Angola to Soweto: The Reluctant Soldier: A different view of the South African Border war and Troops in Townships, 1983-1991

At the entrance of the South African War Museum in Johanneburg there is a Memorial for 61 Mechanized Infantry Battalion. 40 years ago, between the 21st December 1983 and 23rd January 1984, 15 poor souls lost their lives in combat fighting for 61 Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Operation Askari, deep in Angola. On the 4th January 1984, eight of these were lost in the taking of the remote town Cuvelai. This was the biggest loss of life in any single cross-border operation that the South African Defence Force
This is the true story of a normal person being put in an unpalatable situation, conscripted into the army, to defend policies he did not fully understand or agree with. This is not a book for those who are looking for heroism, bravado, or great achievements of the army. The reluctant soldier is forced to experience events that made history, they seemed insignificant at the time but have wide ranging implications. It is a simple story of what it was like to be there.

The 1980’s was a tumultuous time in South Africa. Apartheid was at its prime, Black Nationalism was on the rise. With the Cold War escalating, Communist forces threatening the borders. The National Government’s solution was to use force, build a strong Defence Force by conscripting all white school leaving males. Who would enforce the Government policies and protect the country from the communists.

A young naïve conscript who initially had no strong beliefs in anything, was called up to do his duty. He soon found himself in situations that were out of his control. He inadvertently became involved in historic events that would shape a future South Africa. Fighting in the infamous Border war in Angola, ending up in the volatile Black townships, the most famous being Soweto.

It starts in 1983, Infantry training in Bloemfontein, followed by a major offensive into Southern Angola. Where the full might of the South African Army and Air Force annihilate the remote and insignificant town of Cuvelai. Back in SWA/Namibia using Counter Insurgency Operations to stop the influx of terrorists. Returning home to South Africa, his platoon is the first to be deployed to the erupting black townships around Johannesburg. They are there to quell the violence, but only make it worse. Within two years of completing his mandatory National Service, his Citizen Force Regiment call him up and he is sent into the most volatile and politically sensitive township, Soweto. The situation has deteriorated, with the risk of the country spiralling into civil war.

This will give a unique perspective of life in the South African army by someone who had no desire to be there, but at the same time became embroiled in some of the major political events of the 1980’s.