Plans now being implemented by the South African authorities in Namibia to conscript young men of all races for national service have met widespread resistance within the territory. The introduction of 'selective' military call-ups for a number of 'population groups' has also significantly increased the number of young people arriving as refugees in Angola and Botswana as a means of avoiding the draft. One report from the Lutheran World Federation indicated that an extra 5,000 Namibian refugees had arrived in Angola by the second week of January.
CONSCRIPTION
The conscription process, which forms part of the South African government's plans to develop an indigenous Namibian army, and is consistent with its wider aim of appearing to concede 'independence' to the territory, commenced in October 1980. A Proclamation published by the SA State President on 7 October 1980 removed the racial restrictions in South Africa's 1957 Defence Act insofar as they affected national military service, and rendered all males resident in Namibia and in the age group 16 to 25 potentially liable for conscription.
Educational institutions are to play a central role in effecting conscription. During October 1980, the Department of National Education was reported to have sent circulars around the schools, instructing the principals to register all boys due to reach the age of 16 during 1981, for purposes of conscription.
The Officer Commanding the SWA Territory Force, Maj.Gen. Charles Lloyd, announced in November that call up instructions for national service in Namibia during 1981 had been posted off to selected young men.
MASS OPPOSITION TO MILITARY CALL-UP
In the event, not all those eligible for training were called up – young men resident in the four northern 'homelands' of Kaokoland, Ovambo, Kavango and Caprivi were excluded, ostensibly on the grounds that the numbers called up would otherwise exceed demand. A spokesman for the SWA Territory Force further stated that the aim of the call-up was to feed and strengthen area force units which have replaced the former commando system of training. Such area force units do not as yet exist in the northern regions.
Men from the Kaokoland, Ovambo, Kavango and Caprivi 'population groups' have instead been officially requested to volunteer for service with the tribal battalions already in existence in their respective areas (i.e. Kaokoveld Battalion, stationed at Opuwo; 35 Battalion at Oshakati, Ovambo; 34 Battalion at Rundu, Kavango; 33 Battalion at M'pacha in east Caprivi).
Those called up for national service will serve for two years. They will undergo basic training at the Rooikop military base in the Walvis Bay enclave (annexed by South Africa in 1977 and administered as part of Cape Province – an arrangement which further illustrates the extent to which the ostensibly 'independent' SWA Territory Force is integrated into the South African military apparatus). Further or more advanced training will thereafter be given at centres in Namibia. There are expected to be three intakes of national service trainees during 1981.
The first intake of conscripts – comprising Whites, Coloured, Namas and Damaras – reported for training in Walvis Bay on 16 January. Although the numbers answering the draft were not revealed, military officials said that the intake was "much larger than expected". A film clip shown on SABC TV showed young men of various races queuing together, apparently for their induction into the army.
400 volunteers were also reported to have signed up for two years military service.
A call-up document sent out by the South West Africa Territory Force and in the possession of IDAF notifies the recipient that he will be required to render national service in the 2 SA Infantry Battalion, Walvis Bay, from 14 January 1981 to 3 January 1983. He was expected to report at the Eros Military HQ in Windhoek on 9 January 1981. Failure to report as instructed renders the offender liable to prosecution and a prison sentence of up to six months, or a fine of up to R200, the document states.
RESISTANCE
Meanwhile, protests have been forthcoming from many sectors of the community.
On 14 December 1980, between 2,000 and 3,000 SWAPO supporters were reported to have attended a rally in Katutura township to protest against the SA government's plans for compulsory military training. The rally was organised by SWAPO's Windhoek youth branch. A number of speeches were made by Youth League leaders, who also criticised the ethnic elections organised in the territory in November 1980 for the 'second tier' of government. One speaker said that the Namibian people would be committing national suicide if they joined the army. "The so-called enemy is your own brother who was forced to leave the country because of oppression. The enemy of the South African army is SWAPO. Who is SWAPO? SWAPO is the people", he said.
Large sections of the crowd shouted "No, no, no" to the proposed call-up system. They were watched by about 30 policemen in camouflage uniform.
Large numbers of contract workers were reported in December to have left the workers' hostel in Katutura to return to their homes in the north of Namibia, out of fear of being conscripted in the January 1981 draft. Many are believed to have crossed the Namibian border into Angola or Botswana.
A correspondent for the Lutheran World Federation reported from Windhoek in January that there was a marked presence of military police enforcing the new conscription law.
Emergency aid has been despatched by the Lutheran World Federation's world service office in Lusaka, Zambia, to cater for an additional 5,000 young refugees estimated to have crossed into Angola from Northern Namibia. Educational supplies, food and bedding were delivered into two airlifts to Luanda. Over 200 of the refugees required medical treatment.
Inside Namibia, the Council of Churches, comprising the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church, Evangelical, Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church and the Roman Catholic Church, has petitioned the SA State President to review the legislation providing for compulsory military training in Namibia. The petition listed a number of possible consequence of conscription, including an exodus of refugees, industrial strikes, attacks on government institutions and military installations, and school boycotts.
MILITARY BUILD-UP
A company strength element of South African Naval Marines was reported to have arrived in Namibia at the end of December 1980, for service in the operational area along the northern border. An announcement from Defence HQ in Pretoria said that the Chief of the SA Navy, Vice-Admiral R.A.Edwards, had requested that the marines be sent to Namibia to gain practical experience of counterinsurgency techniques. The marines previously went through three months of intensive training with the SA Army in Middelburg, Transvaal.
A second group of marines is due to start training to replace the first group when it returns to carry out its primary task of harbour and key point protection. Vice-Admiral Edwards said that the purpose of the period of operational duty in Namibia was to ensure that the marines were "battle-hardened and experienced to protect South Africa's vital trade links and installations".
South African Police reinforcements were due to be sent to Namibia in November 1980 to "help maintain order" during the second-tier ethnic elections organised by the SA authorities during that month.
