Extensive damage was done to church property in two separate incidents involving military aircraft. In both cases, the SADF claimed that the bombings were accidental.
At Elim mission station near Oshakati in northern Namibia, the administration building was gutted, and another building damaged, when military aircraft dropped bombs and flares on the area during an attack on 24 April. People who had been sleeping in the buildings escaped unhurt. One of the bombs landed only a few metres away from the hospital building. Nearby villagers who witnessed the destruction described the incident to a reporter from the Windhoek Observer on condition that their names were not revealed, for fear of reprisals from the army. One man told the reporter 'they are security people and are supposed to protect us. This however makes us think again and we react differently now'.
Police were informed of the incident. Two SADF officers arriving later claimed that the bombing had been accidental, and promised compensation from the SADF. Damage was estimated at R27,922. By September, the mission had still not received any payment (WO 4.9.82).
Another 'accident' occurred on 23 August at Oniipa, when an SADF anti-aircraft shell damaged part of the printing press owned by the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo Kavango Church. The bullet tore the roof, timbers and a window screen and then hit the ground with great force.
Following an investigation, an SADF Commander admitted that the shell had been fired by the army. He requested a written report and an assessment of the cost of the damage. Bishop Dumeni, the head of ELOC, commented on the incident: 'Similar cases have occurred and several times damage has been done to properties of the church and individuals. An open question remains; why the bullet specifically came to hit this newly rebuilt building of the printing press, which has been twice destroyed by an unknown enemy of the church and community' (Report by Bishop Dumeni, Oniipa, 27.8.82).
