The Chief of the South African Defence Force has made it clear that he does not envisage the withdrawal of South African troops from Namibia before the end of 1983. General Constand Viljoen's statement, made on his return from a Christmas visit to soldiers on the Namibian-Angolan border, has confirmed previous indications that South Africa's army, police and military intelligence chiefs have been preparing for an extended stay in the territory and an increasingly influential role in political and strategic decision-making.
General Viljoen said that he expected to be returning to the border area at Christmas 1983. 'I would hate ourselves to rush into a solution within the next year', he said, 'only to find ourselves going back in after two years when South West Africa is again burning... We are capable of maintaining the situation for a long time to come or until a lasting solution is arrived at'.
ANGOLA AT WAR
South Africa's undeclared war against Angola has made itself felt economically, and has affected the living conditions of the population, the Angolan President said in his 1983 New Year message to the Angolan people. A large part of Angola's manpower, material and financial resources have had to be diverted to strengthen the country's defence capacity, thus jeopardising a number of economic development targets. The Angolan Minister of Defence, speaking in Benguela Province at the turn of the year, described the situation in the southern part of Angola as 'still characterised by the massive presence of forces of the South African army in vast areas of Kunene Province', and by constant violations of Angolan airspace in those areas, including Namibe Province.
The South African Prime Minister made it clear in his New Year message that South Africa would continue, in 1983, its attacks on neighbouring countries, including Angola, on the pretext of pursuing SWAPO guerillas.
The second biggest dam in Angola, the Lomaum dam in Benguela Province in central Angola, was attacked by the South African forces in mid-January 1983. According to Angolan energy officials, the attack resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land, and industries and homes in three provinces were left without power. The floods killed ten people and caused damage estimated at millions of pounds.
