32 Battalion (sometimes nicknamed ''
Buffalo Battalion'', ''Three-two battalion'' or pt, Os Terríveis for ''The Terrible Ones'') was a
light infantry battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...
of the
South African Army
The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. T ...
founded in 1975, composed of black and white
commissioned and
enlisted personnel. It was disbanded on 26 March 1993.
History
Military refugees
After the victory of the ''Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola'' (
MPLA
The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola ( pt, Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola, abbr. MPLA), for some years called the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola – Labour Party (), is an Angolan left-wing, social de ...
) in the
Angolan War of Independence
The Angolan War of Independence (; 1961–1974), called in Angola the ("Armed Struggle of National Liberation"), began as an uprising against forced cultivation of cotton, and it became a multi-faction struggle for the control of Portugal ...
in 1975, many troops of its main rival, the ''Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola'' (
National Liberation Front of Angola
The National Front for the Liberation of Angola ( pt, Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola; abbreviated FNLA) is a political party and former militant organisation that fought for Angolan independence from Portugal in the war of independe ...
, FNLA), found refuge in the then
South African-controlled
South West Africa.
Formation of Bravo Group
From these troops, Colonel
Jan Breytenbach
Jan Dirk Breytenbach (born 14 July 1932) is a retired career South African Special Forces military officer and author of military books. He is best known as the first commander of 1 Reconnaissance Commando, South Africa's first special-forces u ...
together with
Commandant Sybie van der Spuy formed a unit that was initially known as Bravo Group but later renamed 32 Battalion. Initially, Bravo Group consisted of two infantry companies, a mortar
platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 50 people, although specific platoons may range ...
, an anti-tank section and a
machine gun platoon, but 32 Battalion was finally expanded to seven infantry companies, a reconnaissance wing, and a support company consisting of 81 mm mortar, anti-tank and machine gun sections.
Redeployed as the SADF
Unlike other
South African Defence Forces (SADF) units, 32 Battalion was mainly deployed in southern
Angola
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, coordina ...
, acting as a buffer between the SADF's regular forces and its enemies. The unit was also used to assist the
anti-communist
Anti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in the Russian Empire, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, when the United States and the ...
movement of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (
UNITA). Although it was mainly used as a counter-insurgency force it was eventually also used as a semi-conventional force, especially during the later phases of the war – particularly at the
Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale was fought intermittently between 14 August 1987 and 23 March 1988, south and east of the town of Cuito Cuanavale, Angola, by the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) and advisors and soldie ...
.
The battalion consisted of around 700 riflemen and NCOs (
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
s) (mostly Angolan nationals associated with the former FNLA or the Portuguese Army) and mainly South African officers, although commissioned military personnel from countries such as
Australia,
Rhodesia
Rhodesia (, ), officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the ''de facto'' Succession of states, successor state to th ...
,
Portugal and the
United States were active with the battalion, especially in its early stages. As time progressed a number of SNCOs (senior non-commissioned officers – sergeants and above), distinguished themselves and were commissioned.
At the end of its era in
Namibia, the unit had developed into a conventional battle group. Apart from the infantry companies and the
recce company, the battalion was strengthened by a battery of mortars, a squadron of
Ratel ZT-3 and tank destroyers and a troop of anti-aircraft guns mounted on
Buffel
The Buffel (English: ''Buffalo'') is an infantry mobility vehicle used by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War. The Buffel was also used as an armoured fighting vehicle and proved itself in this role. It replaced ...
infantry vehicles.
Although the main bulk of the battalion was based at
Buffalo on the banks of the
Okavango River
The Okavango River (formerly spelled Okovango or Okovanggo), Also known as the Cubango River, is a river in southwest Africa. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running southeastward for . It begins at an elevation of in ...
, the HQ was in
Rundu
Rundu is the capital and largest city of the Kavango-East Region in northern Namibia. It lies on the border with Angola on the banks of the Kavango River about above sea level. Rundu's population is growing rapidly. The 2001 census counted 36,9 ...
, to the west.
Namibian independence
After
Namibian independence
The history of Namibia has passed through several distinct stages from being colonised in the late nineteenth century to Namibia's independence on 21 March 1990.
From 1884, Namibia was a German colony: German South West Africa. After the First ...
in 1989-1990, the unit was withdrawn to South Africa where it was further used in a
counter-insurgency
Counterinsurgency (COIN) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces". The Oxford English Dictionary defines counterinsurgency as any "military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionar ...
role on South Africa's borders and later also in
townships.
Phola Park Incident
On 8 April 1992 members of 32 Battalion were involved in an incident in Phola Park,
Gauteng where members of the public were shot and killed.
The incident drew widespread criticism, specifically from the
African National Congress
The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election installe ...
(ANC)
and prompted the Minister of Defence to request an investigation by the
Goldstone Commission.
