights in the Orange Free State to bizarre coping strategies and mischief among fellow soldiers, his experience is anything but heroic—and that’s exactly the point.
Along the way, readers meet unforgettable characters like Sergeant Snor, Corporal Babyface, Major Rabid, and the mysterious Anneline. The story is packed with local flavour, Afrikaans slang, and a raw, unfiltered look at army life that leans heavily into satire and dark humour.
This book is best suited for readers who enjoy bold, irreverent storytelling, military satire, and uniquely South African humour. It is not recommended for sensitive readers, as it contains crude language and controversial themes.
