Two Namibian newspapers reported the existence of the death list and gave details of a death squad charged with carrying out the assassinations. According to these reports, the death squad operates under code names such as 'Koevoet' or 'One Way', and consists of 40 white and 50 black members. A number of individuals whose names appeared on the list have reportedly been arrested and are said to include: Johannes KWEJO, a member of the Ovamboland cabinet; Nangola JAKOB, a businessman; Simon NAMBILI, a businessman; Amutenja SHIMWEETHELENI, a member of the Ovamboland cabinet; Shigwedha SIMON; Frans MVULA; Sakeus KAULU, principal of the primary school at Okahao; Lucky SHOPALA, SWAPO-D; Mr SHIPWATA, a government official at Ombalantu; Mike ILONGA, a clergyman from Okahao; Titus NGULA, clergyman from Oshitayi (reported missing). Others who have disappeared, are also feared arrested: Toivo SHILONGO, the principal of a school at Otjukwa; Johannes MBOKAMA, a businessman; Jack SHIMANA, businessman; Jason NANGOMBE, a teacher at Ombalantu; Kefas SHI, Silvanus VATUVA; Silas NDAPUKA, and others.
The men were reportedly arrested on the instructions of Col. Van der Merwe, head of the security police in Windhoek.
In a statement issued in June 1980, the Administrator-General denied the existence of a death squad.
BRITISH MERCENARIES
In addition to mercenaries from South African, American and West European countries fighting with the South African Defence Force against SWAPO, others from Britain, Israel and Chile are reported to be serving in Namibia. According to a recent report, there are at least 500 foreign soldiers in Namibia. They have been seen at the main South African military base at Grootfontein. The report quotes reliable sources in Windhoek as saying that Britons, Israelis and Chileans are active in the "operational area". Among the British contingent are said to be former British Army infantrymen and others who served in the Rhodesian army before independence.
CONSCRIPTION SOON
Control of the South West Africa Defence Force, the Namibian component of South Africa's military structure in Namibia, is to be transferred to the authorities in Windhoek. The announcement was made by the Administrator-General on 14 May in Cape Town, where he had had a meeting with the South African Prime Minister, P.W. Botha. At a later press conference, he said that this was a prelude to introducing compulsory military service in Namibia. "I believe that national service for members of all population groups should be instituted as a matter of priority. I hope personally that it will be done as early as next year, even if all individuals who qualify may not be accepted the first year", he said. However, even after the transfer, the South African Defence Force and Police would continue to play a major role in the territory. South Africa would retain control over the general security situation.
During the press conference, Dr Viljoen outlined South Africa's current moves to instal a Ministers' Council and Ethnic Representative Authorities, based on the present "homeland" policy, in Namibia. The transfer of indigenous units of the military forces to Windhoek is part of this move.
RAIDS INTO ANGOLA
Over 260 people were killed, dozens wounded and an unknown number taken hostage in a series of cross-border raids into Angola in May 1980. The South African Defence Force used fighter bombers, helicopter gunships, heavy artillery and ground forces in armoured cars to carry out the attacks.
According to a statement by the Angolan Chief of Staff, Commander Xietu, eight South African helicopter gunships, with air cover from six Mirage jets, bombed the area around the town of Chiede, 12 miles north of the border with Namibia in Cunene Province, on 17 May. 60 Angolans were killed, many wounded and others kidnapped. South African troops occupied the town for several hours.
A second, larger attack was carried out in south-eastern Cuando Cubango Province, 45 miles north of the Namibian border at Savate. Fighting against a column of South African armoured cars, with infantry, heavy artillery and three helicopter gunships continued for 15 hours, leaving 200 Angolan soldiers and civilians dead. South African troops captured many hostages and large amounts of Angolan weapons when the Angolan local garrison was forced to retreat. Commander Xietu said that the Angolan forces might be obliged to embark on "reprisals to guarantee the territorial integrity of our country", and added that the Angolans will "not waver an inch in our support for the liberation of the Namibian people".
On 13 June, the South African Prime Minister, P.W. Botha, announced that a major raid had been carried out on SWAPO's operational command headquarters in Angola. He claimed that the South African armed forces had discovered 13 well camouflaged camps spread over an area of 50 square miles and attacked them in a joint ground and air operation. According to newspaper reports, 16 South African soldiers were killed, the highest casualty rate suffered by South Africa in a single operation since the war began. Mr Botha claimed that more than 200 SWAPO guerillas were killed and over 100 tons of arms and equipment captured.
In a statement issued in London on 17 June, SWAPO rejected South Africa's claim that it had destroyed SWAPO's military headquarters as "completely untrue", and denied that 200 guerillas were killed.
A subsequent communique issued by the Angolan Ministry of Defence also denied that the South African action was directed against SWAPO, and stated that targets are Angolan towns and villages close to the proposed demilitarised zone. According to the Angolan communique, the South African invasion into Angola began on 7 June, involving the largest number of South African troops in any attack since South African forces invaded Angola in 1975-6. More than 2000 white troops are reportedly inside Angola, backed by armoured personnel carriers, transport planes and helicopters, as well as three squadrons of Mirage fighter bombers. The Angolan communique details seven separate actions, as a result of which more than 300 civilians have been killed and more than 200 Angolan soldiers wounded.
An Angolan military officer said that there was no evidence that South Africa was considering a withdrawal of her forces. By the end of June, logistic support was still being supplied to the invading forces who were fanning out across the entire province of Kunene, avoiding areas such as the provincial capital Njiva where a heavy concentration of Angolan troops is reported. Thousands of head of cattle have allegedly been driven across the border into Namibia. A South African military command headquarters at Mulemba reportedly issued instructions to destroy all economically important installations.
The South African invasion was strongly condemned at a meeting of the UN Security Council on 27 June, which passed a resolution, condemning South Africa for its "premeditated, persistent and sustained invasion of Angola" and demanded an immediate withdrawal of all South African forces. The resolution was passed with three abstentions from Britain, France and the United States.
On 1 July, the Angolan Ministry of Defence gave further details of the continuing attacks by South African troops on Angolan territory, and said that these had resulted in the death of 22 civilians, 29 soldiers and a number of wounded. During the period of 23 to 29 June covered by the communique, the invading troops had extended their operations to Cuando Cubango Province where they attacked the population of Puca about 60 km inside Angola.
In a letter to the President of the UN Security Council, the South African Foreign Minister, R. Botha, denied that South African troops were invading Angola and claimed that a small combat team with some air support was involved in actions against SWAPO.
Concurrent with the beginning of the South African invasion of Angola on 7 June, a squadron of six South African Mirages were reported to have bombed a Namibian refugee camp. The President of SWAPO, who visited the camp said the raid had begun around 4 a.m. and the Mirages had dropped about 20 bombs on the area before being chased away by anti-aircraft fire. Three Mirages were shot down, according to a communique issued by the Angolan Defence Ministry.
Two Namibian refugees were killed instantly and a third died later from wounds.
Sam Nujoma stressed that there were no military activities at the Camp, which housed 400 refugees. A South African Defence Force statement denied the loss of 3 Mirage fighters.
DETAINES VISITED
Two International Red Cross officials have visited detainees held at a military camp in southern Namibia under Security Districts Proclamation AG9. Mr R Santschy, head of the Red Cross Mission in Pretoria said he and his deputy, Mr P Lutolf, visited the camp on 8 June. He said 118 SWAPO members were being held there. In line with Red Cross policy, Mr Santschy could not disclose further details. The information indicates that the visit was to the Kassinga detainees at the camp at Hardap Dam near Mariental. South Africa had previously denied that it was holding the detainees.
