The militarization of the South African Border War: South African Police & South African Defence Force operations in northern South West Africa (Namibia), 1965–1967

The South Africa’s Border War (1966–1989) is often described as the ‘Last Hot War of the Cold War’. However, no study has examined in detail the initial stages of this conflict, more especially the gradual militarization of operations along the border between northern South West Africa (SWA) (modern Namibia) and the Portuguese colony of Angola. Initially control of the border remained the responsibility of the South African Police (SAP) who patrolled the vast region in civilian soft-skinned vehicles. With the purchase by the South African Air Force of Alouette III helicopters from France in the 1960s, SAP leadership saw an opportunity to greatly increase their ability to control this large area of responsibility. After high level negotiations the South African Defence Force agreed to loan the SAP both helicopters, pilots and ground crews for utilisation in northern SWA. It was in this manner that the first members of the SADF found themselves working in what was ultimately to become the SADF operational area. This article, using primary documents from the South African Department of Defence Documentation Centre (Military Archives) seeks to track how the SADF through mission creep’ between 1965 to 1967 became inexplicably involved in northern SWA.