More than 50 top officials and senior members of SWAPO – amounting to almost the entire leadership of the liberation movement inside Namibia – were arrested and detained in a countrywide police purge at the end of April, while others were forced into hiding. The arrests, which immediately preceded the announcement that a South African-sponsored and tribally-based National Assembly was to be established in the territory, were ordered by the SWAPO Administrator General Justice Steyn under Proclamation AG26. The emergency regulations contained in AG26, which was promulgated on 18 April 1979, vest unqualified powers in Justice Steyn to detain any person (s) whose actions are felt likely to "promote violence or intimidation", indefinitely without charge or trial. Persons held under AG26 have no recourse to any court of law and will only be told the reasons for their arrest at the discretion of the Administrator General.
Many of those arrested have been detained and interrogated on numerous previous occasions. A number – notably SWAPO's Administrative Secretary Axel Johannes – have been tortured and imprisoned for considerable periods of time. Then case histories clearly illustrate the cat-and-mouse game that the South African government has always played with SWAPO. Each crackdown on the organization has been timed to coincide with some fresh development in South Africa's long-standing strategy of consolidating its hold on Namibia, while appearing to be cooperating with international negotiations over the territory's future. Prior to these latest detentions, numerous arrests took place on the eve of the elections organised by South Africa in defiance of the UN in December 1978.
There has been widespread speculation that the South African government will now ban SWAPO, using the supposedly independent National Assembly established in the territory as a front for such a move. Hints to this effect have been given by the SA Prime Minister Mr. P.W. Botha, who said in Cape Town a few days before the detentions that if SWAPO continued to boycott the "democratic process" inside Namibia then it must bear the consequences. On 30 April the SWAPO Administrator General stated that he "had no intention" of banning SWAPO "at this stage", but merely wished to "make it change its ways". The detention of the SWAPO leadership, he said, was intended firstly, to disrupt the liberation movement's organizational machinery; secondly, to show Namibians that the authorities were looking after their interests; and thirdly, to demonstrate that the SA government had not been "unnerved" by SWAPO's armed guerilla struggle.
Those detained include:- Axel Johannes, SWAPO Administrative Secretary arrested on 29.4.79 after evading capture for two days. He has been in and out of detention and imprisonment since 1966. Lucia Hamutenya, SWAPO Secretary for Legal Affairs, arrested in Windhoek on 27.4.79. She was previously detained in December 1978. In March 1979, on returning to Namibia by train from Botswana, she was arrested at Keetmanshoop by the Railway Police for allegedly being in possession of banned literature and foreign currency. She was transferred to Windhoek under the charge of the CID and held for several days before being released after questioning. Rev. S. Tjirimuyre, Acting National Treasurer Charles Tjijenda, Branch executive member arrested in Windhoek 27.4.79 Markus Hausiku, branch vice-chairman arrested in Windhoek 27.4.79, previously detained April-October 1978 Charles Schani Arthur Pickering, member of SWAPO legal committee, previously arrested in January 1979 in Swakopmund Bongi Hoiva, branch secretary Otjiwarongo. Festus Aaron, previously arrested in July 1978 for opposing voters' registration and charged with offences under the electoral regulations. Festus Kadhikua, Luderitz Ea Jimmy, Luderitz Hewat Beukes, previously detained June 1978, Rehoboth Atti Beukes, branch chairman, previously detained April 1978 Phillip (no other name given) Demingo (no other name given) Dr. Ihuhwa, medical doctor at Onanjokwe. Joseph Asino Erastus Shimi Joshua Hoebeb, teacher at Martin Luther High School and SWAPO executive member Adolf Kaure, branch chairman Tsumeb Stephanus Golieth, southern region chairman Arbanus Ndjaviva, from Okakarara Ndjaula (no other name given) Silvanus Vatuva David Sheehama Nangolo Jacob Johannes Nakawa, previously detained in Ovamboland in August 1975 and again in May 1978 Leonard Mukwiilongo Aina Hauwanga, branch official, Tsumeb Dase Kalenga Englehard Gariseb, branch chairman previously arrested in April 1978 in Grootfontein and detained until August Dr. Nangoro P. Hasheela Skinny Hilundwa, Chairman for the northern region, previously detained August–October 1975 and April-August 1978 Gilbert Tjaka Stephen Ngula Pastor Nashongo, exec. member Grootfontein Aaron Ipinge Elise Ampolo Simon Hainelongo Elia Kusinga Masies Musu Leonard Tjaka Charles Lutokus Engiene Simata Danial (no other name given) Johannes litope Rahimiese Kahimiese, previously detained in 1978 under the Terrorism Act Lisius (no other name given) Absin (no other name given) John (no other name given) Immanuel Mwatare, executive member, arrested at a public meeting 6.5.79, previously detained May–October 1978 Melangton Kaukungua Moffat Chaka, Katima Mulilo Stephen Kwala, Katima Mulilo
The South African security police were also believed to be searching for a number of other SWAPO members and officials in order to arrest them: Pastor Festus Naholo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs
