Operation Boleas: The SANDF’s Trial by Fire

In this episode, we’re joined again by Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Jean-Pierre Scherman of the South African National Defence Force—a returning guest with deep operational experience and a sharp eye for military history. This time, we turn to Operation Boleas: the 1998 intervention in Lesotho that tested the SANDF just four years after its formation.

We get into the real story behind the headlines—why the mission was launched, how it rapidly escalated, and what it exposed about South Africa’s new defense force. From unexpected combat to political constraints and mission creep, Boleas became a crash course in regional military operations.

More than two decades later, the mission remains misunderstood. We unpack why it faded from public view—and what its legacy reveals about South Africa’s approach to hard power.

Jean-Pierre Scherman’s links

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/schermanjeanpierre/

X – https://x.com/schermanjp74

LinkedIn – https://za.linkedin.com/in/jean-pierre-scherman

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