Two Swiss journalists representing a number of newsmedia in Namibia, including the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, Radio France and Reuters, were refused extension of their permits in November 1979 and told to leave the country immediately.
Aymon and Ingelore Frank, two well-known reporters and photographers who had lived in Namibia for a number of years, were apparently refused permission to continue working in Namibia because they had tried to investigate a "sensitive area". This was the reason given to the First Secretary of the Swiss Embassy by the South African Department of Foreign Affairs in Pretoria. Mrs. Frank said she believed that the "sensitive area" referred to SWAPO prisoners kept at Hardap detention camp near Mariental.
Reports that the prisoners, who were captured during the South African raid and massacre at Cassinga refugee camp in Angola in 1978, have been subjected to torture and hard labour conditions at Hardap, have been received from several sources.
The Franks received a letter from the Directorate of Civil Affairs and Manpower in which they were told to leave immediately. After attempts to have an interview with the Administrator General and a visit by Mr. Frank to Pretoria, Mrs. Frank was finally notified that she had to leave Namibia on 23 November. Mr. Frank then left for Geneva to cover the UN-organised talks on Namibia.
Their work permits for South Africa were, however, renewed on 8 November as a gesture of goodwill to the Swiss government, a Swiss representative was told.
An earlier attempt to expel the Franks from Namibia in February 1979 failed after the Swiss government had intervened on their behalf.
