It’s been two decades since the peace accord that ultimately brought an end to the border war in Southern Africa, but still the dust hasn’t settled. Memories of Cuito Cuanavale continue to evoke passion in former combatants. In March, the ANC went so far as to lead a convoy to the famous Angolan battleground in an attempt to get history to remember it as the site of victory for the liberation forces.
But former Defence Force General Jannie Geldenhuys believes the celebrations are misplaced, because it was never the SADF’s objective to take Cuito Cuanavale.
Special Assignment joined a group of ex-combatants who made the more than 2000km trip from Pretoria to Southern Angola. MK veteran Patrick "Blahz" Ricketts hopes to make this route, through the notorious 'Road of Death', a commercial Heritage Trail
Here, every pothole is evidence of a landmine or an air attack, and rusted Russian-made tanks still line the road. The program includes rare war footage never before seen on South African television.
“Journey to the End of the Earth” is produced by Executive Producer Johann Abrahams and filmed by Meggan Raubenheimer.
|
