Annals of wars we don’t know about: The South African border war of 1966-1989

The Parabats were the SADF’s elite airborne soldiers, trained to deploy fast, hit hard, and operate deep behind enemy lines. From Bloemfontein to Angola, they built a reputation on discipline, endurance, and precision. Selection was unforgiving. Physical training pushed limits, ground drills demanded perfection, and the jump course tested nerve and trust. Earning the maroon beret and silver wings marked a soldier who had endured one of the toughest paths in the South African Army. During the Bor

The “Stick”: The backbone of SADF counter-insurgency operations. 🌿 In the vast expanse of the South African Border War, large battalions were often too slow to catch elusive insurgents. Enter the “Stick.” A Stick was a small, highly mobile tactical team—usually consisting of just 4 or 5 men. Their strength wasn’t in numbers, but in speed and tracking ability. The Anatomy of a Stick: 🚁 Deployment: Often dropped by Alouette helicopters directly onto “spoor” (tracks) or positioned as “stop groups

SADF War Angola South West Africa

New docuseries Unspoken War uncovers the hidden scars of South Africa’s covert conflict