THE FATHER OF SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIAL FORCES

Legendary South African soldier, Jan Breytenbach fought the good fight, kept the Faith and now has finished his race.

On Father’s Day, Sunday,16 June, at the age of 91, the father of South African Special Forces went to be with his Heavenly Father and has been called by his Commander in Chief to Higher Service.

Jan Breytenbach had a distinguished career in the SADF.

Colonel Breytenbach not only founded the South African Special Forces (the Reconnaissance Commandos, or “Recces”) and 44 Parachute Brigade, but 32 Battalion as well. We praise God for a life well lived, for a courageous Christian soldier who made vital contributions to the development of the South African Defence Force and who played a major role in bringing about the defeat of the Soviet led communist forces in Angola.

In doing so he greatly contributed to the defeat of the Soviet Union and the winning of the Cold War.

​Colonel Breytenbach was a good friend of the Mission and an energetic and enthusiastic witness for Christ

Confronting Communists in Angola

One morning, the Colonel rolled over in his sleeping bag and said to me:

“Peter, let’s go into Angola and preach to the communists!”

As the Colonel was held in such high respect throughout the Operational Area, he had no problem convincing the local commandant to lend us a helicopter and a 32Bn soldier to act as interpreter so that we could communicate with the Portuguese speaking Angolan forces across the border.

Throughout that memorable day, we flew to three separate locations along the border where the JMMC (Joint Military Monitoring Commission) had stations.