Our Resolve is a Calm Resolve: Aborted SADF Raid at Ponto do Ouro
On 18 March 1981, the front page of the Mozambican daily newspaper, “Noticias”, which was referred to in the official organ of the African National Congress (ANC), Sechaba (May 1981), was a picture of the body of a dead South African Defence Force (SADF) soldier covered in mud, blood and sea-sand. Around this soldier were several items, such as his weapon, binoculars, helmet and other equipment.
According to the “Noticias” report, the soldier was on of the two South African Defence Force (SADF) Boer soldiers that were killed in a clash with the Mozambican armed forces at the seaside resort of Ponto do Ouro, which is situated on the border with South Africa. According to a United States media report, “A rifleman from the Pietermaritzburg Commando was killed in action in a skirmish with FRELIMO (Mozambican Liberation Front) troops of the Mozambique Army near Ponta do Ouro”. Apparently, in 1981, the Pietermaritzburg Commando was converted to a regiment as an infantry battalion under the Citizen Force, being renamed as the Natalia Regiment.
In the early morning of 17 March 1981, the racist South African Defence Force (SADF) forces were attempting to infiltrate Mozambican territory and, unfortunately for them, they were spotted by a local villager who alerted the country’s border security. Consequently, the invading force was quietly encircled and firing broke out, resulting in them retreating
