The population in the north is in the frontline of attacks by the security forces. Under the guise of looking for SWAPO guerillas, army and police subject people to frequent harassment and violence. A number of incidents have been reported recently which indicate that the security forces perpetrate atrocities against defenceless civilians. This is in direct contrast to South Africa's claims that it is winning the "hearts and minds" of the people in Namibia through civic action programmes, placing soldiers in schools, health clinics and agricultural projects.
In one incident, the army attacked a small settlement in the Oonghoodi area in Ovamboland, killing 11 civilians. The commander who directed the operation from a helicopter claimed that his men had been fired on, and that SWAPO guerillas were believed to be in the village. A survivor gave evidence that in fact the seven men, two women and two children killed in the attack had been eating a meal, and that there were no guerillas present. The troops opened fire as they were approaching the settlement, and hurled hand grenades. Two huts went up in flames, and six of the victims burned to death. The soldiers found no guerillas in the area. No action has been taken against the soldiers involved.
Eight people were killed and 12 badly wounded when an 18 year old black soldier indiscriminately opened fire with a machine gun at people in the small village of Omashaka in Ovamboland. The massacre was described by an eyewitness, Ms Maria Shikongo. People were sitting in front of their huts, she said. There was a sudden burst of fire. Eight people died on the spot. After the shooting, the man walked away and was arrested some 3 kilometres from the scene.
A member of the police Special Task Force, Louis Conrad Nagel (20) shot a black man three times because he called Nagel a "boer". Fritz Rainhold (46) was killed in a Windhoek street near a club where he worked. Nagel was acquitted of murder and given a six year prison sentence, three years of which were suspended, on a conviction of culpable homicide. In mitigation, the judge, Justice Strydom, said that it was Nagel's training which made him react with lethal efficiency and gave him a willingness to serve his country. According to evidence given in camera, Nagel had been trained to "identify and eliminate SWAPO terrorists". Giving evidence for the defence, a psychologist declared Nagel to be normal but said "it would be unlikely that members of the Task Force would be "good boys". So-called "good boys" would not last in the Task Force. The qualities of a good soldier meant that such a boy would have to have psychopathic and sociopathic tendencies. Those were qualities that made the fearless soldier".
The brutality of some of these attacks shows complete disregard for human life. In one incident, on 27 October 1980, three security guards at the State Electricity Corporation, SWAWEK, brutally assaulted a black man, Moses Namiseb, when they accidentally saw him as they were driving around the power station in Windhoek. Namiseb suffered heavy blows with a rifle and other attacks. He was found unconscious the next morning and died in hospital. The autopsy report showed that he had 11 head injuries and 14 body injuries. The three accused Conradie (30), Havenga (37) and Nel (24) reportedly showed their amusement in court when evidence was given that the victim was found unconscious, covered in blood and without his trousers on. One was sentenced to R400 or four months imprisonment, the other two to R600 or six months imprisonment, on a conviction of assault. The judge decided that Namiseb could have fallen with his head against the railway line and thus received head injuries leading to his death. The defence counsel for Havenga said that, although the assault on Namiseb was not entirely excusable, "it was not done out of natural evil".
In Swakopmund, the mutilated body of Benny Iyambo (40), was found on 11 April 1980. He was beaten to death with a steel pipe and stabbed with a knife. Two white men, J. D. P. Schreuder, and J. A. Brand, were subsequently arrested but were released on bail.
Two policeman received light sentences of a R500 fine or 250 days imprisonment each, and 18 months prison suspended for 3 years for assaulting and torturing a man in Rehoboth. Japie Abraham was assaulted with a pick axe handle and a cane, and was hung upside down. He was told to "talk about firearms in his house". When Abraham denied any knowledge he was beaten and assaulted.
The wide powers given to police and army under the security laws in force in Namibia impose little restraint. The lenient treatment given to perpetrators of such acts of violence by the authorities leaves black Namibians defenceless. The Commanding Officer of the Special Task Force, Major G Nande, demonstrated this attitude in Nagel's case. He said Nagel was trustworthy and reliable and he would welcome him back into his unit.
