MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A parade will be held on Sunday, 10 September, at 10:00 at the Mossel Bay Cenotaph at the Point in memory of South African soldiers who died in the Border War and the subsequent actions of the South African military in Angola.

It is being organised by Blaize Away Shellhole, the local unit of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH). Members of the public are welcome to attend the parade.

The conflicts involved lasted from 1966 to 1990. Initially, the conflict in Namibia was perceived as a matter of law enforcement involving the South African Police but this changed into a military conflict in 1973 when the SADF was deployed against the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), the armed wing of the South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO), who were fighting for the independence of South West Africa from South African administration.

Following the rise to prominence in Angola of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the South African military got involved in the fighting in that country on the side of forces opposing the MPLA, such as the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

The motivation for South Africa’s involvement in the Angolan conflict was to contain regional Soviet expansion, since both the MPLA and SWAPO were supported by the Soviet Union.

The military involvement of South Africa in South West Africa and Angola is controversial. This does not, however, detract from the fact that thousands of young South African conscripts, in addition to members of the permanent forces, answered the call of duty to defend their country. 

Many of them paid the ultimate price, with about 2 000 members of the South African security forces losing their lives in battle during the conflict. These include G Gainsford, JR Matthee, BZ Gericke and A Kees from the Mosel Bay area. The Border Boys parade is dedicated to them and their loved ones.

We will remember them.

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