Bushmen and Tswana recruits have begun military training as part of the South African government's scheme to build up eleven 'tribal armies' in Namibia. Similar arrangements are already in hand among the Ovambos, Kavangos, Namas, Hereros, Damaras, Rehoboth Basters and Coloureds. (see FOCUS 12 p.7).
It was reported in October that the "Advisory Board of the Bushman Nation" (a body set up by the South African authorities in October 1976 in terms of the Odendaal Commission's recommendations for bantustans in Namibia) had decided to establish a military training base in Bushmanland (the area set aside for a Bushman 'homeland' in the north-east of Namibia adjoining the border with Botswana). Training of Bushmen soldiers should start as soon as possible. (BBC 10.10.77, reporting Johannesburg radio English for abroad).
A month previously in fact Major General Geldenhuys, the newly appointed Officer Commanding in SWA (see FOCUS 12 p.7) was reported as saying that four Bushman units had already been trained, (BBC 13.9.77 reporting Johannesburg in English for abroad). A special 'Bushman Centre' attached to a South African army base, reported to have been set up three years ago by the South African authorities in a remote part of the Caprivi strip, now accommodates 2,000 Bushmen men, women and children. The men are trained as soldiers while the women are taught to knit, sew and cook by a number of white Angolan refugees. A school, medical clinic, shops, bakery and a clothing factory have been established by the SA army in addition to housing. The Bushmen are allegedly free to come and go as they please; the entire Caprivi area, however, has been under martial law since March 1976. (RDM 12.9.77, WA 22.9.77)
