The arrest of 37 SWAPO members and supporters on 9 July, at a time when Prime Minister Botha was being received by West European governments, was portrayed in the international media as a 'blunder' which would 'severely embarrass' Botha in his efforts to improve relations with the West. Statements by South African government and security police officials insisted that the South African-controlled armed forces in Namibia had acted unilaterally, without the knowledge or authorisation of the Administrator-General.
'Informed sources' were quoted as saying that at no stage was the South African government involved in the arrests, and a government spokesman claimed that orders for the arrests had not come from Pretoria. Botha was reported to have 'demanded an explanation' about the events, while the South African Minister of Law and Order, in a letter to a South African newspaper, stressed that he had no authority in Namibia (CT 12.6.84; Tel 11.6.84; GN 15.6.84; BBC 15.6.84; ST(Jbg) 24.6.84).
These statements were in line with South Africa's claims that it no longer wishes to exert control in Namibia, expressed in Botha's offer to Western governments to take over the administration of the territory (WA 6.6.84). They appeared designed to reinforce the view that Namibians were already largely running their own affairs, including those of the police. In practice, the armed forces in Namibia are under the ultimate control of the South African Defence Force and Police, and control over all Namibian affairs lies with the South African government through its appointed Administrator-General. Far from being a mistake, the arrests were, in the view of some observers, clearly calculated to intimidate and threaten SWAPO (RDM 16.6.84).
President Nujoma described the arrests as further evidence that South Africa was not serious about Namibian independence, and pointed out that they took place less than a week after Botha had assured European leaders that he and other exiled leaders could visit Namibia in safety. A SWAPO statement issued in Luanda said that the detentions unmasked the 'noisy propaganda' launched by Botha during his tour of Western Europe to the effect that Pretoria was ready to abandon Namibia (T 12.6.84; BBC 15.6.84).
The arrests took place while some 106 people had gathered at the Döbra Training College owned by the Roman Catholic church to celebrate the release of 54 Kassinga detainees. Approximately 80 heavily armed, camouflaged members of the special task force, a police counterinsurgency unit, arrived and began taking the names of all those present. Almost the entire SWAPO leadership in Namibia, as well as prominent members of political groups allied to SWAPO, were detained, 30 men and seven women (GN 11.6.84; FT 11.6.84; CT 11.6.84).
Shortly after the arrests, the Administrator-General warned that there was no place for SWAPO in Namibia, and that further action would be taken against the liberation movement if it continued the armed struggle (CT 11.6.84; BBC 12.6.84).
All 37 were released from detention on 13 June, after appearing at a late night sitting of the magistrates' court. No charges were put, but they were due to appear in court again on 13 July, when charges under the Prohibition and Notification of Meetings Act were expected to be brought. On 5 July, it was reported that the office of the Attorney General in Windhoek had decided not to prosecute (WA 14.6.84; BBC 7.7.84). Those arrested were:
Nathaniel MAXUILILI - SWAPO acting president Daniel TJONGARERO - SWAPO deputy national chairman Rev Ervin TJIRIMUJE - SWAPO national treasurer Hartmut RUPPEL - a prominent lawyer Salomon KHAMATAMA (GAMATHAM) Abraham WITBOOI Gertrude KANDANGA - deputy national secretary of SWAPO Women's Council Elina NDAPUKA Josofina SHANGALA Gabriel ITHETE Gregorius MAKGONE Abraham SHAFINWENE (SHATIMWENE) Erasmus ENDJALA (HENDJALA) Abner (Joshua) XOAGUB Philip TJERIJE - SWAPO joint secretary for publicity and information Anna CHRISTIAAN - leader of Nama speaking people Jason ANGULA Andreas THEMBA Mr OXURUB - Damara Council Nico Bessinger - SWAPO joint secretary for foreign affairs Frans KAMBANGULA - SWAPO secretary for transport Rev Bartholomeus KARUAERA Anton LUBOWSKI - lawyer. Immanuel NGATJIZEKO Petrina WITBOOI Margaret G JOAGMANG Rosaline NAMISES Joshua HOEBEB Nafta UIRAB Rahimse KAHIMISE Martin KAPEWASHA Jerry EKANDJO Paul Elliot HISKIA Peter NANJEMBA Abraham SHIKWAMBI Albin ILOVU Jefta MAHARERO - member of the Royal house of Maharero
The dean of the Kavango circuit of the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambokavango Church (ELOC), Rev. Asser LIHONGO, spent a third spell in detention in May 1984. He was arrested by the South African police on 4 May. His daughter, Tuovi Onmay, was arrested on 11 May and his wife on 17 May. They were held at unknown places under Proclamation AG9. Lihongo was released without charge on 6 June. His wife and daughter were released on 28 May.
Lihongo had been detained on two previous occasions, in November 1982, and March 1983. Shortly before his most recent detention he had spoken out against threats by the armed forces against civilians in the Kavango region (LWI 31.5.84, 14.6.84; FOCUS 44 p.2, 45 p.8, 46 p.3, 48 p.11, 53 p.10).
The house of Rev. Matias NGHIPANDULUA, a headquarters official of ELOC, was raided by South African soldiers on 15 May. An occupant of the house was beaten and money was taken (LWI 31.5.84).
Leonard SHONGOLO, a former political detainee who had been placed under a restriction order in early 1980, was arrested by the security police on 10 February 1984, and has been held incommunicado without charge or trial. There are fears that he may have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated (Amnesty International, 12.6.84).
Severinus SITEKETA was detained by security police in Tondoro, Kavango, for the fourth time in eight months. The information was contained in a letter to the British Prime Minister by Hans Rohr, leader of the Namibia Christian Democratic Party. Rohr gave no date of Siteketa's arrest, but said he was being held in solitary confinement. Siteketa was one of three detainees who, in November 1983, submitted an urgent application in court to restrain police from assaulting them (WO 9.6.84; FOCUS 53 p.10).
Frans DAVID, an evangelist of the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambokavango church, was arrested on 4 July at Kongo in the Ovambo area, one of the northernmost districts in Namibia. He is believed to be held incommunicado without charge under Proclamation AG 9. There are fears that he may be tortured or otherwise ill-treated while held in incommunicado detention (Amnesty International, 26.7.84).
The widespread use of Proclamation AG 9 has in recent months been strongly criticized by Namibian and international organisations (see this issue pp. 1 and 4).
Namibian prisons were overpopulated by 33 per cent in 1983, according to the Administrator General. Addressing a conference of magistrates and prosecutors in Windhoek, he said the authorities were seeking 'an alternative punishment system'.
The South African Secretary of Justice told a news conference in June 1984 that the current prison population in Namibian prisons was 1,700 inmates, counted on an average daily basis. He gave no figures for the number of political detainees and prisoners held (WO 16.6.84; RDM 6.7.84).
