SADF Video's

The Last Domino 

Die Stem

Die Kaplyn - Bos van Blerk


between bushes and trees
between borders we all wait for tomorrow
but at 18 we were all lost
how can we understand?
And who weighs our lives
God only knows why we are scared
because at 18 we all just wanted to live
and then just like that your life was over
are you calling for me?
are you calling me back to the cut-line (ie. border) my friend?
through the years the world has turned
when we were young we wouldn't have guessed
are you searching for me?
are you searching for me in the dust and your blood?
you said you heard God calling you
then it was all over
after all these years
long lost ....(something which I cannot make out) our deeds
Only soldiers live with the damage of (caused by) borders
how can (will) we understand?
because that bush swallows our tracks
In the dark bush brothers were born
in the dark together we pray for a tomorrow
and then just like that your life was over

are you calling for me?
are you calling me back to the cut-line (ie. border) my friend?
through the years the world has turned
when we were young we wouldn't have guessed
where are you now?
is your name displayed up on those walls?
you were never forgotten and nobody ever will
we'll write about your life and what you saw
and by those walls
I stand for hours
but wheres your name now my friend?
cant they understand?
you soldiers were lost
without reason they carry the blame?
are you calling for me?
are you calling me back to the cut-line my friend?
through the years the world has turned
when we were young we wouldn't have guessed
where are you now?
is your name displayed up on those walls?
you were never forgotten and nobody ever will
we'll write about your life and what you saw
and by those walls
I stand for hours
and by those walls
I stand for hours

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The End of the War

Clearing out parade - I unfortunately did not attend as I was in "visiting" the MP's for AWOL - Girlfriend's hmm

On our way home

The bushwar ended in 1989, the war did not end due to one force defeating the other on the battlefield. This was however a proven factor during the Operations of Modular, Hooper and Packer that the Cuban and Russian backed FAPLA troops could not defeat the SADF on the battlefield. This was learnt by paying a high casualty cost during these operations.

This realisation and with the help of global political bullying, both sides realised that a negotiated settlement was the only solution. The events leading up to the end of this campaign in this theatre can be illustrated below:

- The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, this lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Communism, and the collapse of support for this war for Angola and Cuba.

- Pressure from the UN for SA to accept UN Resolution 435.

- Both parties were tired of war and conflict and the ever escalating nature of this conflict made both sides realise that raising the military stakes was going to be prohibitivley expensive in lives and cost.

- The Joint Monitoring Commision was established in 1984 to monitor the SADF and SWAPO as a precursor to peace.

The Ruacana Protocol

Cuban/ SWAPO forces were decisively checked on 26-27 June 1988 at the Battle of Techipa Following this battle, after the battles around Cuito Cuanavale, Soviet/ Cuba/ Angola were convinced that further military confrontation with the SADF would not succeed.

At Ruacana, South West Africa, on 22 August 1988 military representatives of South Africa, the South West African Territory Force and a combined Cuban/ Angolan delegation signed a formal agreement which provided for the cessation of hostilities between the two parties. The agreement also provided for the establishment of the proposed Joint Military Monitoring Commission (JMMC). In a statement issued after the signing of the agreement it was announced that the JMMC would meet daily with effect from 30 August 1988.

The next round of discussions began in Congo Brazzaville on 24 August1988. The accepted agreement was eventually known as the Brazzaville Protocol.

 Clearing out parade back in Bethlehem.

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FAIR USE NOTICE: This website may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been pre-authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of political, economic, scientific, social, art, media, and cultural issues. Material on this site is distributed without profit to persons interested in such information for research and educational purposes. If you want to use any copyrighted material that may exist on this site for purposes that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

What do Sappers do......

2 Field Engineers

25 Field Engineers - Oshakati

Emblem

Sappers - Specialist engineering unit in mine removal, bridge building, demolitions, water purification and general mobile infantry role. The Sappers were normally the first in to clear a pathway and to set up infrastructure and are therefore the last out.

Mine removal

Sweeping for mines buried in the road

Dealing with captured ordanence

Mine sweeping and water purification was probably the main reason for Sappers to go to the Border. We walked the 40 km to the half-way point to Nkongo once a week and to the half-way point to Eenhana which was about 15km, this was done twice a week. We would meet the guys from the other bases at the half way points and then turn back. We would be about 5 or 6 guys at a time walking in a diagonal line across the tracks. You would walk with your mine detector and your R4. Infantry would provide cover by walking on the side of the road. At the Nkongo halfway point we would wait for the team from Nkongo to arrive.

Water purification Bladder

Water Purification Centre in Oshivelo

Buffel taken out by a mine

Demolitions

Dems Book

Blowing a crater with PE4 in dem's training

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here represent only their respective authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of any of the other contributors to this website.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This website may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been pre-authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of political, economic, scientific, social, art, media, and cultural issues. Material on this site is distributed without profit to persons interested in such information for research and educational purposes. If you want to use any copyrighted material that may exist on this site for purposes that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Why are we here????

Questions???

Why were we there.....?

Guard Duty

We did have to eat...lol

Going on Pass - Civvie Street here we come

Lock your daughters' up dads and moms....

In 1966 the International Court of Justice decided that SA had no legal standing in the case of illegal occupation of  SWA. Upon the announcement the UN General Assembly irreversibly terminated the mandate for the occupation of SWA. In 1971 the courts supported the UN and agreed South Africa's rule and occupation of SWA was illegal and SA should immediatly withdraw all troops from the region - this ultimatly was not done and ....

Sector 10 Oshakati from the water tower.

Although the South African government wanted to incorporate South-West Africa (SWA) into its territory, it never officially did so: it was administered as the de-facto fifth province, with the white minority having representation in the Parliament of South Africa.

Conflict begins.................

 Wolf Turbo's on patrol

In neighbouring Zambia, SWAPO's insurgents began an incursion into SWA during September 1965 and again in March 1966, but it was not until 26 August 1966 that the first major clash of the conflict took place. A unit of the South African Police (SAP) – supported by South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopters – exchanged fire with SWAPO forces. This date is generally regarded as the start of what became known in South Africa as the start of the Border War.

SADF and Savimbi's boys

In late 1966 Unita joined the fight against the Angolan colonial power of Portugal, who were already in conflict with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA). UNITA was mainly active in southern and eastern Angola, while the MPLA and FNLA were mainly active in northern Angola. SAAF helicopters were first sent to support the Portuguese against UNITA in 1967, thus beginning South Africa's decades-long involvement.

Ratel taken out by T55 Russian tank - Cuito

The first element of security involved in the conflict was the SAP. They mainly deployed light infantry platoons which acted as counter insurgency units. During this time the SAP and its local adjunct, the South West African Police (SWAPOL), bore the brunt of the ground fighting on the South African side, with the SAAF backing them up from the air. In the late 1960s a special police counter insurgency unit named Koevoet (Crowbar) was formed. When the unit was first formed it was nick-named Koevoet to signify prying loose the SWAPO insurgents from the thick bush. The official name of the unit was South West African Police Counterinsurgency, SWAPOLCOIN. The SAP withdrew all their units, except the Uniform Branch and CID personnel which were on normal police duties, when the SADF took over the responsibility for the SWA Border.

 SWAPOL Officer

More Guard duty

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here represent only their respective authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of any of the other contributors to this website.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This website may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been pre-authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of political, economic, scientific, social, art, media, and cultural issues. Material on this site is distributed without profit to persons interested in such information for research and educational purposes. If you want to use any copyrighted material that may exist on this site for purposes that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.