The battle of Cassinga, 4 May 1978: A historical reassessment

Part 1: The course of the battle and ensuing controversy

Abstract

The battle of Cassinga between paratroopers of the South African Defence Force (SADF) and elements of SWAPO on 4 May 1978 was shrouded in controversy right from the start. These military hostilities in the south of Angola occurred against the background of specific events in South-West Africa (now Namibia). In this article, the controversy is examined in detail. The importance of oral tradition/accounts, currently the subject of discussion in South African historiography, is acknowledged in this article via verbatim transcriptions of interviews with the commander of the South African Parachute Brigade, Maj.-Gen. MJ du Plessis and other relevant role-players.