Refer to Source 2A - NSC History - Question 2 - 2016 - Paper 1

According to Vorster, South Africa became involved in the Cold War in Angola for the following three reasons:

1. Protection of National Interests: Vorster argued that the presence of Russian and Cuban forces in Angola posed a threat to South Africa’s national security, especially given the strategic importance of the dam projects at Ruacana and Caleque.

2. Preventing Communist Expansion: He believed that South African intervention was essential to prevent the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) from establishing a foothold that could destabilize the region and potentially threaten South Africa’s government.

3. Support for Anti-Communist Forces: Vorster highlighted the need to support anti-communist factions in Angola, such as UNITA and the FNLA, thereby aligning South Africa with Western powers concerned about Soviet influence in Africa.

The information in paragraph 2 reveals that South Africa’s involvement in Angola was not only driven by national security concerns but also by complex international dynamics involving the Cold War. Contrary to Vorster's initial assertion that South Africa acted independently, the evidence suggests that external pressures and the need to uphold Western interests in the region played a significant role. Vorster’s oversight of the broader geopolitical context in favor of a nationalistic narrative exposes a discrepancy between the public justification for intervention and the underlying motivations influenced by the Cold War.

The two African leaders who supported the decision by the South African Defence Force to assist the FNLA and UNITA are President Mobutu of Zaire and an unnamed leader mentioned in the context of supporting anti-communist measures against the MPLA.