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
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.