{"product_id":"koevoet-ondjibi-zm-shield-patch-south-african-bush-war-original","title":"Koevoet Ondjibi ZM Shield Patch — South African Bush War (Original)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA genuine, \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal\u003c\/strong\u003e and extremely rare \u003cstrong\u003eKoevoet Ondjibi ZM\u003c\/strong\u003e unit shield patch from the South African Bush War era. Printed in black on khaki\/sand fabric with raw, unfinished edges. Features a highly detailed \u003cstrong\u003ebeetle\/dung beetle\u003c\/strong\u003e illustration at centre, with text banner \u003cstrong\u003e\"ONDJIBI\"\u003c\/strong\u003e at top and callsign letters \u003cstrong\u003e\"Z\"\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e\"M\"\u003c\/strong\u003e flanking the beetle at bottom. Not a reproduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKoevoet\u003c\/strong\u003e (Afrikaans for 'crowbar') was the SADF's elite counter-insurgency unit operating in South West Africa (now Namibia) during the Border War. The Ondjibi ZM sub-unit is one of the lesser-known Koevoet callsign groups — patches from smaller sub-units like this are exceptionally scarce even among serious collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowing the end of apartheid and Namibian independence, the unit was disbanded and \u003cstrong\u003emost uniforms, insignia, and unit items were deliberately destroyed or lost\u003c\/strong\u003e. Original unit patches like this are among the rarest survivals of 20th century African military history — the units no longer exist. \u003cstrong\u003eThis is an original piece, not a replica.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eType: Original printed khaki fabric shield patch — raw\/unfinished edges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnit: Ondjibi ZM, Koevoet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesign: Detailed beetle\/dung beetle illustration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEra: South African Bush War \/ Border War\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAuthenticity: Original — not a reproduction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCondition: Collectible\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Blade Tactical","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46155495178300,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/1385\/9388\/files\/IMG_5525.jpg?v=1789304539","url":"https:\/\/bladetactical.store\/products\/koevoet-ondjibi-zm-shield-patch-south-african-bush-war-original","provider":"Blade Tactical","version":"1.0","type":"link"}