Overview
Identifiers
Record Administration
Monuments
Monuments & Memorials Recordings
Identifiers
Classifications
Operation Savannah, “South Africa’s military intervention in the Angolan civil war during late 1975 to early 1976.” This was prompted by the end of Portugal’s colonial control in Angola that resulted in the multiple factional forces vying for power in Angola. Operation Savannah was a very covert operation: “it was a kind of pre-emptive military strike, shrouded in secrecy, with an intention to ensure a political objective of assisting the establishment of a post-colonial Angolan regime favourably-disposed to the South African government, and one which would also hopefully, deny future assistance to the combatants of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO)." The memorial is a commemoration to not only the veterans, families and soldiers that died of Operation Savannah, it is a symbol of the fight against the threat of communism and the prevention of communism spreading within Southern Africa due to the ensuing civil war that took place in Angola after Portugal's exit. The different factions were caught up in the midst of Cold War politics of United States of America and Russia and to the soldiers of Operation Savannah they believe they played a role in the fight against communism.
The Caltrop or Hoefangel, which is the symbol and monument, “The original caltrop was nothing more than a ball from which the four spikes projected in such a way that when three spikes were on the ground the fourth was always pointed upward.” This lays behind the motivation of using the Caltrop as the monumental sculpture and piece, to symbolise and characterise that one point is always projecting and facing upwards that symbolises preparedness.
References
Rodney Warwick, ‘Operation Savannah: A Measure of SADF Decline, Resourcefulness and Modernisation,’ Scientia Militaria, Vol. 40, No 3, 2012, pp. 354-397.
‘Weaponry: The Caltrop,’ available from: https://www.historynet.com/weaponry-the-caltrop.htm accessed 6 April 2021.
3 September 1975 to 11 February 1976
During 1974/75 the Portuguese Colonial Government in Angola imploded, and SA was compelled to protect the 1450 kilometre border between South West Africa (Namibia) and Angola. The region became destabilized and the SADF had to launch the first major military operation since WW2. The three freedom forces in Angola each strived for control and by middle 1975 a devastating civil war erupted in Angola. This cross-border operation was sanctioned by the cabinet on 3 September 1975 as Operation Savannah and classified Top Secret.
The SADF Task Force consisted of the Permanent Force, Part Time and National Servicemen from various Services and units. Allied to the SADF were the Freedom Fighters of UNITA and FNLA. Opposing these forces were the Angolan MPLA and a Cuban Expeditionary Force, both supported by the Soviet Union, The military scale of operations escalated and by Christmas 1975, two conventional forces of more than brigade strength each, were opposing each other.
The Cabinet instructed the SADF withdrawal from Angola on 11 February 1976. The 5-month conventional war in Angola came to an end on 26 March 1976 when the last SADF elements and equipment crossed the border between Angola and South West Africa.
SYMBOLISM
The symbolism of this Memorial is to remind us that where and however the Caltrop falls in battle, it remains a symbol of preparedness. One sharp point always faces upward, posing an impediment to all types of movement. For Savannah veterans the symbolic meaning is that the Caltrop ultimately contributed to the halt of the Soviet penetration into Southern Africa.
The foundation of the Memorial is a rock, representing the support base that sustained an operation up to 3 000 kilometres from home – particularly the families at home, who had to contend with the unknown and secret nature of the operation, but yet stood firm as a rock. The base of the Memorial is: Dedicated our Families and Loved ones for their Firm and steadfast support; The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Medics of Operation Savannah.
Location
Location
- City of Tshwane
Media
Media
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