Operation Beanbag, also known as the Matola Raid, was a military operation conducted by the South African Defence Force (SADF) against suspected safe houses of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), in Matola, Mozambique.

Operation Beanbag
Part of Internal resistance to apartheid
Operation Beanbag is located in Mozambique
Maputo
Maputo
Matola
Matola
Operation Beanbag (Mozambique)
Date30 January 1981
Location
Maputo, Matola, Mozambique
Result South African victory
Belligerents
 South Africa ANC (Umkhonto we Sizwe)
Mozambique
Commanders and leaders
South Africa Unknown Unknown
Unknown
Units involved
SADF unknown
Strength
20 unknown
Casualties and losses
2 killed
1 MIA (presumed dead)
30 killed
11 killed
1 civilian killed (Mozambique)

Background

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SADF intelligence identified a network of ANC safe houses in Matola as MK's planning headquarters for guerrilla operations in Transvaal Province, South Africa.[1]: 178  The South African team was made up of members from 1 and 6 Reconnaissance Regiments, the latter being made up of old Rhodesian SAS personnel. The operation was carried out on 30 January 1981, specifically targeting three houses in the Maputo suburb of Matola.[2]

The Mozambican government claims that the twenty SADF special forces members were driven from the border in vehicles that resembled Mozambican army vehicles.[1]: 178  One part of the team maintained a roadblock on the main road between Maputo and Matola,[1]: 178  while a second team attacked the three ANC buildings. A firefight broke out between the SADF and the ANC inhabitants. The reconnaissance team took two prisoners during the attack.[1]: 178  The reconnaissance teams rejoined and returned to the border with South Africa and were said to have been withdrawn by helicopter.[1]: 178 

Aftermath

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The SADF lost three personnel, one of whom could not be found during the withdrawal at the end of the operation and he was left behind.[1]: 178  6 Reconnaissance Regiment was disbanded later during the year and the remaining members integrated into the remaining special forces regiments.[3] The SADF claimed to have killed 30 MK militants.[1]: 178  The Mozambican government estimated a death toll of 11, including a civilian killed in the crossfire.[1]: 178  In its review of Operation Beanbag, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found that the raid resulted in the deaths of 16 MK members, including 4 senior militant commanders, some of whom were killed during the attack and others who died of their injuries later.[4] The TRC also noted that a civilian was killed, possibly by accident, at the SADF roadblock.[4] The dead civilian was a Portuguese citizen who bore a close resemblance to prominent ANC official Joe Slovo, leading the party's supporters to speculate his death was the result of mistaken identity.[5]

ANC president Oliver Tambo subsequently issued a statement implying that Operation Beanbag had targeted unarmed civilian refugees rather than legitimate military targets.[6] He denied that the ANC and MK had any guerrilla camps in Mozambique.[6]

The raid was condemned by the United Nations as a violation of Mozambique's territorial integrity.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Heitman, Helmoed-Romer (1985). South African War Machine. England: Bison Books Ltd. ISBN 094699580X.
  2. ^ DMVZA. "Unveiling of Matola Raid Monument and Interpretive Centre". The Department of Military Veterans website. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Special Forces History - SA Special Forces League". Recce.co.za. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Truth Commission - Special Report Transcript". sabctrc.saha.org.za.
  5. ^ "Unveiling of Matola Raid Monument and Intepretive [sic] Centre". Department of Military Veterans Republic of South Africa. 11 September 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Statement by Oliver Tambo on South African Raid on Matola, 05 February 1981 | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za.
  7. ^ "Report of the Special Committee against Apartheid". 1981. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Further reading

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