Under ideal cloudy skies, the Recce team's trip had been slowed by the need to launch their boats further from shore than anticipated.

Du Toit decided to continue and reach the lying up position (LUP) in a densely wooded area within the two hours prior to dawn.

South African Intelligence and aerial photographs showed an uninhabited area, but in fact it was surrounded by camouflaged People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) bases.

The Recces hid in the undergrowth and spread into a defensive perimeter, one man at an observation post several yards to the north with a view of the course they had travelled.

As rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) struck their position, Captain Du Toit ordered the withdrawal of his troops.

FAPLA troops deployed 50 yards (46 m) west of the site opened up with RPD machine guns, RPG and many AK-47s.

Two South Africans (Corporal Rowland Liebenberg and Sergeant Louis van Breda) were killed and Du Toit was wounded and later captured.

While Du Toit lay on his stomach, FAPLA soldiers approached and, thinking he was also dead, stripped his equipment – only then did they realise he was alive and shot him again through the neck.

The remaining six Recce soldiers carefully made their way north, where they regrouped and were eventually picked up[clarification needed] to be returned safely to South Africa.