As part of ongoing preparations for South African-sponsored elections in Namibia during 1978, the SWA Administrator General, Justice Marthinus Steyn, announced the repeal on 11 November of the emergency Proclamation R17 of February 1972 and its successor, Proclamation R89 of May 1976. Proclamation R17 has imposed severe restrictions on political activity and freedom of movement and speech in Ovamboland since the mass strike of Ovambo and other contract workers in 1971-2. Under Proclamation R89, certain dormant provisions of R17 were brought into full effect and extended to the other northern "homelands" of Kavango and Eastern Caprivi. In effect, the entire top half of Namibia, containing over 55% of the country's total population, was placed under martial law.
In his announcement, however, Steyn warned that it remained necessary to ensure the "continued security of the territory and the maintenance of law and order". He stressed that he would "not tolerate the use of force or violence or intimidation anywhere in the territory, from whatever quarter it may come".
R17 and R89 have in fact been replaced with immediate effect by new security measures which, while less stringent in tone, still give wide scope to the South African police and army for suppressing political activity. Security Districts Proclamation AG9, promulgated on 11 November, is applicable throughout Ovamboland, Kavango and the Eastern Caprivi and will remain in force, according to Steyn "until the situation in those areas warrants (its) removal". The Administrator General also announced the amendment of the Riotous Assemblies Act and the application of Amendment Proclamation (AG 10) to Namibia.
Under the new legislation: * it is no longer necessary to obtain advance permission to hold meetings anywhere in Namibia. In the "security districts" of the north, all that is required is 24 hours notice of the intention to hold a meeting. * permits are no longer required to enter or leave northern Namibia. In the past it has been impossible for independent observers to enter the region, except on supervised visits. * persons arrested in a security area may not be held for longer than 96 hours without specific permission from the Administrator-General. Detainees may only have access to legal advice, however, with the Administrator-General's agreement. (The existence of Proclamation AG9 does not preclude use of South Africa's Terrorism Act to hold detainees, moreover - see under SWAPO LEADERS ARRESTED). * property seized in connection with arrest must be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act but the security forces are still empowered to search without warrant. * the judicial power of the tribal authorities in the north has been abolished. * the sentences for contravening the new security regulations have been reduced. * the one kilometer wide "no-go" area along Namibia's entire border with Angola will remain in force. In terms of an official notice published in Windhoek at the time of Steyn's announcement, no person may enter the prohibited zone unless he is a member of the security forces or has the written permission of an officer of the security forces.
In a news conference called on 17 November the Divisional Commissioner of Police in Windhoek, Brigadier H.V. Verster, stated that the preservation of "law and order" in Namibia during the transition to independence would receive the utmost priority. He warned that the new security laws provided for heavy penalties and that political leaders and office bearers should take urgent steps to familiarise themselves with them.
