Episode 74 – FAPLA/SADF joint patrols hit a wobble & Recce Op Bouganvilia

We just finished hearing about Operation Askari, and a quick note. I said that the Eland armoured would no longer be used for cross -border operations after Askari, but that’s incorrect. A listener who was on board an Eland much later in 1987 explained how he was part of an operation called Firewood, where the Eland was used to head across the cutline once more. Apologies for that, and thanks Ian for the correction. FAPLA and the SADF were conducting patrols together as part of the Joint Monitoring Commission or JMC setup after the signing of the Lusaka Agreement in February 1984 – a precursor to a full cease fire. The reality was neither the South Africans nor the Angolans were going to adhere to the agreement terms Pretoria continued to support UNITA, while FAPLA after an intial period of seemingly trying to impose discipline on SWAPO, gave up and allowed their PLAN fighters to continue infiltrating Ovambao. SWAPO mortared the JMC joint patrols a number of times and firefights had developed through March so I’m sure some of the Angolan soldiers were feeling just a tad schizophrenic. Still, the main JMC officials – both the South Africans and the Angolans – gave the impression to each that they were attempting to make this whole cease-fire known as the Lusaka Agreement work. While the SADF and FAPLA were trying to find themselves, the Recces hadn’t stopped special operations. In early 1984 and despite discussing land-based cease-fires, the SADF continued to focus on seaborne ops. Their specops operators, the Special Forces were instructed to investigate the destruction of the main water plant supplying the Angolan capital Luanda. This facility was on the south bank of the Bengo River at Quifangonda - Operation Bouganvilia was born.