SADF - IV

South West Africa was a different world. The locals were both friend and enemy. They would co-operate with us during the day, and then support the enemy at night. Living in their primitive kraals, they were torn between supporting their families, and at the same time trying to appease what was in fact two aggressors.

We would be kind to those who assisted us, but absolutely cruel to those who didn't. There was no place to hide once you had crossed the thin line, and many times families would have to move south to escape the wrath of the "terrorists" or north, to hide from the SADF. For many of them, this was a war they didn't understand or care for. They were stock farmers, and fishermen, and didn't want for, or need much. For some even the prospect of independence from the white oppressors was a non event.

The women were, as far as I can remember, as ugly as sin! Not their fault I suppose, but the hard life, and harsh weather didn't do them much good! They made a mean "beer" of sorts, and many a thirst was quenched drinking the stuff, which we received in exchange for a small packet of military issue biscuits, or a tin of mixed vegetables! What was always a amazing was that they managed, out there in the bush, to keep it cool. I think I remember they used to dig a hole in the ground, probably near the base of a tree, and keep it wet. Anyhow,it worked for them, and the beer.

We also did a lot of medical assistance work among the locals, were we would take the medics out to the various hut settlements, and for the day the locals would come with various ailments, and receive free treatment from the SADF. Typically, we would take advantage of some of the younger men, because any of them would at some stage or other be aligned to SWAPO. Mostly when they came for headache tables, we would give then an "S"bit!! These were the paraffin based tablets used to cook our food with!! Apparently the side effect was a vicious workout of the stomach! Well, at least it took their minds off their headaches!! No harm done though!!

Often the fresh food rations wouldn't come through, and after a few weeks of eating prepacked ration packs, the need for fresh meat was overwhelming. That's when we would go out and trade some goods for a goat or two! Can be very tasty to a very hungry soldier. I even had the opportunity to eat snake meat, which had been prepared by one of the black trackers.

Photographs / cameras were a no-no. However, most of us seemed to manage to take a camera with us, and spools of film. Getting the film out was another problem, as whenever you returned to South Africa, all your kit and stuff was thoroughly searched for films, and any other banned stuff. One idiot was caught with a "cheese mine" in the bottom of his hold all!!! I'm sure he's still behind bars!

Ingenious ways were found to smuggle through the films. One was in tooth paste tubes. You had to open out the bottom, insert the film which was safely sealed in plastic, or even a condom, and then the tooth[paste put back, and the tube re closed. But, at all times you had to work carefully to ensure that the tube looked original. Split bars of soap, hollowed out, filed, and rejoined. Man, the guys pulled every trick in the book.

Even our outgoing post was inspected / read and censored. Our post we refused to allow the local guys to read and censor, electing rather to have this done by our own officer based in Ondangwa. Then we got clever. We would seal the envelopes, I would sign the back as Lt. Viljoen, a buddy in the ops tent would stamp it with the Infantry stamp, and we would send them off to Ondangwa, where the "postmaster" would assume they had been precensored, and forward them with the rest. So our local authority thought we were having our post censored in Ondangwa, and our officers in Ondangwa thought we were having it done by some Lt. Viljoen in Eenhana..... Soooo Sweeeet!

I have quite a few photos from my "visit" North, but not sure where they are now since we moved house, some of my favourites are the sunsets, always spectacular. One of my best is one taken of me. I was lying in the middle of a sand road, on my stomach, clearing and lifting my first landmine!! The road typically is white sand, but the area around me is a darker colour, from my sweat. Took me at least 3 hours, and once you are down you don't move till finished. Water bottles are slid across the ground to you as required. Cigarettes, and even food if you want, but no moving till you are done.

The problem was that 2/5 times the damn mines were booby trapped. The most logical thing to do was find the handle (if the mine had one) hook on a pull rope which was about 50/70/100 meters long, tie it to the back of the vehicle and drag it out. That way if it was booby trapped it would go off without injury to anyone. But your first mine... well, everyone made a point of lifting it. There is such a feeling of achievement then. Makes all the training and sweat and tears that came before worthwhile!!

One mine we lifted, which I assisted in clearing had a double booby trap (hence my assistance was required). It took the two of us 5 hours to clear, and we recovered approximately 30 kg's of Russian explosives! Much drinking took place that night.

Road sweeping was our main priority. Every time a convoy was moving, there would be Sappers walking in front to sweep the road for landmines. The infantry would give us cover from the sides of the road, walking deep in the bush. I had, on some occasions, met guys I knew from back home, and then much story swapping and chatting would take place. It was always exciting to see them, as then you knew that at least they were still alive!

Our guys (my lot) also managed to set the record at the time for the fastest sweep. I'm talking in excess of 10 km/hour! A mean feat if you consider the conditions, heat, and risk.

The amazing part was how, over time, we learned to recognise the "signs". Typically, if mines had been laid on a stretch of road, the planters would, along the road, leave some sign to warn the locals of the danger. A coke can hanging on a branch, 3 stones piled up in a specific manner, the top bar of an impromptu soccer field up, or down. After 12 / 13 months we were so in tune with this system, that ofter when we went out we would drive the route, and stop when we spotted one of the "signs" start to sweep and the n find the mine! Luckily we never got it wrong, and some guys even worked out the distance to the mine from the marker!

One thing we stopped doing quickly was assume that all the locals knew of the signs. Many times while we were sweeping the road, a local LDV (mostly old Ford F100 / 250) would come flying past us fully laden on the back with up to 16 passengers. Then we would simply all get onto our vehicles, and follow in their tracks!

On one such occasion, we were following the LDV at about 60 km/h, we were not mote than 1200 meters behind, and it hit a landmine. There was this almighty blast, followed by a flash of fire, the LDV took off like a cumbersome Concorde, and then smoke and dust! We immediately stopped, disembarked, and started to sweep towards the incident site. On arrival the sight was frightening. There was a 6 meter wide crater in the road, with a secondary crater, (the booby trap) overlapping the first of about 4 meters diameter. Both were about 1.5 meters deep. The LDV was lying on its roof in the veld maybe 10 meters away. There were bodies everywhere. The front right wheel had detonated the mine, and it had blown away most of the front of the vehicle, as well as most of the cab. Of the driver there remained nothing that we could find / identify.

Some of the other passengers were torn apart, but we could match the pieces, this arm here, this leg with this body with this head.... Some were whole. All were dead! While waiting for the recovery vehicles, one to move the LDV, and one to remove the remains, we sat down next to the road in the shade of a tree and had lunch. Around us lay scattered pieces of bodies. No matter, we were beyond caring.

Salagatle!