A newly-established, specialised section of the SA Navy, the Marines, has been deployed in Walvis Bay on guard duties. The Marines, a counter insurgency strike force specialising in the land and seaward defence of SA's ports, are intended to become an elite unit which will back up existing security systems. The unit is to be equipped with South African-designed and manufactured patrol craft, armed with machine guns, scare charges and shotguns. Each platoon will comprise a Permanent Force commander and National servicemen who have undergone special training at Simonstown naval base, supplemented by local Citizen Force sailors.
The possibility of using mercenaries to protect white farms and other installations in Namibia has surfaced again. Mr. Jannie Smit, spokesman for a group of would-be mercenaries in South Africa, has claimed to be in touch with about 100 men with experience in the police or army and willing to co-operate with the SA security forces in the north of the territory. He was hoping that private institutions would be willing to donate the funds required to establish an "Emergency Farmer Protection Force". A spokesman for SWA Command, reacting to reports that a further group of 215 mercenaries had been formed inside Namibia "several months ago from well trained men", stated in May that those concerned to help must join existing military structures such as the commandos or the Citizen Force "through the proper channels".
Several staff members of the US mercenary recruiting magazine Soldier of Fortune have visited Namibia in recent months. The editor, Col. Robert Brown, who is also an officer of the 12th Special Forces Group (Airborne), US Army Reserve, toured the operational areas under the auspices of the South African Army's Public Relations Office.
The SWA Administrator General has stated that the newly created National Assembly has sufficient powers to act effectively against SWAPO to ban its increased guerilla activities. It could approve further "drastic security measures". The National Assembly would also be the body to decide whether or not to ban SWAPO and any such decision "would have to be considered the will of the people".
Rewards are being offered by the SA authorities for information leading either to the capture of insurgents or arms discoveries and weapons. Information leading to the arrest of a guerilla is worth up to R200, a landmine R50, a firearm R50 and hand-grenade R10.