Disbandment
As one of the results of the negotiations between the
National Party and the ANC, the unit was disbanded in March 1993. After the battalion was disbanded, the remaining members of the unit were transferred to other SADF-units such as the Parachute and Mechanised Battalions as well as the ''Recces''. It was also decided to reactivate 2-SAI at
Pomfret
Pomfrets are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. The family currently includes 20 species across seven genera. Several species are important food sources for humans, especially ''Brama brama'' in South Asia. The earlier form of ...
which enabled about a quarter of the troops to return to Pomfret as members of the new 2-SAI. However, when 2-SAI was moved to Zeerust in 1999, many of them decided to rather stay behind at Pomfret and handed in their resignations. In 2008 there still remained about a quarter of the original 1,000 ''three-two'' families at Pomfret, eking out mainly a hand-to-mouth existence.
Many members of the unit later helped to found or joined
private military companies such as
Executive Outcomes
Executive Outcomes is a private military company (PMC) founded in South Africa in 1989 by Eeben Barlow, a former lieutenant-colonel of the South African Defence Force. It later became part of the South African-based holding company Strategic Res ...
and
Sandline International
Sandline International was a private military company (PMC) based in London, established in the early 1990s. It was involved in conflicts in Papua New Guinea in 1997 and had a contract with the government under then-Prime Minister Julius Chan, ...
, which fought on the side of the Angolan government against UNITA. Executive Outcomes was utilized by the Sierra Leonean government to repel
RUF forces between March 1995 and March 1997 during the
Sierra Leone Civil War.
Equatorial Guinea coup
Some of the participants in the alleged
2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt
The 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt, also known as the Wonga Coup, failed to replace President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo with exiled opposition politician Severo Moto. Mercenaries organised by mainly British financiers were arr ...
were former members of 32 Battalion.
Because they were arrested in
Zimbabwe, it is not clear whether any of those arrested had full knowledge of their final destination or the alleged plan to carry out a coup d'état.
[''Once Upon a Coup'', ]PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educati ...
Documentary, August 2009, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/once-upon-a-coup/full-episode/?p=5496
Decorations
The battalion was one of the most decorated units during the
South African Border War, with a total of 13
Honoris Crux medals for bravery awarded to its members, second only to the
South African Special Forces Brigade, whose members were awarded 46 Honoris Crux medals during the same period.
* Lieutenant Connie van Wyk
* Sergeant
Danny Roxo
* Warrant Officer 2 Willy Ward
* Major
Eddie Viljoen
* Lance Corporal Feliciano Costa
* Corporal Eduardo João
* Second Lieutenant Petrus Nel
* Corporal Victor Dracula
* Rifleman Bernardo Domingos
* Major Hannes Nortmann
* Sergeant Rihan Rupping
* Captain Petrus van Zyl –
Operation Modular
Operation Moduler (sometimes incorrectly called "Modular") was a military operation by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the South African Border War. It formed part of what has come to be called the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. The An ...
* Lieutenant Tobias de Vos – Operation Modular
In fiction
In the film ''
Blood Diamond
''Blood Diamond'' is a 2006 American political war action thriller film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou. The title refers to blood diamonds, which are diamonds min ...
'',
Leonardo DiCaprio's
Rhodesian
Rhodesia (, ), officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the ''de facto'' successor state to the British colony of So ...
character "Danny Archer" was a former member of 32 Battalion.
In the film ''
Elysium
Elysium (, ), otherwise known as the Elysian Fields ( grc, Ἠλύσιον πεδίον, ''Ēlýsion pedíon'') or Elysian Plains, is a conception of the afterlife that developed over time and was maintained by some Greek religious and philos ...
'',
Sharlto Copley
Sharlto Copley (born 27 November 1973) is a South African actor. His acting credits include roles in the Academy Award-nominated science fiction film ''District 9'', the 2010 adaptation of ''The A-Team'', the science fiction film ''Elysium'', t ...
's character "Kruger" was an ex-member of 32 Battalion.
Roll of Honour
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Leadership
Insignia
Dress Insignia
See also
*
''32 Battalion'' (book) (by Piet Nortje, 2004)
*
South African Special Forces Brigade ("Recces")
*
List of operations of the South African Border War
This List of operations of the South African Border War details the military operations conducted by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War:
* Operation Savannah (1975)
* Operation Bruilof (1978)
* Operation Sei ...
*
Operation Savannah
Notes
References
External links
Official Website of the 32Bn VA"The Terrible Ones"South African Special Forces LeagueSA Roll of Honour DatabaseTo the Bush and Back by Nico van der Walt
{{SA Army Units
Expatriate military units and formations
Infantry battalions of South Africa
Military units and formations disestablished in 1993
Military units and formations established in 1975
Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War
Military units and formations of the Cold War
Organisations associated with apartheid