South Africa's controversial cross-border raid into Angola, 1978. A
look at all the participants in this politically charged battle, from the
commanders to the brave soldiers fighting for their own band of
brothers
Battle for Cassinga is
written as a first-hand account by an ordinary South African paratrooper who was
at the 1978 assault on the Angolan headquarters of PLAN, the armed wing of SWAPO
(South West Africa People's Organization). The book relates why the South
African government took the political risk in attacking the fortress in an
external operation and examines the SWAPO claims that Cassinga was a refugee
camp guarded by a few PLAN soldiers. It also explains why Sam Nujoma, the SWAPO
leader, had no option but to perpetuate this falsehood.
The battle, although a resounding success, suffered some setbacks
which could have been disastrous to the South African paratroopers had they not
maintained the initiative. The improvisations made by the commander Col Jan
Breytenbach ensured that a flawed jump and poor intelligence did not adversely
affect the outcome. The unforeseen Soviet-made anti-aircraft guns used against
both aircraft and ground troops threatened to derail the attack. An appearance
of a large column of armour manned by Cubans from the nearby town of Techamutete, when half the
South African force had already left the battleground, placed the remaining
lightly armed paratroopers in mortal danger. The landmines laid by the South
Africans, together with the brave actions of the South African Air Force pilots,
saved the day, allowing the remaining forces to withdraw safely.
Battle for Cassinga
looks at all the players in a critical light. SWAPO and PLAN, the SADF and the
commanders from both sides, Dimo Amaambo of PLAN and Jan Breytenbach of the SADF
as well as the brave soldiers from both sides who fought for their political
ideologies but perhaps, more importantly, for their own band of
brothers.
