[spetznaz]

I wouldn't be that sure that the South Africans will do badly. The South African military may not be much when compared to the US military (which military is), but compared to anything in Africa (including Egypt, which is primarily good on paper only) they are easily the most capable and most professional.

Against the Seleka rebels of CAR?

No contest.

The South African military is also know for excessive violence. Some of the things they did in the Rhodesia bush wars and the Border Wars were not UN friendly to put it mildly. Also, Apartheid didn't apply to the military during active missions. It was the one area in apartheid South Africa where such silliness did not apply - couldn't apply. Stupid politics tend to die away when a team is facing fire (I have a couple of stories from S.A. military serving then on that). Finally, the troops being sent to CAR are the S.A. special forces equivalents. If a simple S.A. guard can manhandle Putin's special service people, and prevent them from entering a building with the Russian nuclear codes (the Ruskie equivalent of the 'football') two days ago during the BRICS conference, I find it ridiculous to assume a couple hundred S.A. special forces will be incapable of whooping ass on poorly trained and poorly armed Seleka rebels (who only accessed the capital of Bangui when the one armed helicopter keeping them at bay ran out of ammo/fuel).

As for softness and the need for toilets, I am sure the Taliban although thought themselves tough compared to US forces since they could take more hardship. Didn't work too well for the Taliban since proper training and superior equipment trump the ability to share a shithole with a camel.

[dfwgator]

Where's the Wild Geese when you need them?

[Viennacon]

I agree that the South African army is more than a match for the rebels, but I question the motive. CAR is a way away from South Africa, and its not as if the leader who was just ousted was some kind of legitimate president.

[Ax]

For a while there, a few years back, the French Foreign Legion maintained a base at Bangui when they were engaged in Chad, assisting the Chadian forces in the fight against Qadafi. And I have some first-hand knowledge re apartheid in SADF operations, at least along the Caprivi Strip. When it reared its ugly head, it was swiftly put down by white SADF officers, usually Anglos as opposed to Boers.

[Pan_Yan]

Interesting developments and I am reevaluating my previous statement. Some sources are questioning what the South African troops were doing in the Central African Republic and whether or not a battle even took place. The only casualty figure I could find was a Red Cross figure of 80, which doesn't fit with the story coming out of Johannesburg.

What happened in Bangui?

South African critics question government over 13 soldiers killed in Central African Republic

[MinorityRepublican]

Let's be blunt. The SA's Military is nowhere it used to be 20 years ago just before the dismantling of Apartheid. The Boers were tough, they fought like a first world military on a third world continent.