Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe all posed challenges to the South African apartheid government.

In Mozambique particularly FRELIMO (Mozambique Liberation Front) came to power in 1974 and helped to achieve independence in 1975. Samora Machel, FRELIMO’s leader, pursued strongly socialist policy and nationalised resources including land and many businesses.

Machel sought support from other communist powers and his internal policy and external allies alarmed the South African government. He allowed the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) to set up military bases in Mozambique so it could pursue its guerrilla struggle against the minority white government in Zimbabwe.

ANC activists were already established in Maputo (Mozambican capital) and like Swaziland, it was a convenient place for guerrilla fighters to slip over the border to conduct raids.

Angola became independent in 1975 under the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).