Die repatriasie van die EBO-4: die lokalisering en opgrawing van die grafte van vier Suid Afrikaanse soldate in die EBO- distrik, Kwanza Sul, Angola, 1975-2012

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Date
2012
Authors
Boshoff, Willem
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
The final phase of the history of Operation Savannah, the 1975–1976 South African military involvement in Angola dawned when remains of three of the four South African soldiers who were left in Angola, were repatriated during June 2012. The graves of the deceased, the Ebo-4, were found in 2006 and locals who were involved in the burials confirmed the veracity of the sites and the events. After years of research and negotiations, a team made up of relatives, members of the Ebo Trust and a professional team of archaeologists and a forensic anthropologist left for Ebo in May 2012. The excavations were abrubtly terminated by the Angolan authorities and the team had to leave Angola, only to be invited back to Angola two weeks later. Remains of three individuals were located in one grave and excavated, while a second grave site yielded no mortal remains. The mortal remains were interred in niches at the SADF Wall of Remembrance at the Voortrekker Monument on 8 July 2012.
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Keywords
South African Defence Force, Operation Savannah, Angola, Ebo-4, Ebo Trust, Excavations, Mortal remains, Niël Lombard, Keith Williamson, Eric Thompson, Danie Taljaard, Repatriation
Citation
Boshoff, W. (2012). Die repatriasie van die Ebo-4: die lokalisering en opgrawing van die grafte van vier Suid-Afrikaanse soldate in die Ebo-distrik, Kwanza Sul, Angola, 1975-2012. Journal for Contemporary History: Military History 1912-2012, 37(2), 191-223.