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

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