PAST EVENTS

It is not often that we have as our guest speaker a person who is actually engaged in the making of history and is able to tell us about it. This is what happened at our August get-together when Colonel P.J.W. Hall, OC, 84 Motorised Brigade, addressed us on his task and activities as head of the Joint Monitoring Commission (JMC) in Angola, from where he had just returned.

By way of an introduction to his subject Col Hall pointed out that SWAPO had come into existence in 1960; but the first armed incident occurred only some six years later at Ongulumbashe in northern South West Africa. SWAPO's subsequent tactics have been to infiltrate SWA from the neighbouring territories of Angola and Zambia, once or twice from Botswana. In this respect SWAPO had, until 1978, enjoyed the protection of Angolan territorial sovereignty, which was respected by the RSA forces. This state of affairs enabled its terrorists blatantly to cross the borders, terrorise the civilian population and return to a safe haven. In 1978 a rocket and mortar attack was launched on the RSA military base at Katima Mulilo. Infiltrators from across the borders were active in Ovambo, Caprivi and Kavango, laying mines, carrying out kidnappings, political murders, stand off mortar/rocket attacks and ambushes. This was the position until early in 1979, when the RSA felt compelled to adopt a policy of pre-emptive strikes aimed at SWAPO bases, headquarters, logistic dumps and supply routes. The procedure was to attack, seek and destroy, then withdraw. In all these pre-emptive actions, (known by different code names), the Angola government forces, FAPLA/ZDF, were warned not to interfere, as the RSA had no quarrel with them.

Although every strike caused a significant disruption and a reduction of terrorist activities, SWAPO managed eventually to re-organize, re-group and resume its nefarious activities, so that a semi-permanent occupation of terrorist-infested territory became necessary. This decision culminated in operation Askari at the end of 1983.

Since then a series of diplomatic meetings between representatives of the RSA and Angola, notably at Lusaka and the Cape Verde Islands, led to the Lusaka Agreement (February 1984) which in turn provided for the establishment of a Joint Monitoring Commission to supervise the withdrawal of combatant elements from a clearly defined area. No Cuban troops or SWAPO terrorists were to be tolerated in this region. No RSA troops (apart from the JMC support elements) were to be deployed north of the monitor line, and no Angolan troops (with the same exceptlon) were to move south of this line. A gradual withdrawal of RSA troops would allow the Angolans to re-occupy and to "police" the area. The JMC was to act as liaison between the RSA/MPLA government and to investigate and report on alleged violations of peace within the area. Col Hall finally outlined the composition and method of operation of the JMC, which commenced its activities on 2 March 1984 with its HQ at Cuvelai. An excellent working arrangement and constructive collaboration with the Angolans was achieved permitting a gradual withdrawal of RSA troops to Mupa, Evale and on 2 May to Ongiva, notwithstanding some 57 violations which came to the notice of and were investigated by the JMC.

The setting up of the JMC has become an important milestone on the long and tortuous road towards a settlement of the SWA problem and we are proud to know that Col Hall is playing an important and successful role in this historic venture.

Fellow-member Midge Carter moved a well deserved vote of thanks.

WELCOME

A warm welcome is extended to new members Mr & Mrs P. J. Fourie of Warner Beach.

FUTURE EVENTS

Programme of Monthly Get-togethers:

SEPTEMBER 20th PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE THIRD THURSDAY IN SEPTEHBER AND NOT THE SECOND THURSDAY AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED.
Fellow-member KEN GILLINGS will present a slide talk entitled "The Helpekaar Duel" which will cover the events after the Siege of Ladysmith, in May 1900, when the Boers had taken up positions along the Biggarsberg. Sir Redvers Buller had devised a plan to break through this line and chose the South-Eastern corner of the range - Helpmekaar. This account will deal with his plan and its execution as well as the Boer reaction to his strategy and the exciting "last-ditch" stand they put up between Helpmekaar and Dundee.

October 11th Talk by Air Marshal Sir Philip Lagesen.

November 8th Fellow-member Vic Conrad will give a talk on the Independence of Poland, 1918, entitled "Re-birth of Poland".

The venue for all meetings will be the Lecture Room, lower ground floor, 'SB' Bourquin Building, the Natalia Development Board's head office, on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Euro Crescent, at the foot of Mayville hill, (entrance in Buro Crescent) on the second Thursday (UNLESS OTHERWISE ANNOUNCED) in the month commencing at 8p.m. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own bottled or canned refreshments. Friends and interested persons are welcome to attend.

TALANA DAY. This year wiII be the 85th anniversary of the Anglo-Boer War battle of Talana at Dundee. A full weekend's programme has been arranged by the Talana Museum in conjunction with the Town Council of Dundee for 20th-21st October 1984. In a letter Miss P. McFaddenr Talana Museum, p. o. Box 76, Dundee 300 Tel. 22654 writes that any member of the S.A. Military History Society will be more than welcome to attend, but [she] will appreciate being advised by any person who wishes to attend so that she will be able to send an invitation and programme of events. This information would also be needed for catering purposes. Interested persons must please make their own arramngements.

TAILPIECE

It is always easy to start a war, but very difficult to stop one, since its beginning and end are not under the control of the same man.
(Sallust, 86-34 B.C.)

(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv