Episode 34 – The SADF begin to take casualties as they attack Chetequera where hyaenas and jackals would feast

This is episode 34 and the SADF are inside Angola – it’s the 4th May 1978 and Operation Reindeer is under way – it’s the joint attacks on Cassing and Chetequera. As we heard last episode, both assaults are not going according to plan. We ended episode 33 alongside Battle Group Juliet as it began to move into Chetequera, one of SWAPOs main base networks just over the cutline or border. Juliet had arrived at its attack position north of the base and first managed to bypass a thick field of Mahangu – a type of corn, then were faced with thick bush and trees as they moved southwards towards the settlement. They had taken heavy fire so far and things were not going to improve. According to the initial plan, Major Van Zyl and his mechanised company burst past the kraal lying north east of Chetequera and headed straight for the base. Remember van Zyl could only see 4 of his 14 Ratels the bush, grass and trees were so thick. For a moment he wondered if he should dismount his infantry who were on board the Buffel troops carriers then thought better of it. Speed was of the utmost importance now and that would mean slowing down. As his mechanised units moved into the ramparts of the settlement, individual vehicles fell foul of the trenches and bunkers mainly because many were almost invisible they’d been camouflaged so well. Meanwhile, further south, Commandant Joubert and his combat team had also decided to lie up after working over the bases which were below Chetequera. The initial plan was for Combat Team Serfontein to cross the Cutline east of beacon 8 and advance north for around four kilometers then attack a base called Dombondola2 in support of Joubert.