The final phase of South African transborder operations into Angola: Regiment Mooi River and operations Modular, Hooper, Packer and Displace (Handbag), 1987-1988

Abstract

Various national and international factors resulted in South African transborder operations in Angola. The retaining of South West Africa (Namibia), which was entrusted as a C-mandate territory to the mandatary South Africa in 1918, and the "communist danger" may be presented as the primary reasons for this. The bush war and the involvement of the South African Defence Force (SADF) may be divided into five phases: the beginning of the conflict (1958 to 1966); support by the South African Police (SAP) and the Portuguese (1966 to 1972); escalation of the conflict (1972 to 1976); South West African as well as Angolan pre-emptive operations (1976 to 1983); and the final phase (1983 to 1990).