When entering S.W.A. via Santa Clara gate, Alpha tower will be to the east of the road … this is the first water tower of a series that ends in Kavango to the east , each numbered and constantly targeted by SWAPO forces , with one even been blown up … just a bit of info re Oshikango - On one occasion in 27 September 1966, this border town was attacked by SWAPO, just a month after SA Forces attacked  Ongulumbashe.- not that far south, towards Ondangwa, to the east of the road is Etali base… just like Oshivelo this base has been moved quite a few times, mainly due to unhygienic conditions, disease, etc. … some of the old Etali bases were to the west of the road and the more modern bases with bunkers, etc, have been built more to the east of the road…. arriving there we'll see the base surrounded by other Units also participating in Operation Kameel.

Near ambush site (’83)                                              Eland 90's patrolling north of Etali ('78)

Koevoet teams ( The South African Police had one of the best counter-insurgency units called "Koevoet" (Crowbar), achieving a kill rate of 25:1, much higher than the 11:1 SADF average of the Bushwar. Its members were mostly black Namibians with white SAP officers. Its success can largely be ascribed to the excellent tracking skills of the Ovambo trackers deployed to find and follow the spoor (tracks) of insurgents, and by using the Casspir mine-protected vehicles capable to bundu-bash through most obstacles and keep its occupants safe even during a double anti-tank mine blast. Coin-ops tactics included running on the spoor (track) while flanked by the Casspirs, and leapfrogging a few kilometres ahead to find the spoor, thereby accelerating the pursuit.… and RM teams from 201/101 Bn will also operate in Southern Angola and chase insurgents towards the waiting ambush positions… the RM teams will consist of teams in Buffel IFV’s… with a fighting and tracking capability and in support will be RM teams in Pumas, fighter aircraft in Ondangwa and back up/reserve forces at Etali, should the situation get out of hand …. … we'll man 5 man ambush sites just north of St Mary’s mission station… a hotspot and contact is a possibility or rather a certainty….. ambush group will be 200 meters apart , so take note of your buddies to your left and right … please remember that camo and silence is of most importance… please draw your rations and make sure that you have enough water …. on 28 May 1978 in the area between old Etali base and St. Mary’s Mission Station, Rifleman S.R. Strydom, was accidently shot by a fellow platoon member. A casevac/medivac chopper with medical personnel was immediately requested by radio. While the platoon medic helped him, Strydom requested that the Platoon Commander say a prayer. At this stage it was apparent that he was slipping away, but the medic tried his utmost best and everybody tried to assist, either by preparing a LZ, stand guard in all-round defense or to comfort Strydom, until the dust-off chopper arrived to take him away. The personnel aboard the chopper took over and a few minutes after take off, the pilot radioed back to the platoon that their comrade had passed away…. a sad loss, he was young, bright, had a future ahead of him and could still have contributed much to society and his country…. may his soul rest in peace….