The close co-operation between the SADF, the South African Police (SAP) and local Namibian police units, particularly the Special Police counter-insurgency unit Koevoet, were publicised by the South African military authorities in Namibia when journalists were allowed to visit a secret Koevoet base at the end of May. During a press briefing, South African army officers also gave details of the various functions the police carried out in the north of the country. The publicity came shortly after SWAPO's military wing, PLAN, had carried out a number of successful operations in the farming region around Tsumeb, Otavi and Grootfontein, which caused a countrywide alert and extensive mobilisation of South African military and police units stationed in Namibia.
KOEVOET
The existence of a Special Police counter-insurgency unit operating under the name Koevoet (crowbar) first came to light in May 1980, following the discovery of a death list naming a number of individuals to be assassinated by Koevoet.
According, to information given by the commander of the unit, Brigadier Hans Dreyer, to the press, Koevoet is almost entirely composed of Ovambo Special Policemen under the command of mainly white South African Police officers who are stationed permanently in Namibia. The unit has been in operation for nearly four years. It started with 60 men, but is now estimated to number around 1,000. New recruits are selected after intensive training by the South African Police Counter-insurgency Unit. They are stationed at a base outside Oshakati, described by reporters as 'a hot and sandy tin and tent camp'. Reporters noted that at the camp, weapons of various makes and calibres were always at the ready, and guards were permanently posted. Brigadier Dreyer stressed the close co-operation between SADF and SAP forces in the north of Namibia. The Special Police unit was involved in 'locate and destroy' operations along the northern border with Angola, and, according, to Dreyer, operated entirely inside Namibia. The men's dress was 'unconventional', presumably to avoid being identified by local civilians. (32 Battalion, a unit of South African soldiers, mercenaries of various nationalities and UNITA rebels is the equivalent of Koevoet operating inside Angola on a similar basis).
Members of Koevoet have become notorious for atrocities and killings carried out among civilians in the north of Namibia. During the trial of one member of Koevoet, accused of killing an Ovambo Home Guard in March, the state prosecutor said that in about 90 per cent of all murder cases dealt with by the Supreme Court, mainly Special Constables were involved.
THE SAP
Members of the SAP play a significant role in the border war, according to Colonel Durand, officer commanding the battalion of police in Ovambo. The SAP have a number of bases in the area, and play a supportive role to the SADF. They make use of the South African air force, the defence force's medical facilities and other aids, Colonel Durand said. In addition, the SAP provides trained special constables to act as body-guards to local tribal leaders and patrols the area in support of the SWA Police. SAP members are responsible for protecting and escorting civilians, including lecturers and contractors.
The homes of 57 Ovambo tribal leaders are under police protection. According to journalists visiting the area, the houses look more like military camps than private residences. The home of Pastor Cornelius Ndjoba, former head of the Ovambo tribal authority, is surrounded by high sand banks and inside, armed special constables in camouflage uniform are on patrol. Some of the private homes have almost as many special constables as there are civilian residents, according to one report.
The Special Constables are all Ovambos who have received training by SAP officers at a police training camp near Ondangwa. Recruits are given 16 weeks drill and counter-insurgency training at the camp at any one time.
OTHER PARAMILITARY FORCES
Centres have reportedly been established at Oshakati and Ogongo where recruits are trained as saboteurs and informers. According to The Combatant, people who have been forcibly abducted from their homes are trained against their will at these camps. The PLAN journal has also reported that a new paramilitary force known as Onyiki (Bee) is being formed, whose role is intended to be similar to that of Koevoet.
MILITARY IMAGE-BUILDING
Following the creation of a military board of inquiry in March to investigate reports of atrocities committed by the security forces, the SADF has announced further measures designed to deflect growing criticism of the behaviour of its forces. The chief of civic affairs at army headquarters in Oshakati, Commandant Kleynhans, told journalists that a special liaison committee had been set up in the operational area, involving the head of the Ovambo tribal government, church members, local businessmen and Defence Force commanders. The committee's task is to investigate complaints from the civilian population.
The official claimed that people who had been scared to lay complaints in the past were now coming forward, and that the committee had already investigated several cases of assault or mistreatment for which members of the forces had subsequently been charged. He gave no details of the incidents or names of the people involved. While admitting that South African troops have committed some atrocities, Kleynhans claimed that 'considering the conditions and the number of troops the rate of atrocities is very very low'. He announced that each soldier was now required to sign a special card stating that he respects the local population and that he would never resort to using physical violence against local inhabitants.
The SWA Territory Force announced in early July that it had established an office in Windhoek to investigate allegations of maltreatment of civilians by members of the security forces. The office would be run on a permanent basis by the Military Law Division. Complaints could be lodged in writing or in person.
These measures, involving the very forces who have been accused of committing atrocities against civilians, would seem to fall far short of reassuring black Namibians. As the head of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Hurley, pointed out, people are unwilling to expose themselves to risk by coming forward with complaints. During his visit to Namibia, he found that people were only prepared to speak about their experiences on the understanding that their names would not be revealed, for fear of reprisals.
Church leaders have denied that they agreed to be represented on the army's liaison committee, stressing that the church was unwilling to give credibility to a body where the army is both accused and judge. The church leaders in Namibia lacked confidence both in the liaison committee and in the board of inquiry set up in March. Archbishop Hurley said the church would welcome an independent board of inquiry consisting mainly of persons versed in law.
The military Board of Inquiry, whose brief was extended by one month until the end of July, investigated forty allegations of atrocities by South African troops in the three months since March, according to a statement by SADF headquarters in Pretoria. The statement said that several soldiers would be prosecuted and one man had already appeared in court. In Kavango, allegations of theft, intimidation, rape and fatal shooting incidents were investigated; in Ovambo, only one of 24 allegations had not been solved. No details of the cases were released.
