Thousands of South African troops in Walvis Bay, Namibia's only major port, threaten the new nation's independence. SWAPO — with the support of most parties in the new Constituent Assembly — is committed to gaining control over the port, but Pretoria insists that over 1,000 square kilometres of territory around Walvis Bay belong to South Africa.
Walvis Bay and the surrounding area claimed by South Africa were excluded from the provisions of the UN independence plan. However, the Security Council had previously, in Resolution 432, stated that 'the territorial integrity and unity of Namibia must be assured through the reintegration of Walvis Bay within its territory'. The resolution stated that 'pending the attainment of this objective, South Africa must not use Walvis Bay in any manner prejudicial to the independence of Namibia or the viability of its economy'.
The roots of the dispute lie in the nineteenth century. Britain claimed possession of the bay and its surrounds in 1878; Germany colonised the remainder of Namibia.
After South Africa took over Walvis Bay in 1915, it was treated as part of Namibia, and was administered in this way until 1977 when Pretoria declared that the port would not be part of an independent Namibia. The administration of Walvis Bay was transferred to South Africa's Cape Province.
The UN and SWAPO rejected South Africa's claims to the port, but in order not to hold back negotiations, SWAPO agreed to the exclusion of Walvis Bay from the UN independence plan, provided it was later reintegrated with Namibia. The UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), which arrived in Namibia on 1 April last year, was thus not deployed in Walvis Bay. Repressive and apartheid legislation remained in force and there was no voting there. Namibians were coerced into applying for South African, as opposed to 'South West African', identity cards. They were however allowed to register and vote in the independence elections, mostly by travelling to nearby Swakopmund. South Africa prohibited SWAPO from campaigning in Walvis Bay and harassed people leaving the enclave to register or vote.
Attention was focused on the plight of Namibian political prisoners in Walvis Bay when five students were sentenced during the election. Demonstrations organised by the Namibia National Students Organisation to demand their release were banned in Walvis Bay but took place in Swakopmund and Windhoek. Following an earlier case, Leonard SHEEHAMA, who was detained in northern Namibia, was brought to trial and sentenced to death in Walvis Bay in April last year.
South Africa also claims 12 small uninhabited islands dotted along the southern coast of Namibia, giving Pretoria the opportunity to claim parts of Namibia's territorial waters and its rich fishing resources. The new Namibian government will declare a 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone in order to gain control over fishing, but South Africa may attempt to claim up to 20 per cent of coastal waters south of Swakopmund on the basis of its claims to Walvis Bay and the islands.
Control over Walvis Bay gives the South African regime a stranglehold over Namibia's foreign trade, half of which passes through Walvis Bay — most of the remainder goes through South Africa itself. The port is also a base for Namibian and foreign fishing fleets and the centre of the fish-processing industry.
A further potential source of territorial conflict revolves around Namibia's disputed southern border with South Africa, demarcated by the Orange River. Contrary to international practice, Pretoria claims that the border lies not along the centre of the river, but on its Namibian bank. This claim — which will be opposed by the new Namibian government — gives South Africa control over the river's water, which is essential for Namibian agriculture.
A more immediate threat to Namibia's independence is the presence of up to 5,000 South African troops in Walvis Bay. The South African Defence Force (SADF) has established a naval base, an air base, two army bases and a communications centre in the enclave.
Reinforcement took place in the second half of 1989 as the SADF pulled out of Namibia in accordance with the UN plan. A new base was being constructed at Rooikop for 61 Mechanised Battalion, a combined armour, artillery and infantry force which was involved in all major military operations in Angola and Namibia during the 1980s. According to the SADF it is 'a full fighting force ... on a permanent state of combat readiness'. Further construction was taking place at Rooibank, believed to be the site of a new communications and tracking facility.
