Troops, townships and tribulations: Deployment of the South African Defence Force (SADF) in the township unrest of the 1980s

Abstract

As South Africa's violent political crisis of the 1980s intensified, the SADF entered the internal fray - at the behest of the South African Police (SAP). The military supplied auxiliary support to the police in their drive to squash township unrest. The deployment of the army was a controversial move. Both within and outside South Africa anti-apartheid activists condemned military involvement, arguing that it proved the brutality of the regime and, propagandistically, that Pretoria, apparently compelled to deploy the military, was losing control over the violent conflict. The military was apprehensive about involving itself in the local turmoil. Starting with Operation Palmiet of 1984, this article examines the development of the military's internal role, as well as the police's justification for calling on the SADF and, on the other hand, the army's qualms about entering the internal arena alongside the police. Finally the article will reflect on the army's approaches and conduct during its local foray.