The residents of Platfontein originate from the northern parts of Namibia and southern Angola. In both Namibia and Angola, the !Xun and the Khwe were militarised first by the Portuguese army during the Angolan War of Independence. They had been part of the Flechas, a unit of the Portuguese Special Forces. With the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) assuming power in Angola in November 1975, many joined the South African National Defence Force