| 32 Battalion | |
|---|---|
 32 Battalion emblem | |
| Active | 1975 – 26 March 1993 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Branch |  South African Army |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | South African Defence Force |
| Nickname | Buffalo Battalion/Os Terríveis (English:The Terrible Ones") |
| Motto | Proelio Procusi (English:"Forged in Battle") |
| Engagements | South African Border War |
| Commanders | |
| Founder | ColonelJan Breytenbach |
| Subsequent commanders | ColGert Nel ColDeon Ferreira(Falcon) ColEddie Viljoen(Big Daddy) |
| Insignia | |
| Battalion flag |  |
32 Battalion (sometimes nicknamedBuffalo Battalion,Three-two battalion orPortuguese:Os Terríveis forThe Terrible Ones) was an elite light infantry battalion of theSouth African Army founded in 1975, composed of black and whitecommissioned andenlisted personnel. It was disbanded on 26 March 1993.[1]: 280
After the victory of theMovimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA) in theAngolan War of Independence in 1975, many troops of its main rival, theFrente Nacional de Libertação de Angola (National Liberation Front of Angola, FNLA), found refuge in the thenSouth African-controlledSouth West Africa.[2]
From these troops, ColonelJan Breytenbach together withCommandant Sybie van der Spuy formed a unit that was initially known as Bravo Group but later renamed 32 Battalion. Initially, Bravo Group consisted of two infantry companies, a mortarplatoon, an anti-tank section and amachine gun platoon, but 32 Battalion was finally expanded to seven infantry companies, a reconnaissance wing, and a support company consisting of 81 mm mortar, anti-tank and machine gun sections.
Unlike otherSouth African Defence Forces (SADF) units, 32 Battalion was mainly deployed in southernAngola, acting as a buffer between the SADF's regular forces and its enemies. The unit was also used to assist theanti-communist movement of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Although it was mainly used as a counter-insurgency force it was eventually also used as a semi-conventional force, especially during the later phases of the war – particularly at theBattle of Cuito Cuanavale.
The battalion consisted of around 700 riflemen and NCOs (non-commissioned officers) (mostly Angolan nationals associated with the former FNLA or the Portuguese Army) and mainly South African officers, although commissioned military personnel from countries such asAustralia,Rhodesia,Portugal and theUnited States were active with the battalion, especially in its early stages. As time progressed a number of SNCOs (senior non-commissioned officers – sergeants and above), distinguished themselves and were commissioned.[3]
At the end of its era inNamibia, the unit had developed into a conventional battle group. Apart from the infantry companies and therecce company, the battalion was strengthened by a battery of 120 mm (4.7 in) mortars, a squadron ofRatel ZT-3 and 90 mm (3.5 in) tank destroyers and a troop of 20 mm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns mounted onBuffel infantry vehicles.
Although the main bulk of the battalion was based atBuffalo on the banks of theOkavango River, the HQ was inRundu, 200 km (120 mi) to the west[citation needed].
AfterNamibian independence in 1989-1990, the unit was withdrawn to South Africa where it was further used in acounter-insurgency role on South Africa's borders and later also intownships.
On 8 April 1992, members of 32 Battalion were involved in an incident in Phola Park,Gauteng where members of the public were shot and killed.[4] The incident drew widespread criticism, specifically from theAfrican National Congress (ANC)[5] and prompted the Minister of Defence to request an investigation by theGoldstone Commission.
As one of the results of the negotiations between theNational Party and the ANC, the unit was disbanded in March 1993. After the battalion was disbanded, the remaining members of the unit were transferred to other SADF-units such as the Parachute and Mechanised Battalions as well as theRecces. It was also decided to reactivate2 SAI atPomfret which enabled about a quarter of the troops to return to Pomfret as members of the new 2 SAI. However, when 2 SAI was moved to Zeerust in 1999, many of them decided to rather stay behind at Pomfret and handed in their resignations. In 2008 there still remained about a quarter of the original 1,000three-two families at Pomfret, eking out mainly a hand-to-mouth existence.
Many members of the unit later helped to found or joinedprivate military companies such asExecutive Outcomes andSandline International, which fought on the side of the Angolan government against UNITA. Executive Outcomes was utilized by the Sierra Leonean government to repelRUF forces between March 1995 and March 1997 during theSierra Leone Civil War.
Some of the participants in the alleged2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt were former members of 32 Battalion.[6][7] Because they were arrested inZimbabwe, it is not clear whether any of those arrested had full knowledge of their final destination or the alleged plan to carry out a coup d'état.[8]
The battalion was one of the most decorated units during theSouth African Border War, with a total of 13Honoris Crux medals for bravery awarded to its members, second only to theSouth African Special Forces Brigade, whose members were awarded 46 Honoris Crux medals during the same period.
In the 2006 filmBlood Diamond,Leonardo DiCaprio'sRhodesian character "Danny Archer" was a former member of 32 Battalion.
In the 2013 filmElysium,Sharlto Copley's character "Kruger" was an ex-member of 32 Battalion.[9]
In the 2023 filmFreelance,Marton Csokas' character Colonel Jan Koehorst is a former member of 32 Battalion.
In the 2023 bookOkavango by French author Caryl Férey, multiple characters are former members of 32 Battalion.
| From | Commanding Officers | To |
| 1975 | ColonelJan Breytenbach | 1977 |
| 1977 | ColGert Nel | 1978 |
| 1978 | ColDeon Ferreira (Falcon) | 1983 |
| 1984 | ColEddie Viljoen (Big Daddy) | 1988 |
| 11 February 2026 | ColJock Harris | 11 February 2026 |
| 1988 | ColMucho Delport | 1993 |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
| 1978 | WO1Pep Van Zyl | 1980 |
| 1980 | WO1Ickes Uekermann | 1982 |
| 1983 | WO1PW van Heerden | 1983 |
| 1984 | WO1Fanie Joubert | 1985 |
| 1985 | WO1Piet Nortje | 1987 |
| 1988 | WO1Tallies Botha | 1991 |
| 1992 | WO1Tienie Geldenhuys | 1993 |
| Participants | |
|---|---|
| Related conflicts | |
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| Events |
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| Aftermath | |
| Memorials | |
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