Changes of considerable military significance, which would appear to consolidate South Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia, have been taking place in the deployment of South African troops in the territory. A "Namibian army" is being built up on ethnic lines with the full support of the tribal delegations to the Turnhalle. It could presumably be portrayed as having a measure of independence from Pretoria. There have also been developments within the S.A. Defence Force itself.
With effect from 1 August 1977, the former SA Chief of Army Staff Operations, Major-General Jannie Geldenhuys (42) has been appointed to the post of Officer Commanding South West Africa. Major-General Geldenhuys, who took over responsibility for Namibia's defence from Brigadier Louw Oosthuizen, previously served in Namibia from 1970-74, the latter part with the rank of Brigadier and Commander of the Windhoek Defence Command.
Apart from commanding the SWA Defence Headquarters, General Geldenhuys has been given responsibility for building up a multiracial South West African Army. Announcing his appointment, Mr. P.W. Botha, the SA Minister of Defence, said that it was "in accordance with the policy to build and develop an independent and complete defence force for South West Africa". The SA Defence Force, he went on, "was concentrating at present on the organisation, preparation and training of all the elements of the SWA population so that all would have the right to share fully in the defence of SWA in the future".
Major-General Geldenhuys's arrival in Namibia has precipitated a major reorganisation of the command structure. Since 15 August, military authority for the whole of Namibia has been centralised in the Eros Defence Headquarters in Windhoek. The separate commands which previously existed at the Grootfontein military base and at Walvis Bay have been subordinated to the Windhoek HQ. Major-General Geldenhuys told a news conference that Walvis Bay would remain under his command "until a new constitutional rearrangement for that enclave had been effected". (Under the terms of the SWA Constitution Amendment Bill, which passed through the SA Parliament in June, the port of Walvis Bay has been returned to full South African control from 1 September 1977). He was reticent when asked to comment on SWAPO's demand for the withdrawal of all South African troops from Namibia prior to general elections being held.
In a highly critical editorial, the Windhoek Advertiser remarked that "from all this reshuffling and policy changes, one thing stands as clear as daylight: there is no imminent troop withdrawal from this territory. On the contrary, noticing last night the new humming of activity and the sort of officer around the General (sic) one realises that Pretoria aims to build its military capabilities in South West Africa to the optimum".
Meanwhile, active steps have been taken to mobilise members of the Damara, Nama, Herero and Coloured "population groups" for defence purposes. 65 Nama recruits began a two-year training course in Narubis at the beginning of August. According to Commandant J. T. Louw, who is in charge of military training for ethnic groups, Namas could be deployed in the operational area after 12 months. A similar two year training course for Damaras was due to open on 15 August at Kamanjab. Military training for Coloureds was due to begin on 29 August at an unidentified base. Mr. A. J. F. Kloppers, leader of the Coloured delegation to the Turnhalle, told reporters that approximately 200 men had been recruited. It is expected that similar arrangements will soon be made for Herero recruits.
According to Commander Louw, the SA Defence Force will train an initial intake of up to 160 men from each ethnic group. The trainees will be paid R70 a month, in addition to free food and accommodation. During the training period, he said, leaders would be identified who could eventually start training their own people. The ethnic troops will not be controlled by their respective homeland authorities, however, but will fall under Major-General Geldenhuys's command in Windhoek.
